JP4051675B2 - Urinal equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the urinal which controls discharge of washing water by an output signal from a sensor unit which transmits and receives radio waves and detects a human body or urine flow, the washing function control unit easily controls the discharge of water from the outside. The present invention relates to a urinal device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, flush water discharge control in a urinal apparatus has been performed by determining the presence or absence of a user using a photoelectric sensor that detects an object using light. The photoelectric sensor detects the amount of washing water according to the time that the user is in front of the urinal device, and does not discharge the washing water when detecting the user.
[0003]
Moreover, in a urinal device using a photoelectric sensor, when temporarily stopping the discharge of washing water by cleaning the urinal device, etc., a magnetic material such as a magnet can be installed at any part of the photoelectric sensor. The water discharge was stopped. Further, by bringing a magnetic substance such as a magnet close to an arbitrary part of the photoelectric sensor, cleaning at a constant flow rate is performed regardless of detection by the user.
[0004]
In addition to the above method, the human body is being used for the photoelectric sensor by placing a shielding object (for example, a cloth used for cleaning) on the light projecting portion of the photoelectric sensor at the installation location, based on the judgment of the person who performs the cleaning. It was also recognized that the water discharge was stopped.
[0005]
In addition, there is a urinal device having a sensor that detects a user or urine flow by transmitting and receiving radio waves (for example, Patent Document 1). Has proposed a method for controlling the discharge of cleaning water by a specific action of the cleaner.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication 62-132484 (page 1-2, Fig. 1)
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, unlike the urinal device using the photoelectric sensor, the urinal device using the radio wave sensor can conceal the sensor unit, and thus the cleaner cannot confirm the location of the sensor unit. In addition, it becomes impossible to stop the washing water by concealing the sensor portion like a photoelectric sensor.
Also, in water discharge control using a magnetic material such as a magnet, the cleaner needs to carry the magnet, and if the magnet is lost, it cannot be used as a function.
[0008]
In addition, as a countermeasure at the time of cleaning in the radio wave sensor, there has been proposed that the cleaning water is controlled by performing a certain operation within the detection range of the sensor, but the difference in operation by the cleaner or the operation is performed. Depending on the location, it may not be detected.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention reduces the influence of cleaners and the influence of operation as much as possible, can control the water discharge from the outside by an easy method, and can further control the water discharge more accurately. Is to provide.
[0010]
[Means for solving the problems and actions / effects]
For the purposes achieved, a valve that can supply flush water to the urinal, and a sensor unit for detecting the user or urine stream by transmitting and receiving radio waves to derive an output signal, the output signal from the sensor unit in the urinal device having a cleaning function control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the valve in response to the cleaning function control unit, when the reference value DC component of the output signal is defined arbitrarily exceeds a predetermined time When a specific signal having an arbitrary frequency or amplitude value is received by the sensor unit while the valve is not open, the valve is prohibited from opening again after a certain period of water discharge characterized in that it.
With this configuration, the DC component of the output signal obtained from the sensor unit by bringing an arbitrary object close to the vicinity where the sensor unit is installed is clearly the DC component of the output signal obtained from the user or the urine flow. Since a different signal can be obtained, the cleaning function control unit can determine that the detection is a special detection by detecting an object different from the user or the urine flow, and it can be determined that this determination is different from the normal cleaning. Therefore, it is possible to easily stop the washing water in a special case such as cleaning.
In addition, since the valve is prohibited to open only when the DC component exceeds the reference value for a certain time or more, it is prohibited to open the valve even when an object is accidentally thrown into the urinal device. Never do.
And, for example, cleaning the toilet using wash water during cleaning is a frequent action, and the valve opening prohibition is temporarily canceled by a signal indicating that the valve opening is prohibited. This makes it possible to easily use temporary cleaning water such as cleaning.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the cleaning function control unit prohibits the opening of the valve, the cleaning function control unit re-opens the valve when the DC component of the output signal again exceeds a predetermined reference value for a predetermined time. It is characterized by canceling the prohibition of valve opening.
With this configuration, the opening operation prohibition can be canceled by performing an operation similar to the operation performed when the valve opening operation prohibition is performed, so that the switching can be easily performed by a single method.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cleaning function control unit notifies the outside of the valve opening prohibition / validation prohibition release by voice.
One of the purposes of concealing the radio wave sensor and mounting it in the urinal device is to prevent the sensor from being damaged due to tampering from the outside. If exposed and informed visually, there is a risk of damage as described above.
With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately notify the outside of valve opening prohibition / release without causing destruction due to mischief or the like by hiding the notification means inside and leaving it outside by voice.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning function controller discharges the cleaning water for a certain period of time when the valve opening prohibition is canceled.
With such a configuration, there are places where it is difficult to make a notification by voice or the like at the place where the urinal device is installed. It is possible to notify the outside of the valve opening prohibition cancellation without providing a means.
[0015]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning function control unit cancels the valve opening prohibition when the valve opening prohibition continues for a predetermined time or more.
With this configuration, if the valve is prohibited from being opened after being prohibited from being released, it will lead to adhesion of dirt due to urine flow or the like. By returning to the specification, it is possible to prevent the toilet from being soiled and to eliminate the user's uncomfortable feeling due to the fact that the user's washing water does not flow.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the frequency of the radio wave radiated from the sensor unit is set to 10.5 to 10.55 GHz that can be used for indoor sensing applications, but the same effect can be obtained at other frequencies.
Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the urinal apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sensor unit and a drive circuit, FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a standing wave, and FIG. 4 is a main operation flowchart in an arithmetic unit. FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the cleaning mode, and FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of the periphery of the arithmetic unit.
[0017]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a urinal apparatus of the present invention. The urinal device 100 of the present invention controls washing water based on an output signal obtained by detecting a user or urine flow in a sensor unit. Therefore, as the installation position of the sensor unit, for the purpose of detecting the user, the position (101) that radiates the transmission wave 105 in the upper part of the urinal device and toward the user, or the urinal device A position (102) that is installed on the back surface and radiates the transmission wave 105 toward the user is considered. For the purpose of detecting the urine flow, the position (103) where the transmission wave is radiated in the upper direction of the urinal device and the lower surface where the drainage port is provided, or the back side inside the urinal device A position (104) where the transmission wave is radiated in the direction in which the urine flow is installed, in the present embodiment, obliquely downward is considered. A sensor unit is provided at any of the above installation locations to detect a user or urine flow. In addition to the above installation locations, there are other installation locations for detecting the user or urine flow, but it is basically a problem if the user or urine flow can be detected at any location. is not.
Here, the sensor part installed in said installation place is in the state concealed with the pottery so that it may not be visible from the outside. Therefore, when cleaning the urinal device, a signal is input from the outside to the sensor unit, and the discharge control of the washing water is easily performed even in a concealed state.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the sensor unit and the drive circuit. In this embodiment, an example in which a Doppler sensor that derives a Doppler signal based on the frequency of a moving object as an output signal by transmitting and receiving radio waves is shown. The output signal 201 output from the sensor unit 200 is a human body detection filter unit 203 that extracts only the frequency component of the human body movement after passing through the AC amplifier 202, and the urine flow detection filter unit 204 that passes only the frequency component of the urine flow. , And output signals 206 and 207 corresponding to the respective frequencies are extracted to the arithmetic unit 205. Here, the amplifier 202 used for detecting the human body or urine flow extracts only the frequency component, and therefore, amplification is performed using an AC amplifier.
[0019]
The output signals that have passed through the filter units 203 and 204 are input to the calculation unit 205, and the discharge of cleaning water is controlled by comparing the output signals 206 and 207 with a preset threshold value. In the control of water discharge, the calculation unit 205 controls the valve 208 that discharges / stops the cleaning water. In the present embodiment, both the human body detection filter unit 203 and the urine flow detection filter unit 204 are provided. However, even when the water discharge control is performed by detecting the urine flow, the user can be detected by detecting the human body. Both filter parts are described in this embodiment because pre-cleaning can be performed to wet the pottery surface to prevent urine adhesion before use.
In addition, since the calculation unit 205 can determine which filter is used to perform the discharge control of the wash water, there is no problem caused by providing two filter units.
[0020]
Here, the urinal apparatus of the present embodiment has a DC amplifier 210 configured in parallel with a DC amplifier that also amplifies a DC component in addition to the amplifier 202 using the AC amplifier. The DC amplifier 210 is provided for deriving a standing wave generated by the distance between the sensor unit 200 and the object to be detected. The derived DC component is a cleaning function control unit 211 that controls an automatic cleaning function. Is input.
When the output signal 212 derived from the DC amplifier 210 is detected as a DC component different from the user or urine flow signal normally obtained by comparison with a threshold value preset in the cleaning function control unit 211, A control signal 213 is output to the arithmetic unit 205 to switch to the cleaning mode in which the driving of the valve 208 is stopped.
[0021]
A waveform diagram of the standing wave shown above is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the standing wave 300 is a waveform that oscillates periodically according to the distance, and the amplitude of the signal increases as the distance from the sensor unit decreases. Since the standing wave 300 is generated by interference between the transmission wave and the reflected wave of the sensor unit, the amplitude of the standing wave 300 increases when the reflected wave is large. In the present invention, an object in a urinal device provided with a sensor unit, for example, a cleaning mop used for cleaning, is brought close to the sensor unit to obtain a voltage with a large amplitude value of the standing wave, The opening operation of the valve is stopped by the voltage.
Here, since the standing wave 300 periodically oscillates, there is a distance 301 in which the amplitude becomes small. Therefore, by adjusting the installation position of the sensor, it is set so that a large amplitude 302 can be surely obtained by bringing a certain object closer to the vicinity of the pottery surface concealing the sensor unit.
[0022]
In addition, the standing wave is detected by detecting the urine flow and the user, but the user has a distance from the sensor unit, and the urine flow cannot take a large reflected wave due to moisture. As a standing wave, a signal having a small amplitude value is output. Therefore, detecting the urine flow and the user does not stop the driving of the valve, so that the cleaning water does not flow, and the discharge control of the cleaning water can be performed with high accuracy.
[0023]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a main operation flowchart in the arithmetic unit of the urinal apparatus of the present invention.
The calculation unit determines whether a control signal from the cleaning function control unit is input (S400). If it is determined that there is a control signal, the process proceeds to the cleaning mode flow (S401). If it is determined that there is no control signal, it is next determined whether the cleaning mode is ON (S402). Once the mode is changed to the cleaning mode, it remains in the cleaning mode until the next control signal is received or until a predetermined time elapses, so it is necessary to determine whether or not the mode is the cleaning mode.
When the cleaning mode is in the ON state, it is determined whether a certain time has elapsed (S403). The fixed time shown here is the time for canceling the cleaning mode in order to prevent the urine from adhering to the irrigation water that cannot be discharged when the cleaning water is not released while being in the cleaning mode. It is assumed that the cleaning time of the urinal device is 30 to 60 minutes, and T = 60 minutes is set in this embodiment. Set the cleaning mode and start counting the timer after closing the valve. In S403, the time until passing this determination means is determined. If T = 60 minutes, the cleaning mode is turned off. (S404).
When the cleaning mode is OFF, the normal detection mode is executed (S405). When two filter parts in FIG. 2 are provided, the human body is detected and the human body is approaching. When it is detected, pre-cleaning is performed to wet the pottery surface, urine flow is then detected, and cleaning is performed if it is necessary to discharge the cleaning water (S406).
With the main flow as the main axis, the cleaning water discharge is controlled, and a separate cleaning mode flow is provided to accurately perform the cleaning water discharge control and the transition to the cleaning mode.
[0024]
Next, a flowchart in the cleaning mode is shown in FIG.
Only when the control signal is detected on the main flow shown above, the process proceeds to the cleaning mode flow.
In the cleaning mode flow, first, it is confirmed whether or not the cleaning mode is ON (S500). The confirmation here is a confirmation for determining whether or not it is a signal for canceling the cleaning mode when the cleaning mode is ON as described above. If the cleaning mode is in the ON state, the cleaning mode is canceled (S501), and the process proceeds to the main flow. If the cleaning mode is OFF, the cleaning mode is turned ON (S502). At this time, since the cleaning mode has a function of automatically turning off the cleaning mode if it continues for a certain time or longer, after the valve is closed, the count number of the internal timer is once cleared (S503), From there, time counting is started (S504).
Through the above flow, the calculation unit determines whether or not the cleaning mode is performed, and the valve control unit controls the valve. Thereby, it becomes possible to recognize a specific signal from the outside with high accuracy and smoothly perform the transition as to whether or not the cleaning mode is set.
[0025]
FIG. 6 shows a schematic circuit configuration diagram around the arithmetic unit. Here, the case where it has the function to receive the specific signal for discharging the washing water only for a fixed time when it is in the cleaning mode is described. In addition to the human body detection filter unit 601 and the urine flow detection filter unit 602, the output signal 600 that has passed through the AC amplifier is provided with a specific signal filter unit 603 that extracts a signal having a certain frequency bandwidth. In this specific signal filter unit 603, only a specific frequency input from the outside is extracted except for several Hz to several tens Hz which is the movement of the human body and several tens Hz to several hundred Hz which is the frequency of the urine flow. When an output signal 604 is input from the filter unit 603 to the calculation unit 605, cleaning is performed for a predetermined time. However, the cleaning for a certain period of time is performed only when the calculation unit 605 recognizes that it is in the cleaning mode, and when it is not in the cleaning mode, the output signal 604 from the specific signal filter unit 603 is not considered. is there.
Since it becomes possible to perform the above-mentioned cleaning for a certain period of time, it is possible to easily discharge the temporary cleaning water during cleaning, and it is possible to perform cleaning without being inferior to conventional photoelectric sensors. It becomes.
Further, the frequency bandwidth signal extracted by the specific signal filter unit 603 is preferably a frequency generated by waving a human body. In addition, there is a method of allowing a cleaner to carry an oscillator that oscillates a signal in a frequency band that passes through the specific signal filter unit 603 separately. However, as a method of easily discharging cleaning water without increasing the number of portable items, The former hand movement seems to be desirable.
[0026]
Moreover, in this invention, it has a means to alert | report outside with an audio | voice at the time of the start or stop of cleaning mode. Although there is a method of visually informing the outside, it is desirable that the radio wave sensor is concealed for the purpose of preventing mischief and the like so that it can be concealed by the informing means and can be left undisturbed to the cleaner. From the above, as a means that can be concealed and accurately left outside, voice notification is performed.
Furthermore, as means for notifying the cleaner that the cleaning mode has been turned off accurately, it is possible to visually notify the cleaner by discharging the cleaning water for a certain period of time when the cleaning mode is canceled. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cleaning mode from being forgotten.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a urinal device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a sensor unit and a drive circuit. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a standing wave. 5] Flowchart diagram in the cleaning mode [FIG. 6] Schematic configuration diagram around the arithmetic unit [Explanation of symbols]
100: urinal apparatus, 101, 102, 103, 104: sensor unit, 105: transmission wave, 200: sensor unit, 201: output signal, 202: AC amplifier, 203: human body detection filter unit, 204: urine flow detection filter , 205: arithmetic unit, 206, 207: output signal, 208: valve, 210: DC amplifier, 211: cleaning function control unit, 212: output signal, 213: control signal, 300: standing wave, 301: minimum amplitude 302: Maximum amplitude value 600: Output signal 601: Human body detection filter unit 602: Urine flow detection filter unit 603: Specific signal filter unit 604 output signal 605: Calculation unit 606: Valve

Claims (5)

A valve that can supply flush water to the urinal;
A sensor unit for detecting a user or urine flow by transmitting and receiving radio waves and deriving an output signal;
A cleaning function control unit for controlling the opening and closing of the valve in response to the output signal from the sensor unit,
In a urinal device having
The cleaning function control unit,
When the DC component of the output signal exceeds a predetermined reference value for a predetermined time, valve opening is prohibited ,
When the sensor unit receives a specific signal having an arbitrary frequency or amplitude value while the valve is prohibited from being opened, the urinal is again prohibited from opening the valve after discharging water for a certain period of time . apparatus. The cleaning function control unit cancels the valve opening prohibition when the direct current component of the output signal again exceeds a predetermined reference value for a predetermined time when the valve opening is prohibited. The urinal device according to claim 1. The urinal device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the cleaning function control unit notifies the outside of the valve opening prohibition / release by voice. The urinal apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the cleaning function control unit discharges cleaning water for a predetermined time when the valve opening prohibition is canceled. The urinal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cleaning function control unit cancels the valve opening prohibition when the valve opening prohibition continues for a predetermined time or more.

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