JP4773640B2 - Sanitary washing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sanitary washing apparatus capable of manufacturing the sanitary washing apparatus with a common configuration except for the attached function even when the attached functions provided for each model of the sanitary washing apparatus are different.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today, sanitary washing devices are provided with various convenient functions such as a local washing function, toilet seat heating, hot air injection, and deodorizing functions. And the user can use a sanitary washing apparatus comfortably by selecting and using these attached functions.
[0003]
The attached functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus are usually different depending on the type of the sanitary washing apparatus, and from the side (manufacturer) that provides the sanitary washing apparatus, there are several kinds of attached functions provided individually. Often, hygiene cleaning devices are generally provided.
[0004]
Therefore, the user (user) selects and purchases a sanitary washing device that has an accessory function that matches or is closer to his / her own usage situation, from among a variety of models available. It was common to use. That is, the user has selected and used a sanitary washing device having necessary accessory functions in consideration of his / her lifestyle and purchase costs.
[0005]
On the other hand, the side (manufacturer) that provides the sanitary washing device can provide the above-mentioned accessory functions of a wide range of users by distinguishing and providing the relatively demanding accessory functions for each model of the sanitary washing device. Several types of sanitary washing devices with different functions were provided to users.
[0006]
That is, the side (manufacturer) providing the sanitary washing apparatus responds to the user's request by designing and manufacturing the sanitary washing apparatus for each model. This is due to the fact that equipment (units that implement functions (including control programs)) provided in the sanitary washing apparatus inevitably differ due to differences in the attached functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus for each model. So far, production based on a common design concept has hardly been performed.
[0007]
Therefore, the side providing the sanitary washing device designs and manufactures only the model of the sanitary washing device having an attached function corresponding to the use situation of the user (including the construction of a control program). It was provided to users.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, as described above, the provider side (manufacturer) of the sanitary washing device requires a different design and manufacture for each model, and therefore, the labor, time and cost spent for the design and manufacture are not small. The burden on the provider side (manufacturer) was very large.
[0009]
This is not economical because the provider side (manufacturer) responds to a wide variety of user demands, leading to an increase in the number of models to be provided (manufactured), resulting in an increase in manufacturing burden and the like. . As a result, it is refrained from increasing the number of models of the sanitary washing device, and the user cannot use a sanitary washing device (a sanitary washing device having a desired function) configured to satisfy his / her request. It was a serious problem because it caused problems.
[0010]
Therefore, in view of the various problems described above, the present invention enables manufacturing of a sanitary washing device based on a common design / manufacturing (including construction of a control program, etc.) even when the attached functions are different for each model. An object of the present invention is to provide a sanitary washing apparatus.
[0013]
[Means for solving problems]
The sanitary washing device according to claim 1 operates an operation switch for performing and setting various functions, a display means for displaying an operation / setting state of the various functions, and operating various functions by turning on / off the operation switches. In the sanitary washing apparatus provided with the controller, the controller stores a control program for controlling operations of various functions that can be provided in the sanitary washing apparatus, and model information for determining the functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus. The control program stored in the nonvolatile memory is constructed by assigning priorities to the operation switches and the display means to all functions that can be attached to the sanitary washing device. It said display means and the operation switch of priority of provided functionality is configured to be allocated in order to the apparatus
[0014]
The sanitary washing device according to claim 2 is the sanitary washing device according to claim 1 , wherein a read-only memory is used as a memory for storing the control program, and a rewritable nonvolatile memory is provided for the memory for storing the model information. Configured using memory.
[0015]
Sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in the sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, the non-volatile memory for storing model information of the sanitary washing device, a removable separation type from the sanitary washing device Configured.
[0017]
When the sanitary washing device of the present invention changes the attached functions and manufactures different types of sanitary washing devices, the sanitary washing device model information in the rewritable nonvolatile memory is rewritten, and It is possible to easily manufacture different models by installing the components of other functions using the space provided in the casing in advance, and to design and manufacture different types of sanitary washing devices. The problem was solved.
[0018]
The control programs for various functions and model information can be stored even in the event of a power failure by using a non-volatile memory that does not require power to maintain the memory, and the model information is rewritten. Since it is stored in a memory that is easy to process, it is possible to more easily manufacture sanitary washing apparatuses of different models.
[0019]
Furthermore, since the control program is not premised on rewriting, it can be stored in an inexpensive read-only memory, so that the manufacturing cost of the sanitary washing device can be easily reduced.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sanitary washing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a toilet body, and 2 is a toilet seat attached to the toilet body 1 together with a toilet lid 3 so as to be opened and closed.
[0021]
Reference numeral 4 denotes a local cleaning nozzle device attached to the toilet body 1 so as to be able to advance and retreat. Reference numeral 5 denotes a sanitary washing device body installed from the back of the toilet body 1 to the side. Reference numeral 6 denotes an operation panel installed on the upper front surface of the sanitary washing apparatus main body 5, and 7 denotes a low tank for storing cleaning water installed behind the toilet body 1.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the sanitary washing device body 5 constitutes various functions provided in the sanitary washing device, such as a heating function, a local washing function, a local drying function, and a deodorizing function of the toilet seat 2 in the casing 5a. The components 8a and 8b (hereinafter simply referred to as a functional component, and only two types of functional components are installed in FIG. 2) and a controller 9 that controls these various functions are accommodated at a minimum.
[0023]
The controller 9 is arranged in the casing 5a in response to the operation of turning on and releasing various operation switches (not shown) on the operation panel 6 installed on the upper front surface of the sanitary washing apparatus body 5 described in FIG. The various functional components 8a and 8b are activated.
[0024]
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a space (dead space) formed between the functional components 8 a and 8 b and the controller 9 in the casing 5 a of the sanitary washing device body 5. Note that the position of the dead space is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 2 and is appropriately changed depending on the position and the number of the functional components 8a and 8b. Usually, functional components other than the functional components 8a and 8b shown in FIG. 2 are installed.
[0025]
That is, by using the dead space, various functional components can be installed in the casing 5a of the sanitary washing device body 5 within the allowable range of the dead space.
[0026]
Next, the configuration of the controller 9 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the controller 9 and its peripheral devices. As shown in FIG. 3, the controller 9 is a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) having a CPU 11 as arithmetic processing means, a nonvolatile memory 12 as storage means, an input / output port 13 and an A / D conversion circuit 14. 15) and a non-volatile memory 16 electrically connected to the microcomputer 15.
[0027]
The nonvolatile memory 12 uses, for example, an electrically writable memory such as an EPROM, and stores a control program including control parameters for various functions executed by the CPU 11. It is assumed that the control program is set in advance so that drive control can be performed for all of the various functional components that can be accommodated in the casing 5a of the sanitary washing device body 5 shown in FIG.
[0028]
The nonvolatile memory 16 uses an electrically rewritable EEPROM or flash memory (memory card or the like), and stores model information (sales information of various functions) of the sanitary washing apparatus. Note that when a flash memory such as a memory card is used as the nonvolatile memory 16, a separate drive unit (not shown) is required. In this embodiment, the case where an EEPROM is used is described for convenience of explanation. To do.
[0029]
The model information of the sanitary washing device is information on what function the sanitary washing device has, and in other words, it can be said to be allocation information of various functions provided in the sanitary washing device. is there.
[0030]
The allocation information of the various functions is information on the presence / absence of various functions provided in the sanitary washing device, and the following is the case where the presence / absence information of the local drying function is stored in the EEPROM 16 as the allocation information. Briefly explain the case.
[0031]
The EEPROM 16 stores allocation information indicating that the local drying function is “present”, and when the CPU 11 calls the allocation information, the user recognizes that the local drying function is provided in the sanitary washing device. When the drying switch provided on the operation panel 6 is turned on, the CPU 11 receives an instruction to turn on the drying switch, outputs an operation signal to the component of the drying function to activate the drying function, and also displays predetermined display means ( LED, etc.) indicates that the drying function is in operation.
[0032]
On the other hand, when the information that the local drying function “none” is stored in the EEPROM 16 as the allocation information and the CPU 11 calls out the allocation information, it is recognized that the sanitary washing apparatus does not have the local drying function. Even if a command signal (noise signal) similar to that when the drying switch is turned on for some reason is transmitted to the CPU 11, even if the CPU 11 refuses or accepts the noise signal, the configuration of the drying function The operation signal is not output to the unit, and the lighting operation of predetermined display means (LED or the like) is not executed.
[0033]
As described above, the EEPROM 16 stores model information of the sanitary washing apparatus (allocation information of various functions) as information for appropriately controlling and operating various functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus.
[0034]
The A / D conversion circuit 14 is a circuit provided in the sanitary washing device, for example, for converting analog signals input from various sensors 17a and 17b such as a toilet seat temperature sensor and a seating sensor into digital signals. Reference numeral 18 denotes display means such as LEDs arranged on the operation panel 6 for displaying the operation status and setting status of the sanitary washing apparatus, and 19 denotes operation switches for operating various functions of the sanitary washing apparatus. is there.
[0035]
In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes various devices such as a heater and a motor provided for actually operating the various functions in the functional components 8 a and 8 b configuring the various functions of the sanitary washing apparatus. And equipment.
[0036]
Here, the EPROM (nonvolatile memory) 12 for storing the control program will be briefly described. The EPROM 12 is a kind of non-volatile memory, and has an advantage that a power source for storing and holding data is not required. On the other hand, when data is rewritten, it is stored by irradiating the chip surface with ultraviolet rays. Since it is necessary to rewrite data after erasing data in batches in units of chips and the rewriting is very difficult, the present invention has various functions that do not require rewriting. The EPROM 12 is used to store a program for control.
[0037]
There is an EEPROM as a non-volatile memory that does not require a power source to hold data. The EEPROM can read and write data in units of 1 byte, and can be handled like a normal RAM. However, since the EEPROM has a complicated structure, the cost per bit is expensive. For this reason, in the present invention, model information (allocation information) of various functions with a high rewrite frequency and a small amount of data to be stored is stored.
[0038]
The nonvolatile memories 12, 16 and the CPU 11 and the A / D conversion circuit 14 are both electrically connected to the input / output port 13, and the input / output port 13 includes an LED 18 provided on the operation panel 6. , The operation switch 19, and a heater, a motor, and the like constituting the various functional components (see FIG. 2) 8 are connected.
[0039]
Next, an example of the processing operation of the controller 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows the processing operation of the CPU 11 (see FIG. 3) when the EEPROM 16 stores the presence / absence of the local cleaning function and the presence / absence of the local drying function as model information. The processing operation control program is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory (EPROM or the like) 12 shown in FIG.
[0040]
First, First, in step S ₁ shown in FIG. 4, the power supply of the sanitary washing apparatus main body 5, when starting the energization of the controller 9, the CPU11 in step S _2, the sanitary from EEPROM16 shown in FIG. 3 Calls the model information of the cleaning device.
[0041]
The model information of the sanitary washing apparatus is stored in the EEPROM 16 in advance when the sanitary washing apparatus body 5 is manufactured, as in the control program stored in the EPROM 12.
[0042]
Next, in step S _3, from the call model information (allocation information of various functions), the sanitary washing device, it is determined whether or not provided with a cleaning function. Then, when the sanitary washing apparatus is not provided with a cleaning function turns off the cleaning function proceeds to step S _4.
[0043]
This off state of the cleaning function is when the switch 19 on the operation panel 6 for starting the cleaning operation is turned on or when a signal (noise signal) for starting the cleaning operation is input to the CPU 11 for some reason. However, the CPU 11 does not accept any input related to the cleaning function, or even if the CPU 11 does not receive an operation signal to the LED 18 that displays the function setting / operation state, etc. Means.
[0044]
When it is determined from the model information stored in the EEPROM 16 that the sanitary washing apparatus does not have a washing function, the casing 5a shown in FIG. Naturally, no function component is installed, and therefore, the CPU 11 outputs an operation signal to the device (function component) that realizes the cleaning function and the LED 18 that displays the operation state of the cleaning function. Is stopped.
[0045]
Further, the step S ₃ a result of referring to the type information, when the has a cleaning function CPU11 has determined, the process proceeds to step S _5, with reference to the model information stored in the EEPROM 16, the It is determined whether or not the model has a drying function.
[0046]
If in Step S ₅ is determined to drying function "no", the CPU11 is set to turn off the drying function proceeds to step S _6, whereas, if the drying function in Step S ₅ is determined to be "Yes", the the process proceeds to step S _7, a charged standby states of various operation switches 19 provided on the operation panel 6.
[0047]
In the same way as when the cleaning function is turned off, the drying function is turned off so that the CPU 11 does not input a signal regarding the drying function or does not send an operation signal to a device or the like that realizes the drying function. It is.
[0048]
If it is determined in step S ₃ that the cleaning function is “none”, there is usually no drying function in step S ₅ (since there is no local cleaning function, the drying function is not necessary), the step after turning off the cleaning function in S _4, without passing through the step S _5, the process proceeds directly to step S _6, it may be caused to turn off the drying function.
[0049]
In the standby state of the operation switch of the step S _7, the cleaning switch is turned on, in step S _8, the nozzle device 4 shown in FIG. 1, for example, jetting cleaning water toward a local post defecation. At the same time, a predetermined LED 18 provided on the operation panel 6 is turned on to indicate that the cleaning function is in operation (step S ₉ ).
[0050]
Further, in step S _7, if the cleaning switch is not turned on, the cleaning operation is stopped the process proceeds to step S _10, followed, in a step S _11, to turn off the LED 18, the washing operation is stopped Display.
[0051]
Then, drying switch in step S ₁₂ is when it is turned on, the process proceeds to step S _13, then eject local to hot air after washing starts drying operation. By turning on the LED18 step S _14, indicating that drying function is in operation.
[0052]
On the other hand, if the drying switch in step S ₁₂ is turned, the process proceeds to step S _15, the drying operation is stopped, dry operation to turn off the LED18 in step S ₁₆ to display that is stopped. Then again, returns to the step S _7, repeatedly executes the same operation as described above.
[0053]
When the sanitary washing apparatus is not provided with a drying function, for example, there is usually no drying switch on the operation panel or a cover body is attached so that the drying switch cannot be operated. Therefore, basically, the drying switch cannot be operated. However, as described above, the noise signal generated for some reason has the content that the drying function is operated. even inputted to the CPU 11, the sanitary washing device of the present invention, if drying function at step S ₆ shown in FIG. 4 is off, the drying function to work, of course, components of no drying function The CPU 11 never outputs a command signal for the drying operation toward the head.
[0054]
The control program stored in the non-volatile memory 12 is constructed by assigning priorities to the LEDs 18 and the operation switches 19 shown in FIG. 3 to all functions that can be attached to the sanitary washing apparatus. This determines which LEDs and operation switches arranged on the operation panel 6 (see FIG. 1) are allocated to the functions actually provided in the sanitary washing apparatus.
[0055]
In other words, the LED and the operation switch do not display the operation / setting state only for a specific function, and are not turned on / off to activate / deactivate the function. The LEDs and the operation switches are assigned in order from the highest priority.
[0056]
As a result, even when the function of the sanitary washing apparatus is changed, the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 3 appropriately displays the operation panel 6 on the operation panel 6 according to the priority assigned to the control program. The LED 18 and the operation switch 19 are made to correspond to operate each function or display the operation / setting state of each function.
[0057]
As described above, the sanitary washing apparatus of the present invention is configured so that the program for the CPU 11 to control various functions can be controlled for all functions that can be attached to the sanitary washing apparatus, and the CPU 11 is stored in the EEPROM 16. With reference to the stored model information, the control operation is executed only for the functions attached to the sanitary washing apparatus main body 5. Therefore, the control program is reconstructed depending on the model of the sanitary washing apparatus. There is no need to change the model, and the model information stored in the EEPROM 16 can be rewritten, and the necessary functional components can be easily accommodated in the space provided in the casing 5a of the sanitary washing apparatus body 5. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare the sanitary washing device body 5 having a different structure for each model.
[0058]
Further, as described above, since various functions can be controlled by referring to the model information of the sanitary washing device stored in the EEPROM 16 by the CPU 11, an operation signal is output to a function component not attached. There is no problem at all.
[0059]
Furthermore, since the control program and the model information are stored in a non-volatile memory that does not require power for storing stored information, even if power supply to the memory is stopped due to a power failure or the like, The stored information can be held well.
[0060]
In addition, if the user of the sanitary washing apparatus desires to add or delete (remove) functions that are not originally attached, other functional components are accommodated in the casing 5a of the sanitary washing apparatus body 5. Since sufficient space is secured, it is possible to easily cope with addition / deletion of functions. In addition, when the function is added / deleted, the drive control is performed by rewriting the model information (allocation information) in the EEPROM 16 when adding / deleting the function.・ Easy to delete.
[0061]
Further, if a separate flash memory such as a memory card is used instead of the EEPROM 16, the model information of the sanitary washing device stored in the EEPROM 16 is rewritten, so that the controller 9 can be changed. Thus, the separation type flash memory can be easily removed and replaced with another nonvolatile memory (flash memory such as a memory card) in which other model information is stored.
[0062]
In the embodiment described above, the processing operation in accordance with a simple control program has been described using the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 so that the gist of the present invention can be easily understood. The control is not limited to this, the CPU 11 calls the model information (allocation information) stored in the EEPROM 16 in advance, determines the functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus, and the functions provided. With regard to the functions that have been operated well and that are determined not to be provided in the sanitary washing apparatus, even if a noise signal or the like is input to the CPU 11 by turning off these functions, an operation signal is erroneously output. Needless to say, it may be controlled so that it is not output.
[0065]
【The invention's effect】
In the sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 1, since the control program is constructed by assigning priorities to the operation switches and the display means to all functions attachable to the sanitary washing apparatus, the functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus Regardless of the type, the operation switch for operating / stopping each function according to the priority order and the display means for displaying the operation / setting state of the function can be appropriately allocated. It can be constituted only by the operation switch and the display means, which is economical.
[0066]
The sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 2 can reduce the cost of the apparatus by storing a control program that does not require rewriting in an inexpensive read-only memory, and the model information (allocation information) of the sanitary washing apparatus is rewritten. By storing it in a possible non-volatile memory, it is convenient because the model change can be easily executed by simply rewriting the model information.
[0067]
The sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 3 stores the model information of the sanitary washing apparatus in a separable non-volatile memory, so that the model information can be easily exchanged and the model can be changed quickly and reliably. Convenient.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a sanitary washing device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an internal structural view of the sanitary washing device main body.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a controller disposed in the sanitary washing device main body and its peripheral devices.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a processing operation of a CPU provided in the controller.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 Sanitary washing device body 5a Casing 6 Operation panel 8a, 8b Functional component 9 Controller 10 Empty space 11 CPU
12 Non-volatile memory 13 Input / output port 14 A / D conversion circuit 15 Microcomputer 16 EEPROM
17a, 17b Sensor 18 LED
19 Operation switch

Claims (3)

In a sanitary washing apparatus comprising an operation switch for performing and setting various functions, a display unit for displaying operation and setting states of the various functions, and a controller for operating various functions by turning on and off the operation switches. The controller includes a control program for controlling operations of various functions that can be provided in the sanitary washing apparatus, and a non-volatile memory that stores model information for determining functions provided in the sanitary washing apparatus. The control program stored in the memory is constructed by assigning priorities to all the functions that can be attached to the sanitary washing device to the operation switch and the display means, and the priority of the functions provided in the sanitary washing device is set. The sanitary washing apparatus, wherein the operation switch and the display means are allocated in order from the highest . Memory for storing the control program uses a read only memory, a memory for storing the model information, the sanitary washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that using a rewritable non-volatile memory. The sanitary washing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the nonvolatile memory that stores model information of the sanitary washing apparatus is a separation type that is removable from the sanitary washing apparatus.

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