JP2007117243A - Heated toilet seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heated toilet seat which is user-friendly and advanced in energy-saving by the most appropriate control method of a large-capacity heater excellent in quick heating. <P>SOLUTION: The heated toilet seat is equipped with a heating source 2 which heats a toilet seat 1, a human body detector 10, a temperature sensor 3, a supply voltage sensor 8 and a heating source control means 6, and is structured so that initial electric power distribution time of the heating source 2 can be controlled according to outputs of the body detector 10, detected temperature of the temperature sensor 3 and detected voltage of the supply voltage sensor 8, then, when the human body is sensed, the initial electric power distribution time of the heating source is set according to the detected temperature of the surface of the toilet seat and the detected voltage of the power source, a series of the process from heating up to a constant temperature to turning off power distribution, is performed and power distribution time is controlled so that the toilet seat 1 can be heated up to a proper temperature even in a circumstance where the power supply voltage is different, therefore, the heated toilet seat can be user-friendly and advanced in energy-saving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to control of a heater of a heating toilet seat having a quick heating property for heating a toilet seat in a short time.

In the conventional heating toilet seat of this type, as shown in FIG. 8, the seat portion 103 of the toilet seat 102 having a hollow portion 101 is formed of a transparent polypropylene resin, and the radiant heat absorption layer 104 installed on the surface of the seat portion 103. And a lamp heater was installed in the cavity 101. Radiation from the lamp heater 105 passes through the transparent polypropylene resin seating portion 103 and is converted into heat by the radiant heat absorption layer 104 installed on the surface to raise the temperature of the seating portion 103. Since heat is generated in the radiant heat absorption layer 104 with which the buttock comes into contact, the buttock can be heated in a shorter time compared to a system in which heat is conducted from the inside of the toilet seat 102 by a cord heater or the like. Further, the temperature control is performed by a thermostat 106 placed in the vicinity of the lamp heater 105, and a temperature fuse 107 is used to prevent the danger of abnormal heating (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-14598 A

  However, when rapid heating is performed with a large-capacity heater such as a lamp heater that has excellent warm-up characteristics, a detection delay of a temperature detection device such as a thermostat occurs, so feedback control that depends only on the temperature detection signal is appropriate. The heater could not be controlled and the toilet seat could be heated too much. Furthermore, the amount of heat generated by the heater depends not only on the characteristics such as the type and capacity of the heater, but also on the voltage applied to the heater. Therefore, when the power supply voltage of the toilet in which the toilet seat is installed is high, the heater tends to overheat. When the power supply voltage is low, there is a possibility that the heating is insufficient.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a heating toilet seat that is easy to use and has high energy savings by an optimal control method for a large-capacity heater excellent in quick warming. .

  In order to solve the conventional problems, the instantly heated toilet seat of the present invention is a heat source for warming the toilet seat, a human body detecting means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat. Power supply voltage detection means for monitoring the voltage of the power supply source to the toilet seat, and heat source control means for controlling the energization time of the heat source, wherein the heat source control means outputs the human body detection means, and the temperature The initial power energization time of the heat source is controlled according to the detection temperature of the detection means and the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means.

  With this configuration, the initial power of the heat source is detected according to the detected temperature of the toilet seat surface detected by the temperature detecting means and the detected voltage of the power source detected by the power voltage detecting means when the human body intended to use the toilet seat is detected. A series of flows is performed in which the energization time is set, and the energization is stopped by heating to a constant temperature. That is, energization time control for heating to an appropriate temperature is performed even in an environment where the power supply voltage is different.

The present invention optimizes the heating start and end timings and the heating temperature of a heating toilet seat having a quick heating performance, and makes it possible to realize an easy-to-use and energy-saving heating toilet seat.

  The first invention includes a heat source for warming the toilet seat, human body detection means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat, and the voltage of the power supply source to the toilet seat Power supply voltage detection means for monitoring the heat source, and heat source control means for controlling the energization time of the heat source, wherein the heat source control means outputs the human body detection means, the detected temperature of the temperature detection means, and the power supply voltage detection The initial power energization time of the heat source is controlled according to the detection voltage of the means.

With this configuration, the necessary energization time is set after detecting the toilet seat surface temperature, which varies depending on the ambient temperature, and the power supply voltage, which varies depending on the power supply conditions at the installation location. It is possible to realize a heating toilet seat that has performance, is easy to use, and is energy-saving.
In the second invention, in particular, in the first invention, a heat source thermistor is provided in the vicinity of the heat source, and the detected temperature of the heat source thermistor is referred to as the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means.

  In other words, the heat source thermistor, which is a thermistor for the heat source provided in the vicinity to prevent overheating temperature of the heat source, detects the temperature corresponding to the toilet seat surface temperature before the heat source is energized. This is a configuration to be referred to. Thus, the configuration can be simplified by using the existing temperature detection means and performing temperature reference at an appropriate timing.

  The third invention is particularly the first or second invention, wherein the heat source control means determines the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means in a plurality of stages, and the initial power to the heat source as the detection voltage goes from a low stage to a high stage. The energization time is set to be shortened sequentially.

  With this configuration, by varying the initial power energization time of the heat source in accordance with the power supply situation at the installation location, it is possible to eliminate the excess and deficiency of the energization time and to have a quick warming performance and to set an optimal toilet seat temperature.

The fourth invention is particularly the first to third inventions, wherein the heat source control means stops the initial power supply when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means exceeds a predetermined temperature before the initial power supply time ends. .
With this configuration, an unexpected abnormal temperature rise can be detected, and a toilet seat with excellent safety can be supplied.

  The fifth aspect of the invention is particularly the fourth aspect of the invention, in which the heat source control means determines the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means in a plurality of stages, and stops the initial power supply as the detection voltage increases from a low stage to a high stage. The temperature is set so as to decrease sequentially.

With this configuration, the predetermined temperature, which is a criterion for determining an abnormal temperature rise, is appropriately set according to the power supply situation at the installation location, so that a toilet seat that has both quick warming performance and safety can be supplied.
The sixth invention is particularly the first to fifth inventions, wherein the power supply voltage detecting means detects the power supply voltage after a predetermined time has passed since the heat source is being energized and the energization has started.

  With this configuration, it is possible to set a predetermined time and a predetermined temperature at which the energization of the heat source is terminated according to the power supply voltage when power is supplied to the heat source, and higher warming performance and safety are improved. Toilet seats compatible with each level can be supplied.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the appearance of a heating toilet seat according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram.

  As shown in the figure, the toilet seat 1 has a hollow portion (not shown), a lamp heater 2 as a heat source for warming the toilet seat, and a thermistor 3 for temperature control are housed in the toilet seat body 1a. Triac 5 for controlling the lamp heater 2, heater control means 6 for controlling the energization of the lamp heater 2, a resistor 9 connected in series with the thermistor 3, and human body detection for detecting a person who is about to enter the toilet space A receiving unit 11 for receiving a signal from the sensor 10 is housed.

  The human body detection sensor 10 is installed on the wall surface of the toilet and detects a user who has entered the toilet.

  The AC 100 V power line is connected to a zero cross detection circuit 7 for detecting the zero cross point of the AC signal and a power supply voltage detection circuit 8 for detecting the voltage of the AC 100 V power source. The output signals of the respective circuits are input to the heater control means 6. Has been. The thermistor 3 is provided in the vicinity of the lamp heater and is attached at a position capable of detecting a temperature approximating the surface temperature of the toilet seat to be heated, and the toilet seat surface temperature is referred to the temperature approximating the toilet seat surface temperature. It is set as the structure which estimates.

  Signals from the human body detection sensor 10, the thermistor 3, the zero cross detection circuit 7, and the power supply voltage detection circuit 8 are input to the heater control means 6, calculated from the signal input, and a control signal for the lamp heater 2 is output. The lamp heater 2 is subjected to switching control via the triac 5, and an AC 100V voltage is applied to determine the output of the lamp heater 2.

  Here, the human body detection sensor 10 detects a human body with a pyroelectric infrared sensor, and finally transmits the detection signal to the heater control means 6. A signal from the human body detection sensor 10 is received by the signal light receiving unit 11 and input to the heater control means 6.

  FIG. 3 is a graph showing temporal changes in the applied power to the lamp heater 2 and the toilet seat surface temperature. When the human body detection sensor 10 detects a human body, the heater control means 6 supplies an initial power of 800 watts to the lamp heater 2 that is a heating means to quickly warm the toilet seat. The heater control means 6 performs initial power supply to the lamp heater 2 for a predetermined time, then changes the supply power to 200 watts and keeps the toilet seat 1 warm with 200 watts as long as the user of the toilet seat 1 is seated. Keep doing. During the heat retention, the heater control means 6 energizes the lamp heater 2 so that the set temperature is reached based on the temperature detected by the thermistor 3.

  Here, the initial power energization time is corrected by the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection circuit 8 at a time determined by the temperature around the lamp heater 2 detected by the thermistor 3 before the start of power supply to the lamp heater 2. It is set by doing.

Since the ambient temperature of the lamp heater 2 has a correlation with the temperatures of the toilet seat 1 and the toilet seat body 1a, when the temperature is low according to the temperature detected by the thermistor 3, the initial power energization time to the lamp heater 2 is long and the temperature is high. In some cases, the energization time is shortened so that the toilet seat temperature is as constant as possible even with changes in ambient temperature. Further, when the voltage is low according to the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection circuit 8, the initial power energization time to the lamp heater 2 is lengthened, and when the voltage is high, the energization time is shortened to set the toilet seat temperature to the power supply voltage at the installation location. Regardless of whether it is constant.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the detected temperature and the initial energization time to the lamp heater 2. FIG. 4 shows the case where the power supplied to the lamp heater 2 is an initial power of 800 watts. Even in the severe winter when the ambient temperature is close to 0 ° C., the toilet seat 1 can be heated to the extent that it does not feel cold by heating for 10 seconds or less. It is possible, and in the summer when the surroundings exceed 30 ° C., the toilet seat can be kept comfortable without heating for 1 second or less or without heating. Naturally, the lamp heater 2 is not energized when not used by a person. At this time, the initial energization time to the lamp heater 2 corresponding to the detected temperature is set, for example, in seconds for each section divided every 5 ° C., and the energization time is a function of temperature.

In addition, it is generally known that there is a relationship as shown in (Equation 1) between power and voltage.
P = V ² ÷ R (1)
P [W]: Electric power V [V]: Power supply voltage R [Ω]: Lamp heater resistance value On the other hand, the total amount of heat when energizing the initial power used for quick heating of the toilet seat is the amount of heat and energization time of (Equation 1). Product.
Q = P × T (2)
Q: Amount of heat [J] T: Initial power energization time [s]
From (Equation 1) and (Equation 2), the relationship between the power supply voltage and the initial power energization time is as shown in (Equation 3). T = Q × R ÷ V ² (3)
From (Equation 3), the relationship between the initial power energization time and the power supply voltage required to obtain a certain amount of heat is as shown in the graph of FIG. The vertical axis indicates the increase / decrease ratio of the energization time when the power supply voltage fluctuates, where the initial power energization time is 1 when the power supply voltage is 100 [V].

  For example, if the rating of the lamp heater 2 is 800 [W] at a power supply voltage of 100 [V], if the initial energization time is 6 [s], the amount of heat generated from (Equation 2) is 4800 [J]. Here, in order to obtain the same amount of heat 4800 [J] when the power supply voltage is 90 [V], the initial power energization time of 7.4 [s] (1.23 times the rated value) from (Equation 3). Necessary.

  If necessary, this energization time can be set in units of commercial frequency zero crossing (8.3 milliseconds at 60 Hz), which is a controllable unit of the triac 5. By energizing the lamp heater 2 in accordance with the ambient temperature in this way, it is possible to realize a heating toilet seat that has a quick heating performance, is easy to use, and is energy-saving.

  Further, the thermistor 3 shown in FIG. 2 can measure not only the temperature in the vicinity of the lamp heater 2 before energization but also the temperature during the energization of the lamp heater 2 can be determined by the heater control means 6. Therefore, a threshold value for temperature control is set, and when the threshold value is exceeded during the initial voltage application of the lamp heater 2, the energization to the lamp heater 2 is stopped regardless of the remaining time. This also makes it possible to achieve a safe and comfortable instant heating toilet seat by keeping the toilet seat surface temperature constant.

Further, it is preferable that the threshold temperature at which the energization to the lamp heater 2 is stopped is set according to the power supply voltage detected by the power supply voltage detection circuit 8. FIG. 6 shows an example of the toilet seat surface temperature estimated from the actual toilet seat surface temperature when the lamp heater 2 is energized at 800 [W] and the temperature detected by the thermistor 3. The response of the thermistor 3 is delayed due to the heat capacity of the thermistor 3. Therefore, in order to stop energization when the actual toilet seat surface temperature is 50 ° C., the threshold value of the toilet seat surface temperature estimated from the thermistor 3 must be set at 40 ° C. There is. And if the electric power of the lamp heater 2 becomes large, the error between the actual toilet seat surface temperature and the threshold value becomes larger than 10 ° C. Therefore, if the threshold temperature for stopping energization of the lamp heater 2 is lowered when the power supply voltage is high, and the threshold temperature is set high when the power supply voltage is low, rapid warming can be achieved. It becomes possible to make safety compatible at a higher level.

  In this embodiment, the power supply voltage is described to be performed immediately before the start of energization, but the power supply voltage is detected during the energization, and the initial power energization time is determined according to the previous detected voltage value at the next energization. May be set. Since the current flowing through a large-capacity heater with quick warming is large, if the resistance component of the indoor power wiring at the installation site is large, the power supply voltage of the AC 100 V line is lowered when the heater is energized. In the case of the lamp heater 2 of the present embodiment, the rating is 800 [W], the flowing current is 8 A, and when the resistance component of the indoor power wiring is 0.5Ω, the power supply voltage decreases by 4 V. .

  Therefore, if power supply voltage detection is performed by the power supply voltage detection circuit 8 while the lamp heater 2 is energized, the actual voltage applied to the lamp heater 2 can be detected, and the initial energization time and the like can be more accurately determined. Can be set. Further, it is preferable to detect the voltage after a predetermined time from the start of energization. FIG. 7 shows a change in inrush current flowing through the lamp heater 2 immediately after the start of energization.

  The resistance value of the lamp heater is as small as 1/10 or less of the rated power consumption when the filament is cold (a temperature equivalent to the temperature in the toilet room), and a large inrush current flows at the beginning of energization. The voltage drop is large. Of course, since the temperature of the filament rapidly increases, the resistance value reaches the rated resistance in a short time and the inrush current is immediately suppressed. Therefore, when the power supply voltage is detected during energization, it is not performed immediately after the energization, but after the inrush current is suppressed, a more accurate power supply voltage can be measured.

  In this embodiment, the toilet seat surface temperature is estimated using the detected temperature of the thermistor 3 provided in the vicinity of the lamp heater. However, by providing a dedicated thermistor surface temperature thermistor, the toilet seat surface temperature can be more accurately determined. It is clear that it can be estimated. Here, it is more preferable to use a thermistor having a small heat capacity because the response delay of the thermistor can be minimized.

  As described above, the heating toilet seat according to the present invention does not normally supply the power for heating the toilet seat, but when the human body is detected, the lamp heater is energized, and the time and power according to the environmental temperature and the power supply situation of the installation location The application can be applied to safe and energy-saving heating equipment such as ensuring the safety of the heating device and controlling the heating output frequently depending on the presence or absence of a human body.

The perspective view of the heating toilet seat in embodiment of this invention The block diagram of the heating toilet seat in embodiment of this invention The graph which showed the change with time of the electric power applied to the lamp heater and the toilet seat surface temperature in the embodiment of the present invention The graph which shows the relationship between the thermistor detection temperature and the initial electric power supply time to a lamp heater in embodiment of this invention The graph which shows the relationship between the initial stage electric power supply time and power supply voltage in Embodiment 1 of this invention The graph which showed the time change of the toilet seat surface temperature estimated from the actual toilet seat surface temperature at the time of lamp heater energization in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the detection temperature of the thermistor The figure which showed the time change of the inrush current which flows into the lamp heater immediately after energization start in embodiment of this invention Cross section of the main part of a conventional heated toilet seat

Explanation of symbols

1 Toilet seat 2 Lamp heater (heat source)
3 Thermistor (temperature detection means)
6 Heater control means (heat source control means)
8 Power supply voltage detection circuit (Power supply voltage detection means)
10. Human body detection sensor (human body detection means)

Claims (6)

A heat source for warming the toilet seat, human body detecting means for detecting a person using the toilet seat, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the seating surface of the toilet seat, and power supply voltage detection for monitoring the voltage of the power supply source to the toilet seat And heat source control means for controlling the energization time of the heat source, the heat source control means depending on the output of the human body detection means, the detection temperature of the temperature detection means, and the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means A heating toilet seat that controls the initial power energization time of the heat source. The heating toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein a heat source thermistor is provided in the vicinity of the heat source, and the detected temperature of the heat source thermistor is referred to as the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means. The heat source control means determines the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means in a plurality of stages, and is set so that the initial power supply time to the heat source is sequentially shortened as the detection voltage is increased from a low stage to a high stage. Heated toilet seat as described in The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heat source control means stops the initial power supply when the temperature detected by the temperature detection means reaches a predetermined temperature or more before the initial power supply time ends. The heat source control means determines the detection voltage of the power supply voltage detection means in a plurality of stages, and is set so that the predetermined temperature at which the initial power supply is stopped sequentially decreases as the detection voltage goes from a low stage to a high stage. Heated toilet seat as described. The heating toilet seat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power supply voltage detection means detects the power supply voltage after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heat source is being energized and the energization has started.

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