JP2010236269A - Faucet device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a faucet device capable of detecting an object to be washed securely, irrespective of shapes of spout and a water receiving part by applying radio waves radiated from a radio wave sensor into a water discharge space through a waveguide. <P>SOLUTION: The waveguide and a water channel pipe are constituted inside the spout being a water discharge part, an outlet of the waveguide is arranged by dividing it into a plurality of sections along a water channel, and radio waves are radiated toward the inside of the water discharge space from a water discharge port. Consequently, an area where field intensity is high can be set in a wide scope around the water discharge port. As a result, it is possible to constitute the faucet device capable of detecting a user without fail and achieving satisfactory ease of use even when the objects to be washed approach the water discharge port from various directions and a position where the user holds out his/her hand as in case of water discharge in a large area ranges over a wide scope. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, a public toilet, a bathroom vanity, a faucet device provided in a kitchen, and particularly detects a user's hand or an object to be cleaned or a cup held by the user. The invention relates to a water faucet device that automatically controls water discharged from the water faucet device.

  When you do not want to touch the faucet device with wet hands after hand washing, or when you have a cooking utensil, food, etc. and your hand is full, water discharge starts automatically without operating the faucet faucet There is a faucet device that can be used.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which two types of detection sensors are arranged on a kitchen sink to continuously detect tableware other than during washing as well as hand washing, and prevent the dish from being left after washing. is doing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-83027

  The conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above is a system in which a valve is opened when an object such as a human body or tableware is detected in a kitchen sink, and tap water is supplied from a water outlet. In addition, since two sensors, the area near the spout and the wide area, are arranged for object detection, even if tableware or cooking utensils are detected by the sensor for wide area detection, the human body near the spout for a certain period of time. If it is not detected, it is an easy-to-use system that can stop the supply of tap water.

  However, since the light-receiving / detecting element is used as the detecting means, and the light-receiving element detects a part of the amount of infrared rays radiated from the light-projecting element reflected from the detected object, it is a detected object. Depending on the material and color of the tableware and cooking utensils, something that cannot be detected occurs. For example, a black object such as a frying pan or a transparent cup absorbs or transmits infrared light emitted from the light emitting element, so that the reflected light does not reach the light receiving element. The supply of tap water will not be performed if the detected object is simply put out near the water outlet.

  Also, in recent years, washbasins (or sink sinks) and faucet fittings have been designed in consideration of harmony with the interior, so that the water discharge part and the water receiving part are integrated, and there is no water discharge part. There is a form in which the stopper device protrudes, or the water discharged from the stopper device has a waterfall shape. Thus, when the shape of the faucet device itself and the form of the water that comes out are variously configured, there is no place to install a sensor for detecting the detected object, and the user presents a hand or object to be cleaned in the vicinity of the spout There was a problem that it was not possible to reliably detect only objects.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use hand-washing device in which water discharge starts immediately when a person using the faucet device is inserted regardless of the shape of the faucet device or the object to be cleaned. .

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a water discharge section provided with a water discharge port, a valve for switching water discharge from the water discharge section, and provided at the inside of the water discharge section, one end of the valve The other end of the water pipe connected to the spout, an antenna that radiates a transmission signal and receives a reflected signal reflected by the detected object, and based on the reflected signal received by the antenna, A faucet device comprising: a controller for controlling opening and closing of the valve, wherein one end of the waveguide is disposed in the vicinity of a radio wave radiation surface of the antenna, and the other end of the waveguide is connected to a branching portion. The water faucet device has a plurality of openings, and the plurality of openings are arranged in the vicinity of the water discharge port of the water discharge unit.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the water faucet device is characterized in that the plurality of openings are arranged in the water discharge portion so as to sandwich the water discharge port.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there exists an effect of the user-friendly hand-washing apparatus which water discharge starts quickly when the person using a water faucet device inserts regardless of the shape of a water faucet device or a to-be-cleaned object.

Embodiments of a hand washing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)

    FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the faucet device, and FIG. 2 shows a control block diagram of a radio wave sensor and a control unit.

  A faucet device 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a spout 1 that is a water discharger for supplying tap water, a ceramic water receiving unit 2 that receives water discharged from the spout 1, and a water receiving unit 2. A valve unit 4 for switching the water discharged from the spout 1, a radio wave sensor 3 for detecting an object to be cleaned such as a hand or a vessel, and a control unit 5 for controlling the on / off of the valve unit 4. It consists of and. Further, the spout 1 is connected to the water receiving portion 2 and the spout root portion 1b. Inside the spout, the transmission wave generated from the radio wave sensor 3 disposed in the water receiving portion 2 is transmitted to the spout 1. A waveguide 6 that leads to the vicinity of the water port 1a and a water pipe 7 that has one end disposed in the water receiving unit 2 connected to the valve unit 4 and the other end serving as the water discharge port 1a are provided. . The radio wave sensor 3 and the valve unit 4 can be conveniently stored in the spout because they can be replaced simply by removing the spout 1 when one of them breaks down. Become. Therefore, it is desirable to select from both viewpoints of compactness and maintainability according to the site to be used. In the present embodiment, the following description will be made on the assumption that the compactness is emphasized and the water receiving unit is housed.

  The radio wave sensor 3 transmits an oscillation circuit 11 that generates radio waves, and a wave guide 6 that radiates the radio waves generated by the oscillation circuit 11 toward the detection target, and reflects the reflected radio waves from the detection target. A transmission / reception integrated antenna 12 that passes through the inside of the waveguide 6 and is connected to the oscillation circuit 11 via a line, and is further connected to the antenna 12, from the Doppler signal obtained by detecting both signals. And a detection unit 13 that determines the presence / absence and speed of an object to be detected. A signal associated with the movement of the detected object obtained by the detection unit 13 is output to the control unit 5, and the state of the detected object is determined by the speed extraction unit 14 that extracts the speed of the detected object in the control unit 5. The determination is made by comparing the result with a threshold set in advance in the storage unit 16 by the determination unit 15. The speed extraction unit 14 may be configured with an FFT, or may be configured with a filter, but when the complicated calculation can be performed, the former is selected, and the obtained signal has a predetermined band instead of a single one. In the present embodiment, a filter is used. The signal processing process in the control unit 5 will be described later. The antenna 12 may be a separate transmission / reception unit, but in the present invention, the connection part with the waveguide 6 is integrated so as to be compact.

Next, the waveguide structure and its characteristics will be described with reference to FIGS.
The waveguide 6 has an internal passage dimension determined by the following formula based on the frequency of the radio wave used and the oscillation mode to be passed. Here, the shape is assumed to be the TE10 mode that can minimize the size. Yes. The shape may be square or circular, and it may be determined by the design of the spout 1 and a square shape is adopted here. Further, a sealing member 8 is inserted into the open end 6a on the distal end 1a side of the waveguide 6 to prevent tap water from entering.
Here, when the excitation direction of the antenna is the BB direction in FIG. 3A, the horizontal direction (excitation direction and orthogonal direction) inside the waveguide is a, and the vertical direction (excitation direction) is b. Type: λ = ((m / a) ² + (n / b) ² ) ^0.5 Formula (1)
Further, when the waveguide 6 is a circular tube, if the radius of the inside is r,
Circular type: λ = 2πr / k (k: constant) Formula (2)
Here, λ is the wavelength of the space at the frequency used by the radio wave sensor 3, m and n are oscillation modes to be passed, and m = 1 and n = 0 in the TE10 mode. The constant k varies depending on the oscillation mode.

  This waveguide 6 may have a plurality of bent portions as shown in FIG. 4 (a), as long as the dimension of the pipe interior 6e is maintained at the minimum dimension of the above formula, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the passage 6e inside the waveguide may be thickened at the central portion 6 (d) of the waveguide 6 or may be curved although not shown. Therefore, even if the shape of the spout 1 is freely changed in accordance with the design of the water receiving portion 2, it can be guided to the water discharge space through the inside of the waveguide without loss without losing the radio wave radiated from the antenna 12. .

As described above, the waveguide 6 may be arranged by drawing a metal pipe inside the spout, or may be inserted by a predetermined length from the spout root 1b as shown in FIG. A radio wave may be radiated from the water discharge port 1a toward the water discharge space on the waveguide. This method has an advantage that assembly is easy because no metal pipe is formed in the spout. However, the outer periphery of the waveguide 6 is connected to the metal seal member 21 without a gap so that the reflected signal from the detected object is not given from the gap between the spout 1 and the waveguide 6, and further the seal member 21 should be connected to the spout inner periphery without any gap. Moreover, as shown in FIG.5 (c), if the directional member 22 which controls the radiation | emission direction of the electromagnetic wave radiated | emitted from the waveguide 6 is arrange | positioned in the spout 1a, a to-be-detected body will be detected more accurately. Can be convenient. A structure for radiating radio waves at the tip of the directing member 22 to the water discharge space will be described later.
The waveguide 6 has been described on the assumption that a metal pipe is used. However, when the spout 1 is formed of a casting, if the water channel and the waveguide are separately provided, Both parts can be integrated with the spout and an assembly-free system is possible.

Next, a side-by-side configuration of the waveguide 6 and the water pipe 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 6A and 6B, the upper left portion of each of the pipes 7 and the waveguide 6 in the spout 1 is shown in the upper left part, and the analysis result showing the radio wave intensity in the positional relation is shown in the right part.
FIG. 6A shows a state in which the waveguide 6 is disposed above the water channel pipe 7, and shows an analysis result from the right side that radiates radio waves toward the water discharge space in the water discharge state. . On the other hand, FIG. 6B shows a state in which the waveguide 6 is disposed below the water channel pipe 7 and the result of analyzing the radio wave distribution when the water discharge state is also obtained. In addition, the analysis result of a water stop state is shown in FIG.6 (c). Since there is almost no difference in radio wave distribution due to the vertical relationship between the waveguide 6 and the water channel pipe 7 in the water stop state, the analysis results when the waveguide 6 is below are shown in the embodiment. As can be seen from the figure, since the radio wave is reflected in water, when the waveguide 6 is on the water channel pipe 7, the water flow supplied from the water outlet 1 a toward the water receiving portion 2 is sandwiched downward. When the waveguide 6 is on the lower side, the radio wave is restricted from spreading upward with the water flow interposed therebetween. Comparing the states of FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, there is a particular difference in the radio wave intensity below the water discharge port 1a, and the water discharge time is lower than the water discharge port 1a than the water stop time. The signal strength is getting stronger. This means that not only the upward spread of the radio wave is blocked by the water flow, but also the downward reflection is promoted, and the position where the water and the radio wave are radiated into the space is substantially the same. This is because a significant amount of upward diffusion is blocked. That is, when radio waves are directly radiated from the radio wave sensor 3 of FIG. 1 without using a waveguide, the radio waves are diffused before hitting the water flow, so that the amount reflected by the water flow is very small, and the lower side of the water outlet The phenomenon of increase in radio wave intensity disappears. Therefore, if a waveguide is attached to the water channel piping and radio waves are emitted from the water outlet toward the water discharge space, it will be difficult to detect moving bodies in the other side of the water channel. If you want to detect the lower part of the spout without damaging it, place the waveguide on the lower side, and conversely, if you want to continue water discharge by detecting hand shaking while using water, place the waveguide on the upper side. Good. In this embodiment, an example in which the former waveguide is disposed on the lower side is adopted, and the following description will be given from the viewpoint of usability.

Next, the usability relationship of the faucet device 10 based on the relationship between the arrangement of the waveguide and the channel structure in FIG. 6 and the difference in the radio wave radiation distribution at the time of water discharge will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the radiation state of the radio wave from the waveguide 6 in the still water is shown in FIG. At this time, what is desired to be detected is a hand approaching the spout 1a, or an object to be cleaned such as a cup or a rag, while what is not desired to be detected is the front side of the water receiving part 2 with soap on the palm or fist. It is an act of hand-shaking that stretches evenly over the whole, a draining action that shakes off the water adhering to the hand, or an action that brings the face closer to the receiving part in order to throw away gargling water. This action of a person who does not want to be detected is generally performed in the area C of FIG. 7, and thus it is desired to reduce the radio field intensity to the area C. However, considering usability, it is desirable to detect the object to be cleaned before reaching the spout 1a and to supply water from the spout before the detected object stops at the arrival point that is the cleaning point. Accordingly, it is desired to detect the detected object in area A in the figure. Therefore, when a waveguide is disposed alongside the water pipe as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and radio waves are radiated from the water outlet to the water discharge space, the vicinity of the water outlet is inside the water discharge space. Since the radio wave intensity is the strongest and the radio wave directivity from the open end of the waveguide 6 is almost non-directional, the radio wave diffuses as the distance from the spout increases, and the power difference between area A and area C increases. Become. Therefore, it is difficult to detect a hand in area A, and it is difficult to detect a body larger than the hand in area C, so that a faucet device with small erroneous detection can be configured. In addition, after starting the water discharge, water is used below the water discharge port 1a in order to wash the object to be cleaned evenly and to draw the object to be cleaned perpendicular to the water flow in order to draw water into the cup. Therefore, I want to detect area B in the figure. In order to provide usability without giving stress to the user who uses the faucet device 1 in this way, the presence or absence of the detection object in the area A is determined before use, and the action is surely performed during use. Since it is important to determine the object to be detected in area B in order to determine, it is desirable that the electric field strength in area A is large before water discharge and the electric field strength in area B is high during water discharge. In that case, it is possible to provide a faucet device 1 that is easier to use if the waveguide 6 is disposed below the water channel pipe 7 and the radio wave is reflected in the water flow. Yes.

  Further, as a method for improving detection accuracy, it is desirable to provide a difference in radio wave intensity between area C and area A. A method for setting the directivity direction of radio waves radiated from the waveguide tip will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A is an external view of the first example, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the waveguide is branched in the middle of the path, the distance from the point P inside the waveguide through the upper passage to the open end P1, and the opening from the point P through the lower passage. Since the dimension of the end P2 is longer by the dimension x corresponding to the branching, the phase at the wavelength of the frequency to be used is delayed, and the radio wave bends to the lower side where the radio wave is delayed. FIG. 8C is an external view of the second example, in which the waveguide tip shape is cut off obliquely from the upper side to the lower side, and the upper side protrudes. . Also in this case, when radio waves are transmitted through the inside of the waveguide, the lower side is opened first, so that the radio waves bend downward due to the effect of the radio waves diffusing downward. If it is configured at the tip of 6, the maximum directivity direction of the radio wave radiated from the tip of the waveguide is directed downward. When the maximum directivity direction is in the direction of area A and area C, the reflected power amount increases when the object to be detected in area C is large, and erroneous detection may occur. However, the directivity direction is set to the lower end of the waveguide. On the areas A and C sides, the spread of radio waves increases according to the distance, so that the difference in radio wave intensity increases, the detection accuracy of the detection objects in the area A increases, and the object to be cleaned and the water receiving toward the water outlet Providing a faucet device that can reliably determine the user's actions to be used on the front of the section 2, has a quick water discharge timing, does not stop the water discharge during use, and has few false detections. Is possible. As for the structure for changing the orientation to the lower side, the second example saves space if the end face can be easily processed. The attachment of the elongate member 8 is easy in the first example in which the end faces are aligned, and selection may be made by taking advantage of each feature. In this embodiment, space saving is given priority and the second example is adopted.

In the above configuration, the radio wave sensor 3 receives a signal from the object to be detected, and regarding the water supply control from the faucet device 10, the control flow shown in FIG. 9 and the detection from the radio wave sensor 3 shown in FIGS. A description will be given using the state when the signal passes through the speed extraction unit.
When the user approaches the faucet device 10 and puts his hand toward the water outlet, the detection signal obtained from the radio wave sensor 3 in S01 passes through the speed extraction unit 14 of the control unit 5, and the determination unit 15 Compared with the respective acceleration / deceleration / constant velocity signal patterns set in the storage unit 16 in advance, the movement in which the speed decreases as time elapses as shown in FIG. Therefore, the control unit 5 outputs an open signal to the valve unit 4 and supplies tap water from the tip of the water outlet. Thus, if the hand is detected before reaching the point to be cleaned near the spout 1a, there is no time until water is supplied at the cleaning point, so that the faucet device is easy to use. In S01, the constant speed signal at a constant speed regardless of the passage of time shown in FIG. 10 (b) is determined by the determination unit 15 as a movement across the cup or toothbrush around the water receiving unit 2. The acceleration signal that increases in speed with the passage of time shown in FIG. 10C is determined by the determination unit 16 to accelerate from the water outlet 1a to the outside of the water receiving unit 2, and the control unit 5 closes the valve unit 4. Hold on.

  When tap water is supplied from the water outlet, the radio wave radiated from the waveguide collides with the water flow as described above, so that the radio wave intensity toward the area B increases. In this situation, the control unit 5 determines in S03 whether the tap water is in a state where the hand that has been handed out is scattered. In this S03, the signal f obtained from the radio wave sensor 3 and passed through the speed extraction unit 14 of the control unit 5 corresponds to the frequencies f1 and f2 preset in the storage unit 16 as shown in FIG. When f1 <f <f2, the determination unit 15 can obtain motion components in various directions with respect to the vertical direction of the opening surface radiated from the front end of the waveguide due to water droplets scattered on the surface of the hand. It returns to S02, and the valve part 4 is continued in an open state. Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, when f <f1, the determination unit 15 is in a situation where the tap water is drawn into a vessel such as a cup or teacup and the water surface of the vessel is fluctuating, and the wave is guided. It is determined that the movement is perpendicular to the vertical direction of the opening surface radiated from the tube tip. At this time, the process returns to S02 and the valve unit 4 is continuously opened. However, when the signal of f> f2 shown in FIG. 11C is obtained, the determination unit 15 obtains the flow rate of tap water as it is because the vertical direction of the opening surface of the waveguide and the water flow direction are substantially parallel. In S04, the control unit 5 outputs a close signal to the valve unit 4 and stops the supply of tap water. When the electric field strength in area B increases in this way, the S / N ratio of the signal that has passed through the speed extraction unit is improved, and as shown in FIG. 11, the tap water and the object to be cleaned or the cup are easily interfered and scattered. It is possible to grasp the state in which water is generated, and to easily determine whether the supply of tap water from the water outlet should be continued or stopped. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the frequency component from the radio wave sensor 3 in each operation is easy to understand for convenience of explanation. However, the speed extraction unit 14 has a plurality of band filters or a high-pass filter that allows only frequencies above f2 to pass, You may comprise by three filters, the band pass filter which passes the band of f1 to f2, and the low pass filter which passes only f1. In that case, if the signal is obtained in the band of f2 or less in S03, the determination unit 15 determines that the operation is during hand washing or drawing water, and continues water discharge. It is good to judge that it became the state of and to stop water. Alternatively, paying attention to the signal in the band of f2 or more, if there is a signal, it is a state of only the water flow and the water is stopped, and if there is no signal, it is a state where the hand or vessel interferes with the water flow It is good to judge and continue water discharge. The filter may be configured with a CR circuit or software, but the former can obtain a signal with a delay of only the CR time constant, and the determination time can be quickened. The timing of water gets faster. On the other hand, since the latter can increase the difference between the signal of the frequency to be passed and the signal of the frequency to be cut off, the detection sensitivity in the detection unit 13 is improved, the water stoppage determination system is increased, and the system is free from erroneous detection. Therefore, it is better to select according to the purpose.

(Second embodiment)

  FIG. 12 shows an overview of the second embodiment of the faucet device, and FIG. 13 (a) shows a cross-sectional view of the dotted line portion of FIG. FIG. 13B shows a cross-sectional structure of the waveguide viewed from the direction D in FIG.

  A faucet device 30 shown in FIG. 12 includes a spout 31 that is a water discharger for supplying tap water, a water receiving part 32 that receives water discharged from the spout 31, and a first implementation although not shown. As in the example, a valve unit for switching the water discharged from the spout 31 inside the water receiving unit 32, a radio wave sensor 33 for detecting an object to be cleaned which is a detection target, and a control for controlling on and off of the valve unit. It consists of parts. In addition, the spout 31 has a waveguide 36 that guides the transmission wave generated from the radio wave sensor 33 to the vicinity of the water outlet 31 a of the spout 31 and one end disposed in the water receiving portion 32. The water channel pipe 37 is connected to the other end and the other end is the water outlet 31a.

  The waveguide 36 is connected to the radio wave sensor 33 at one end face as in the first embodiment, and is bifurcated in the middle 36b of the waveguide path. The exit to is configured to radiate radio waves from two places like 36c and 36d. The dimensions from the branch to the outlet and the internal passage area are the same so that the amount of radio waves radiated from each outlet is the same. The two outlets are arranged below the water pipe 37, and the outlet tips of the outlets are received in the respective inner directions as shown in FIG. 13 (b) and as shown in FIG. 13 (a). The opening surface is cut so that the radio wave is directed downward in the water portion side. Therefore, the intensity of the radio wave radiated from the waveguide outlet is substantially the same, and the radio wave intensity is also secured below the spout while detecting the front of the front end of the spout. As in the first embodiment, the radio wave collides with the water flow and the radio wave intensity on the lower side of the spout increases. Therefore, even when the faucet device is used, the scattered water can be detected from the object to be cleaned. Therefore, it is possible to provide a comfortable faucet device that does not stop water. Furthermore, by setting the radiation direction of the radio waves from the respective waveguides inward and downward, it is possible to increase the radio wave intensity difference between area A and area C shown in FIG. A device system can be configured. The configuration of the radio wave sensor 33, the waveguide structure, the setting of the detection range, and the control flow are omitted as in the first embodiment. Here, if the radio wave and the water flow are configured so as to collide with each other in the water discharge space, the state of only the water flow and the scattered water due to the object to be cleaned can be distinguished, and they may be arranged in parallel.

  Next, a detection mechanism when the user starts water discharge using the analysis result of the radio wave distribution shown in FIG. 14 will be described. When the front end of the waveguide is divided as described above, the directivity from the open ends 36c and 36d of the waveguide is radiated toward the inside, but diffusion of radio waves occurs toward the space, and the diffusion A part of the received radio waves is also obtained in the directions of P36c and P36d. Accordingly, not only the user uses the faucet device 31 from the front direction, but also when the user wants to use the faucet device 31 from the X direction or the Y direction, it is easy to detect an object to be cleaned such as a hand or a vessel as a detection object. It is possible to provide a comfortable faucet device that can detect before the hand reaches the spout and discharges water at an optimal timing. The intensity required for detection includes the reflected signal from the object to be cleaned in the water receiving section 32, the reflected signal when the user approaches the water receiving section outside the water receiving section 32, and the water receiving section. This is the difference from the reflected signal obtained when looking into the water receiving part 32 from above 32. As this difference increases, a faucet device with no false detection can be provided and matched to the shape of the water receiving part. In order to adjust the cut shape at the front end of the waveguide and suppress the reflected signal from the user in front, it cuts toward the inside of each divided open end and suppresses the reflected signal from above the water receiving part In order to achieve this, it is preferable to cut so that the radiation direction from the open end is directed downward.

(Third embodiment)

  FIG. 15 shows an overview of a third embodiment of the hand washing apparatus. Fig. 16 (a) shows an external view of the spout section, Fig. 16 (b) shows the configuration of the waveguide and water pipe when the spout is viewed from below, and Fig. 16 (c) shows the spout tip of the spout. The figure which looked at from the front is shown.

  The faucet device 50 includes a spout 51 that is a water discharger for supplying tap water, a water receiving part 52 that receives water discharged from the spout 51, a valve part that switches the water discharged from the spout 51, It consists of a radio wave sensor 53 for detecting an object to be cleaned, which is a detection body, and a control unit for controlling on and off of the valve unit. In addition, the spout 51 has a waveguide 56 that guides the transmission wave generated from the radio wave sensor 53 to the vicinity of the water outlet 51a of the spout 51, and one end disposed in the water receiving portion 52 similarly to the valve portion. A water channel pipe 57 that is connected and whose other end is a water outlet 51a is provided. The water pipe 57 has a wide structure in the left-right direction, and the form of water discharged is a waterfall.

  The waveguide 56 is connected to the radio wave sensor 53 at one end face 56e, and is branched into two branches at the middle 56a of the waveguide path, and outlets to the water discharge space are 56b and 56c. Thus, radio waves are radiated from two places. The connection position with the radio wave sensor 53 is adjusted so that the amount of radio waves radiated from each outlet is the same, and the length of the path from the connection position to 56c and the length of the path from the connection position to 56a are the same. Focusing on the wavelength of the radio wave used by the radio wave sensor 53, the phases radiated from the respective outlets are set to the same phase. FIG. 17A shows an analysis state of radio wave distribution indicating a substantially in-phase state, and FIG. 17B shows an analysis result when the phase is shifted by 180 degrees. In this embodiment, the connection position 56e between the radio wave sensor 53 and the waveguide is adjusted and set in the DD direction as shown in FIG. If the connection position cannot be adjusted due to interference with the water receiving part or spout, the distance between 56b and 56c or the length in the forward direction of the waveguide (EE) may be adjusted. Similarly to the embodiment, if the dimensions from the branch part to the outlet and the internal passage area are the same, the loss in each divided pipe is the same, and it is easy to secure the same amount of radio wave radiation.

  Further, these two outlets are arranged adjacent to each other in the left-right direction in parallel with the water pipe 57 while maintaining the same amount of radio wave radiation. If it radiates in an almost non-directional state so that the direction of water discharge of the water channel piping matches, the power difference between the vicinity of the water outlet and the front side of the water receiving part can be increased, resulting in a system with less false detection, but the water receiving part is small In such a case, it would be desirable to provide a further difference in strength. As shown in FIG. 16 (b), the direction of the radio waves is directed to the inner side of each, and to the lower side of the water receiving unit (not shown). The opening surface is cut. Thus, when the radio waves radiated from the respective waveguide outlets cross at the front lower side of the tip of the spout, the radio waves radiated from the respective waveguide outlets The detection unit distinguishes between the state of only the water flow and the state where the hand or vessel that is the object to be cleaned is inserted in the water flow using the change in the flow velocity due to the water flow. Is possible. In addition, when using a faucet device, it is possible to detect splashed water generated in the object to be cleaned as if it is used below the spout, and a comfortable faucet device that does not stop water accidentally. Can be provided. Moreover, since the front of the water outlet has a wide detection range in the left-right direction in accordance with the water outlet that discharges wide as in the second embodiment, the user uses the water faucet device 51 in the middle from the front. In addition to being used in the shame of the spout, or when you want to use it from the side (X direction or Y direction), it is easy to detect the object to be cleaned such as the hand or vessel that is the detection object, It is possible to provide a comfortable faucet device that can detect before the hand reaches the spout and discharges water at an optimal timing. The configuration of the radio wave sensor 33, the waveguide structure, the setting of the detection range, and the control flow are omitted as in the first embodiment.

  As described above with reference to the three embodiments of the faucet device, even when the form of the faucet device is changed, only the structure of the waveguide in the faucet device is changed without changing the structure of the radio wave sensor. In spite of this, the spout is spouted at the optimum timing to determine whether or not the user's hand or rag to be cleaned and the object to be cleaned will reach the intended location. In addition, the collision between the water flow and the radio wave identifies whether the water flow is normal or the normal condition is scattered from the object to be cleaned using the speed information obtained by the radio wave sensor. It becomes possible to provide a comfortable faucet device without false detection that stops water promptly later.

It is a figure which shows a 1st Example. It is a block diagram of a radio wave sensor and a control part. It is an external view of the waveguide in a 1st Example. It is the figure which analyzed the state which an electromagnetic wave propagates the inside of a waveguide. It is the figure which showed the state of the waveguide in a spout. It is the figure which analyzed the electromagnetic wave state by the arrangement difference of a waveguide and water channel piping. It is a figure which shows the sensor detection range in a faucet device. It is a figure which shows the structure of the open end of the water discharge space side of a waveguide It is a figure which shows the control flow which a control part performs. It is a figure which shows the speed change according to the user's usage act in the water discharge space. It is a figure which shows the waveform which a radio wave sensor detects in a valve open state. It is an external view which shows the 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of a waveguide and water channel piping. It is the figure which analyzed the electromagnetic wave state radiated | emitted from the waveguide of a 2nd Example. It is an external view which shows the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows a waveguide and water channel piping structure. It is the figure which analyzed the state which an electromagnetic wave propagates the inside of a waveguide.

1, 31, 51, ... Spout 2, 32, 52, ... Water receiving part 3, 33, 53, ... Waveguide 4, ... Valve 5, ... Control part 6, 36, 56, ... Waveguide 7, 37 , 57,..., Water pipe 8, sealing member 10, 30, 50, faucet device 11, oscillation circuit 12, antenna 13, detection unit 14, speed extraction unit 15, determination unit 16,. Storage unit 21... Seal member 22.

Claims (2)

A water discharge part having a water discharge port;
A valve for switching water discharge from the water discharge unit;
A water line pipe provided inside the water discharge part, one end connected to the valve and the other end connected to the water discharge port;
An antenna that radiates a transmission signal and receives a reflected signal reflected by a detection object;
A control unit that controls opening and closing of the valve based on a reflected signal received by the antenna;
A faucet device comprising:
One end of the waveguide is disposed near the radio wave radiation surface of the antenna,
The other end of the waveguide has a plurality of openings through a branch portion,
The water faucet device, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in the vicinity of the water discharge port of the water discharge unit.
The water faucet device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are arranged in the water discharge portion so as to sandwich the water discharge port.

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