JP5854201B2 - Toilet equipment - Google Patents

Description

  Aspects of the invention generally relate to toilet equipment.

  Whether it is for home use or public use, it is often convenient to be able to detect a user approaching the toilet device. Examples of such toilet devices include a heated toilet seat device that can warm the toilet seat, a warm water cleaning toilet seat device that cleans the user's “wet”, etc., a toilet or urinal with an electric water discharge function, and a toilet room Hand washing machine, toilet room heating device, toilet room lighting device, toilet room sound reproduction device, and the like. In the case of a toilet device such as a urinal or urinal, adhesion of dirt can be suppressed by detecting the approach of the user and, for example, flowing a small amount of washing water in advance to wet the bowl surface. Further, in the case of a toilet device such as a hand-washer, the approach of the user can be detected, and for example, the water in the pipe can be rapidly heated to provide warm water. In the case of toilet devices such as indoor heating devices, lighting devices, and sound reproduction devices, it can detect the approach of the user and automatically execute rapid heating, lighting, sound reproduction, etc. in the toilet room, It is convenient and can contribute to energy saving and water saving.

  In a heated toilet seat device that can warm a toilet seat, a device that drives a heating unit for detecting a person entering the toilet room and warming the toilet seat has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1). The technique described in Patent Document 1 drives the heater of the toilet seat when a person is detected by a Doppler sensor using a microwave, and stops driving the heater when no person is detected, thereby saving power and comfort. To achieve both.

JP-A-11-230562

  Regardless of whether it is for home use or for public use, it is often sufficient for each individual toilet room where a toilet is installed to have a space where one user can use the toilet. Therefore, in many cases, the depth is at most several meters. In addition, toilet spaces are often formed in the corners of buildings where the sunlight is not very good. For this reason, the winter season tends to be colder than other spaces in the building.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 aims to achieve both power saving and comfort by stopping the driving of the heater when no person is detected. However, if the characteristics of the toilet space described above are taken into account, even if it is detected that a person has entered the toilet room and energization of the heater of the toilet seat is started, there is a risk that the temperature cannot be sufficiently increased until the user sits down. There is.

In order to cope with such a situation, it is conceivable to devise measures such as increasing the temperature raising performance of the heater or forming the toilet seat with a metal having high thermal conductivity.
However, in consideration of ensuring higher safety and reliability, it is preferable that the heater has a normal structure and the toilet seat is also made of a normal resin.

  In this way, even if the heater remains in a normal structure and the toilet seat is also made of ordinary resin, for example, a user who is outside the toilet room is detected using a Doppler sensor. If the temperature of the toilet seat is started from the stage, it becomes easy to heat the toilet seat to an appropriate temperature before the user sits down. However, in this case, if the user does not actually enter the toilet room, unnecessary heating may occur.

  Although it is possible to detect a “person” outside the toilet room, it is difficult to reliably detect that the person actually enters the toilet room and becomes a “user”. It is not easy to determine whether a person who has passed through the outside of the toilet room passes by as it is or whether it actually enters the toilet room simply by providing a Doppler sensor.

  On the other hand, if the act of “opening the door”, which is always performed in the process of entering the toilet room, is detected, the user can be reliably detected entering the toilet room. However, the installation environment of the toilet room door, that is, the position of the door and the direction in which the door opens, are various. For this reason, the technique of detecting door opening reliably according to each installation environment is required.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been made based on recognition of such a problem. In other words, the embodiments of the present invention are various toilet devices provided in a toilet room, and when a user uses a predetermined amount while suppressing erroneous detection as much as possible and suppressing wasteful power consumption. An object of the present invention is to provide a toilet apparatus capable of reliably performing a preliminary operation.

In order to solve the above problems, a toilet apparatus according to the present invention includes a Doppler sensor that transmits and receives radio waves, and a control unit that performs predetermined control based on an output signal of the Doppler sensor. A toilet device provided, wherein the control unit detects a DC component of a Doppler signal output from the Doppler sensor, and a second detection detects a frequency component included in the Doppler signal. Means for determining the door installation environment based on at least one of the DC component and the frequency component of the Doppler signal accompanying the opening operation of the toilet room door, and depending on the determined door installation environment A detection threshold value is set, and a door opening detection mode for detecting the opening operation of the door is executed.

  The toilet device according to the present invention detects that the door of the toilet room is opened by a Doppler sensor, and executes a predetermined operation such as driving a heater, for example, using it as a trigger. The Doppler sensor outputs a Doppler signal in which a DC component and a frequency component are mixed. However, due to the difference in the environment such as the installation position of the door and the type of opening and closing, the signal component differs even in the operation of “opening the door”. A Doppler signal is output.

  Therefore, in the present invention, paying attention to this point, the DC component and the frequency component included in the Doppler signal generated when the door is opened are extracted by, for example, a frequency filter, and the voltage level (amplitude) and the change of the frequency are used. Detect the door installation environment.

  The Doppler sensor transmits microwaves in front of the toilet seat. For example, the radio wave intensity is strongest in front of the sensor, and the radio wave intensity is weaker in front than the front. Therefore, when the door is opened in front of the sensor, a large amplitude signal is output, and when the door is opened on the side of the sensor, a small amplitude signal is output. For this reason, if it tries to detect using the same threshold value, detection sensitivity will differ for every door installation environment, and the opening operation of a door cannot be detected accurately, and it cannot be performed at the optimal timing, such as heating of a toilet seat. . In addition, if the sensitivity is too high, the possibility of erroneous detection of a person who passes by the outside of the toilet room is increased.

  On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the possibility of erroneous detection can be effectively reduced by automatically setting the optimal door detection threshold according to the detected door installation environment.

Further, the control unit can further execute a human body detection mode for detecting a person entering the toilet room, and detects opening / closing of the door by the first detection means, and based on the detection result, When it is determined that the door is closed, the door open detection mode is executed. When it is determined that the door is open based on the detection result, the human body detection mode is executed. Also good.

That is, the opening / closing of the door can be detected based on the level of the DC component of the Doppler signal in accordance with the detected door installation position. When the door is closed, it is difficult to detect a person who is blocked by the door and passes in front of the toilet room, so the threshold can be set low to increase the door detection rate. On the other hand, when the door is not completely closed, a person who passes the toilet room may be detected, so the threshold can be set high.

  Further, when the door is fully opened, when the occupant enters the toilet room, the Doppler signal corresponding to the door opening is not generated, and the door opening cannot be detected, so that the detection can be switched to the human body detection.

  In addition, the control unit can further execute a human body detection mode for detecting a person entering the toilet room, even though the door opening operation is not detected during the execution of the door open detection mode, When the information about the person entering the toilet room is obtained, the human body detection mode may be executed.

  That is, when the door installation environment is detected, a Doppler signal corresponding to the door opening operation may hardly be generated. Therefore, when the door opening signal cannot be detected, the detection may be switched to human body detection. In this case, for example, even when the door signal cannot be detected small due to the door installation environment, the non-detection can be prevented by switching to the human body detection mode.

In addition, the control unit includes a frequency filter that allows only a frequency component of a predetermined band of the Doppler signal to pass, and the second detection unit detects the frequency component that has passed through the frequency filter. The control unit may set a band of the frequency filter based on the determined door installation environment.
If it carries out like this, in order to detect only the frequency range with respect to each door installation environment, detection accuracy can be improved.

  According to the present invention, various toilet devices such as a heated toilet seat device attached to a toilet provided in a toilet room, which are used by a user while suppressing erroneous detection as much as possible and suppressing wasteful power consumption. In doing so, it is possible to provide a toilet apparatus in which a predetermined preliminary operation is reliably performed.

It is a model side view showing the toilet room in which the heating toilet seat apparatus which is embodiment of this invention was installed. It is a schematic plan view showing the toilet apparatus in which the heating toilet seat apparatus which is embodiment of this invention was installed. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the heating toilet seat apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the standing wave by the microwave which a Doppler sensor part transmits. It is a schematic plan view which shows the standing wave by the microwave which a Doppler sensor part transmits. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. FIG. 7 is a graph showing the Doppler signal voltage generated when the door is opened in the door installation environment shown in FIG. 6. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage generate | occur | produced when the door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage generate | occur | produced when a door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage which generate | occur | produces when a door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. FIG. 15 is a graph showing the Doppler signal voltage generated when the door is opened in the door installation environment shown in FIG. 14. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage generate | occur | produced when a door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage generate | occur | produced when a door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows a door installation environment. It is a graph which shows the Doppler signal voltage generate | occur | produced when a door opens in the door installation environment shown in FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a process of detecting a door installation environment in the heating toilet seat device shown in FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the flow from door installation environment detection to door opening detection. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a door open detection. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a door open detection. It is a table for detecting a door angle. It is a flowchart which shows the switching determination process to the human body detection mode in a door open state. It is a flowchart which shows the process which determines the propriety of door open detection. It is a flowchart which shows the switching determination process to the human body detection mode at the time of door open detection impossible. It is a flowchart which shows the switching determination process from a human body detection mode to a door open detection mode. It is a table which shows the frequency band of the frequency filter switched according to a door installation environment. It is a flowchart which illustrates the flow of the whole process of the detection of a door installation environment, door opening detection, and a human body detection.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, the same components in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.
A heating toilet seat device as an example of a toilet device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a heating toilet seat device HS according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a toilet bowl SB.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view corresponding to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toilet SB is installed in the toilet room TR. The toilet room TR is provided with a door DR, and the person (user) M opens the door DR and enters the toilet room TR.

A heating toilet seat device HS is attached to the toilet bowl SB. The heating toilet seat device HS includes a toilet seat 10, a toilet lid 11, a heating unit 12, a Doppler sensor unit 13, and a control unit 14.
The toilet seat 10 is a seat for a user to sit when using the toilet bowl SB, and is attached so as to be rotatable about the back side of the toilet bowl SB. The toilet lid 11 is a lid attached so as to cover the toilet seat 10, and is attached so as to be rotatable about the back side of the toilet bowl SB.
The heating unit 12 includes a heating source that raises the seating surface of the toilet seat 10 to a predetermined temperature. As the heat source, various types of heaters, lamps, electromagnetic induction heating, and the like can be used. The predetermined temperature is, for example, a temperature at which the user does not feel at least cold when sitting on the toilet seat 10. The predetermined temperature may be the same temperature as the set temperature when the heating unit 12 raises the temperature of the toilet seat 10 (the temperature at which it is in a steady state) or may be a temperature that is somewhat lower than the set temperature.

  The control unit 14 executes control for driving the heating unit 12 based on the output of the Doppler sensor unit 13. Specifically, for example, when the voltage level of the Doppler signal from the Doppler sensor unit 13 exceeds the detection threshold, the control unit 14 drives the heating unit 12.

  From the Doppler sensor unit 13, a microwave serving as a transmission wave is transmitted toward the front side of the toilet seat 10. In the case of the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the toilet bowl SB and the toilet seat 10 are installed toward the door DR that separates the toilet room TR and the passage CR, and microwaves are also transmitted toward the door DR.

The microwave transmitted from the Doppler sensor unit 13 is reflected by a person outside the toilet room TR, a person inside the toilet room TR, a door DR, or the like. The Doppler sensor unit 13 receives this reflected wave at the receiving unit (see FIG. 3), and generates a Doppler signal including information on the difference between the transmitted wave and the reflected wave.
The detection area SA formed by the transmission wave transmitted from the Doppler sensor unit 13 is attenuated by the door DR, but reaches the vicinity through the door DR.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detection area SA of the Doppler sensor unit 13 includes a door DR. In the case of the specific example shown in FIG. 2, the detection area SA includes a passage CR near the door DR that penetrates the door DR. In this case, the person M passing through the passage CR enters the detection area SA when at the position Ma. However, whether the person M moves from the position Ma to the position Mb and simply passes in front of the toilet room TR, or moves from the position Ma to the position Mc and opens the door DR and enters the toilet room TR to become a user. Whether it is unknown.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, focusing on the operation of the user opening the door DR and entering the toilet room TR, it is detected that the door DR is opened. By doing so, the temperature of the toilet seat 10 can be reliably raised only when the user enters the toilet room TR. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the detection area SA of the Doppler sensor unit 13 only needs to include the door DR, and does not necessarily have to penetrate the door DR.

Next, specific configurations and operations of the Doppler sensor unit 13 and the control unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the heating toilet seat device HS.

  The Doppler sensor unit 13 includes a transmission unit 131, a reception unit 132, and a difference detection unit 133. The transmission unit 131 generates an oscillation circuit that generates, for example, a 10.5 GHz electrical signal in order to transmit radio waves toward the front of the toilet seat 10, and transmits a transmission signal output from the oscillation circuit to a 10.5 GHz micro signal. And an antenna for transmitting as a wave.

  The reception unit 132 receives a reflected wave in which the microwave transmitted from the transmission unit 131 is reflected by the detection target, and outputs a reception signal obtained by converting the reflected wave into an electrical signal. The difference detection unit 133 generates and outputs a Doppler signal including information on the difference between the transmission signal and the reception signal.

When the Doppler sensor unit 13 is used, it is possible to detect the movement of the detection target based on the following formula (1) using the Doppler effect.

ΔF = FS−Fb = 2 × FS × ν / c (1)

ΔF: Doppler frequency (frequency of Doppler signal)
FS: Transmission frequency (frequency of transmission signal)
Fb: reflection frequency (frequency of received signal)
ν: moving speed of detection object c: speed of light (3 × 10 ⁸ m / s)

The microwave of the frequency FS transmitted from the transmission unit 131 is reflected by the detection object (person M, door DR, etc.) moving at the speed ν. Since the reflected wave has undergone a Doppler frequency shift due to relative motion, the frequency is Fb and is received by the receiving unit 132. Then, the difference detection unit 133 extracts a Doppler signal including a Doppler frequency ΔF that is a difference between the frequencies of the transmission wave and the reflected wave as a detection signal. Human body detection and door detection are performed based on the Doppler signal.

  The Doppler signal output from the Doppler sensor unit 13 is output to the control unit 14. In the control unit 14, the Doppler signal is converted into a digital Doppler signal by the reception output unit 151 which is an A / D conversion unit of the control unit 14. From the digital Doppler signal, frequency components other than the band necessary for door detection and human body detection are removed by the frequency filter 152 and input to the temperature rise start determination unit 153.

  The temperature rise start determination unit 153 includes first detection means 153a and second detection means 153b. The first detection unit 153a detects a direct current component (or a voltage component of the Doppler signal) included in the digital Doppler signal. The second detection unit 153b detects a frequency component included in the digital Doppler signal. Then, the temperature rise start determination unit 153 detects the installation environment of the door DR based on at least one of the DC component and the frequency component of the Doppler sensor signal accompanying the opening operation of the door DR of the toilet room TR. Further, the temperature rise start determination unit 153 performs opening / closing of a door and detection of the entrance of a human body based on at least one of the transition of the DC component and the frequency component of the digital Doppler signal. The control unit 14 controls the heating unit 12 according to predetermined conditions to heat the toilet seat 10.

4 and 5 are schematic plan views illustrating how the microwaves transmitted from the Doppler sensor unit 13 are distributed around the toilet SB.
For example, the microwave radiated from the Doppler sensor unit 13 spreads concentrically around the Doppler sensor unit 13.
FIG. 4 shows a case where the human body M moves in a direction perpendicular to the wavefront of the microwave spreading concentrically (that is, a direction parallel to the traveling direction of the microwave), and FIG. This represents a case where the human body M moves in a parallel direction (that is, a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the microwave). Here, the moving speed of the human body M is constant.

  In the case of the specific example shown in FIG. 4, the human body M moves in the vertical direction with respect to the concentric microwaves, and the number of times passing through the strength points per unit time is the largest. Let the frequency of the Doppler signal generated in this case be fa.

In the case of the specific example shown in FIG. 5, the human body M is moving in a parallel direction with respect to the concentric microwaves, and the number of passes through the strength points is 0 (zero). The frequency of the Doppler signal generated in this case is fc (= 0 Hz).
The relationship between fa and fc is fa> fc. Further, if the frequency between fa and fc is fb, the relationship of fa>fb> fc is established.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of an installation environment of a toilet room door.
FIG. 7 is a graph schematically showing the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal until the door DR is completely opened from the closed state in the door installation environment DT1 shown in FIG.
Hereinafter, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal generated in the door installation environment DT1 until the door is fully opened from the closed state will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
The Doppler signal has a direct current component (DC component) and a frequency component. In FIG. 7, a component that linearly decreases from time t0 to time t2 on the horizontal axis is a DC component. On the other hand, the component that vibrates up and down with this DC component as the baseline is the frequency component.

  The door DR shown in FIG. 6 is installed in front of the toilet bowl SB, the opening / closing type is a hinged door, and the opening / closing direction is an outward opening. In the present specification, “installation environment” includes the type of door opening and closing and the door opening and closing direction. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the frequency of the Doppler signal is high because the door DR first moves in a direction perpendicular to the wavefront of the concentric microwave. On the other hand, when the door DR is fully opened, the locus is moved in parallel with the wavefront of the concentric microwaves, so that the frequency becomes low as shown in FIG.

  The time instant at which the door DR starts to open is t0, the opening end time is t2, the intermediate time is t1, the average frequency from t0 to t1 is f01, the average frequency from t1 to t2 is f12, and from t0 to t2 If the average frequency is f02, f01> f12.

Between t0 and t1, the peak-to-peak value of the frequency component is taken every certain time interval, and the average value of the values is v01. Similarly, during the period from t1 to t2 and from t0 to t2, the peak-to-peak value of the frequency component is taken as the amplitude at certain time intervals, and the average values of the amplitudes are defined as v12 and v02.
Although the door area where the microwave is reflected is large at the beginning of the opening of the door DR, the area is small at the end of the opening, and therefore, the average value of the frequency components tends to be v01> v12.

Also, the DC component is the same as the frequency component, and since the area where the reflected wave is generated is larger at the beginning of the door opening than at the opening end, the voltage (amplitude) of each DC component at t0, t1, t2 is V0, V1. , V2, there is a tendency that V0>V1> V2 as shown in FIG.
As described above, in the case of the installation environment DT1 shown in FIG. 6, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal is high in both frequency and voltage at the beginning of opening of the door DR, and the frequency and voltage (amplitude) toward the end of opening of the door DR. Both tend to decline.

8, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 14, FIG. 16, FIG. 18 and FIG. 20 are schematic plan views respectively showing door installation environments DT2 to DT8 different from FIG.
FIGS. 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21 are graphs illustrating voltage waveforms of Doppler signals until the door is completely opened from the closed state in the door installation environments DT2 to DT8. It is.

First, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT2, the door DR is installed in front of the toilet bowl SB, the opening / closing type is an opening door, and the opening / closing direction is inward opening. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the door DR moves in a vertical direction at the beginning of opening of the door DR and in a parallel direction at the end of opening, as shown in FIG. There is a tendency that the frequency f01> f12.

  Further, since the transition of the door area reflected by the microwave is the same as that of the door installation environment DT1, as shown in FIG. 9, the frequency component voltage (amplitude) v01> v12 and the DC component voltage (amplitude). V0> V1> V2. However, unlike the door installation environment DT1, since it is an inner opening door, it opens in a direction where the electric field strength is strong. Therefore, the voltage (amplitude) v01, v12, v02 of the frequency component is higher than that in the door installation environment DT1. Tend to be larger.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT3, the door DR is installed in front of the toilet SB, and the open / close type is a sliding door. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the frequency is low because the door DR moves in a parallel direction with respect to the microwave wavefront spreading concentrically (fc <f02 <fb), and the angle with respect to the wavefront is substantially constant. As shown in FIG. 11, a waveform with a small frequency variation (f01≈f12) tends to be generated.

  In addition, the door area that reflects the microwave is large at the beginning of the opening of the door DR, but the area is small at the end of the opening, so that the frequency component voltage (amplitude) v01> v12 as shown in FIG. The voltage (amplitude) of the DC component tends to be V0> V1> V2.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT4, the door DR is installed on the side of the toilet bowl SB, the opening / closing type is an opening door, the opening / closing direction is outward opening, and the hinge position is far from the toilet bowl SB. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the frequency is high because the door DR moves in the vertical direction with respect to the microwave wavefront spreading concentrically (fb <f02 <fa), and the angle with respect to the wavefront is substantially constant. As shown in FIG. 13, a waveform with a small frequency variation (f01≈f12) tends to be generated.

  Further, when the door DR is opened from the closed state, the door DR opens in a direction where the electric field intensity is far away from the Doppler sensor unit 13, so that the voltage component (amplitude) v01> v12 of the frequency component as shown in FIG. Voltage (amplitude) V0> V1> V2.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT5 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT5, the door DR is installed on the side of the toilet SB, the opening / closing type is a hinged door, the opening / closing direction is inward opening, and the hinge position is far from the toilet SB. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the door DR moves in a parallel direction at the beginning of opening and moves in a vertical direction at the end of opening, as shown in FIG. , F01 <f12.

  Further, when the door DR is opened from the closed state, the door DR opens in a direction where the electric field intensity is far away from the Doppler sensor unit 13, so that the voltage component (amplitude) v01> v12 of the frequency component as shown in FIG. Voltage (amplitude) V0> V1> V2.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT6, the door DR is installed on the side of the toilet SB, the type of opening and closing is a hinged door, the opening and closing direction is outwardly opened, and the hinge position is near the toilet SB. When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the door DR moves in a parallel direction with respect to the concentric microwave wavefront, so the frequency is low (fc <f02 <fb), and the angle with respect to the microwave wavefront is substantially constant. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, a waveform with a small frequency variation (f01≈f12) tends to be generated.

  Further, at the end of the opening of the door DR, the intensity of the electric field reaching the door is reduced due to the attenuation of the microwave by the side wall, so that the frequency component voltage (amplitude) v01> v12 as shown in FIG. Voltage (amplitude) V0> V1> V2.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT7 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT7, the door DR is installed on the side of the toilet SB, the type of opening and closing is a hinged door, the opening and closing direction is inwardly opened, and the hinge position is near the toilet SB. When the door is opened from the closed state, it moves in the vertical direction with respect to the microwave wavefront spreading concentrically, so the frequency is high (fb <f02 <fa), and the angle with respect to the microwave wavefront is substantially constant. As shown in FIG. 19, a waveform with a small frequency variation (f01≈f12) tends to be generated.

  Further, when the door DR is opened from the closed state, it opens in the direction of strong electric field strength in the vicinity of the Doppler sensor unit 13, so that the frequency component voltage (amplitude) v01 <v12 as shown in FIG. The component voltage (amplitude) tends to be V0 <V1 <V2.

Next, the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal when the door is opened in the door installation environment DT8 will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the door installation environment DT8, the door DR is installed on the side of the toilet bowl SB, and the opening / closing type is a sliding door. In addition, when the door DR is opened, the door DR is hidden behind the side wall of the toilet room TR.
When the door DR is opened from the closed state, the frequency is high (fb <f02 <fa) and the angle with respect to the wavefront of the microwave is substantially constant, since the door DR moves in the vertical direction with respect to the wavefront of the microwave spreading concentrically. As shown in FIG. 21, a waveform with a small frequency variation (f01≈f12) tends to be generated.

At the end of the opening of the door DR, the electric field intensity reaching the door decreases due to attenuation by the side wall, so that the frequency component voltage (amplitude) v01> v12 as shown in FIG. Amplitude) V0>V1> V2.
In addition, even if the door DR is opened, if the door DR is not hidden behind the side wall of the toilet room TR, the voltage (amplitude) does not easily decrease toward the end of the opening of the door DR. On the contrary, in such a case, when the door DR is opened, the voltage (amplitude) of the frequency component and the DC component tends to increase due to the door DR approaching the Doppler sensor unit 13.

As described above, depending on the installation environment of the door, there is a tendency in the voltage waveform of the Doppler signal accompanying the door opening operation. In the present embodiment, by identifying these tendencies, it is possible to detect the door installation environment using the Doppler sensor unit 13.
Such door installation environment detection is performed only at the first operation after the toilet device is installed in the toilet room, for example, and appropriate parameters are set according to the detected door installation environment. The operation may be executed.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating steps for detecting a door installation environment. In each of steps S01 to S05, the process proceeds by comparing the voltage waveform trends of the Doppler signals illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 15, 17, and 21.
In step S01, the magnitude of the direct-current voltage (amplitude) component V0 when the door is closed and the direct-current component V2 when the door is fully opened are compared. Of the door installation environments DT1 to DT8 illustrated in FIGS. 6, 8, 10, 12, 12, 16, 18, and 20, only the door installation environment DT7 has a tendency of V2> V0. Therefore, when V2> V0 is detected, the door installation environment is determined as DT7, and the door installation environment detection is terminated. If V2> V0 is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S02.

  In step S02, the magnitudes of the average frequency f01 from t0 to t1 and the average frequency f12 from t1 to t2 are compared in the frequency component of the Doppler signal. When f01> f12, the door installation environments DT1 and DT2 are determined, and the door installation environment detection is terminated. If not f01> f12, the process proceeds to step S03.

  In step S03, the average frequencies f01 and f12 are compared in magnitude as in step S02. If f01 <f12, the door installation environment DT5 is determined, and the door installation environment detection is terminated. If f01 <f12 does not hold, the process proceeds to step S04.

  In step S04, the magnitude of the average frequency f02 from t0 to t2 is determined. When the door opening operation is always performed at an angle close to perpendicular to the wave front of the concentric microwaves, fb ≦ f02 ≦ fa. In this case, it is determined as DT4 or DT8, and the door installation environment detection ends. If fb ≦ f02 ≦ fa does not hold, the process proceeds to step S05.

  In step S05, the door installation environments DT3 and DT6 that cannot be determined in steps S01 to S04 are determined. In DT3 and DT6, since the door moves almost in parallel to the wavefront of the microwave spreading concentrically from the closed state to the fully opened state, the frequency is low. However, the door installation position is in front of the toilet SB in DT3, and the side of the toilet SB in DT6. Therefore, the DC component V2 when the door is fully opened is different. When the door is fully open in front of the toilet SB, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component is Vf, and when the door is fully open on the side of the toilet SB (however, the hinge position of the hinged door is near the toilet SB, If the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component of the internal component (excluding the case of inward opening) is Vs, then Vs> Vf.

  Accordingly, when Vf <V2 ≦ Vs, it is determined as DT3 and the door installation environment detection is terminated. When Vf <V2 ≦ Vs is not satisfied, it is determined as DT6 and the door installation environment detection is terminated.

The door installation environment is detected in the flow described above, and a threshold value corresponding to the door installation environment is set.
Then, based on the threshold value set in this way, door opening detection, that is, detection that the door DR is opened is executed.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing steps from door installation environment to threshold setting and door opening detection.
The installation environment of the door DR is detected (steps S01 to S05), the door detection threshold when the door is installed in front of the toilet bowl SB is set as THa, and the door is installed on the side of the toilet bowl SB. In this case, the door detection threshold is set to THb. At this time, it is desirable that THa> THb.

In the case of the door installation environments DT1, DT2, and DT3, since the door is installed in front of the toilet bowl SB, the door detection threshold is set to THa (steps S07 and S10). On the other hand, in the case of the door installation environment DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, DT8, since the door is installed on the side of the toilet bowl SB, the door detection threshold is set to THb (steps S06, S08, S09, S11). ).
In the door open detection (step S12), for example, when the voltage amplitude of the frequency component exceeds the threshold value TH, it is determined that the door is open, and the temperature rise is started. At this time, by varying the threshold value TH according to the door installation environment, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of a non-user who passes in front of the door. In the case of the specific example shown in FIG. 1, the microwave is transmitted toward the front of the toilet SB, and the electric field strength in the forward direction is the strongest. Therefore, when the door is installed in front of the toilet bowl SB, it is desirable to raise the door detection threshold so that a non-user is not erroneously detected only by passing in front of the door without entering the toilet room TR.

  On the other hand, when the door is installed on the side of the toilet bowl SB, the electric field strength is weaker on the side than on the front, so the non-user who does not enter the toilet room TR and only passes in front of the door. However, since the detection signal itself due to the door opening is also lowered, the door detection threshold needs to be lowered.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing door opening detection in the case of the door installation environments DT1, DT2, and DT3.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing door opening detection in the case of door installation environments DT4, DT5, DT6, DT7, and DT8.

The voltage (amplitude) V0 of the DC component in the door closed state is equal in any door installation environment. However, the door open state and the direct current component until the door open state differ depending on the door installation environment, and the door open / closed state can be detected using this.
The direct current component with respect to the door open / close state in each door installation environment is, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21.
In each door installation environment, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component in the case of half-opening (t1) and the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component in the case of finishing opening (t2) are respectively set in the door installation environments DT1, DT2, DT3. In this case, Vx1 and Vx2 are set. In the case of the door installation environment DT4, DT5, DT6 and DT8, Vy1 and Vy2 are set. In the case of the door installation environment DT7, Vz1 and Vz2 are set.

  In each door installation environment, when transitioning from door closing to door opening, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component changes from V0 to Vx1, Vy1, and Vx1 to Vx2, Vy2, and Vz2. The door angle, that is, the opening / closing angle of the door can be detected from the change amount of the DC component.

The case of the door installation environment DT1 will be described with reference to FIG.
From the door closing time to the door opening time, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component changes from V0 to Vx1 to Vx2. The door open / closed state in this case will be described with reference to FIG.
The door angle changes from 0 degrees (when the door is closed) to 90 degrees (when the door is opened). When the door angle is 0 degree, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component is V0. When the door angle is 45 degrees, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component is Vx1. When the door angle is 90 degrees, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component is Vx2. Therefore, the door angle can be detected from the amount of change in the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component until it changes from V0 to Vx2. For example, if the door angle is An, V = (V0−Vx2) × An ÷ 90 + Vx2, so that An = 90 (V−V2) ÷ (V0−Vx2) is used to detect the approximate door angle. be able to.
FIG. 26 is an example of a table for detecting door angles in three stages of 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees in each door installation environment.

By the way, when the user enters the toilet room TR in the door open state, the door is already in the open state, so that it cannot be detected that the door is open, that is, the door DR is opened. Therefore, the voltage (amplitude) of the DC component is detected, and the angle of the door DR in the standby state is detected using the table illustrated in FIG. If it is determined that the door is open based on the detected door angle, the frequency pass band of the frequency filter 152 is changed from the door open detection band to the human body detection band. That is, the detection mode is switched from the door open detection mode to the human body detection mode. Thereby, a user's entrance detection in a door open state is realizable.
FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a process for switching to the human body detection mode when the door is open.

  The frequency pass band for detecting the door opening is Fd, and the frequency pass band for detecting the human body is Fm. For example, in the case of the door installation environment DT1, it is assumed that the human body detection mode is switched at a door angle of 45 degrees or more. In this case, when the DC component becomes (Vx−V0) / 2 or more, the frequency pass band of the frequency filter 152 is switched from Fd to Fm (step S25).

  That is, in a standby state after the user leaves the room, the door angle is detected (step S23), and if the DC component is (Vx−V0) / 2 or more, it is determined that the door is open (step S24: no). ) To switch the frequency pass band of the frequency filter 152 to Fm (step S25). On the other hand, if the DC component is less than (Vx−V0) / 2, it is determined that the door is closed (step S24: yes), the frequency pass band is maintained at Fd, and the door detection mode is restored. (Step S21).

  On the other hand, even if the user opens the door DR and enters the toilet room TR, the opening operation of the door DR may not be detected in the door opening detection mode. In such a case, when the control unit 14 obtains information regarding the user's room entry, the door opening detection mode may be switched to the human body detection mode. Here, the information related to the person entering the toilet room TR is, for example, detecting the user's seating on the toilet seat using a seating switch or seating sensor of the toilet seat, or detecting the presence of the user using other human body detection sensors. And the operation of any switch of the toilet device by the user.

That is, if the information about the person entering the toilet room TR is obtained without the door amplitude being detected in the door open detection mode without the voltage amplitude of the frequency component due to the door opening exceeding THa or THb, Is not detected. That is, the opening / closing of the door cannot be detected by the set door opening detection mode.
Therefore, when the event of detecting the seating occurs once or a plurality of times without detecting the door opening in the door opening detection mode, the door opening detection mode may be switched to the human body detection mode. .

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a process for determining whether or not door opening can be detected.
In the door detection mode (step S31), the door opening is not detected (step S32: no), but when seating on the toilet seat is detected (step S33: yes), it is determined that the detection of the door opening has failed. (Step S34).

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a switching determination process from the door opening detection mode to the human body detection mode based on the door opening possibility determination processing result.
That is, in the door detection mode (step S41), the determination of whether or not door opening can be detected is repeated a plurality of times (steps S42 to S44). And in any determination, when door open detection fails (step S42-44: no), it switches to human body detection mode (step S45).

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a process of switching from the human body detection mode to the door open detection mode.
In the human body detection mode (step S51), the human body detection is confirmed when the voltage amplitude of the frequency component exceeds the human body detection threshold THj.

  Here, whenever the detection in the human body detection mode is confirmed a plurality of times (for example, 10 times) (step S52), the door opening detection mode is operated simultaneously with the human body detection mode (step S53), and the door opening by the door opening detection mode is performed. If an event that confirms the detection of the human body in the human body detection mode after the detection (step S54: yes) occurs a plurality of times (for example, three consecutive times) (steps S55, S56: yes), the human body detection mode is stopped. Then, only the door open detection mode may be operated (step S57).

  On the other hand, in the door installation environment detection mode, the frequency filter 152 is set to a frequency passing range that can detect all of the door installation environments DT1 to DT8. After detecting the door installation environment, the frequency filter 152 is set to the detected door installation environment. Set the corresponding frequency pass band. Here, let the frequency band which allows the frequency component which generate | occur | produces in the door installation environment DT1-DT8 to pass be F1-F8, respectively. After detecting the door installation environment, the corresponding frequency band is selected from F1 to F8, and other frequency components are removed.

For example, in the case of the door installation environment DT1, fc ≦ F1 ≦ fa. Similarly, in the case of the door installation environments DT2 to DT8, fc ≦ F2 ≦ fa, fc ≦ F3 ≦ fb, fb ≦ F4 ≦ fa, fc ≦ F5 ≦ fa, fc ≦ F6 ≦ fb, fb ≦ F7 ≦ fa, respectively. , Fb ≦ F8 ≦ fa.
FIG. 31 is a table illustrating the frequency band of the frequency filter that is switched according to the door installation environment as described above.

  FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the overall flow of door opening detection and human body detection.

First, it is determined whether or not the toilet device is turned on for the first time (step S61). If it is the first time, whether or not door opening / closing can be detected is determined (step S62). That is, it is determined whether or not a predetermined transition occurs between the DC component and the frequency component of the Doppler signal when the door is opened. If the detection is possible, the door installation environment is detected (step S63). This corresponds to the flow described above with respect to FIG. Then, a threshold value for door opening detection is determined according to the detected door installation environment (step S64). Thereafter, the detection of the door angle in the standby state is executed (step S65). This is, for example, as described above with reference to FIGS. When it is determined that the door is open (step S65: no), the process returns to step S70.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the door is closed (step S65: yes), the door opening is detected by the flow described above with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25 (step S66: yes), the heating unit is driven, and the toilet seat is heated. (Step S67).

On the other hand, when the door opening / closing detection is not possible (step S62: no), the mode is switched to the human body detection mode (step S70), and the human body detection is executed (step S71). When a human body is detected (step S71: yes), it is determined again whether or not door opening / closing is detected (step S72), and regardless of the result, the heating unit is driven to start heating the toilet seat (steps S73, S74). ).
If door open / close detection is possible (step S72: yes), the mode is switched to the door open detection mode (step S75), and door open detection is executed.

  According to the specific example described above, first, in the first operation after installing the toilet apparatus in the toilet room, the installation environment of the door is detected, and the detection condition is automatically set accordingly. Then, opening / closing of the door is detected under the set condition, and whether the door is not open in the standby state is also detected. Furthermore, if it is determined that the opening / closing of the door is not detected, the operation is continued by switching to the human body detection mode, and if it is determined that the opening / closing of the door can be detected again in this case, the door opening / closing is performed. Switch back to the detection mode and execute the operation.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. In other words, those specific examples that have been appropriately modified by those skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the characteristics of the present invention.
For example, each element included in each of the specific examples described above and their arrangement, operation, condition, shape, size, and the like are not limited to those illustrated, and can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, each element with which each embodiment mentioned above is provided can be combined as long as technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

10: Toilet seat 11: Toilet lid 12: Heating unit 13: Doppler sensor unit 14: Control unit 131: Transmission unit 132: Reception unit 133: Difference detection unit 151: Reception output unit 152: Frequency filter 153: Temperature rise start determination unit CR : Passage DR: door DT1: door installation environment DT2: door installation environment DT3: door installation environment DT4: door installation environment DT6: door installation environment DT7: door installation environment DT8: door installation environment HS: heating toilet seat device M: person Mc: position Mb: position Mc: position SA: detection area SB: toilet bowl TR: toilet room

Claims (4)

A toilet apparatus provided in a toilet room, including a Doppler sensor that transmits and receives radio waves, and a control unit that executes predetermined control based on an output signal of the Doppler sensor,
The control unit includes first detection means for detecting a DC component of a Doppler signal output from the Doppler sensor, and second detection means for detecting a frequency component contained in the Doppler signal , and a toilet Determine the door installation environment based on at least one of the DC component and frequency component transition of the Doppler signal accompanying the opening operation of the room door, and set a detection threshold according to the determined door installation environment, A toilet apparatus that executes a door opening detection mode for detecting an opening operation of a door. The control unit can further execute a human body detection mode for detecting a person entering the toilet room,
When the opening / closing of the door is detected by the first detection means, and it is determined that the door is in a closed state based on the detected result, the door opening detection mode is executed, and based on the detected result The toilet apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the door is determined to be open, a human body detection mode is executed. The control unit can further execute a human body detection mode for detecting a person entering the toilet room,
When the door opening operation is not detected during the execution of the door opening mode, the human body detection mode is executed when information on the person entering the toilet room is obtained. The toilet device according to claim 1. The control unit has a frequency filter that passes only frequency components of a predetermined band of the Doppler signal,
The second detection means performs a frequency filter process for detecting the frequency component that has passed through the frequency filter,
The toilet device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit sets a band of the frequency filter based on the determined door installation environment.

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