TOILET SEAT COMPRISING A DEVICE FOR DETECTING VALUES

Abstract

Toilet seat comprising a device for detecting values, in particular health-related values of a user, wherein the device for detecting values comprises a multispectral camera for collecting multispectral data, system for detecting values comprising such a toilet seat, and method for detecting values of a user.

Claims

1. Toilet seat comprising a device for detecting values, in particular health-related values of a user, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a multispectral camera for collecting multispectral data.

2. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said multispectral camera is arranged in said toilet seat behind a window.

3. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said multispectral camera is oriented or can be oriented to collect multispectral data of the excretions.

4. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said multispectral camera is oriented or can be oriented to collect multispectral data of the body of the user.

5. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a second multispectral camera for collecting multispectral data.

6. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a sensor for detecting the skin color of a user and/or a skin surface detector and/or a laser spectrometer.

7. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a gas sensor.

8. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a bio feedback sensor and/or a sensor or a sensor system for bio resonance measurement.

9. Toilet seat according to claim 1, wherein said toilet seat comprises a display.

10. System for detecting values, in particular health-related values of a user, comprising a toilet seat with a device for detecting values according to one of the preceding claims and a processor or a processor system, wherein said processor or said processor system is configured to determine one or more parameters relating to the state of health of the user using multispectral data and to output a result.

11. System according to claim 10, wherein said processor or said processor system is configured to detect the skin color of the user and based thereupon to determine the spectrum and/or the intensity of the light source for a multispectral camera and to control said light source accordingly.

12. System according to claim 10, wherein said processor or said processor system is configured to carry out machine learning by way of an algorithm on the basis of supplied data, e.g. a training data set comprising multispectral data.

13. System according to claim 10, wherein said processor or said processor system is configured to carry out a treatment step, e.g. bio resonance therapy, based on said result.

14. Method for detecting values of a user by way of a toilet seat comprising a device for detecting values according to claim 1, wherein one or more parameters relating to the state of health of a user is/are determined using multispectral data and a result is output.

15. Toilet seat according to claim 2, wherein said multispectral camera is oriented or can be oriented to collect multispectral data of the excretions.

16. Toilet seat according to claim 15, wherein said multispectral camera is oriented or can be oriented to collect multispectral data of the body of the user.

17. Toilet seat according to claim 16, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a second multispectral camera for collecting multispectral data.

18. Toilet seat according to claim 17, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a sensor for detecting the skin color of a user and/or a skin surface detector and/or a laser spectrometer.

19. Toilet seat according to claim 18, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a gas sensor.

20. Toilet seat according to claim 19, wherein said device for detecting values comprises a bio feedback sensor and/or a sensor or a sensor system for bio resonance measurement.

Description

[0053] Further aspects of the invention shall be explained with reference to the figures, where

[0054] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a toilet seat viewed at an angle from above;

[0055] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a cross section through part of a toilet seat;

[0056] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a cross section through a toilet bowl with the toilet seat;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a system comprising a toilet seat.

[0058] FIG. 1a show a toilet seat at an angle from above. Toilet seat 1 comprises in particular a multispectral camera 2 for collecting multispectral data (in a device for detecting values). In the example shown, this multispectral camera 2 is arranged behind a window 3 in the toilet seat and is directed such that it is oriented to capture a spectrum of the body of the user. Multispectral camera 2 is arranged in toilet seat 1 in particular such that it is typically disposed below the leg of a user when the user is sitting on toilet seat 1 in a normal posture.

[0059] The toilet seat can comprise a connection 4 for connecting the toilet seat to a toilet bowl, where this can be a standard connection typically used for normal toilets so that the toilet seat can be connected to any commercially available toilet. Alternatively, the connections can be configured to match a specific toilet, which can be sold, for example, with the toilet seat so that, for example, power supply and/or data transmission can also be possible by way of connections 4 (presently not shown). The toilet seat can comprise further sensors 5, for example, one or more of the following sensors: a gas sensor, a sensor for detecting skin color, a skin surface detector, a weight sensor, a temperature sensor, ECG, a Geiger counter, a bio feedback sensor, a sensor system for bio resonance measurement. Toilet seat 1 can additionally or alternatively optionally comprise a laser spectrometer (not shown).

[0060] As shown, toilet seat 1 can optionally comprise a display 6. In the figure, display 6 is arranged, for example, at the rear end of toilet seat 1 so that the user can see this when rising and flushing the toilet. Also by way of example, a binary result in the form of an X is shown on display 6 which can indicate one or more parameters relating to the state of health of the user deviating from the recommended parameters. Of course, other results, such as a different form of warning, a binary o.k. in the form of a tick or any other form, or a more detailed result, for example, in the form of one or more parameters, measured values, or pieces of information can also be displayed on the display.

[0061] In addition or as an alternative to the multispectral camera shown, the toilet seat can optionally comprise a multispectral camera which can be directed at the excretions (not visible in FIG. 1a). In other embodiments, the toilet seat can comprise a multispectral camera which can be directed at the body of the user and the excretions and which is arranged to be movable and controllable, e.g. on the inner side of toilet seat 1 (not shown in FIG. 1a).

[0062] FIG. 1b shows an alternative embodiment of a toilet seat at an angle from above. In this embodiment, a multispectral camera 2 is arranged centrally with respect to axis B on the inner side of the rear region of toilet seat 1, and a display 6 is arranged centrally with respect to axis B in the front region of toilet seat 1. Axis B presently describes the axis of symmetry of the shape of the toilet seat (where the device for detecting values, in particular multispectral cameras, sensors, and also the display etc. are not taken into account with regard to the axis of symmetry of the shape of the toilet seat, i.e. they need not be arranged symmetrically with regard to the axis of symmetry). In the embodiment shown, multispectral camera 2 is arranged such that the user does not normally come to sit on multispectral camera 2 when using the toilet seat.

[0063] In other embodiments, multispectral camera 2 and/or display 6 can also be arranged not centrally with respect to axis B, but laterally offset with respect to axis B (not shown).

[0064] As shown, toilet seat 1 can also comprise a connection 4, which can be configured in particular as described in FIG. 1a, for connecting the toilet seat to a toilet bowl. Furthermore, toilet seat 1 can comprise one or more further sensors 5, for example, such sensors as described for FIG. 1a. Toilet seat 1 can optionally comprise a laser spectrometer. Toilet seat 1 can optionally comprise a gas sensor 9 which can be arranged, for example, in the rear half, e.g. in the rear third, of toilet seat 1. Gas sensor 9 can be arranged, for example, on the inner side of toilet seat 1 or closer to the inner side of toilet seat 1 than to the outer side of the toilet seat.

[0065] A binary result in the form of a tick is shown by way of example on display 6 and can indicate that the one or more parameters relating to the state of health of the user are within the predefined (normal) parameters. Other results, for example, as described for FIG. 1a, can of course also be displayed on display 6. As described for FIG. 1a, a multispectral camera can alternatively or additionally be comprised, e.g. a multispectral camera directed at the excretions (not shown in FIG. 1b). In other embodiments, a multispectral camera can be comprised in the toilet seat and can be directed at the body of the user and the excretions and which is arranged to be movable and controllable, e.g. on the inner side of toilet seat 1 (not shown in FIG. 1b).

[0066] FIG. 2a shows a cross section through a part of a toilet seat 1 according to the invention, as it could appear, for example, through line A in the toilet seat of FIG. 1a. Shown there is a first spectral camera 2a behind a window 3a and a second multispectral camera 2b behind a window 3b.

[0067] Multispectral camera 2a is arranged such that it is typically directed at the body of the user (there typically the underside of a thigh of the user) when using the toilet seat. A light source can be integrated into multispectral camera 2a shown. The spectrum of the light source can comprise spectra that are suitable for examining a body of the user, in particular, for example, infrared radiation, UV radiation, or other spectral ranges that allow for conclusions to be drawn about body components, e.g. blood components or blood oxygen saturation. In other embodiments, the light source can be placed behind same window 3a as multispectral camera 2a, but separated thereform (not shown).

[0068] Second multispectral camera 2b is, for example, behind window 3b and oriented downwardly so that it is directed in the direction towards the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is used (and can therefore take pictures of the excretions in the toilet bowl). This multispectral camera can also comprise an integrated light source or use a separate light source. Alternatively or additionally, it can be configured for use with light that is present anyway, e.g., ambient light or light from an illuminated toilet.

[0069] In cross section radially through the toilet seat and multispectral camera 2b, window 3b can be arranged closer to the inner side of the toilet seat than to the outer side—as shown in FIG. 2—so that multispectral camera 2b is not covered by the rim of the toilet bowl when the toilet seat is used. In cross section radially through the toilet seat and multispectral camera 2b, window 3a in FIG. 2 is also arranged offset toward the inner side of the toilet seat. However, this arrangement can be different in other embodiments, for example, multispectral camera 2a can be arranged in cross section through the toilet seat and multispectral camera 2a centrally between the inner side and the outer side of toilet seat 1 or closer to the outer side of toilet seat 1.

[0070] FIG. 2b shows a cross section through a part of a toilet seat 1 as it could appear, for example, through line A in the toilet seat of FIG. 1b. Shown there is a first spectral camera 2a behind an optional window 3a as well as a second multispectral camera 2b behind an optional window 3b.

[0071] Multispectral cameras 2a and/or 2b can each be configured as described for multispectral cameras 2a and/or 2b in FIG. 2a. Alternatively or additionally (not described in FIG. 2a), multispectral camera 2a can be configured for use with light that is present anyway, e.g. with ambient light.

[0072] FIG. 3a shows a cross section through multispectral cameras 2 and toilet seat 1 while the latter is arranged on a toilet bowl. Such a cross section can be, for example, a cross section along line B in FIG. 1a. Two multispectral cameras 2a and 2b are drawn in there by way of example, where one multispectral camera 2a optionally behind window 3a is directed at the body of the user and second multispectral camera 2b optionally behind window 3b is directed at the excretions. In the example shown in FIG. 3a, a light source 7 is optionally provided on a rear part of toilet seat 1 for providing light for multispectral camera 3b. Light source 7 can comprise spectra that can be adjusted, e.g. by mechanical or electronic filters, and/or comprise a spectral distribution of the light that is matched for examining excretions. Light source 7 can be a point light source or be expanded, e.g. configured as a light strip. A light strip-shaped light source 7 can run, for example, parallel to the inner side of the toilet seat and therealong for more than 1 cm, for example, at least 10 cm. Also shown in FIG. 3a is an optionally present display 6 of toilet seat 1 which can be configured, for example, like the display in FIG. 1a.

[0073] FIG. 3b shows a cross section through multispectral cameras 2a and 2b and toilet seat 1 while the latter is arranged on a toilet bowl. Such a cross section can be, for example, a cross section along line B (axis B) in FIG. 1b. Multispectral cameras 2a can optionally be arranged behind window 3a and configured as described for multispectral cameras 2a in FIG. 3a. Multispectral camera 2b can optionally be arranged behind window 3b and configured as described for multispectral cameras 3b in FIG. 3a. A light source 7 can optionally be comprised in toilet seat 1 and can be configured, for example, as described for light source 7 in FIG. 3a (not shown).

[0074] FIG. 4 shows a system comprising a toilet seat 1. Comprised in the system shown in FIG. 4 is a toilet seat 1 in which the device for detecting values can comprise a multispectral camera 2 behind an optional window 3 and optionally one or more sensors 5 and/or a laser spectrometer. In addition, the system also comprises an external display 8 which is presently shown in the form of a mobile terminal device, e.g. a smartphone, and at which a result can be output from the evaluation processor. In other embodiments, the system can comprise a different display, e.g., a different monitor (not shown in FIG. 4). In other embodiments, multispectral camera 2 (or several multispectral cameras, e.g. multispectral cameras 2a, 2b) can be arranged at different locations in the system in toilet seat 1, e.g. arranged as shown in FIG. 1b or FIG. 2b. Alternatively or additionally, the system can comprise a display in the toilet seat (not shown).

[0075] The evaluation processor in such a system can comprise, for example, the processor of the mobile terminal device, e.g. of the smartphone, which is configured by an app to output a result.

[0076] In some embodiments, the evaluation processor can optionally also comprise one or more further processors, e.g. located in the cloud, which are configured to carry out further steps, e.g. using multispectral data to determine one or more parameters relating to the state of health of the user. In other embodiments, these further steps can also be carried out only by the processor of the mobile end device, e.g. of the smartphone. For data protection reasons, it can namely be advantageous to have the values detected, in particular multispectral data and optional further data collected by one or more sensors, be processed directly in a mobile device (comprised in the system) that can only be physically accessed, for example, by the user or a small group of people, and that the result can be output there.

[0077] In addition, toilet seat 1 can optionally comprise a processor which is configured to use the device for detecting values to collect multispectral data and optionally further values, e.g. using sensors 5. In some embodiments, the evaluation processor can therefore be arranged only in the mobile terminal device and optionally the toilet seat, while in other embodiments, it can also comprise processors located in the cloud or in an external data center.