JPH09196875A - Humidity detecting device and urinating device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease the number of component parts used, simplify the configuration, eliminate initial adjustment in the manufacture for simplification of the manufacturing processes, and perform the digital processing easily. SOLUTION: A resistance R1 is connected parallel with a urine sensor 28 while a resistance R2 is connected in series to the connection point (b) of the urine sensor 28, and a series circuitry of a resistance Rs and inverters 36, 37, 38 is connected parallel with these resistances R1, R2, and a capacitor CT is connected parallel with the resistance Rs and inverters 36, 37. The urine sensor 28, resistances R1, R2, Rs, inverters 36, 37, 38, and capacitor CT constitute an oscillator circuit 39 whose oscillating frequency varies in compliance with the changing resistance value R3 of the urine sensor 28. The output from the oscillator circuit 39 becomes a sensing signal fout as the output of the urine sensor 28. The sensing signal fout is fed to a frequency discriminator 40 furnished in a control device 30 so that the frequency of the detection signal fout is discriminated, and thereupon the control device 30 controls a buzzer 34, display 35, and a motor 33 of vacuum suction device 23.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a humidity detecting device for detecting the humidity of an external atmosphere and a urination device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a urination device has been used for urination of bedridden elderly people, critically ill patients, incontinence patients and the like.
This urination device is configured such that the urine excreted in the urine receiver is forcibly sucked by a vacuum suction device through a urine transfer tube, separated into gas and liquid, and discharged into a urine tank, whereby the urine transfer tube or urine tank is discharged. Even when the and cannot be placed below the urine receiver, the discharged urine is discharged to the urine tank without being backflowed to the urine receiver or the outside thereof.

When using such a urination device, a user operates a manual switch installed in the urination device in order to activate the vacuum suction device, and a urination sensor is installed in the urination receiver. The above method is used individually or in combination. As the prior art of the urination device using the urination sensor, there are Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-59016 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
The technique described in No. 8-50908 is mentioned. In these conventional techniques, a pair of electrode members are provided in the urination receiver, and a change in the resistance value between the electrode members depending on the presence or absence of urination is changed by a switching circuit having an analog circuit configuration using a resistor, a capacitor, a coil, or the like. I am trying to detect as. The switching circuit controls the vacuum suction device based on the voltage change that is the result of urine detection by the urine sensor. In this conventional technique, when the user urinates into the urine receiver, the urine sensor detects the urine discharged and the output thereof is input to the switching circuit.
The switching circuit activates the motor of the vacuum suction device based on the output from the urine sensor, and the urine in the urine receiver is sucked into the urine tank.

As another conventional technique, there is a urinary device 1 having an electrical configuration shown in FIG. The mechanical structure of the urination device 1 is the same as the mechanical structure of the urination device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-59016 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-50908. In this urination device 1, an inverter 3 is connected in parallel with a urine sensor 2 installed in a urine receiver, and an oscillator 4 is commonly connected to the urine sensor 2 and the inverter 3. The urine sensor 2 and the inverter 3 are connected to a differential amplifier 8 via resistors 5, 6, and 7, respectively. Therefore, when the urine sensor 2 detects urine and its resistance value changes, the amplitude of the signal input to the differential amplifier 8 changes. The amplitude of this signal is amplified by the differential amplifier 8, and a low-pass filter 9 outputs a voltage signal that changes in accordance with the change in the period.

This voltage signal is applied to predetermined reference voltages Vth1 and Vth2 in a voltage comparison section 12 including comparators 10 and 11.
(As an example, Vth1> Vth2). When the voltage value of the voltage signal is smaller than the reference voltage Vth2,
Each of the comparators 10 and 11 outputs a signal having a predetermined same polarity to the control unit 13, and at this time, the control unit 13 starts a motor provided in a vacuum suction device (not shown). This allows
Urine is vacuum sucked from the urine receiver into the urine storage tank by the vacuum suction device.

[0006]

In any of the above-mentioned prior arts, since the switching circuit for detecting the presence or absence of urination has an analog circuit configuration, it has the following problems.

Since it is necessary to use various analog circuit elements, the number of parts increases. In addition, variations in the characteristics of each circuit element are integrated, and the initial variations in the urinary device are large. For this reason, it is necessary to arrange a characteristic variable element such as a variable resistor in the switching circuit to adjust the circuit characteristic, which requires time and effort for manufacturing.

Many of the various circuit elements used in analog circuits have their characteristics fluctuated depending on the external temperature.
The operating characteristics of the urination device are affected by the external temperature and become unstable. Further, in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to provide a compensating circuit for compensating the temperature change of the characteristic of the circuit element, which increases the number of parts and complicates the configuration.

When the control of the motor of the vacuum suction device is digitally controlled by a microcomputer or the like, the voltage change corresponding to the presence or absence of urination is analog /
It is necessary to convert the signal into a digital signal by the digital conversion circuit, which also increases the number of parts and complicates the circuit configuration. In addition, the cost is increased.

The inventions of claims 1 to 3 were made in order to solve the above problems, and the purpose thereof is to reduce the number of parts, to simplify the structure, and to eliminate the need for initial adjustment during manufacturing. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a humidity detecting device that simplifies the manufacturing process and can easily perform digital processing, and a urinary device using the same.

[0011]

In the humidity detecting apparatus of the present invention, the humidity of the external atmosphere is detected by the humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere. The frequency of the periodic signal output from the oscillator changes according to the resistance value that changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere of the humidity detecting element. The periodic signal from the oscillating unit is input to the humidity detecting unit, the humidity detecting unit discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal, determines the humidity of the external atmosphere, and outputs the humidity detection signal.

Thus, in the humidity detecting device of the present invention,
A change in the resistance value of the humidity detecting element is converted into a change in the frequency of the periodic signal, and the structure including the oscillating unit and the humidity detecting unit can be a digital circuit structure. As a result, the oscillating unit, the humidity detecting unit, and the like can be configured by a small number of circuit elements such as a gate circuit, the number of parts is reduced, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the initial variation of the humidity detecting device can be suppressed, the initial adjustment of the circuit characteristics becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

Further, since the necessity of using the analog circuit element is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the operating characteristic of the humidity detecting device from being influenced by the external temperature. Further, the temperature change compensating circuit becomes unnecessary, and in this respect also, the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is simplified.

Further, the variable corresponding to the humidity of the external atmosphere output from the oscillating unit is the frequency of the periodic signal, which is used for digital processing such as an analog / digital conversion circuit as compared with the voltage change of the prior art. No special circuit is required, and digital processing can be easily performed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the circuit configuration.

In the urination device according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere is arranged in the urine receiver, and urine is discharged to the urine receiver. Urine is detected by this humidity detecting element.
The frequency of the periodic signal output from the oscillator changes according to the resistance value that changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere of the humidity detecting element. The periodic signal from the oscillating unit is input to the humidity detecting unit, the humidity detecting unit discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal, determines the humidity of the external atmosphere, and outputs the humidity detection signal. On the other hand, a urine tank communicates with the urine receiver, and a vacuum suction device for sucking urine from the urine receiver to the urine tank is provided.

When urine is discharged to the urine receiver, the resistance value of the humidity detecting element changes, and the frequency of the periodic signal output from the oscillating section changes corresponding to the change in the resistance value. The humidity detector discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal from the oscillator to determine the humidity of the external atmosphere and outputs a humidity detection signal. The control unit activates the vacuum suction device based on the humidity detection signal from the humidity detection unit, and sucks urine from the urine receiver into the urine tank.

As a result, in the urinary device of the present invention, the change in the resistance value of the humidity detecting element is converted into the change in the frequency of the periodic signal, and the structure including the oscillating section and the humidity detecting section is used as a digital circuit. It can be configured. As a result, the oscillating unit, the humidity detecting unit, and the like can be configured by a small number of circuit elements such as a gate circuit, the number of parts is reduced, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the initial variation of the urinary device can be suppressed, the initial adjustment of the circuit characteristics becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

Further, since the necessity of using the analog circuit element is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the operating characteristics of the urinary device from being influenced by the external temperature. Further, the temperature change compensating circuit becomes unnecessary, and in this respect also, the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is simplified.

Further, the variable corresponding to the humidity of the external atmosphere output from the oscillating section is the frequency of the periodic signal, which is used for digital processing such as an analog / digital conversion circuit as compared with the voltage change of the prior art. No special circuit is required, and digital processing can be easily performed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the circuit configuration.

In the urinary device of the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the alternating voltage is constantly applied to the humidity detecting element by the oscillator. When a direct current voltage is applied to the humidity detecting element, urine is electrolyzed and the decomposed material adheres to the humidity detecting element to lower the detection accuracy. The present invention prevents the occurrence of this problem.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a urination device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire electrical configuration of a urination device 21 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a urination device. 21 is a system diagram showing a mechanical configuration of the urine sensor 21, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a frequency discriminator provided in the urinary device 21, and FIG. 5 shows electrical characteristics of the urine sensor of this embodiment. 6 is a graph, FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the urinary device 21, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the frequency discriminator.

The mechanical structure of the urinary device 21 will be described below with reference to FIG. A vacuum suction device 23 and a urine tank 24 are installed in the box body 22 of the urine drainage device 21. One end of a urine transfer tube 25 is connected to the upper end of the urine tank 24, and a urine receiver 26 is connected to the urine tank 24 via the urine transfer tube 25. Further, one end of a urine transfer tube 27 is connected to the other part of the upper end of the urine tank 24, and the vacuum suction device 23 is connected via this urine transfer tube 27. Therefore, when the vacuum suction device 23 operates, the inside of the urine tank 24 becomes a negative pressure, and the urine receiver 26
The urine inside is sucked into the urine tank 24 through the urine transfer tube 25. A urine sensor 28 is installed near the end of the urination receiver 26 on the urine transfer tube 25 side, and the urine sensor 28 is electrically connected to a control device 30 installed in the box body 22 via a signal line 29. Connected to each other. As the urine sensor 28, for example, a type having a characteristic that the resistance value decreases as the humidity in the external atmosphere increases, that is, as the amount of water in the urine receiver 26 increases, is used. Further, in the urine tank 24, a water level sensor 31 is provided for detecting that the urine sucked and stored in the urine tank 24 reaches a predetermined water level that requires disposal. The water level sensor 31 is also electrically connected to the control device 30.

Hereinafter, the electrical configuration of the urinary device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. In the urination device 21, a urine sensor 28 and a water level sensor 31 are connected to the control device 30, and a motor 33 for driving a vacuum pump (hereinafter, pump) 32 provided in the vacuum suction device 23,
The buzzer 34 and the display unit 35 are connected. The buzzer 34 is sounded by the control device 30 when an abnormal condition occurs, for example, to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormal condition. Display unit 35
Is provided on the urination receiver 26 as an example, and is displayed by the control device 30 such that it lights up with a predetermined brightness when the urination device 21 is powered on and blinks during the urination process. It Of course, other display modes may be used. As a result, the location of the urination receiver 26 becomes clear when used at night, for example, and can be used promptly. In addition, it is made clear to the nurse or the like that the user is urinating, and cleaning processing after urination can be promptly performed.

A configuration for realizing the function of detecting urination in the urination device 21 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. A resistor R1 is connected in parallel with the urine sensor 28 having a resistance value R3 at connection points a and b.
The resistor R2 is connected in series to the connection point b of. Resistance R
1, R2 in parallel with the resistance Rs between the connection points a and b,
A series circuit including inverters 36, 37 and 38 is connected. A capacitor CT is connected in parallel with the resistor Rs and the inverters 36 and 37 at connection points a and c.
In this way, the urine sensor 28, the resistors R1, R2, R
s, inverters 36, 37, 38 and capacitor CT
Constitutes an astable multivibrator (hereinafter referred to as an oscillation circuit) 39 whose oscillation cycle changes in response to a change in the resistance value R3 of the urine sensor 28. The output from the oscillation circuit 39 becomes the detection signal fout which is the output from the urine sensor 28.

The resistor R1 is for preventing abnormal oscillation of the oscillation circuit 39 when the resistance value of the urine sensor 28 increases,
The resistor R2 is for protecting a digital circuit such as a gate circuit which constitutes the urine sensor 28, the oscillation circuit 39, etc.
Is a current limiting resistor for input protection.

Further, since the urine sensor 28 is incorporated in the oscillation circuit 39 realized by the astable multivibrator, the urine sensor 28 is always applied with an alternating voltage. When a direct current voltage is applied to the urine sensor 28, urine is electrolyzed and a decomposed product adheres to the urine sensor 28 to lower the detection accuracy. In the urine drainage device 21 of the present embodiment, since the AC voltage is always applied to the urine sensor 28, the occurrence of this problem is prevented.

This detection signal fout is supplied to the controller 3
0 is input to the frequency discriminator 40, the frequency of the detection signal fout is discriminated, and the control unit 41 provided in the control device 30 drives and controls the motor 33, the buzzer 34, and the display unit 35 according to the discrimination result. To do. As will be described later, the frequency discriminator 40 and the control unit 41 can be configured by digital circuits such as a microcomputer and a gate circuit, for example. The frequency discriminating action of the frequency discriminator 40 is realized either by counting the number of pulses per unit time of the detection signal fout from the oscillation circuit 39 or by measuring the period per unit pulse number.

That is, the detection signal foo from the oscillation circuit 39
The frequency fout of t is fout = RT = R1 / R3 + R2, the inverter 36,
When the threshold voltages VTH1 = VDD / 2 of 37 and 38, fout = 1 / (2.2RT.multidot.CT) (1), which is a function of the resistance value R3 of the urine sensor 28. Therefore, the resistance value R3 of the urine sensor 28 can be measured by measuring the frequency fout or the cycle 1 / fout according to which method is used, and the external atmosphere detected by the urine sensor 28 can be measured. The degree of humidity can be detected.

An example of the configuration of the frequency discriminator 40 will be described below with reference to FIG. The frequency discriminator 40 of this configuration example uses the detection signal fout per predetermined unit time.
The number of pulses is counted. In this configuration example, the frequency discriminator 40 includes a counter 42 that performs a counting operation each time the detection signal fout from the oscillation circuit 39 is input, and a latch circuit 43 that latches the count value of the counter 42 at a timing described later. , Latch circuit 43
As the input data A, the count value latched by
The comparator 44 is provided with a digital circuit that compares predetermined reference data B and C (B> C) with each other. A periodic signal T having a fixed period T is input to the frequency discriminator 40, the periodic signal T is input as a latch signal to the latch circuit 43, and a signal obtained by delaying the periodic signal T by a delay The signal is input to the counter 42 as a reset signal.

Therefore, the counter 42 counts the detection signal fout during the constant period T, and the count value N N = T · fout (2) when the period signal T is input is the latch circuit 43. Latched on. The latched count value N is input to the comparator 44 as the input data A. In the comparator 44, the input data A is compared with the reference data B and C, respectively. According to the comparison result, the signals X and Y on the output lines 46 and 47 of the comparator 44 are set to high level or low level.

The reference data B and C will be described below with reference to FIG.

The graph of FIG. 5 shows the frequency of the detection signal fout output from the oscillation circuit 39 and the urine sensor 2.
8 shows the relationship with the resistance value of 8. The urine sensor 28 detects the humidity in the room and the humidity of the urination device 21, particularly the location where the urination receiver 26 is provided, and indicates a change in the resistance value.
The resistance value also changes due to various stains attached to the urine sensor 28. Therefore, the resistance value of the urine sensor 28 in a state where the urine sensor 28 is hardly soiled is set as the minimum resistance value RC when urine is not detected, and even if the urine sensor 28 is heavily soiled, the urine is liquid. The resistance value of the urine sensor 28 in the non-adhered state is defined as the maximum resistance value RB at the time of urine detection. The reference data B and C are the resistance values RB and R.
It is appropriately determined as frequency data fB and fC corresponding to C.

Therefore, with respect to the input data A and the reference data B and C, when A <C (<B), the urine sensor 2
8 is a state in which not only urination is not detected, but also dirt that may adhere to the urine sensor 28 is not detected. At this time, the signals X and Y on the signal lines 46 and 47 are
For example, both are low level. When C ≦ A ≦ B,
Although the urine sensor 28 does not detect urination, the urine sensor 28
This is a state in which some kind of dirt adhering to is detected. At this time, the signal X on the signal line 46 becomes low level and the signal Y on the signal line 47 becomes high level. When B <A, the urine sensor 28 is in a state of detecting urine in the urine receiver 26. At this time, the signals X and Y on the signal lines 46 and 47 are both at high level as an example.

The operation of the urinary device 21 of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 6 (1) is a block diagram showing an equivalent electrical configuration obtained by simplifying the main part of the electrical configuration of the urination device 21 shown in FIG.
(2) to (4) of FIG. 6 show waveforms at various parts of the configuration of FIG. 6 (1). In the block diagram of FIG. 1, the connection point b of the resistor R2 on the side opposite to the urine sensor 28 is the inverter 3 of FIG.
8 is connected to the output end of the inverter 36 having the same polarity as the output end of the inverter 8. In the block diagram of FIG. 6 (1), the signal waveform of the potential Va at the connection point a is shown in FIG. 6 (2), and the potentials Vb and Vc at the connection points b and c (the potential Vb has the opposite polarity to the potential Vc) are shown. The signal waveform is shown in FIG. 6 (3), and the signal waveform of the terminal voltage Vd of the urine sensor 28 is shown in FIG. 6 (4).

When urine is not discharged in the urine receiver 26 or when dirt is detected even if the urine sensor 28 does not detect urine, the resistance value of the urine sensor 28 is the resistance value of FIG. The frequency of the detection signal fout from the oscillation circuit 39 is equal to or higher than RB and is equal to or lower than the frequency data fB. Therefore, the comparison result in the comparator 44 is
The result is A <C (<B) or C ≦ A ≦ B, and the comparator 4
Both the signals X and Y output from 4 are low level, or the signal X is low level and the signal Y is high level. The control unit 41 detects the polarities of the signals X and Y and determines that urination is not performed, and the motor 3 of the vacuum suction device 23
Don't let 3 work.

Here, since the signal X is at the low level and the signal Y is at the high level when the urine sensor 28 is dirty, the control unit 41 uses the display unit 35 as an example to notify the urine sensor 28. You may make it display the adhesion of dirt.

On the other hand, when the urine receiver 26 is urinated, the urine sensor 28 has a resistance value RB shown in FIG.
The frequency of the detection signal fout from the oscillation circuit 39 becomes a frequency exceeding the frequency data fB. Therefore, the comparison result in the comparator 44 is A> B (> C).
Therefore, the signals X and Y output from the comparator 44 both become high level. The control unit 41 detects the polarities of the signals X and Y, determines that urine has been discharged, and operates the motor 33 of the vacuum suction device 23. As a result, the vacuum suction device 23 operates and the urine in the urine receiver 26 is discharged to the urine storage tank 24 via the urine transfer tube 25.

When the urine of the user is finished and urine does not exist in the urine receiver 26 as a liquid, the resistance value of the urine sensor 28 becomes the resistance value RB or more, the signal X is low level, and the signal Y is low. Becomes high level. The control unit 41 outputs the signal X,
The polarity of Y is detected and it is determined that urination has ended. After that, the drive of the motor 33 is continued for a predetermined time. During this predetermined time, the urine in the urine receiver 26 is passed through the urine transfer tube 25 and
4 is set appropriately within a range sufficient to be discharged into the container. After the elapse of the predetermined time, the driving of the motor 33 is stopped.

As described above, in the urination device 21 of the present embodiment, the motor 33 continues to drive for a predetermined time after the urination is completed, so that the urination receiver 26 and the transfusion container 26 are transferred after the urination of the user is completed. The urine remaining in the urine tube 25 is discharged into the urine storage tank 24. As a result, it is possible to prevent the urine remaining in the urination receiver 26 and the urine transfer tube 25 from flowing backward from the urination receiver 26 to the outside after urination, and the usability of the urination device 21 can be significantly improved.

Further, as described above, in the urinary device 21 of this embodiment, the urine sensor 28 is always applied with the AC voltage. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the decomposition accuracy is attached to the urine sensor 28 and the detection accuracy is reduced.

Further, in the urinary device 21 of this embodiment,
The change in the resistance value of the urine sensor 28 indicates the periodic signal fout.
This is a configuration in which the presence / absence of urination is detected by being converted into the change in the frequency, and the configuration including the oscillation circuit 39 and the control device 30 can be a digital circuit configuration. Thus, the configuration including the oscillation circuit 39 and the control device 30 can be configured with a small number of circuit elements such as a gate circuit, and the number of components is reduced, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the initial variation of the urinary device 21, the initial adjustment of the circuit characteristics becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

In addition, in the urination device 21 of this embodiment,
Since the need to use the analog circuit element is eliminated as described above, it is possible to prevent the operating characteristics of the urinary device 21 from being influenced by the external temperature. Further, as compared with the configuration using the analog circuit element of the related art, the temperature change compensating circuit becomes unnecessary, and the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is simplified also in this regard.

Further, the output signal fout output from the oscillation circuit 39 is a periodic signal, and the presence or absence of urination is detected as the frequency change. Therefore, compared to the operation of detecting the presence or absence of urination based on a voltage change as in the related art, a special circuit for digital processing such as an analog / digital conversion circuit becomes unnecessary, and digital processing can be easily performed. Can be. This reduces the number of parts and
It is possible to realize simplification of the circuit configuration.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the frequency discriminator 40. Frequency discriminator 40 of the present embodiment
“A” measures the elapsed time of the detection signal fout per a predetermined number of unit pulses. In this configuration example, the frequency discriminator 40a counts the detection signal fout from the oscillation circuit 39 n times, and outputs a latch signal from the output terminal CA when the counting operation of n times is completed. , A latch signal from the counter 52 is input, and a latch circuit 53 for performing a later-described latching operation of periodic data N ′ at that timing, and the periodic data N ′ latched by the latch circuit 53 as input data A, The reference data B and C (B> C) and a comparator 54 that is compared from a digital circuit for respectively comparing are provided. The frequency discriminator 40a is supplied with a clock signal f1 having a frequency f1 that is significantly higher than the detection signal fout, and the clock signal f1 is input to the counter 56 as a count signal. The latch signal from the counter 52 is delayed by a delay circuit 55 for a predetermined period and input to the counter 56 as a reset signal.

Therefore, the counter 52 outputs the detection signal foo.
The counter 56 counts the clock signal f1 over the period in which t is counted n times. When the counter 52 counts the detection signal fout n times, the counter 52
Outputs a latch signal, the counter 56 is reset, and the count value of the counter 56 at that time is latched in the latch circuit 53 as the cycle data N ′. This cycle data N ′ is the signal cycle for every n detection signals fout.

Time n / of the detection signal fout over n cycles
fout is the time N '/ over the N'cycle of the clock signal
Since it is equal to f1, n / fout = N ′ / f1 (3) By modifying this, N ′ = n · f1 / fout (4) That is, the cycle data N ′ is a function of the frequency fout of the detection signal from the oscillation circuit 39. Therefore,
By detecting the cycle data N ′, the control device 3
0 makes it possible to judge the degree of humidity of the external atmosphere detected by the urine sensor 28.

By using the frequency discriminator 40a of this embodiment, the same operation as the urination detecting operation described in the above embodiment can be performed.

Although the present invention has been described as the urination device 21 in each of the above-described embodiments, the external atmosphere can be obtained by appropriately setting the control mode of the control unit 41 using the oscillation circuit 39 and the frequency discriminator 40 in FIG. It is clear that it can be implemented as a humidity detecting device that detects the degree of humidity of the. At this time, it is needless to say that this humidity detecting device can also realize other effects of the above-described respective embodiments excluding the effects peculiar to the urine discharging device 21.

The structure and operation of the above-mentioned embodiment show one embodiment of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention. The present invention includes a wide variety of modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0051]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the humidity of the external atmosphere is detected by the humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere, and the oscillating section is operated in accordance with the resistance value. The frequency of the output periodic signal is changed.
The periodic signal from the oscillating unit is input to the humidity detecting unit, and the humidity detecting unit discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal, determines the humidity of the external atmosphere, and outputs the humidity detection signal.

As a result, in the humidity detecting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the change in the resistance value of the humidity detecting element is converted into the change in the frequency of the periodic signal, and includes the oscillating section and the humidity detecting section. The configuration can be a digital circuit configuration. As a result, the oscillating unit, the humidity detecting unit, and the like can be configured by a small number of circuit elements such as a gate circuit, the number of parts is reduced, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the initial variation of the humidity detecting device can be suppressed, the initial adjustment of the circuit characteristics becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

Further, since the necessity of using the analog circuit element is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the operating characteristic of the humidity detecting device from being influenced by the external temperature. Further, the temperature change compensating circuit becomes unnecessary, and in this respect also, the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is simplified.

Further, the variable corresponding to the humidity of the external atmosphere output from the oscillating unit is the frequency of the periodic signal, which is used for digital processing such as an analog / digital conversion circuit as compared with the voltage change of the prior art. No special circuit is required, and digital processing can be easily performed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the circuit configuration.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere is arranged in the urine receiver, and when urine is discharged to the urine receiver, Urine is detected by the humidity detecting element, and the frequency of the periodic signal output from the oscillating unit changes in accordance with the resistance value that changes in accordance with the humidity of the atmosphere outside the humidity detecting element. The periodic signal from the oscillating unit is input to the humidity detecting unit, and the humidity detecting unit discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal, determines the humidity of the external atmosphere, and outputs the humidity detection signal. On the other hand, a urine tank communicates with the urine receiver, and a vacuum suction device for sucking urine from the urine receiver to the urine tank is provided.

When urine is discharged to the urine receiver, the resistance value of the humidity detecting element changes, and the frequency of the periodic signal output from the oscillating section changes corresponding to the change in the resistance value. The humidity detector discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal from the oscillator to determine the humidity of the external atmosphere and outputs a humidity detection signal. The control unit activates the vacuum suction device based on the humidity detection signal from the humidity detection unit, and sucks urine from the urine receiver into the urine tank.

As a result, in the urinary device of the present invention, a change in the resistance value of the humidity detecting element is converted into a change in the frequency of the periodic signal, and the structure including the oscillating section and the humidity detecting section is changed to a digital circuit. It can be configured. As a result, the oscillating unit, the humidity detecting unit, and the like can be configured by a small number of circuit elements such as a gate circuit, the number of parts is reduced, and the configuration is simplified. Therefore, the initial variation of the urinary device can be suppressed, the initial adjustment of the circuit characteristics becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing process is simplified.

Further, since the necessity of using the analog circuit element is eliminated, it is possible to prevent the operating characteristics of the urinary device from being influenced by the external temperature. Further, the temperature change compensating circuit becomes unnecessary, and in this respect also, the number of parts is reduced and the configuration is simplified.

Further, the variable corresponding to the humidity of the external atmosphere output from the oscillating unit is the frequency of the periodic signal, which is used for digital processing such as an analog / digital conversion circuit as compared with the voltage change of the prior art. No special circuit is required, and digital processing can be easily performed.
As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the circuit configuration.

In the urinary device of the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the alternating voltage is constantly applied to the humidity detecting element by the oscillating section. When a direct current voltage is applied to the humidity detecting element, urine is electrolyzed and the decomposed material adheres to the humidity detecting element to lower the detection accuracy. The present invention prevents the occurrence of this problem.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a urination device 21 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an entire electrical configuration of a urinary device 21 of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram showing a mechanical structure of the urine drainage device 21.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a frequency discriminator provided in the urinary device 21.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the electrical characteristics of the urine sensor of this example.

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the urination device 21.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the frequency discriminator.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a conventional urinary device 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 urination device 28 urine sensor 30 control device 33 motor 36, 37, 38 inverter 39 oscillation circuit 40, 40a frequency discriminator 41 control unit 42, 52, 56 counter 43, 53 latch circuit 44, 54 comparator 45, 55 delay circuit CT capacitor f1 clock signal fout detection signal N count value N'cycle data R1, R2, Rs resistance

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of an external atmosphere, an oscillating section which outputs a periodic signal whose frequency changes according to the resistance value of the humidity detecting element, and the oscillating section. A humidity detection device including a humidity detection unit that discriminates the frequency of the periodic signal from the device to determine the humidity of the external atmosphere and outputs a humidity detection signal. 2. A urine receiver in which a humidity detecting element whose resistance value changes according to the humidity of the external atmosphere is arranged, a urine tank communicated with the urine receiver, and the urine tank from the urine receiver. A vacuum aspirator for sucking urine into the interior, an oscillator for outputting a periodic signal whose frequency changes in accordance with the resistance value of the humidity detecting element, and a frequency for the periodic signal from the oscillator to discriminate the external atmosphere. Urinary device using a humidity detecting device, which includes a humidity detecting unit that determines the humidity of the device and outputs a humidity detecting signal, and a control unit that activates the vacuum suction device based on the humidity detecting signal from the humidity detecting unit. . 3. The urination device according to claim 2, wherein an alternating voltage is constantly applied to the humidity detecting element by the oscillator.