JP3940948B2 - Urinal cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a urinal washing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to automate the cleaning of the urinal body after adding, if a human body detection sensor such as an infrared sensor is installed in the toilet and the user is detected for a certain period of time, then the user has left. Some are detected and a certain amount of washing water is allowed to flow. Such a urinal washing apparatus is convenient because the user does not need to perform an operation for urinal washing in normal use.
[0003]
In such a urinal cleaning device, there is a urinal cleaning device having a reed switch for arbitrarily supplying cleaning water assuming a cleaning operation of the urinal. The reed switch is provided inside an apparatus casing formed of resin or the like. When the cleaning operator brings the magnet close to the part where the reed switch is installed, the reed switch is turned on in response to the magnetic force. For example, once the magnet is brought close to the reed switch, the cleaning mode is set for a predetermined time thereafter, and the operation of the human body detection sensor is stopped. By doing so, the cleaning water is not unnecessarily supplied in response to the cleaning worker. If cleaning water needs to be supplied in the cleaning operation, the reed switch is turned on and cleaning water is supplied when the magnet is brought close again during the cleaning mode. By using a reed switch, the cleaning operator can arbitrarily supply cleaning water without causing the valve to operate improperly during normal use.
[0004]
On the other hand, it has been proposed to use a microwave sensor as a sensor for detecting a user in a toilet bowl cleaning device (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-132484). Since microwaves pass through ceramics and porcelain, it is possible to install the sensor inside a ceramic toilet or on the back side of a tile, which is excellent in that it is not necessary to consider protection of the sensor itself, waterproofing, etc. Yes. Moreover, since the sensor can be concealed, there is no fear of mischief and the degree of freedom in design is improved.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the urinal washing apparatus using the microwave sensor described above, the means for providing the reed switch inside the pottery or the tile is not realistic because the sensitivity of the reed switch is insufficient. Also, providing an operation switch on the outside has problems such as the switch being mischievous, getting dirty, and requiring a member for protecting the switch itself and waterproofing.
[0006]
Also, the operation of supplying cleaning water using a reed switch is troublesome because the cleaning operator needs to carry a magnet. Also, there were cases where the magnets were lost and the special functions could not be used.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned background, and its object is to solve the above-described problems, and it is not necessary to consider protection, waterproofing, etc. of the sensor itself, and the sensor can be concealed. To provide a means to easily and arbitrarily supply cleaning water for cleaning work, etc. while having the advantage of a microwave sensor with no fear of mischief and improved design freedom is there.
[0008]
[Means for solving the problems and actions / effects]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention according to claim 1 is a difference according to a difference between a valve capable of supplying washing water to a urinal body, and a frequency of a transmitted microwave and a received signal. a microwave Doppler sensor which generates a signal, in urinal cleaning apparatus and a control means for opening said valve in response to an output of the microwave Doppler sensor, the control means, the microwave Doppler sensor Specific operation detection for detecting a signal obtained by performing a specific operation within the sensing range, and user detection for detecting a signal obtained by detecting the approach of the user within the sensing range of the microwave Doppler sensor Urine flow detection for detecting a signal obtained by urine flow within the sensing range of the microwave Doppler sensor; The is feasible, a predetermined time from the detection of the specific operation by the specific operation detection executes the cleaning mode to prohibit the opening of the valve in response to said user detection and the urine flow detection, When the specific operation is detected again by the specific operation detection in the middle of the cleaning mode, the valve is opened while the cleaning mode is continued .
[0009]
Doppler sensors using radio waves (especially micro waves and millimeter waves) are used for object (motion) detection based on the following principle using the Doppler effect.
Basic formula: ΔF = F _S −F _b = 2 × F _S × ν / c
ΔF: Doppler frequency F _S : transmission frequency F _b : reflection frequency ν: moving speed of the object c: speed of light (300 × 10 ⁶ m / s)
F _S transmitted from the antenna is reflected by the object, and becomes F _b upon receiving a Doppler frequency shift due to the relative motion ν. At this time, the frequency difference ΔF between the transmitted wave and the reflected wave can be extracted as a detection signal.
[0010]
Since this microwave Doppler sensor responds to the human body or urine flow, based on these detection results, the urinal can be washed by opening the valve, assuming that the urinal has been used.
[0011]
In the case of cleaning work or the like, when the operator performs a specific operation within the sensing range, the microwave Doppler sensor outputs a characteristic signal corresponding to the specific operation. The predetermined time after this is detected by the specific action detecting means does not open the valve by detecting the human body or the urine flow, so that water is wasted by supplying cleaning water during the cleaning operation. Or obstructing the cleaning work.
Here, the signal obtained by a specific action is a signal different from a signal from a Doppler sensor obtained by an action such as a human body approach or urine flow in normal use of a urinal, specifically an amplitude or Based on the amplitude and frequency, it detects that the signal is different from that when using the normal urinal, and the specific operation detecting means determines that the signal is a specific operation when the signal is continuously detected for a predetermined time. is there. As an example, by reciprocating the hand in the direction of approaching and leaving in the vicinity of the Doppler sensor, the signal from the Doppler sensor approximates the frequency of urinary approach when using a normal urinal (urine flow) The frequency is lower than that of the human body, but the amplitude cannot be obtained by approaching the human body, and a specific action is detected when the signal continues for a predetermined time. In addition, if the Doppler sensor detects only an action such as approaching the human body without detecting the urine flow, the specific action can be detected only from the amplitude.
[0012]
As described above, since the use of a normal urinal and detection for a special operation such as a cleaning operation can be performed by a single sensor, the structure is simplified. Moreover, since the sensor is not visible on the appearance, it looks good and is not easily mischievous. Moreover, since the structure is simple, the assembly of the product is easy. Furthermore, it becomes convenient because there is no need to carry a magnet for special operations such as cleaning work.
[0014]
In cleaning work, etc., it may be desired to flush the wash water arbitrarily, but according to the above configuration, the predetermined time after the specific action detecting means detects the specific action within the sensing range by the operator is By again performing a specific operation within the sensing range, the worker can arbitrarily supply cleaning water.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toilet bowl cleaning device according to the first to second aspects, when the specific action detecting means detects a specific action, the informing means notifies the user of the detection. It is structured as a feature.
[0016]
For the user, there is a fear that whether or not the specific action has been detected, but by providing the notification means, the user can recognize that the specific action has been detected, and can be relieved.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a urinal to which a toilet cleaning device according to the present invention is applied. Inside the urinal 10, a Doppler sensor 11 and a functional unit 12 are accommodated. The upper end of the urinal 10 is a lid 15 so that maintenance work of a space in which the Doppler sensor 11 and the functional unit 12 are housed can be easily performed. On the upper back surface of the urinal 10, a water supply unit 13 for supplying water for cleaning the space inside the ball part of the urinal 10 is provided. A cleaning water discharge port 14 is provided in the upper part of the ball space. A trap portion 17 and a drain port 18 for forming a sealed water are provided in the lower portion of the space inside the ball portion.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the Doppler sensor 11. The Doppler sensor 11 includes: a transmitting unit 20 that transmits a microwave of 10.525 GHz; a receiving unit 21 that receives a reflected wave; and a difference detecting unit 22 that outputs a difference between the frequencies of the transmitting unit 20 and the receiving unit 21. It is configured.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram specifically illustrating the functional unit 12. The output of the Doppler sensor 11 is amplified by an amplifier 31 and passes through a low frequency pass filter 32 that passes a signal of about 10 to about 40 Hz and a high frequency pass filter 33 that passes a signal of about 130 to about 180 Hz. Are input to the A / D port of the microcomputer 34. Based on this, the microcomputer 34 operates the buzzer 35 and the cleaning water supply valve 36.
[0021]
In the urinal washing apparatus having the above configuration, when the user approaches the urinal 10 or moves his / her body near the urinal 10, a signal is mainly output from the low-frequency pass filter 32. On the other hand, since the movement speed of the urine flow is faster than that of the human body, a signal is mainly output from the high frequency band pass filter 33, so that the microcomputer 34 can distinguish between the movement of the person and the urine flow.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main flow of a detection function periodically processed by the urinal cleaning device. First, it is determined by the cleaning mode flag whether or not it is the cleaning mode (S41), and in the cleaning mode (Y in S41), the process proceeds to the cleaning mode specific operation detection flow (S42). On the other hand, when not in the cleaning mode (N in S41), the normal mode specific operation detection flow (S43), the user detection flow (S44), and the urine flow detection flow (S45) are processed. That is, in the cleaning mode, user detection and urine flow detection are not performed.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is an example of a signal obtained from the low-frequency pass filter 32 when the user approaches the urinal 10 to piss. The period of T1 is approaching. FIG. 6 is an example of a signal obtained from the high frequency band pass filter 33 when the user starts urination.
[0024]
When the cleaning operator cleans the urinal 10, a signal as shown in FIG. 8 is obtained from the low-frequency pass filter 32 when the hand is reciprocated for several seconds within the ball portion as shown in FIG. 7.
[0025]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a normal mode specific operation detection flow. If the output level VL of the low frequency band pass filter 32 is V5 <VL <V6 (Y in S91), the microcomputer 34 ends. If the output level VL of the low frequency pass filter 32 is V5 or less or V6 or more (N in S91), a timer is started (S92). When 2 seconds have elapsed after the timer is started (Y in S93), the buzzer 35 is sounded (S94), the cleaning mode flag is set (S95), and the cleaning mode timer is set (S96). ). For example, when the cleaning mode timer is set to 10 minutes, the cleaning mode timer is set to the cleaning mode for 10 minutes. During this period, the user detection and the urine flow detection are not performed. When the output level VL of the low-frequency pass filter 32 is 0.5 seconds when V5 <VL <V6 (Y in S96) until 2 seconds elapse after the timer starts (N in S93), the hand reciprocates. It is judged that it was not done and ends. When the microcomputer 34 recognizes that a specific operation has been performed, the buzzer 35 sounds, so that the cleaning operator can recognize this and stop the reciprocation of the hand. With respect to the output of the low-frequency pass filter 32 during the reciprocating operation of the hand shown in FIG. 8, VL becomes V5 or less or V6 or more (ts), and V5 < Since VL <V6 and 0.5 seconds do not elapse, the hand reciprocation can be detected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, for a signal obtained from the low-frequency pass filter 32 when the user approaches the urinal 10, VL does not become V5 or less or V6 or more. It is not recognized as a reciprocal motion.
[0026]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a user detection flow. If the cleaning mode flag is set (Y in S101), the process ends. If the cleaning mode flag is not set (N in S101), if the continuous cleaning prohibition timer has not elapsed for 1 minute (N in S102), it ends, and if 1 minute has elapsed (Y in S102) The presence or absence of the user is determined from the value of the output VL of the low frequency band pass filter 32. That is, when the output VL of the low frequency band pass filter 32 exceeds the range from V1 to V2 (Y in S103), it is determined that the user has approached and the continuous cleaning prohibition timer is started (S104). This prevents supplying wash water many times for the movement of the same user's body. Next, the cleaning water supply valve 36 is opened for a certain time (S105). On the other hand, when the output VL of the low-frequency band pass filter 32 is in the range of V1 to V2 (N in S103), the process is terminated assuming that the user has not approached. According to the above, since the pre-cleaning is performed immediately after detecting the approach of the user, a water film is formed on the inner wall surface of the ball portion to facilitate removal of dirt.
[0027]
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a urine flow detection flow. If the cleaning mode flag is set (Y in S111), the process ends. When the cleaning mode flag is not set (N in S111), if the output level VH of the high-frequency pass filter 33 is V3 or lower or V4 or higher (N in S112), a timer is started (S113). . When 10 seconds elapse after V becomes in the range of V3 to V4 (Y in S114), 10 seconds have passed since the urine flow was interrupted. If the timer is 3 seconds or more (Y in S115), 3 This means that a urine flow of more than 1 second has been detected, and the washing water supply valve 36 is opened (S116). In the output example of the high frequency band pass filter 33 shown in FIG. 6, the period of T2 is recognized as a urine flow, and if T2 is 3 seconds or more, washing is started 10 seconds after te. .
[0028]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a cleaning mode specific operation detection flow. When the cleaning mode timer counts up (Y in S121), the microcomputer 34 clears the cleaning mode flag (S122) and ends the cleaning mode. When the cleaning mode timer does not count up (N in S121), when the output level VL of the low-frequency pass filter 32 becomes V5 or lower or V6 or higher (N in S123), the timer is started (S124). When 2 seconds elapse after the timer is started (Y in S125), it is determined that the hand reciprocation is detected, and the cleaning water supply valve 36 is opened (S126). When the output level VL of the low-frequency pass filter 32 is 0.2 seconds when V5 <VL <V6 (Y in S127) until 2 seconds elapse after the timer starts (N in S126), the hand reciprocates. It is judged that it was not done and ends. By the above processing, the cleaning operator can supply cleaning water arbitrarily by reciprocating the hand.
[0029]
Since the signal due to the reciprocation of the hand has a clear difference in amplitude and duration from the signal when approaching during normal use, the reciprocation of the hand can be accurately recognized by the above procedure.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a urinal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a Doppler sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a urinal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main flow of a detection function periodically processed by the urinal washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an output signal waveform of a low-frequency pass filter when a user is approaching the urinal.
FIG. 6 is an output signal waveform of a high-frequency band pass filter during urination.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation for operating the urinal washing device when the cleaning operator cleans the urinal.
FIG. 8 is an example of an output signal waveform of a low-frequency pass filter when the cleaning operator reciprocates his / her hand in the ball portion.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a normal mode specific operation detection flow;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a user detection flow.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a urine flow detection flow.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a cleaning mode specific operation detection flow;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... urinal, 11 ... Doppler sensor, 12 ... functional part,
13 ... Water supply unit, 14 ... Washing water discharge port, 15 ... Lid,
17 ... Trap part, 18 ... Drain port,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Transmission means, 21 ... Reception means, 22 ... Difference detection means 30 ... Control part, 31 ... Amplifier, 32 ... Low frequency band pass filter 33 ... High frequency band pass filter, 34 ... Microcomputer, 35 ... Buzzer 36 ... Washing water supply valve

Claims (3)

A valve that can supply cleaning water to the urinal body;
A microwave Doppler sensor that generates a differential signal according to the difference between the transmitted microwave and the frequency of the received signal;
Control means for opening the valve according to the output of the microwave Doppler sensor ;
In the urinal washing device with
The control means detects a specific operation for detecting a signal obtained by performing a specific operation within the sensing range of the microwave Doppler sensor, and detects a user's approach within the sensing range of the microwave Doppler sensor. User detection to detect the signal obtained by this, and urine flow detection to detect the signal obtained by the urine flow within the sensing range of the microwave Doppler sensor,
The predetermined time from the detection of the specific operation by the specific operation detection executes the cleaning mode to prohibit the opening of the valve in response to said user detection and the urine flow detection,
A urinal washing apparatus, wherein the valve is opened while continuing the cleaning mode when the specific operation is detected again by detecting the specific operation in the middle of the cleaning mode . 2. The urinal washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal obtained by performing the specific operation is larger than the signal obtained by detecting the approach of the user. Cleaning device. In the urinal cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, when detecting the specific operation by the specific operation detection, small, characterized in that comprises informing means for informing that it has detected a specific operation to the user Toilet bowl cleaning device.

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