JP6869470B2 - Toilet seat device - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a toilet seat device capable of opening and closing a toilet seat and a toilet lid by a motor.

Conventionally, the motor drive circuit consists of a power supply side output transistor and a ground side output transistor connected in series, and two sets of output circuits in which a motor is connected between the two output terminals with an intermediate connection point between them as an output terminal. Two sets of output circuits are known to include a control voltage generating means for applying a control voltage to each of the power supply side output transistor and the ground side output transistor, and a protective means for suppressing an overvoltage generated by a counter electromotive force generated from the motor. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). The protection means of the motor drive circuit detects the decrease in the power supply voltage itself or the increase in the counter electromotive force generated at both ends of the motor as the decrease in the power supply voltage, and responds to the decrease in the power supply voltage given to the two sets of output circuits. By forcibly turning on the ground side transistor of each of the two sets of output circuits, the rotation of the motor is braked and the overvoltage due to the counter electromotive force is suppressed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-262628

However, the conventional motor drive circuit requires a detection circuit for detecting a decrease in the power supply voltage or an increase in the counter electromotive force generated at both ends of the motor in order to detect a decrease in the power supply voltage, which increases the cost. And the size increase of the substrate cannot be suppressed. Therefore, when such a motor drive circuit is used together with a motor for opening and closing the toilet seat and the toilet lid of the toilet seat device, the cost and size of the toilet seat device are increased.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to protect the motor and the motor drive circuit from the back electromotive force of the motor that opens and closes the toilet seat and the toilet lid while suppressing the cost increase and the size increase of the toilet seat device.

The toilet seat device of the present disclosure includes a motor that opens and closes the toilet seat or the toilet lid, and a motor that supplies electric power from a power source to the motor to rotate the motor forward or reverse and stop the power supply from the power source to the motor. A toilet seat device including a drive circuit, a voltage converter that converts a voltage from the power supply, and a control device that receives power from the voltage converter to control the motor drive circuit. When power is supplied from the voltage converter based on the countercurrent power of the motor generated by the manual opening / closing operation of the toilet seat or the toilet lid in a state where power is not supplied from the power supply, the motor Controls the motor drive circuit so that the motor rotates, reverses, or stops.

In this toilet seat device, when the toilet seat or toilet lid is manually opened and closed while power is not supplied from the power supply, the counter electromotive force of the motor generated accordingly is voltage-converted by the voltage converter and supplied to the control device. Will be done. Then, the control device is started by the electric power based on the counter electromotive force of the motor, and controls the motor drive circuit so that the motor rotates forward, reverses, or stops. As a result, in this toilet seat device, the motor and the motor drive circuit are separated from the counter electromotive force of the motor generated by the manual opening / closing operation of the toilet seat or the toilet lid without using a protection circuit or the like for detecting an increase in the counter electromotive force. It is possible to protect it, and it is possible to suppress cost increase and size increase.

Further, the toilet seat device may further include a rotational displacement detector that receives electric power from the voltage converter and detects the rotational displacement of the rotating shaft of the toilet seat or the toilet lid. Based on the signal from the rotational displacement detector, it is determined whether or not power is being supplied from the motor side, and when it is determined that power is being supplied from the motor side, the motor rotates forward or reverse. Alternatively, the motor drive circuit may be controlled so as to stop. In this way, the toilet seat device is determined by determining whether or not power is being supplied to the control device from the motor side based on the signal from the rotational displacement detector used to control the motor that opens and closes the toilet seat or the toilet lid. It is possible to better suppress the cost increase and size increase of the toilet.

Further, the control device acquires the opening angle of the toilet seat or the toilet lid based on the signal from the rotational displacement detector when power is supplied from the motor side, and according to the acquired opening angle. The motor drive circuit may be controlled so that the motor rotates forward or reverse. This makes it possible for the motor to assist the manual opening / closing operation and regulate the manual opening / closing operation.

Further, the motor drive circuit may be an H-bridge circuit in which two sets of two switching elements connected in series are connected in parallel.

It is a perspective view which shows the toilet bowl which attached the toilet seat device of this disclosure. It is an electric system diagram of the toilet seat device of this disclosure. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control routine executed in the toilet seat device of this disclosure.

Next, a mode for carrying out the invention of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toilet bowl 1 to which the toilet seat device 10 of the present disclosure is attached. The toilet bowl 1 shown in the figure is a Western-style seated toilet bowl, and the toilet seat device 10 is fixed to the upper surface of the toilet bowl 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the toilet seat device 10 includes a casing 11, a toilet seat 12 rotatably supported by the casing 11, and a toilet lid 13 rotatably supported by the casing 11 like the toilet seat 12. The operation panel 14 and the cleaning nozzle 15 for ejecting cleaning water (water or hot water) to a local part of the human body are included.

The cleaning nozzle 15 has a nozzle body having a first spout for cleaning the toilet, a second spout for cleaning the bidet, and a waste water discharge port, a motor (not shown), and a storage position of the nozzle body in the casing 11. Includes a drive mechanism that moves forward and backward in the axial direction between the toilet bowl 1 and the cleaning position on the toilet bowl side. Further, the cleaning nozzle 15 is supplied with cleaning water from a water pipe as a water source via a water valve, for example, a heat exchange unit having an instant heating type hot water heater, a rotary valve, or the like (all not shown). However, the toilet seat device 10 has a heater for heating water from a water pipe (water source), a temperature detector, or the like instead of a heat exchange unit, and is a washing water tank capable of storing hot water heated by the heater. May be provided.

FIG. 2 is an electrical system diagram of the toilet seat device 10. As shown in the figure, the toilet seat device 10 includes an opening / closing mechanism 16 that is driven by a motor (DC motor) Ms to open / close the toilet seat 12. That is, in the toilet seat device 10, the toilet seat 12 can be opened via the opening / closing mechanism 16 by rotating the motor Ms in the normal direction, and the toilet seat 12 can be closed via the opening / closing mechanism 16 by reversing the motor Ms. Further, the opening / closing mechanism 16 has a rotary encoder (rotational displacement detector) 18 for detecting the rotational displacement of the rotating shaft connected to the toilet seat 12 and the motor Ms. Similarly, an opening / closing mechanism 17 driven by a motor (DC motor) Ml is also connected to the toilet lid 13, and by rotating the motor Ml in the normal direction, the toilet lid 13 is opened via the opening / closing mechanism 17 and the motor. By reversing Ml, the toilet lid 13 can be closed via the opening / closing mechanism 17. Further, the opening / closing mechanism 17 of the toilet lid 13 also has a rotary encoder (rotational displacement detector) 19 that detects the rotational displacement of the rotating shaft connected to the toilet lid 13 and the motor Ml.

Further, the toilet seat device 10 includes a motor drive circuit 20 that drives the motor Ms of the opening / closing mechanism 16 of the toilet seat 12, a motor drive circuit 21 that drives the motor Ml of the opening / closing mechanism 17 of the toilet lid 13, and motor drive circuits 20, 21. Includes a microcomputer 25 as a control device for controlling the above. The motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are H-bridge circuits having four switching elements SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4, and have the same configuration as each other. In the present embodiment, the p-channel field effect transistors (FETs) T1 and T2 having a built-in freewheeling diode D1 or D2 are adopted as the switching elements SW1 and SW2, and the freewheeling diode D3 or D4 is built in as the switching elements SW3 and SW4. The n-channel field effect transistors (FETs) T3 and T4 have been adopted. Then, in the motor drive circuits 20 and 21, a set of switching elements SW1 and SW3 connected in series and a set of switching elements SW2 and SW4 connected in series are connected in parallel.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection point P1 of the switching elements SW1 and SW3 and the connection point P2 of the switching elements SW2 and SW4 are connected to the corresponding terminals of the motors Ms or Ml. Further, a voltage V1 (DC12V) from the power supply circuit 30 as a power supply is applied to the connection point Pv of the switching elements SW1 and SW2, and the connection point Pg of the switching elements SW3 and SW4 is grounded. Further, a Zener diode D5 as a protection diode is installed between the connection point Pv of the switching elements SW1 and SW2 and the connection point Pg of the switching elements SW3 and SW4.

The power supply circuit 30 is, for example, a flyback converter including a transformer, a plurality of electrolytic capacitors, a plurality of diodes, a power supply IC, and the like, and converts AC power from a household AC power supply into DC power having a voltage V1 (DC12V). It is a thing. Further, a voltage converter 35 is connected to the power supply circuit 30 in parallel with the motor drive circuits 20 and 21. The voltage converter 35 converts the voltage V1 from the power supply circuit 30 into a lower voltage V2 (DC5V) and outputs the voltage V2. The voltage V2 from the voltage converter 35 is supplied as a power supply voltage to the microcomputer 25, various sensors such as the rotary encoders 18 and 19, and the like.

The microcomputer 25 as a control device is a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an input / output port, and the like (not shown). The microcomputer 25 has a plurality of output ports connected to the gate terminals of the corresponding switching elements SW1 to SW4 (transistors T1 to T4), and outputs a gate signal from the output ports to the switching elements SW1 to SW4. Controls the switching elements SW1 to SW4 on and off. Further, the microcomputer 25 inputs a signal from an operation panel 14, a human body sensor (not shown), or the like. Then, the microcomputer 25 generates a gate signal to the switching elements SW1 to SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 based on signals from the operation panel 14 and various sensors, and opens and closes the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13. The motors Ms and Ml of 17 are controlled.

In the present embodiment, the motors Ms and Ml are rotated in the normal direction by turning on (conducting) the switching elements SW1 and SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 and turning off (disconnecting) the switching elements SW2 and SW3. The toilet seat 12 or the toilet lid 13 can be opened. Further, by turning on the switching elements SW2 and SW3 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 and turning off the switching elements SW1 and SW4, the motors Ms and Ml can be reversed and the toilet seat 12 or the toilet lid 13 can be closed. Further, by turning on the switching elements SW3 and SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 and turning off the switching elements SW1 and SW2, the terminals of the motors Ms and Ml are short-circuited and the rotation of the motors Ms and Ml is braked. (Short brake) can be applied.

In the toilet seat device 10, the opening and closing of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 by the motors Ms and Ml is basically executed according to the output of the signal of the human body sensor and the operation of the operation panel 14 by the user. The toilet lid 13 can also be manually opened and closed by the user. However, the user uses the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 in a state where the electric power (DC5V or DC12V) from the power supply circuit 30 side is not supplied to the microcomputer 25 and the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 (standby state or unplugged state). When manually opened and closed by the motor, a counter electromotive force is generated between the terminals of the motors Ms and Ml, and the current due to the counter electromotive force flows through the freewheeling diodes D1 or D2, so that the voltage at the connection point Pv of the switching elements SW1 and SW2. May increase and adversely affect the motor drive circuits 20, 21 and the motors Ms and Ml.

Therefore, in the toilet seat device 10 of the present embodiment, the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 are manually opened and closed by the user in a state where power is not supplied from the power supply circuit 30 side to the microcomputer 25 and the motor drive circuits 20 and 21. At that time, the control routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed in order to protect the motor drive circuits 20, 21 and the motors Ms, Ml. The control routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the microcomputer 25 (CPU) when the microcomputer 25 of the toilet seat device 10 is activated.

Here, when the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 are manually opened and closed by the user in a state where the electric power from the power supply circuit 30 side is not supplied to the microcomputer 25 and the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 as described above, The voltage generated at the connection point Pv due to the counter electromotive force of the motors Ms and Ml is stepped down by the voltage converter 35 and supplied to the microcomputer 25 and the rotary encoders 18 and 19. In this case, the microcomputer 25 is activated by the electric power from the motors Ms and Ml, and the rotary encoders 18 and 19 can detect the rotational displacement. Therefore, the control routine of FIG. 3 is executed not only when the microcomputer 25 is started according to the normal procedure, but also when the microcomputer 25 is started in response to the manual opening / closing operation of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 by the user. Will be done.

At the start of the routine of FIG. 3, the microcomputer 25 (CPU) inputs signals from the rotary encoders 18 and 19 (step S100), and at least one of the motors Ms and Ml (rotational axes of the opening / closing mechanisms 16 and 17). Determines whether or not is rotating (step S110). When the microcomputer 25 is started according to the normal procedure, both the motors Ms and Ml are not rotating at that time. Therefore, when it is determined in step S110 that both the motors Ms and Ml are not rotating (step S110: NO), the microcomputer 25 terminates this routine at that point.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S110 that at least one of the motors Ms and Ml is rotating (step S110: YES), the microcomputer 25 is the user based on the signals from the rotary encoders 18 and 19. The opening angle θ of at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 opened and closed by the above method is derived (step S120). Further, the microcomputer 25 determines whether or not the derived opening angle θ is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value θref (step S130).

When it is determined in step S130 that the opening angle θ is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value θref (step S130: YES), the microcomputer 25 corresponds to at least one of the rotating motors Ms and Ml. The switching elements SW1 and SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are turned on, and the switching elements SW2 and SW3 are turned off (step S140) to end this routine. As a result, at least one of the rotating motors Ms and Ml rotates forward by being supplied with the current from the connection point Pv, whereby at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 opens. become.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S130 that the opening angle θ is less than the predetermined threshold value θref (step S130: NO), the microcomputer 25 is set to at least one of the rotating motors Ms and Ml. The switching elements SW2 and SW3 of the corresponding motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are turned on, and the switching elements SW1 and SW4 are turned off (continuity is released) (step S150) to end this routine. As a result, at least one of the rotating motors Ms and Ml is reversed by being supplied with the current from the connection point Pv, whereby at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 is closed. become.

As described above, in the toilet seat device 10, at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 is manually opened and closed by the user in a state where power is not supplied from the power supply circuit 30 to the microcomputer 25 and the motor drive circuits 20 and 21. Then, the counter electromotive force of at least one of the motors Ms and Ml generated accordingly is voltage-converted by the voltage converter 35 and supplied to the microcomputer 25 and the rotary encoders 18 and 19. Then, the microcomputer 25 is started by the electric power based on the back electromotive force of at least one of the motors Ms and Ml, executes the above-mentioned control routine, and at least one of the motors Ms and Ml rotates forward or reverses. In this way, at least one of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 is controlled. As a result, in the toilet seat device 10, the motors Ms and Ml generated by the manual opening / closing operation of at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 without using a protection circuit or the like for detecting an increase in the counter electromotive force. It is possible to appropriately discharge at least one of the counter electromotive forces to protect the motors Ms, Ml and the motor drive circuits 20, 21 and suppress cost increase and size increase.

Further, in the toilet seat device 10, the microcomputer 25 determines whether or not power is being supplied from the motors Ms and Ml based on the signals from the rotary encoders 18 and 19 (steps S100 and S110 in FIG. 3), and the motor When it is determined that power is being supplied from the Ms and Ml sides, the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are controlled so that the motors Ms and Ml rotate forward or reverse (steps S120 to S150 in FIG. 3). In this way, whether or not power is supplied to the microcomputer 25 from the motors Ms and Ml side based on the signals from the rotary encoders 18 and 19 used to control the motors Ms and Ml that open and close the toilet seat 12 or the toilet lid 13. By determining whether or not, it is possible to better suppress the cost increase and size increase of the toilet seat device 10.

Further, in the toilet seat device 10, when power is supplied from the motors Ms and Ml side, the microcomputer 25 opens at least one of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13 based on the signals from the rotary encoders 18 and 19. θ is acquired (step S120 in FIG. 3), and the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are controlled so that the motors Ms and Ml rotate forward or reverse according to the acquired opening angle θ (steps S130 to S150 in FIG. 3). .. This makes it possible for the motor to assist the manual opening / closing operation and regulate the manual opening / closing operation.

However, in either one of steps S140 and S150 of FIG. 3, the switching elements SW3 and SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are turned on, the switching elements SW1 and SW2 are turned off, and the terminals of the motors Ms and Ml are short-circuited. A brake (short brake) may be applied to the rotation of the motors Ms and Ml. Further, instead of the processing of steps S120 to S150, after a positive judgment is made in step S110, the switching elements SW3 and SW4 of the motor drive circuits 20 and 21 are turned on, and the switching elements SW1 and SW2 are turned off to turn off the motor. The terminals of Ms and Ml may be short-circuited. Further, the processing when an affirmative judgment is made in step S130 of FIG. 3 is not limited to the above. That is, when an affirmative judgment is made in step S130 of FIG. 3, the motors Ms and Ml are rotated in an appropriate direction according to the opening angle θ of the toilet seat 12 and the toilet lid 13, the rotation direction, and the like. You can apply a short brake.

It goes without saying that the invention of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the extension of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is merely a specific embodiment of the invention described in the column of the outline of the invention, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the column of the outline of the invention.

The invention of the present disclosure can be used in the manufacturing industry of toilet seat devices and the like.

1 toilet bowl, 10 toilet seat device, 11 casing, 12 toilet seat, 13 toilet lid, 14 operation panel, 15 cleaning nozzle, 16,17 opening / closing mechanism, 18,19 rotary encoder, 20,21 motor drive circuit, 25 microcomputer, 30 power supply circuit , 35 Voltage converter, D1, D2, D3, D4 freewheeling diode, D5 Zener diode, P1, P2, Pv, Pg connection point, SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4 switching element, T1, T2, T3, T4 transistor.

Claims (4)

From the motor that opens and closes the toilet seat or the toilet lid, the motor drive circuit that supplies power from the power source to the motor to rotate the motor forward or reverse, and stops the power supply from the power source to the motor, and the power source. A toilet seat device including a voltage converter for converting the voltage of the above and a control device for controlling the motor drive circuit by receiving electric power from the voltage converter.
When the control device is supplied with power based on the counter electromotive force of the motor generated by the manual opening / closing operation of the toilet seat or the toilet lid from the voltage converter in a state where power is not supplied from the power supply. In addition, a toilet seat device that controls the motor drive circuit so that the motor rotates forward, reverses, or stops. In the toilet seat device according to claim 1,
A rotational displacement detector for detecting the rotational displacement of the rotating shaft of the toilet seat or the toilet lid by receiving electric power from the voltage converter is further provided.
The control device determines whether or not electric power is supplied from the motor side based on a signal from the rotational displacement detector, and when it is determined that electric power is supplied from the motor side, the motor A toilet seat device that controls the motor drive circuit so that the motor rotates, reverses, or stops. In the toilet seat device according to claim 2,
When power is supplied from the motor side, the control device acquires the opening angle of the toilet seat or the toilet lid based on the signal from the rotational displacement detector, and the motor according to the acquired opening angle. A toilet seat device that controls the motor drive circuit so that the motor rotates or reverses. In the toilet seat device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The motor drive circuit is a toilet seat device which is an H-bridge circuit in which two sets of two switching elements connected in series are connected in parallel.

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