Global Patent Index - EP 0581605 A1

EP 0581605 A1 19940202 - Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat.

Title (en)

Apparatus for detecting a person seated on a toilet seat.

Title (de)

Vorrichtung zur Detektion einer auf einem Klosettsitz Sitzenden Person.

Title (fr)

Dispositif pour détecter une personne assise sur un siège de toilette.

Publication

EP 0581605 A1 19940202 (EN)

Application

EP 93306041 A 19930730

Priority

JP 20472892 A 19920731

Abstract (en)

The invention provides an apparatus for detecting a person on a toilet seat. A crystal oscillator 62 is connected to the base of a transistor 60 of a high frequency oscillating circuit 50. An electrode 44 is provided on the toilet seat, so that when someone sits on the seat, a capacitance 64 is created by the person, parallel to the crystal oscillator 62. The output signal of oscillating circuit 50 passes through a band pass filter 52, is averaged by an averaging circuit 54, and is compared with a reference voltage from a circuit 56 by a comparison circuit 58. When no-one is sitting on the toilet seat, the signal level of oscillation circuit 50 is high, but when a person sits on the toilet seat 40, the capacitor 64 causes the oscillator signal level to become low, and the comparison voltage inputted into comparison circuit 58 becomes lower than the reference voltage. Thus, the comparator 58 output indicates when a person is sitting on the toilet seat. As long as the area of contact between the person and the toilet seat is larger than a certain predetermined size, detection is accomplished, irrespectively of whether or not the person is seated in a correct posture. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

G08B 21/00

IPC 8 full level

A47K 13/24 (2006.01); E03D 9/08 (2006.01); G08B 21/22 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP KR)

A47K 13/24 (2013.01 - KR); G08B 21/22 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE ES FR GB

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0581605 A1 19940202; JP H0646970 A 19940222; KR 0141081 B1 19990218; KR 940005860 A 19940322; TW 229273 B 19940901

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 93306041 A 19930730; JP 20472892 A 19920731; KR 930014799 A 19930731; TW 82106432 A 19930811