SMART TOILET WITH AUTOMATIC URINE POSITION DETECTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A toilet includes a module including a non-contact temperature sensor that is configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position relative to a surface of the toilet.

Claims

1. A toilet comprising: a module including a non-contact temperature sensor that is configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position relative to a surface of the toilet.

2. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising a stepping motor coupled to the non-contact temperature sensor, the stepping motor configured to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor.

3. The toilet of claim 2, wherein the module is configured to: compare the temperature to a recorded temperature; and operate the stepping motor to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

4. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor.

5. The toilet of claim 1, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is arranged in a side wall of the toilet.

6. The toilet of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor arranged at a front side wall or a rear side wall of the toilet; wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is arranged at a left side wall or a right side wall of the toilet.

7. The toilet of claim 6, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is configured to facilitate calculation of a first point coordinate of the non-contact position and the second sensor is configured to facilitate calculation of a second point coordinate of the non-contact position.

8. A method of detecting a position of urine in a toilet, the method comprising: determining a temperature of the urine in a non-contact position with a surface of the toilet using a non-contact temperature sensor.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: comparing the temperature to a recorded temperature; and rotating the non-contact temperature sensor using a stepping motor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a point coordinate of the urine after rotating the non-contact temperature sensor.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining the temperature using a second non-contact temperature sensor; and calculating a point coordinate of the non-contact position by utilizing at least one of: the non-contact temperature sensor or the second non-contact temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining an environment temperature; and calculating a point coordinate of the non-contact position by utilizing the temperature and the environment temperature.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein calculating the point coordinate comprises: calculating a temperature difference between the temperature and the environment temperature; and comparing the temperature difference to a temperature difference threshold.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising mounting the non-contact temperature sensor to the toilet before determining the temperature.

15. A module for a toilet, the module comprising: a frame; a non-contact temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of urine with the urine in a non-contact position; and a stepping motor coupled to the non-contact temperature sensor and the frame, the stepping motor configured to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor relative to the frame.

16. The module of claim 15, wherein the non-contact temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor.

17. The module of claim 15, further comprising an optocoupler configured to facilitate determination of a zero point of polar coordinates of the non-contact temperature sensor.

18. The module of claim 15, wherein: the stepping motor comprises a shaft; and the non-contact temperature sensor is coupled to the shaft.

19. The module of claim 15, wherein the module is configured to: compare the temperature to a recorded temperature; and operate the stepping motor to rotate the non-contact temperature sensor based upon the comparison of the temperature to the recorded temperature.

20. The module of claim 15, wherein the module is configured to facilitate calculation of a point coordinate of the non-contact position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The foregoing description is merely a summary of the technical solutions of the present invention. To understand the technical means of the present invention more clearly, the present invention is further described in detail with reference to the drawings and the detailed embodiments hereinafter.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the position of urine in a toilet;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sector scanning scope;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of scanning boundaries (clockwise and counterclockwise);

[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of sector division;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of lower boundaries of the sectors (clockwise and counterclockwise);

[0046] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of small-angle scanning;

[0047] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of extended-scope scanning;

[0048] FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of a method according to a third embodiment;

[0049] FIG. 9 is a control flowchart of a method according to a fourth embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are schematic diagrams of physical structures of a device for automatically positioning urine at different angles;

[0051] FIG. 12 is a schematic structure diagram of a healthy smart toilet containing the device for automatically positioning urine; and

[0052] FIGS. 13a and 13b are schematic diagrams of included angles between a scanning plane and a horizontal plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The present invention provides a method for automatically positioning urine in a healthy smart toilet, which mainly comprises: based on a phenomenon that a temperature of urine is higher than an environment temperature, conducting scans for the urine by a non-contact temperature sensor when the toilet is in use, determining a position of the urine according to a temperature result scanned, and calculating the coordinates of the position points of the urine in the toilet. By this method, urine can be positioned while it is in the air, therefore the urine can be collected without contacting the toilet. This method prevents the cross-contamination between urine samples and improves the accuracy of the health data analysis. Preferably, the non-contact temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor.

[0054] According to the temperature positioning principle above, either a horizontal and vertical straight-line scanning mode, or a sector scanning mode can be used.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the sector scanning mode mainly comprises scanning and detecting temperature by sector scanning within an angle γ using a non-contact temperature sensor arranged in a left or right side wall of the toilet and driven by a stepping motor, and calculating, based on the angle with the highest temperature and tangent formula, X in point coordinates (X, Y) of the position of the urine in the toilet; the Y value can be left undetermined, and the urine can be collected directly by a urine receiving device moving along a long shaft of the toilet. In order to further determine the position of urine more accurately, the Y in the coordinate point of the urine can be determined, the method for determining Y is similar to the method for determining X, which comprises scanning and detecting temperature by sector scanning within an angle δ using a non-contact temperature sensor arranged in a front or rear side wall of the toilet and driven by a stepping motor, and calculating, based on the angle with the highest temperature and tangent formula, the Y value in the point coordinates (X, Y) of the position of urine in the toilet. In the point coordinates (X, Y), X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(α), Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(β), wherein L1 is the distance between the long shaft of the toilet and the central scanning point of the left or right side wall where the sensor is located, L2 is a distance between a short shaft of the toilet and a central scanning point of the front or rear side wall where the sensor is located, μ and ξ are the angles between a scanning plane of the sensor and a horizontal plane (as shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b). The error in the calculation formula is small and can be neglected. The μ and ξ above can be 0 degree.

[0056] Preferably, two sensors are used, one sensor is arranged at a center position of the left or right side wall of the toilet to calculate the X in the point coordinates (X, Y), and the other sensor is arranged at a center position of the front or rear side wall of the toilet to calculate the Y in the point coordinates (X, Y). The positions above are only preferred positions, and the two sensors can also be arranged at other positions.

[0057] Detailed description is conducted by taking the sector scanning mode as an example.

Embodiment 1

[0058] A sensor is mounted and fixed on the main shaft of a stepping motor, the sensor scans with the main shaft of the stepping motor within an angle γ, as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, the scanning is conducted in a scope of 60 degrees. When the sensor scans within the angle γ, each time the stepping motor turns by an angle φ, the temperature is read by the sensor. The highest temperature value and the turning angle λ of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read are recorded, wherein λ is equal to an integral multiple of the angle φ, and a preferred value of the angle φ is 0.04*frequency*stepping angle.

[0059] The position of the urine is calculated each time the sensor reaches the boundary of the angle γ, as shown in FIG. 3. α=|γ/2−λ|, and X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(|γ/2−λ|). Similarly, it can be calculated that β=|δ/2−ω|, and Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(|δ/2−ω|).

Embodiment 2

[0060] A sensor is mounted and fixed on the main shaft of a stepping motor, the sensor scans with the main shaft of the stepping motor within an angle γ, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0061] When the sensor scans within the angle γ, the temperature is read by the sensor each time the stepping motor turns by an angle γ, and the highest temperature value, the lowest temperature value and the turning angle λ of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read are recorded.

[0062] A temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the sector is calculated each time the sensor reaches the boundary of the angle γ, as shown in FIG. 3. If the temperature difference is greater than 3° C., the position of the urine is calculated. Experiments show that the accuracy of calculating position of urine is higher when the temperature difference is greater than 3° C. α=|γ/2−λ|, and X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(|γ/2−λ|). Similarly, it can be calculated that β=|δ/2−ω|, and Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(|δ/2−ω|).

Embodiment 3

[0063] A sensor is mounted and fixed on the main shaft of a stepping motor, the sensor scans with the main shaft of the stepping motor within an angle γ, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0064] In the angle γ, every 5 degrees are defined as one sector, and the entire angle γ is divided into N sectors, as shown in FIG. 4. Experiments show that the calculation efficiency is higher when one sector includes 5 degrees.

[0065] When the sensor scans within the angle γ, temperature is read by the sensor each time the stepping motor turns by an angle φ, and the highest temperature value, the lowest temperature value and the turning angle λ of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read are recorded.

[0066] A temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the sector is calculated each time the sensor reaches the lower boundary of a sector, as shown in FIG. 5. If the temperature difference is greater than 3° C., the position of the urine is calculated. α=|γ/2−λ|, and X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(|γ/2−λ|). Similarly, it can be calculated that β=|δ/2−ω|, and Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(|δ/2−ω|).

[0067] When the position of the urine is changed, the sensor needs to re-determine the position of the urine.

[0068] The sensor has three modes comprising full-angle scanning, small-angle scanning and extended-scope scanning, in the angle γ. The full-angle scanning reads the temperature in the entire angle γ. The small-angle scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent sectors on both left and right sides, as shown in FIG. 6. The extended-scope scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0069] Before the position of the urine is found for the first time, the sensor conducts the full-angle scanning.

[0070] When the position of the urine is found, the sensor conducts the small-angle scanning in the scope of the sector where the urine is found and the adjacent sectors on both left and right sides.

[0071] When the sensor conducts the small-angle scanning, if none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold, which indicates that the position of the urine is changed, the sensor conducts the extended-scope scanning in the scope of the center sector where the urine is originally found and adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides.

[0072] If none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold during the extended-scope scanning, the sensor conducts a full-angle scanning again.

[0073] A control flowchart of the entire method is shown in FIG. 8.

Embodiment 4

[0074] A sensor is mounted and fixed on the main shaft of a stepping motor, the sensor scans with the main shaft of the stepping motor within an angle γ, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0075] When the sensor scans within the angle γ for the first time, temperature is read by the sensor each time the stepping motor turns by an angle γ, and the lowest temperature value is recorded. Environment temperature is calculated when the boundary of the angle γ is reached, and the environment temperature is the lowest temperature. Different temperature difference thresholds are set according to different environment temperatures.

[0076] When the sensor scans within the angle γ for the second and subsequent times, temperature is read once by the sensor each time the stepping motor turns by an angle φ, and the highest temperature value, the lowest temperature value and a turning angle λ of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read are recorded.

[0077] In the angle γ, every 5 degrees are defined as one sector, and the entire angle γ is divided into N sectors, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0078] A temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the sector is calculated when the sensor reaches the lower boundary of a sector, as shown in FIG. 5. If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold, the position of the urine is calculated. α=|γ/2−λ|, and X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(|γ/2−λ|). Similarly, it can be calculated that β=|δ/2−ω|, and Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(|δ/2−ω|).

[0079] When the position of the urine is changed, the sensor needs to re-determine the position of the urine.

[0080] The sensor has three modes comprising full-angle scanning, small-angle scanning and extended-scope scanning in the angle γ. The full-angle scanning reads temperature in the entire angle γ. The small-angle scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent sectors on both left and right sides, as shown in FIG. 6. The extended-scope scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0081] Before the position of the urine is found for the first time, the sensor conducts the full-angle scanning.

[0082] When the position of the urine is found, the sensor conducts the small-angle scanning in the scope of the sector where the urine is found and the adjacent sectors on both left and right sides.

[0083] When the sensor conducts the small-angle scanning, if none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold, which indicates that the position of the urine is changed, the sensor conducts the extended-scope scanning in the scope of the sector where the urine is originally found and the adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides.

[0084] If none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold during the extended-scope scanning, the sensor conducts a full-angle scanning again.

[0085] A control flowchart of the entire method is shown in FIG. 9.

Embodiment 5 (as Shown in FIGS. 1 to 9)

[0086] A device for automatically positioning urine for a healthy smart toilet according to the present invention, in a sense of virtual module structure, the device comprises a module for automatically positioning urine configured to determine the position of urine according to a temperature result scanned by a non-contact temperature sensor and calculate point coordinates of the position of the urine in the toilet.

[0087] The above module for automatically positioning urine comprises:

[0088] a first module for scanning, recording and position calculating, configured to scan and detect temperature by sector scanning within an angle γ using a non-contact temperature sensor arranged in a left or right side wall of the toilet driven by a stepping motor, and calculate, based on the angle with the highest temperature and tangent formula, X in point coordinates (X, Y) of the position of the urine in the toilet; and/or

[0089] a second module for scanning, recording and position calculating, configured to scan and detect temperature by sector scanning within an angle δ using the non-contact temperature sensor arranged in a front or rear side wall of the toilet and driven by a stepping motor, and calculate, based on the angle with the highest temperature and tangent formula, Y in point coordinates (X, Y) of the position of the urine in the toilet.

[0090] The above first module for scanning, recording and position calculating specifically comprises: a first module for scanning and recording, configured to read temperature by the sensor when the sensor scans within the angle γ each time the stepping motor turns by an angle φ, and to record the highest temperature value and the turning angle λ of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read; and a first module for position calculating, configured to calculate the position of the urine when the sensor reaches the boundary of the angle γ; and

[0091] the above second module for scanning, recording and position calculating specifically comprises: a second module for scanning and recording, configured to read temperature by the sensor when the sensor scans within the angle δ each time the stepping motor turns by an angle θ, and to record the highest temperature value and the turning angle ω of the stepping motor at which the highest temperature value is read; and a second module for position calculating, configured to calculate the position of the urine when the sensor reaches the boundary of the angle δ.

[0092] In the first module for position calculating of the first module for scanning, recording and position calculating, the calculation method is: X=(L1/COS μ)*TAN(|γ/2−λ|); wherein, L1 is the distance between the long shaft of the toilet and the central scanning point of the left or right side wall where the sensor is located.

[0093] In the second module for position calculating of the second module for scanning, recording and position calculating, the calculation method is Y=(L2/COS ξ)*TAN(|δ/2−ω|); wherein, L2 is the distance between the short shaft of the toilet and the central scanning point of the front or rear side wall where the sensor is located.

[0094] Preferably, in the first and second modules for scanning and recording, when the sensor reads temperature, the lowest temperature value is recorded meanwhile; and in the first and second modules for position calculating, each time the sensor reaches the boundary, a temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature is calculated, and if the temperature difference is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, the position of the urine is calculated.

[0095] Preferably, in the first and second modules for scanning and recording, the entire scanning area is divided into N sectors; and in the first and second modules for position calculating, each time the sensor reaches the lower boundary of one sector, a temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the sector is calculated, and if the temperature difference is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, the position of the urine is calculated.

[0096] Preferably, the device for automatically positioning urine further comprises a module for setting temperature difference threshold, wherein scanning is firstly conducted in the scope of the angle γ or angle δ, the lowest environment temperature in the scope of the angle γ or angle δ is recorded, and different temperature difference thresholds are set according to different lowest environment temperatures; or the temperature difference threshold is directly set as 3° C.

[0097] Preferably, in the module for automatically positioning urine, the sensor has three modes comprising full-angle scanning, small-angle scanning and extended-scope scanning in the angle γ and angle δ; the full-angle scanning reads temperature within the entire angle γ and angle δ; Each scanning area is divided into N sectors, the small-angle scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent sectors on both left and right sides; and the extended-scope scanning reads temperature in the scope of a center sector and its adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides; before the position of the urine is found for the first time, the sensor conducts the full-angle scanning; when the position of the urine is found, the sensor conducts the small-angle scanning in the scope of the sector where the urine is found and the adjacent sectors on both left and right sides; when the sensor conducts a small-angle scanning, if none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold, which indicates that the position of the urine is changed, the extended-scope scanning is conducted by the sensor in the scope of the sector where the urine is originally found and adjacent two sectors on both left and right sides; and if none of the sectors presents a temperature difference greater than the temperature difference threshold during the extended-scope scanning, the sensor conducts a full-angle scanning again.

Embodiment 6

[0098] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in a sense of physical structure, a device for automatically positioning urine according to the present invention comprises one or more sets of positioning assemblies 2; wherein the positioning assembly 2 comprises a non-contact temperature sensor 21, a stepping motor 23 and a motor frame 24; the non-contact temperature sensor may be an infrared temperature sensor, and may be fixed to the main shaft of the stepping motor 23 through a sensor fixing part 22, the stepping motor 23 is fixed to the motor frame 24, and the motor frame 24 is used for fixing to the toilet; and the stepping motor 23 can drive the non-contact temperature sensor 21 to conduct sector scanning.

[0099] The above positioning assembly 2 further comprises an optocoupler 25 connected to the non-contact temperature sensor 21 and used for determining a zero point of polar coordinates of the sensor.

Embodiment 7

[0100] As shown in FIG. 12, a healthy smart toilet according to the present invention comprises a toilet body 1, and further comprises a device for automatically positioning urine, which is mounted on the toilet body 1, one or more sets of the positioning assemblies 2 as described in the embodiment 6 are used in the device for automatically positioning urine. The stepping motor 23 can drive the non-contact temperature sensor 21 to conduct sector scanning, and a certain included angle may be formed between a scanning plane and a horizontal plane, or a horizontal scanning may be directly conducted.

[0101] One set of the positioning assembly 2 may be provided, which is mounted on a left or right side wall of the toilet body 1, and more preferably, two sets of the positioning assemblies 2 may be provided, one set is mounted on a front or rear side wall of the toilet body 1, and the other set is mounted on the left or right side wall of the toilet body 1.

[0102] The foregoing description is merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but is not intended to limit the present invention in any form, and any simple amendments, equivalent changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art using the technical contents disclosed above shall all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.