JP7625105B2 - Toilet System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a toilet system.

The following Patent Document 1 describes a toilet system that includes a toilet device and a remote control device. The toilet device is provided in the toilet body. The toilet device transmits radio waves to the remote control device. The remote control device includes an operation unit. The operation unit is operated by the user. The remote control device runs on the power of the radio waves from the toilet device. When the operation unit is operated, the remote control device transmits information regarding the operation to the toilet device via radio waves. In this way, the remote control device communicates with the toilet device.

JP 2007-60712 A

When a user operates the operating unit, the user's body may block radio waves between the toilet device and a remote control device that operates using radio waves transmitted from the toilet device's antenna. When the radio waves are blocked, the communication performance between the remote control device and the toilet device decreases.

The purpose of this disclosure is to prevent degradation of communication performance between a remote control device and a toilet device.

One aspect of the present disclosure is a toilet system that includes a remote control device that is provided at a predetermined position in the toilet space and that remotely controls the toilet device, and an antenna that transmits radio waves to the remote control device, the remote control device operates using the power of the radio waves transmitted from the antenna, and the antenna is provided in a cabinet provided behind the toilet bowl and in an area on the side where the remote control device is located as viewed from a user sitting on the toilet seat.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a toilet system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the toilet space in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the toilet space in the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a remote control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a first control device in the present embodiment.

The toilet system according to this embodiment will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the toilet system 1 includes a toilet device 2, a cabinet 3, and a remote control device 4. The toilet device 2 includes a toilet bowl 5, a toilet seat device 6, and a first antenna 7. The toilet device 2 includes a conductor L. The toilet seat device 6 includes a main body cover 8, a toilet seat 9, a toilet lid 10, and a first control device 11. However, the toilet seat device 6 does not necessarily have to include the toilet lid 10. The toilet device 2 may also include a toilet flushing water tank that stores toilet flushing water.

The toilet bowl 5 is installed on the floor surface within the toilet space 100. A toilet seat device 6 is installed above the toilet bowl 5. A cabinet 3 is provided in the toilet space 100.

The cabinet 3 is provided behind the toilet bowl 5 in the toilet space 100. For example, the cabinet 3 may be provided with a tank for storing flushing water. For example, the stop valve and drain pipe of the toilet device 2 may be provided inside the cabinet 3. In this way, the cabinet 3 makes the tank, the stop valve, and the drain pipe invisible to the user. For example, the cabinet 3 is made of wood or resin. For example, the cabinet 3 has a door 30. For example, the cabinet 3 has an area for storing toilet paper 31 and cleaning tools 32. The door 30 is provided behind the toilet bowl 5, on the left and right sides of the toilet bowl 5. The toilet bowl 5 is provided outside the door 30. The inside of the door 30 is a storage space.

The toilet seat device 6 is provided in the toilet space 100. The toilet seat device 6 wirelessly communicates with the remote control device 4 via the first antenna 7. The toilet seat device 6 transmits radio waves from the first antenna 7 to the remote control device 4. As a result, the remote control device 4 operates with the power of the radio waves transmitted from the toilet seat device. The first antenna 7 receives the radio waves transmitted from the remote control device 4 and transmits a signal corresponding to the radio waves to the toilet seat device 6. The toilet seat device 6 extracts information from the signal transmitted from the first antenna 7. For example, the radio waves are at least one of UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band radio waves and 2.4 GHz radio waves. The toilet seat device 6 is provided on a toilet bowl 5 provided in the toilet space 100.

The first antenna 7 is electrically connected to the first control device 11 via a conductor L. The first antenna 7 transmits a first radio wave to the remote control device 4. For example, when the first modulated wave is supplied from the first control device 11, the first antenna 7 transmits a first radio wave corresponding to the first modulated wave to the remote control device 4. However, the first radio wave does not have to be a radio wave corresponding to the first modulated wave. The first antenna 7 may transmit a radio wave for supplying power to the remote control device 4, or may transmit a radio wave for transmitting information. The first radio wave is transmitted from the first antenna 7 to the remote control device 4 at regular intervals. For example, the regular interval is several ms to several hundred ms.

When the first antenna 7 receives the second radio wave supplied from the remote control device 4, it transmits a second modulated wave corresponding to the second radio wave to the first control device 11. For example, the first antenna 7 is a loop antenna. For example, the radiation surface of the first antenna 7 is directed toward the remote control device 4.
The radiation surface of the first antenna 7 is, for example, a loop surface.

The first antenna 7 is provided in the cabinet 3. For example, when the door 30 of the cabinet 3 is closed, the user cannot see the first antenna 7. The first antenna 7 is provided in the cabinet 3 at least in an area on the side where the remote control device 4 is located as seen from the user sitting on the toilet seat 9. For example, when the remote control device 4 is located on the right wall of the toilet device 2, the first antenna 7 is installed in a specific area 200 on the right side in the cabinet 3. For example, when the remote control device 4 is located on the left wall of the toilet device 2, the first antenna 7 is installed in a specific area 300 on the left side in the cabinet 3.
The first antenna 7 may be provided on an extension line in either the longitudinal direction or the lateral direction of the remote control device 4 in the plan view of the toilet space 100 shown in FIG. 2. The first antenna 7 may be provided between the toilet bowl 5 and the remote control device 4 in the plan view of the toilet space 100 shown in FIG. 2. For example, in the plan view of the toilet space 100 shown in FIG. 2, the first antenna 7 is between the toilet bowl 5 and the remote control device 4, and the distance between the first antenna 7 and the remote control device 4 is shorter than the distance between the first antenna 7 and the toilet bowl 5. For example, the first antenna 7 is between the toilet bowl 5 and the remote control device 4, and the first antenna 7 is disposed closer to the remote control device 4 than the toilet bowl 5. This makes it difficult for the radio waves between the remote control device 4 and the first antenna 7 to be blocked by the user's body. Therefore, the toilet system 1 can suppress a decrease in communication performance between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6.

The specific area 200 may be an area to the right of the center line 400 within the cabinet 3 when the toilet space 100 is viewed from above. For example, the specific area 200 may be either the right end or the vicinity of that end within the cabinet 3. The specific area 300 may be an area to the left of the center line 400 within the cabinet 3 when the toilet space 100 is viewed from above. For example, the specific area 300 may be either the left end or the vicinity of that end within the cabinet 3.

When the toilet device 2 is viewed from the front, the first antenna 7 may be provided in a position that is not hidden by the toilet bowl 5 and the toilet seat device 6. For example, if the remote control device 4 is located on the wall on the right side of the toilet device 2, the first antenna 7 may be provided in the specific area 200, in an area 201 to the right of the toilet bowl 5. For example, if the remote control device 4 is located on the wall on the left side of the toilet device 2, the first antenna 7 may be provided in the specific area 300, in an area 301 to the left of the toilet bowl 5.

The height at which the first antenna 7 is placed may be the same as the height at which the remote control device 4 is placed. The height at which the first antenna 7 is placed may be higher than the height at which the remote control device 4 is placed. The first antenna 7 may be installed at a position higher than the toilet bowl 5.

The conductor L connecting the first antenna 7 and the first control device 11 may be wired inside the cabinet 3 as shown in FIG. 2. The conductor L may be wired so as not to be close to the toilet bowl 5.

The main body cover 8 is a cover that covers the first control device 11 from above. The toilet seat 9 is supported by the main body cover 8. The toilet seat 9 rotates relative to the main body cover 8. The toilet lid 10 is supported by the main body cover 8. The toilet lid 10 rotates relative to the main body cover 8.

The first control device 11 is electrically connected to the first antenna 7. The first control device 11 transmits a first radio wave to the remote control device 4 via the first antenna 7. The first radio wave may have information. This allows the first control device 11 to transmit information to the remote control device 4. The first control device 11 transmits the first radio wave. This allows the first control device 11 to supply power to the remote control device 4. For example, the first control device 11 transmits the first radio wave to transmit information and supply power to the remote control device 4. However, the first radio wave may not have information. The first control device 11 may supply power to the remote control device 4 and not transmit information. The first control device 11 receives a signal corresponding to the radio wave received by the first antenna 7. The first control device 11 acquires information from the signal received from the first antenna 7.

The remote control device 4 controls the toilet seat device 6 remotely. It is installed at a predetermined position in the toilet space 100. This predetermined position is, for example, a wall surface of the toilet space 100. This predetermined position is higher than the toilet bowl 5. The remote control device 4 includes an operation unit 20 and a second control device 40. When the operation unit 20 is operated, the remote control device 4 transmits information corresponding to the operation to the toilet seat device 6 using radio waves.

The operation unit 20 is operated by the user. The operation unit 20 may include one or more push buttons 21.

The push button 21 is connected to the second control device 40. When the push button 21 is pressed by the user, it is in an ON state. When the push button 21 is not pressed by the user, it is in an OFF state. For example, the multiple push buttons 21 are a first push button 21a, a second push button 21b, a third push button 21c, and a fourth push button 21d.

The first push button 21a is a button that a user who is seated on the toilet seat 9 presses when washing the buttocks with washing water. The second push button 21b is a button that a user presses when adjusting the water pressure of the washing water. The third push button 21c is a button that a user presses when generating sound from the toilet seat device 6. The fourth push button 21d is a button that a user presses when stopping at least one of the washing of the buttocks and the generation of the sound.

The second control device 40 includes a second antenna 41, a storage unit 42, and a control unit 43.

The second antenna 41 is electrically connected to the control unit 43. The second antenna 41 receives the first radio wave transmitted from the first antenna 7. When the second antenna 41 receives the first radio wave, it outputs a signal corresponding to the first radio wave to the control unit 43. The signal corresponding to the first radio wave is, for example, a first modulated wave. The second antenna 41 transmits to the first antenna 7 a second radio wave corresponding to the second modulated wave transmitted from the control unit 43. For example, the second antenna 41 is a loop antenna. The second radio wave contains information.

The storage unit 42 stores first identification information that identifies the first push button 21a. The storage unit 42 stores second identification information that identifies the second push button 21b. The storage unit 42 stores third identification information that identifies the third push button 21c. The storage unit 42 stores fourth identification information that identifies the fourth push button 21d.

The control unit 43 operates with the power of the first radio wave. For example, the control unit 43 includes a rectifier circuit that rectifies the signal received from the second antenna 41. The rectifier circuit converts the signal received from the second antenna 41 into a DC voltage. The control unit 43 operates with the DC voltage converted by the rectifier circuit. The control unit 43 may demodulate the signal received from the second antenna 41. This allows the control unit 43 to extract information from the signal received from the second antenna 41.

The control unit 43 has a second transmitter that generates a second carrier wave. When at least one of the multiple push buttons 21 is turned on, the control unit 43 obtains identification information corresponding to the on-state push button 21 from the storage unit 42. The control unit 43 modulates the second carrier wave based on the identification information. The control unit 43 transmits the second modulated wave, which is the modulated second carrier wave, to the second antenna 41.

For example, the control unit 43 includes a processor. For example, the processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). For example, the control unit 43 may be a microcontroller. The control unit 43 may include at least one of a non-volatile semiconductor and a volatile semiconductor. The control unit 43 may be realized by the processor executing a program. Some or all of the components of the control unit 43 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

An example of the configuration of the first control device 11 is described below. The first control device 11 includes a power conversion unit 50, a communication unit 51, and a control unit 52.

The power conversion unit 50 is supplied with power from an AC adapter 500 connected to an outlet in the toilet space 100. The power conversion unit 50 converts the power from the AC adapter 500 into a predetermined power. The power conversion unit 50 supplies the converted power to each of the communication unit 51 and the control unit 52. For example, the power conversion unit 50 is an AC-DC converter. The power conversion unit 50 may further include a DC-DC converter that steps down the output of the AC-DC converter. The power conversion unit 50 may be supplied with power from an outlet plug instead of the AC adapter 500.

The communication unit 51 operates by obtaining power from the power conversion unit 50.

For example, the communication unit 51 has a first transmitter that generates a first carrier wave. The communication unit 51 modulates the first carrier wave based on information transmitted from the control unit 52. For example, when the communication unit 51 receives information from the control unit 52, it modulates the first carrier wave based on the information. The communication unit 51 amplifies the first modulated wave, which is the first carrier wave after modulation. The communication unit 51 outputs the amplified first modulated wave to the first antenna 7 at regular intervals. The information received from the control unit 52 may be any information. For example, the information received from the control unit 52 may include information regarding the settings of the toilet seat device 6. The information received from the control unit 52 may include information indicating whether or not a user is seated on the toilet seat 9. The information received from the control unit 52 may include information indicating whether or not a user is present in the toilet space 100.

The communication unit 51 receives the second modulated wave from the first antenna 7. The communication unit 51 demodulates the second modulated wave. As a result, the communication unit 51 extracts information from the second modulated wave. The communication unit 51 transmits the information extracted from the second modulated wave to the control unit 52. For example, the communication unit 51 is a reader/writer (RFID Reader and Writer Module) used in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). However, the communication unit 51 is not limited to a reader/writer and may be any module capable of transmitting and receiving radio waves.

The control unit 52 is connected to the communication unit 51. The control unit 52 controls the first control device 11. The control unit 52 executes a predetermined function based on information obtained from the communication unit 51. The function includes, for example, a first flush. The first flush washes the buttocks of a user sitting on the toilet seat 9 with flushing water. The function may include a second flush that cleans the inside of the toilet bowl 5. The function may include a function to adjust the water pressure of the flushing water in the first flush. The function may include a function to output a sound. For example, the sound masks the sound of the user's excretion. For example, the sound is the sound of running water.

For example, the control unit 52 includes a processor. For example, the processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). For example, the control unit 52 may be a microcontroller. The control unit 52 may include at least one of a non-volatile semiconductor and a volatile semiconductor. The control unit 52 may be realized by the processor executing a program. Some or all of the components of the control unit 52 may be realized by hardware, or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware.

For example, the hardware is at least one of an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The program may be stored in a storage device in advance. The storage device is a non-transient storage medium. For example, the storage device is at least one of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and a flash memory. The storage device may be the storage unit 42. The program may be stored in a removable storage medium. In this case, the program may be installed in the storage device by mounting the storage medium in a drive device. The storage medium is a non-transient storage medium. For example, the recording medium is either a DVD or a CD-ROM.

A method of attaching the first antenna 7 will be described. The installer attaches the cabinet 3 and the toilet 5 in the toilet space 100. The installer attaches the remote control device 4 to the wall surface of the toilet space 100. After the installer attaches the cabinet 3, the remote control device 4, and the toilet 5 in the toilet space 100, the installer installs the first antenna 7 inside the cabinet 3.
For example, when the remote control device 4 is attached to the wall surface on the right side of the toilet device 2, the installer installs the remote control device 4 on the right side inside the cabinet 3. When the remote control device 4 is attached to the wall surface on the left side of the toilet device 2, the installer installs the remote control device 4 on the left side inside the cabinet 3. The installer adjusts the orientation of the first antenna 7 so that the loop surface of the first antenna 7 faces the remote control device 4. For example, the height of the first antenna 7 is higher than the toilet bowl 5. When the remote control device 4 is attached at a position higher than the toilet bowl 5, the height of the first antenna 7 may be approximately the same as the height of the remote control device 4. After installing the remote control device 4 inside the cabinet 3, the installer installs the toilet seat device 6 on the toilet bowl 5. After installing the toilet seat device 6 on the toilet bowl 5, the installer connects the first antenna 7 and the first control device 11 with a conductor L.
However, the installer may install the first antenna 7 inside the cabinet 3 after attaching the toilet seat device 6 to the toilet bowl 5.

When a user is operating the operating unit 20, the user's body may be between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6, blocking radio waves. For example, the body may be at least one of the torso and the arm. Blocking radio waves reduces the communication performance between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6. The first antenna 7 in the above embodiment is provided in the toilet space 100, within the cabinet 3, and in a specific area on the side where the remote control device 4 is located as viewed from the user sitting on the toilet seat 9. This allows the toilet system 1 to suppress a decrease in communication performance between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6 even when the user's body is between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6.

The first antenna 7 in the above embodiment may be installed in the cabinet 3 at a position higher than the toilet bowl 5. This prevents radio waves between the remote control device 4 and the first antenna 7 from being blocked by the toilet bowl 5. Therefore, the toilet system 1 can suppress a decrease in communication performance between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6.

The remote control device 4 in the above embodiment may be installed at a position higher than the toilet bowl 5. In this case, the first antenna 7 may be installed at a position higher than the remote control device 4. This allows the toilet system 1 to suppress a decrease in communication performance between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6 even when the user's body is interposed between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6.

The remote control device 4 in the above embodiment may be installed at a position higher than the toilet bowl 5. In this case, the height of the first antenna 7 may be the same as the height of the remote control device 4. This minimizes the distance between the remote control device 4 and the first antenna 7, improving the efficiency of power supply from the first antenna 7 to the remote control device 4.

The conductor L connecting the first antenna 7 and the toilet seat device 6 may be wired to pass through the inside of the cabinet 3. The cabinet 3 covers and conceals the conductor L. This improves the design of the toilet device 2.

When a user operates the operating unit 20 while sitting on the toilet seat 9, the user's body is likely to block radio waves between the remote control device 4 and the toilet seat device 6. In the above embodiment, the second control device 40 may transmit the second radio wave to the toilet seat device 6 after a predetermined time Tx has elapsed when the operating unit 20 is operated while the user is sitting on the toilet seat 9. This ensures that the second radio wave is transmitted to the toilet seat device 6 without being blocked by the user's body. Therefore, the toilet system 1 can suppress a decrease in communication performance from the remote control device 4 to the toilet seat device 6.

In the toilet system 1 of the above embodiment, the toilet seat device 6 acquires information from the remote control device 4 using, as an example, RFID. However, the toilet seat device 6 may acquire information from the remote control device 4 without using RFID. For example, the remote control device 4 of the above embodiment may transmit the second radio wave to the first antenna 7 using at least one of the wireless communication standards of Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). In this way, the toilet seat device 6 may acquire information from the remote control device 4 using the wireless communication standard.

Reference Signs List 1 toilet system, 2 toilet device, 3 cabinet, 4 remote control device, 5 toilet bowl, 6 toilet seat device, 7 first antenna, 11 first control device

Claims (5)

A remote control device is provided at a predetermined position in the toilet space and controls the toilet device remotely;
an antenna for transmitting radio waves to the remote control device;
Equipped with
the remote control device is operated by the power of radio waves transmitted from the antenna;
the antenna is provided in a cabinet provided behind the toilet bowl separately from the toilet bowl, and is provided on the side where the remote control device is located as viewed from a user sitting on the toilet seat, in an area that is not hidden by the toilet bowl and a toilet seat apparatus having the toilet seat when the toilet apparatus is viewed from the front ,
a distance between the antenna and the remote control device in a left-right direction as seen by the user is shorter than a distance between the antenna and an end of the toilet bowl on the remote control device side in the left-right direction;
Toilet system. The antenna is installed in the cabinet at a position higher than the toilet bowl.
The toilet system of claim 1. The remote control device is installed at a position higher than the toilet bowl,
The antenna is installed at a higher position than the remote control device.
3. A toilet system according to claim 1 or 2. The remote control device is installed at a position higher than the toilet bowl,
The height of the antenna is the same as the height of the remote control device.
A toilet system according to claim 1 or 2. The toilet device comprises:
The toilet seat device is provided on the toilet bowl;
A conductor connecting the antenna and the toilet seat device;
Equipped with
The conductor is routed through the cabinet.
A toilet system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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