JPH03455Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an automatic flushing device for a toilet bowl.

[Prior art and its problems]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a device that photoelectrically detects a user and then automatically cleans a urinal based on a change in the detection signal when the user leaves. However, there are no urinals with a manual cleaning function. On the other hand, some toilets have automatic flushing functions, but those with a manual flushing function require touching a push button or the like to operate them.

By the way, cleaning the toilet bowl while using the toilet is advantageous in that it increases the cleaning effect of the toilet bowl, reduces the emission of bad odors, and gives the user a sense of cleanliness. does not have a manual cleaning function, so it is impossible to clean it while using the toilet. In this regard, although it is possible to manually clean the toilet bowl while using the toilet, there is a problem in that it is unclean because the user must touch the push button to operate the toilet bowl.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional ones, and its object is to provide an automatic cleaning device for urinals and toilets that can be manually cleaned by non-contact manual operation.

[Structure of the idea]

The device according to the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, determines the distance to the object to be detected, and outputs a first detection signal in response to detection of a long distance, and a second detection signal in response to detection of a short distance. detection means for outputting respective signals; and control for causing water to flow into the toilet bowl for a certain period of time in response to the first detection signal disappearing after a predetermined period of time or more, or in response to the appearance of the second detection signal. and control means for performing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection means includes a light projecting element that projects modulated light modulated by a modulation signal, and the modulated light that is projected from the light projecting element and reflected by the object to be detected. a light-receiving element that receives light and outputs a light-receiving signal; a switch means that is controlled on and off by the modulation signal; and a light-receiving element that detects the presence or absence of an object based on the level of the light-receiving signal output from the light-receiving element that passes through the switch means. and means for performing near and far distance detection and outputting the first and second detection signals.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection means includes a light projecting element that projects modulated light modulated by both first and second modulating signals of different frequencies; a light-receiving element that receives the modulated light reflected by the projected object to be detected and outputs a received-light signal; and a second gate, and means for detecting the presence or absence of an object to be detected and its distance and distance based on the presence or absence of outputs from the first and second gates, and outputting the first and second detection signals.

(Function) Detects a human body while urinating as a long distance, and detects an approaching hand as a short distance. When detection at a long distance exceeds a certain time, it is recognized that the person is urinating, and the detection disappears when the person leaves. Automatic cleaning is performed depending on the situation, and manual cleaning is performed in response to detection at close range.

In order to perform this long-distance and short-distance detection with a single light emitting element and light receiving element, in a preferred embodiment, the light emitting element emits modulated light modulated by a modulation signal, and the reflected light of this modulated light is The light receiving signal obtained by receiving the light with the light receiving element is processed by combining it with the modulation signal.

[Example of idea]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a photoelectric switch section, which detects a human body or the like using a diffuse reflection type photoelectric switch and outputs two detection signals. do. Part 2
One of the two signals is output by detecting the presence or absence of a human body from a relatively long distance, and the other is output by detecting the presence or absence of a human body from a relatively short distance. Reference numeral 2 denotes a control circuit, which controls opening and closing of the electric valve 3 based on signals from the photoelectric switch section 1. The electric valve 3 consists of an electromagnetic valve or the like, and is provided in the middle of the water pipe 5 leading to the toilet bowl 4, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, in order to turn on and off the flow of water for flushing the toilet bowl. In addition, FIG. 2a shows an example of a urinal, and FIG. 2b shows an example of a Western-style large and small toilet. In both cases, the reflective photoelectric switch in the photoelectric switch section 1 is attached to the wall surface 6 facing the toilet user, and the photoelectric switch is attached to the wall surface 6 facing the toilet user. Switch part 1
The control circuit 2 controls the opening and closing of the electric valve 3 in response to the user's detection.

Referring again to FIG. 1, details of the photoelectric switch section 1 and the control circuit 2 will be explained. The photoelectric switch unit 1 has a photoelectric switch consisting of a light emitting element 1a and a light receiving element 1b, and the light emitting element 1a receives a modulated light, for example, infrared light, which is modulated by an oscillation output signal of a pulse oscillation circuit 1c. emit light. When the modulated light is reflected by a human body or the like, it enters the light receiving element 1b. An amplifier circuit 1d is connected to the output of the light receiving element 1b,
The light-receiving element 1b amplifies a light-receiving signal generated in response to light reception to a predetermined level. The light reception signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 1d is applied to the signal inputs of electronic switches 1e and 1f, respectively, whose control inputs are applied with the oscillation output signal of the pulse oscillation circuit 1c. The electronic switches 1e and 1f are turned on by the oscillation output signal, and output the light reception signal applied to the signal input during the on period.

That is, the signals appearing at the outputs of the electronic switches 1e and 1f are generated by infrared light emitted from the light emitting element 1a modulated by the oscillation output signal of the pulse oscillation circuit 1c, reflected by a human body, etc., and received by the light receiving element 1b. The signal components generated when other light is received by the light receiving element 1b are removed.

After the output signals of electronic switches 1e and 1f are integrated by integration circuits 1g and 1h, respectively,
The voltages are applied to comparison circuits 1i and 1j, respectively, where they are compared with reference voltages E ₁ and E ₂ (E ₁ <E ₂ ), respectively. Comparison circuits 1i and 1j have reference voltages _E1 and
When a signal of E2 _or more is input, the output rises from L level to H level. These comparison circuits 1i and 1j are the outputs of the photoelectric switch section 1, and only the output of the comparison circuit 1i rises from L to H level, thereby detecting a human body at a relatively long distance (for example, 20 cm to 100 cm). When the output of the comparison circuit 1j rises from the L level to the H level, a human body or the like is detected at a relatively short distance (for example, 5 cm to 15 cm).

The output of the comparison circuit 1i is connected to the input of the first timer 2a of the control circuit 2 and one input of the pulse generation circuit 2b. When the input of the first timer 2a rises from L to H level, its output changes to L level for a certain period of time in response. The other input of the pulse generating circuit 2b is connected to the output of the first timer 2a, and when the output of the first timer 2a is at the H level, one input goes from H to L level. It pulses its output in response to falling.

The pulse generated by the pulse generating circuit 2b is applied to the second timer 2c, and in response to the rising edge of this pulse, the second timer 2c is activated and its output remains at H level for a certain period of time. Due to the H level output of the timer 2c, the valve drive circuit 2d drives the electric valve 3 to the open state during this H level. When the electric valve 3 is opened, water is supplied to the toilet bowl 4 through the water pipe 5, and the toilet bowl 4 is flushed.

The output signal of the comparator circuit 1j is also applied to the second timer 2c.
When the output of j reaches H level, the timer 2c is activated in response to this, and the toilet bowl 4 is flushed.

The fixed time period specified by the first timer 2a is for determining whether the toilet bowl has been used for urination for a certain period of time or more by detecting a human body or the like for a certain period of time or more. This is used to set the time, or flow rate, for flushing the toilet bowl.

Figure 3 shows long-distance detection of human bodies, short-distance detection,
This is a time chart showing the state of each part in the case of no detection, and the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 1 will be explained with reference to this diagram.

First, a description will be given of automatic cleaning when the user leaves the toilet after using it for a certain period of time, that is, after defecating. When the use of the toilet at a distance of more than a certain distance from the photoelectric switch section 1 starts at time _t1 , the amplifier circuit 1
A signal as shown in FIG. 3B appears at the output of d. After passing through switches 1e and 1f, this signal is integrated by integrator circuits 1g and 1h, and is converted into a voltage greater than _E1 and less than _E2 , as shown in FIG. 3C. As a result, the output of the comparison circuit 1i becomes H level, and in response, the timer 2a starts operating and its output becomes L level. The output of the timer 2a returns to the H level at time _t2 when a predetermined time has elapsed.

Then, at time _t3 , when the user finishes using the toilet and leaves, no signal appears at the output of the amplifier circuit 1a, and the outputs of the integrating circuits 1g and 1h fall below _E1 . As a result, the output of the comparison circuit 1i becomes L level, and in response to this, the pulse generation circuit 2b generates a pulse as shown in FIG. 3G at its output, thereby triggering the timer 2c. The timer 2c maintains its output at the H level for a certain period of time as shown in FIG. 3H, and during this time the valve drive circuit 2d is operated to open the valve 3. That is, the timer 2c determines the opening time of the valve 3 and the amount of water flushed into the toilet bowl.

Next, the operation during manual operation while the toilet is in use will be explained. When a hand or the like approaches the photoelectric switch at time _t4 while the toilet is in use, the integral circuits 1g and 1h are activated.
The output of the comparator circuit 1j exceeds _E2 as shown in FIG.
It becomes H level as shown in Figure E. The timer 2c is triggered in response to the rise of the output of the comparator circuit 1j from L to H level, and its output remains high for a certain period of time.
During this time, valve 3 is opened and water is flushed into the toilet bowl. In this example, at time t ₅ , before the timer 2a times out, the toilet bowl is finished being used and the person has left, so the automatic flushing occurs. will not be performed.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of a part of FIG. 1, in which two oscillation circuits 1c-1 and 1c-2 that output pulses of different frequencies are used instead of the oscillation circuit 1c, and these oscillation circuits 1c -1 and 1c-2 are combined by an OR gate 1k to modulate the projected light from the light projecting element 1a. Moreover, in place of the switches 1e and 1f in FIG. 1, the AND gates 1e' and 1f' are used, and in the AND gates 1e' and 1f', signals obtained from the outputs of the oscillation circuits 1c-1 and 1c-2 and the light receiving element 1d are used. The ANDs of these are taken, and an H or L level signal is output. Note that an attenuation circuit 1l is provided between the amplifier circuit 1d and the AND gate 1f', and the output signal of the amplifier circuit 1d during long-distance detection is
It has a characteristic that the output signal of the amplifier circuit 1d at the time of short-distance detection does not fall below a level that can be recognized as a TTL logic L level.

In the above configuration, the output signal of the oscillation circuit 1c-1 shown in FIG. 5A and the oscillation circuit 1 shown in FIG.
The output signals of c-2 are combined in an OR gate 1k to form a combined signal as shown in FIG. 5C, and light modulated by this signal is projected from the light projecting element 1a. When this projected light is reflected by a human body or the like at a long distance and received by the light receiving element 1b, a low-level composite signal is obtained at the output of the amplifier circuit _1d , as shown in section D1 of FIG. 5D. This signal is ANDed with the oscillation output signal of the oscillation circuit 1c-1 by the AND gate 1e', and an output signal as shown in FIG. 5E is sent to the output of the AND gate 1e'. Furthermore, since the level of the above-mentioned composite signal is lowered by the attenuation circuit 1l before being input to the AND gate 1f', the output of the AND gate 1f' which performs the AND with the oscillation circuit 1c-2 is L. level.

When the projected light from the light projecting element 1a is reflected by a hand or the like approaching the photoelectric switch, a high level composite signal as shown in section _D2 in FIG. 5D is obtained at the output of the amplifier circuit 1d. Even though this composite signal is attenuated by the attenuation circuit 1l, its level is high enough to be recognized as an H level, so that an output as shown in FIG. 5F is obtained from the AND gate 1f'. If you move away from the approaching hand, etc., section D ₃
The state changes to the same state as in section D ₁ , as in .

The outputs of AND gates 1e' and 1f' are integrated by integrator circuits 1g and 1h, respectively, and a signal that changes as shown in Figure 3C is obtained, so the subsequent operation is performed in the same way as the circuit in Figure 1. .

In this modification, near-far distance detection is performed using the output level of the integrating circuit, which varies depending on the magnitude of the frequency, thereby increasing the reliability of operation.

In the above embodiment, the device is simply described as a device that performs both automatic and manual flushing, but the present invention can be applied to, for example, a Japanese-style toilet that can be used for both large and small toilets, by determining whether the user is sitting or standing based on the distance from the photoelectric switch. By doing so, it can also be applied to change the amount of water discharged for large and small uses.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to the invention, two different signals are generated depending on the detection distance of the object to be detected,
Manual operation of short-distance detection is required because water is flushed into the toilet bowl when the signal from long-distance detection disappears after a certain period of time, or when a signal from near-distance detection appears. By making the toilet bowl compatible with this, manual cleaning of the toilet bowl can be easily performed without touching the conventional unsanitary push button.

In particular, in a preferred embodiment, a single combination of light emitting and light receiving elements performs both automatic and manual cleaning functions, resulting in compactness and cost reduction.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a simplified diagram showing an example of application of the device according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the state of each part in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a modification of a part of Fig. 1. , and FIG. 5 are waveform diagrams showing the states of each part in FIG. 4. 1...Photoelectric switch section, 1a...Light emitter, 1
b... Light receiving element, 1c, 1c-1, 1c-2...
Oscillation circuit, 1e, 1f...Electronic switch, 1e',
1f'...And gate, 1g, 1h...Integrator circuit, 1k...OR gate, 1l...Attenuation circuit, 2
a...Timer, 2b...Pulse generation circuit, 2c...
...Timer, 3...Electric valve.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) Determine the distance to the object to be detected, output a first detection signal in response to detection of a long distance, and output a second detection signal in response to detection of a short distance. and a control means that controls water to flow into the toilet bowl for a certain period of time in response to the first detection signal disappearing after a predetermined period of time or more or in response to the appearance of the second detection signal. An automatic toilet cleaning device characterized by comprising: (2) The detection means includes a light emitting element that emits modulated light modulated by a modulation signal, and a light emitting element that receives the modulated light that is emitted from the light emitting element and is reflected by an object to be detected to generate a light reception signal. a light-receiving element to output, a switch means controlled on and off by the modulation signal, detecting the presence or absence of an object to be detected and the distance thereof based on the level of the light-receiving signal outputted by the light-receiving element; An automatic toilet flushing device according to claim (1) of the utility model registration, characterized in that the device has means for outputting a detection signal of. (3) The detection means includes a light emitting element that emits modulated light modulated by both first and second modulated signals of different frequencies, and a light emitting element that emits light that is reflected by an object to be detected. a light-receiving element that receives the modulated light and outputs a light-receiving signal; first and second gates that take an AND of the first and second modulated signals and the light-receiving signal, respectively; Claims for registration of a utility model characterized by comprising means for detecting the presence or absence of an object to be detected and the distance thereof based on the presence or absence of an output from a second gate, and outputting the first and second detection signals. The automatic toilet flushing device described in paragraph (1).