JPH06101261A - Toilet equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Automatically creates a toilet seat environment (washing direction, washing temperature, etc.) that is most suitable for the body temperature and body shape, etc., which varies depending on the user's current condition. An infrared detecting means 7 for detecting heat radiated from a local area of the user or a periphery of the local area and converting it into a thermal image, and a cleaning direction adjustment for adjusting a control amount output by the cleaning means 3 based on the thermal image information. Means 8 are provided. As a result, even if the user changes or the user's current state changes, an optimum toilet seat environment can be provided without manual operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toilet device which heats a toilet seat and showers a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional toilet device, as shown in FIG.
A toilet seat body 2 is attached to the toilet bowl 1. Toilet seat body 2
A cleaning means 3 for ejecting a hot water shower from a nozzle for cleaning the user's local area is connected to the cleaning means 3. The cleaning means 3 has an operation switch 4 and a cleaning direction operating means for manually adjusting the nozzle position to the local position. 5 and cleaning temperature operating means 6 for manually adjusting the temperature of the hot water shower are connected.

A user seated on the toilet seat body 2 can apply a hot water shower from the cleaning means 3 to the user's local area by pushing the operation switch 4 after defecation. If the local position and the position where the hot water shower hits are misaligned, the user can change the washing direction by operating the washing direction operation means 5 while the hot water shower is being hit. When the temperature of the hot water shower is too high or too low for the user, the user can change the cleaning temperature by operating the cleaning temperature operating means 6 while the hot water shower is being applied. Alternatively, the hot water shower is once stopped by pressing the operation switch 4, and the washing direction operation means 5
In addition, after adjusting the washing direction or washing temperature by the washing temperature operating means 6, the operation switch 4 can be pressed again to restart the local washing. The washing direction, washing temperature, etc. once adjusted by manual operation are
Unless you change the setting anew, it keeps the previous status.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since the body temperature, body shape, etc. are greatly different for each user and depending on the state of the user, when a plurality of people use the toilet device, There was a problem that the settings such as the cleaning direction and the cleaning temperature had to be changed by the manual operation every time the change of.

The present invention solves the above problems, and automatically provides a most suitable toilet seat environment such as a cleaning direction and a cleaning temperature according to a body temperature and a body shape which are different for each user and according to the user's condition. This is the purpose.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toilet seat body provided on a toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat body for cleaning a user's local area, and a radiation from a user. The temperature detecting means for detecting the generated heat and the toilet seat environment control means for automatically adjusting the toilet seat environment based on the signal from the temperature detecting means are provided.

[0007] Further, a toilet seat body provided on the toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat body for cleaning the user's local area,
Infrared detecting means for detecting heat radiated from the user's local area or the surrounding area and converting it into thermal image information, and a local position is specified based on the thermal image information, and a cleaning direction is directed to the specified local position during cleaning. And a direction adjusting means.

Further, a toilet seat main body provided on the toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat main body for cleaning the user's local area,
Infrared detecting means for detecting heat radiated from a user's local area or its surroundings and converting it into thermal image information, and cleaning temperature adjusting means for adjusting the cleaning temperature at the time of cleaning based on the surface temperature of the local area obtained from this thermal image information. It is equipped with and.

Further, the toilet seat body provided on the toilet bowl, the cleaning means provided on the toilet seat body for cleaning the user's local area, and the heat radiated from the user's local area or the local area are detected and converted into thermal image information. The infrared detecting means and the individual adjusting means for specifying the user based on the thermal image information and adjusting the control amount output by the cleaning means for each specified user.

[0010]

According to the present invention, each time the toilet device is used, the temperature detecting section newly detects the heat radiated from the user, for example, the heat radiated from the surface of the hips of the user. Based on the signal from the detection means, the toilet seat environment control means automatically adjusts the toilet seat environment such as the direction, temperature, flow rate and delivery pattern of the hot water shower, the air flow rate, the air temperature, and the air conditioning of the toilet space.

Further, the infrared detecting means detects the heat radiated from the user's local area or the local area in a non-contact manner and converts it into thermal image information. Normally, the temperature of the anus, rectum or excretion of the human body is slightly higher than the temperature of the other parts of the human body, so the upper end of the area that is higher than the ambient temperature in the two-dimensional thermal image information is Corresponds to the anal position of the human body. By providing the cleaning direction adjusting means for specifying the local position based on this thermal image information and directing the cleaning direction to the specified local position at the time of cleaning, hot water can be adjusted according to the local positions of different users without manual cleaning direction operation. You will hit the shower properly.

Alternatively, since the infrared detecting means measures the surface temperature of the user's hips, for example, in the range of 40 ° C. or lower, the washing temperature is automatically adjusted to 5 ° C. higher than the average surface temperature of the user's hips. By providing the adjusting means, a hot water shower having an appropriate temperature according to the surface temperature of the user's local area can be applied without manually operating the washing temperature.

Further, the individual adjusting means specifies a user based on the thermal image information obtained from the infrared detecting means, and adjusts the control amount output by the cleaning means for each specified user. The shape of the hips of the target user and the other background (such as the toilet seat body) will be separated. By extracting the buttocks of the user, the body shape of the user, the way the user sits on the toilet seat body or the body temperature of the user becomes clear,
The control amount output to the cleaning means is adjusted for each specified user.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 1, blocks having the same functions as those shown in the conventional example are given the same numbers. Similar to the conventional example, the toilet seat body 2 is attached to the toilet bowl 1. The toilet seat body 2 is connected to a cleaning means 3 for ejecting a hot water shower from a nozzle for cleaning the user's local area. The cleaning means 3 is an operation switch 4 and cleaning for manually adjusting the nozzle position to the local position. Direction operation means 5
Also, a cleaning temperature operating means 6 for manually adjusting the temperature of the hot water shower is connected. Reference numeral 7 denotes an infrared detecting means which is connected to the toilet seat body 2 and detects heat radiated from a local portion of the user or a peripheral portion thereof to convert it into thermal image information. 8
Is a cleaning direction adjusting means which is connected to the infrared detecting means 7 and the cleaning means 3, specifies a local position based on the thermal image information output from the infrared detecting means 7, and directs the cleaning direction to the specified local position during cleaning.

The infrared detecting means 7 corresponds to the user temperature detecting means for detecting the heat radiated by the user, and the washing direction adjusting means 8 serves as the toilet seat environment control means for automatically adjusting the toilet seat environment. It corresponds.

The user sitting on the toilet seat body 2 can apply a hot water shower from the cleaning means 3 to the user's local area by pressing the operation switch 4 after defecation. If the local position and the position of the hot water shower deviate from each other, the user changes the washing direction by operating the washing direction operating means 5 while the hot water shower is still being applied. Further, when the temperature of the hot water shower is too high or too low for the user, the user changes the cleaning temperature by operating the cleaning temperature operating means 6 while the hot water shower is being applied. Alternatively, the hot water shower is once stopped by pressing the operation switch 4, the cleaning direction operating means 5 or the cleaning temperature operating means 6 is adjusted to an appropriate cleaning direction or cleaning temperature, and then the operation switch 4 is pressed again to restart the local cleaning. It has a good structure.

The washing direction adjusting means 8 comprises a human body extracting section 8a,
It is composed of a human body temperature / shape rule unit 8b, a local extraction unit 8c, a local temperature / shape rule unit 8d, and a cleaning direction instructing unit 8e. The human body extraction unit 8a includes a human body temperature / shape rule unit 8
Based on the knowledge stored in advance in b, it is determined whether or not the human hips are projected in the thermal image output from the infrared detecting means 7. If the human hips are projected, this human body is projected. The thermal image information of the hips is cut out. For example, 28 to 38 ° C. having a predetermined size in the center portion of the obtained thermal image
When the continuous heat source of 1 is detected, it is considered that the human body, that is, the user is sitting on the toilet seat body 2 in the undressed state. Next, the local extraction unit 8c specifies the local position at one point from the thermal image information of the human hips cut out by the human body extraction unit 8a, based on the knowledge stored in advance in the local temperature / shape rule unit 8d. . For example, in the thermal image of the human body buttocks, the central portion which is geometrically almost symmetrical and the temperature higher by several degrees than the ambient temperature is regarded as the local (anal) position. In particular, when the region where the temperature is higher than the ambient temperature spreads out, the upper end of the region is considered to correspond to the anus position of the human body. This is because the temperature of the anus, rectum or excrement of the human body is usually slightly higher than the temperature of other parts of the human body. Reference numeral 8e is a cleaning direction indicator for directing the cleaning direction to the local position specified by the local extraction unit 8c during cleaning. By the way, since the infrared detecting section 7 and the cleaning direction adjusting means 8 constantly operate even during cleaning, the local position is tracked in real time even when the user slightly moves during cleaning.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the essential parts of the toilet device of the embodiment. In FIG. 2, 1 is a toilet bowl, 2 is a toilet seat main body on which a user sits, 3a is a wash water tank for supplying a hot water shower through a nozzle 3b through an opening / closing valve 3c, and 3d is the nozzle 3b above and below and left and right through a movable part 3c. The position control means 3f for moving the nozzle 3b is an injection port provided in the vicinity of the tip of the expandable portion 3g of the nozzle 3b, and is configured to project and retract in the toilet 1 by water pressure. The configuration in FIG. 2 shows a state in use in which the expandable portion 3g is extended. Further, near the nozzle 3b, infrared detecting means 7 for monitoring the user's local area is installed.

Next, the structure of the infrared detecting means 7 is shown in FIG.
Will be explained. The infrared detecting means 7 constantly detects heat radiated from the toilet seat body 2 or the periphery of the toilet seat body 2 and converts it into two-dimensional thermal image information. The infrared detecting means 7 has a plurality of pyroelectric infrared sensors 7a arranged one-dimensionally, and a lens 7b and a chopper 7 are provided in front of the pyroelectric infrared sensor 7a.
c has a configuration including a rotation drive unit 7d and a rotation unit 7e so as to rotate in a direction perpendicular to the one-dimensional direction of the pyroelectric infrared sensor 7a and become two-dimensional. A chopper temperature detecting section 7f for obtaining a reference temperature is provided near the chopper 7c, and the pyroelectric infrared sensor 7a is operated in association with the operation of the chopper 7c which is controlled to be opened / closed periodically by the chopper opening / closing drive section 7g. The signal is output. A plurality of independent signals output from the pyroelectric infrared sensor 7a are band-amplified by the band amplifier 7h and transmitted to the thermal image generator 7i. The thermal image generation unit 7i uses the chopper temperature signal output from the chopper temperature detection unit 7f as a reference, and the surface temperature obtained by dividing the object to be measured (that is, the user's hips and its periphery) into horizontal and vertical thermal pixels. It is converted into a data group.

In the above construction, the infrared detecting section 7 measures the surface temperature of the user's hips seated on the toilet seat body 2,
Since the washing direction adjusting means 8 acts to specify the local position and direct the washing direction to the specified local position at the time of washing, the most suitable toilet seat environment can be automatically provided without manual operation.

In particular, since the washing direction adjusting means 8 is used as the toilet seat environment controlling means, the hot water shower can be properly applied according to the local positions of different users. In other words, each time the user changes, the washing direction is automatically adapted to the user without having to manually re-operate the washing direction, so that the operating convenience is dramatically improved, and there is an effect of being more hygienic. Furthermore, since the temperature of the hot water shower during cleaning can be monitored at the same time, it is possible to confirm whether or not the hot water shower is in a local position during cleaning and perform proper cleaning.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the difference from the first embodiment is that instead of the cleaning direction adjusting means 8, the cleaning temperature adjusting means 9 is used.
Has been established. The cleaning temperature adjusting means 9 includes a human body extraction unit 9a, a human body temperature / shape rule unit 9b, a human body temperature averaging processing unit 9c, and a cleaning temperature instruction unit 9d. The human body extraction unit 9a determines whether or not the human hips are shown in the thermal image output from the infrared detection means 7, based on the knowledge stored in advance in the human body temperature / shape rule unit 9b, When the human hips are projected, the thermal image information of the human hips is cut out. For example, when a continuous heat source of 28 to 38 ° C. having a predetermined size is detected at the center of the obtained thermal image, it is considered that the human body, that is, the user is sitting on the toilet seat body 2 in the undressed state. Is. Next, the human body temperature averaging processing unit 9c calculates the average temperature of the human body hips from the thermal image information of the human hips cut out by the human body extraction unit 9a. Further, the cleaning temperature instructing unit 9d automatically adjusts the cleaning temperature based on the temperature of the human hips obtained by the human body temperature averaging processing unit 9c. For example, during cleaning, the cleaning temperature is automatically adjusted to 5 ° C. higher than the average surface temperature of the user's hips in the range of 40 ° C. or lower.

According to this construction, the infrared detecting section 7 measures the surface temperature of the user's hips seated on the toilet seat body 2,
Even if the washing temperature is not manually operated, the washing temperature adjusting means 9 applies a hot water shower having an appropriate temperature according to the surface temperature of the user's hips. The comfort of the human body basically depends largely on the difference between the current temperature of the human body and the temperature of the hot water shower. By providing the infrared detecting section 7 and the battlefield temperature adjusting means 9, it is possible to apply a hot water shower of an appropriate temperature according to the user's current state or different surface temperature of the user's hips without manual washing temperature operation. it can. Each time the user changes, it is automatically adapted to the user without having to manually re-operate, so the operation and usability is dramatically improved, and there is an effect of being more hygienic. Also, since the temperature of the hot water shower during cleaning can be monitored at the same time, the temperature of the hot water shower actually being sent can be arbitrarily changed,
It can be kept uniform with high precision.

Here, the cleaning temperature is automatically adjusted based on the average temperature of the entire buttocks of the user. However, as in the first embodiment, the human body local part is further extracted and the local temperature can be dealt with. Good.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 is different from the first and second embodiments in that the user is specified instead of the cleaning direction adjusting means 8 or the cleaning temperature adjusting means 9, and the cleaning direction is specified for each specified user. This is because the individual adjusting means 10 for adjusting the control amount output by the cleaning means 3 such as the cleaning temperature and the cleaning temperature is provided. The individual adjusting means 10 includes a human body extraction unit 10a, a human body temperature / shape rule unit 10b, a local extraction unit 10c, a local temperature /
Shape rule unit 10d, washing direction operation result storage unit 10e,
The washing temperature operation result storage unit 10f, the personal identification unit 10g, the washing direction instructing unit 10h, and the washing temperature instructing unit 10i are included. Human body extraction unit 10a, human body temperature / shape rule unit 1
0b, local extraction unit 10c and local temperature / shape rule unit 1
The operation of 1d is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the position information, the shape information, the temperature distribution information of the human hips obtained by the human body detection unit 10a, and the position information of the human body local portion and the temperature information obtained by the local extraction unit 10c are seated on the toilet seat body 2. The characteristic amount of the user is transmitted to the individual determination unit 10g. On the other hand, when the user manually adjusts the washing direction with the washing direction operating means 5 during washing, or manually adjusts the washing temperature with the washing temperature operating means 6, the washing direction operation result storage unit 10e or the washing temperature operation result 10f is used. It is monitored and stored by the personal computer, and is transmitted to the individual discriminating unit 10g as the user's characteristic amount / preference amount. Each user who sits on the toilet seat body 2 has different body shape, local position, sitting style, body temperature, favorite temperature of hot water shower, and the like. Therefore, the personal identification unit 10g identifies the individual by processing the personal information of the user obtained from the washing direction operating means 5, the washing temperature operating means 6, and the infrared detecting means 7. Although the means for realizing the individual discriminating unit 10g will not be described in detail, the pattern classification that the persons are the same if similar data is reproduced is statistically performed using a multivariate analysis method or a classification method simulating a neural network. After the user is identified by the personal identification unit 10g, the washing direction instructing unit 10h automatically reproduces the washing direction manually specified by the identified user in the past. The cleaning temperature instructing section 10i automatically reproduces the cleaning temperature at which the specified user has adjusted the capital in the past. If the user is a first-time user, the user cannot be identified, or if the user has never manually operated the washing direction or the washing temperature, the median washing direction and washing temperature are tentatively output.

According to this structure, by extracting the buttocks and the local area of the user from the thermal image, the body shape of the user, the position of the local area,
The way of sitting, the body temperature, the favorite temperature of the hot water shower, etc. are clarified, and the washing direction and the washing temperature output to the washing means are automatically adjusted for each specified user. That is, by providing the infrared detecting section 7 and the individual adjusting means 10,
A hot water shower with an appropriate temperature can be applied in different directions according to different users without manually operating the washing direction and washing temperature. Each time the user changes, it is automatically adapted to the user without having to manually re-operate, so the operation and usability is dramatically improved, and there is an effect of being more hygienic. In particular, since the user himself / herself can be identified, it is possible to apply it to daily health management by memorizing the adjustment process tailored to an individual.

Here, the control amount output by the individual adjusting means 10 reproduces the past operation result of the specified user, but this may reproduce the previous operation result for each individual, An average value of past operation results for each individual may be output. Further, the output value may be slightly corrected depending on the temperature condition such as the human body temperature or local temperature at that time, the season, and the time zone.

Although the cleaning direction and the cleaning temperature are selected as the control amounts output from the individual adjusting means 10 to the cleaning means 3, they are not limited to these. For example, the shower flow rate, the shower output pattern, the drying temperature after cleaning, the heating temperature of the toilet seat body 2, and the like are also included.

[0029]

As described above, according to the toilet device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) To apply a hot water shower accurately according to the local position of the user or to automatically apply a hot water shower of an appropriate temperature according to the surface temperature of the hips of the user without manual operation. Therefore, even when a plurality of people use the toilet device, it is not necessary to reset the toilet device each time. In other words, the shared toilet device is automatically adjusted as an exclusive toilet device for each individual, so that it is comfortable and convenient for the user.

(2) Since no manual operation is required,
More hygienic. (3) Since the adjustment suitable for the user is performed, it is possible to save energy as the entire system without heating the shower temperature more than necessary and sending unnecessary shower in the wrong direction.

(4) Especially, when the washing direction adjusting means is used as the toilet seat environment controlling means, the temperature of the hot water shower during washing can be monitored at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the hot water shower is accurately in the local position during washing. , Proper cleaning can be done.

(5) In particular, when the cleaning temperature adjusting means is used as the toilet seat environment control means, the temperature of the hot water shower during cleaning can be monitored at the same time, so that the temperature of the hot water shower actually being sent can be arbitrarily changed. , Can be kept uniform with high precision.

(6) In particular, when an individual adjustment means capable of identifying the user itself is used as the toilet seat environment control means, it can be applied to daily health management by storing the adjustment process tailored to each individual.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a toilet device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the main part of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of infrared detection means in the same device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a toilet device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a toilet device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional toilet device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Toilet bowl 2 Toilet seat body 3 Washing means 5 Washing direction operating means 6 Washing temperature operating means 7 Infrared detecting means 8 Washing direction adjusting means 9 Washing temperature adjusting means 10 Individual adjusting means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toilet seat main body provided on a toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat main body for cleaning a user's local area, a user temperature detecting means for detecting heat radiated from the user, and A toilet device comprising a toilet seat environment control means for automatically adjusting the toilet seat environment based on a signal from a user temperature detection means. 2. A thermal image by detecting heat radiated from the toilet seat main body provided on the toilet bowl, the cleaning means provided on the toilet seat main body for cleaning the user's local area, and the heat radiated from the user's local area or the vicinity of the local area. A toilet device provided with infrared detection means for converting into information and a cleaning direction adjusting means for specifying a position of a local part based on the thermal image information and directing a cleaning direction to the specified position of the local part during cleaning. 3. A toilet seat main body provided on a toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat main body for cleaning a user's local area, and heat detected by detecting heat radiated from the user's local area or the vicinity of the local area. A toilet device comprising infrared detection means for converting into image information and cleaning temperature adjusting means for adjusting the cleaning temperature during cleaning based on the local surface temperature obtained from the thermal image information. 4. A toilet seat main body provided on a toilet bowl, a cleaning means provided on the toilet seat main body for cleaning a user's local area, and heat detected by detecting heat radiated from the user's local area or the vicinity of the local area. A toilet device comprising infrared detection means for converting into image information and individual adjusting means for specifying a user based on the thermal image information and adjusting the control amount output by the cleaning means for each specified user.