Abstract:
A toilet apparatus for providing automatic user identification is provided. The automatic identification uses a combination of an instrumented toilet seat and an instrumented foot scale to provide user specific identification data. User health trends may be saved and reported based on the automatic user identification. User identification also allows preconfigured toilet control settings to be loaded into memory upon user identification.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to methods and systems for identifying users while using a toilet. 
     Background of the Invention 
     Modern toilets are being produced and developed with more functionality and options than toilets of the past. However, customization of toilet functionality and options based on automatic identification of a user does not exist today. The innovation addresses the issue of automatic identification of a toilet user. 
     SUMMARY 
     To address the issue of automatic identification of a toilet user a toilet provides a foot scale, a scale in the seat, electrodes in the seat and data for user identification and classification. The data used for classification may include a weight determined from the combination of the foot scale, a ratio of the weight measured in the footstool to the seat (and equivalent combinations of those variables), a bio-impedance measured by the seat (especially useful to distinguish similarly weighted male and female), a user ECG signature, a weight distribution front to back on the seat, an electrical tissue impedance, a heart rate, and a time of day or time of use. 
     The weight distribution in the foot scale may also determine whether a user is facing forward or backward. For forward standing users (male) the seat may be raised automatically for standing urination. 
     Feedback about automatically determined user identity may be displayed on the foot scale, or via an accompanying tablet, transmission to user device such as a smart phone, a wall projection, a  3 D projection, a light color indication on the toilet exterior or bowl or an audio signal from a speaker, such as voice welcoming the user, a signature tone, useful for blind users, or reported to a cloud based service. 
     User classification, a separate process, acts on the classification data inputs. Classification can occur on a data processor in the toilet or remotely. The classification can take into consideration the trending values for each user, which is important for growing users like children or people making changes to their health and biometric measurements such as losing or gaining weight. 
     In the event the classification does not produce a result with high confidence the toilet can simply skip logging the data for that user, or allow the user to assign or associate that data at a later time using a mobile device access program, for instance. 
     The toilet may also adjust settings to a user&#39;s preferences based on a determined user identity, such as seat temperature, bidet settings, flush settings, display settings, voice feedback settings, voice recognition settings, background sound settings, health indicator settings, health trend reporting settings, user interface settings, etc. 
     The foot scale or footstool reports data for determining weight and front/back weight distribution. 
     The toilet seat with reports data for determining weight and front to back weight distribution. 
     The toilet seat and/or foot scale with electrodes reports user bioimpedance, electrocardiogram, electrical tissue impedance, skin resistance or other electrical impedance parameters. 
     A combination of foot scale weight, seat weight and their relative distributions (including front-to-back weight ratio for the seat) may be used for user identification. Additionally, the combination of weight along with bio-impedance may be used for determination of a user identification. Front to back weight distribution on the foot stool may be used to determine which way a user is facing. 
     Dynamic values of both weight and bio-impedance may be used to create a user identifying signature based on the way a person sits or stands while using a toilet. 
     A toilet apparatus for providing automatic user identification is provided. The automatic identification uses a combination of an instrumented toilet seat and an instrumented foot scale to provide user specific identification data. User health trends may be saved and reported based on the automatic user identification. User identification also allows preconfigured toilet control settings to be loaded into memory upon user identification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a toilet seat of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a toilet seat of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is top view of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    are a side views of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a toilet foot scale in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a toilet foot scale in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view of a top portion of a toilet foot scale in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of inputs and outputs of a toilet apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the current invention. Inputs  102  of the toilet apparatus may include weight  104 , weight ratio  106 , bio-impedance  108 , electrocardiogram (ECG)  110 , weight distribution  112 , tissue impedance  114 , heart rate  116 , time of day or time of use  118 , voice recognition, fingerprint reading, and optical detection. 
     Weight  104  may include a total weight measured by a toilet seat. Weight may include a total weight measured by a toilet foot scale. Weight  104  may include a total weight measured by both of the toilet seat and the toilet foot scale. When a user sits on a toilet seat a weight may be detected by one or more pressure transducers fixed to the toilet seat and by one or more pressure transducers fixed to the toilet foot scale. The pressure transducers may be strain gauge weight measurement sensors, or other well-known pressure transducer sensors such as resistive weight sensors, capacitive weight sensors, inductive weight sensors, piezoelectric weight sensors, etc. Weight measurements may also be taken continuously, forming a weight signature with respect to time, while a user is using a toilet. For example, while a user is wiping his or her weight may change from one side of the seat to the other or may shift from the toilet seat to the toilet foot scale. A weight signature may indicate average times of toilet use, total weight at a toilet seat, total weight at a toilet foot scale, and wiping weight pattern distributions with respect to time at both the toilet seat and the toilet foot scale. A total weight may also be able to determine whether a user is standing or sitting based on a detected weight on the toilet seat and the toilet foot scale. 
     Weight ratio  106  may include a weight ratio pattern between multiple pressure transducer weight sensors on the toilet seat. Weight ratio  106  may include a weight ratio pattern between multiple pressure transducer weight sensors on the toilet foot scale. For example, side-to-side and front-to-back and side-to-back weight ratios may be used to create user signatures for both the toilet seat and for the foot scale. A combination of ratios between the toilet seat and the foot scale may also be used to form user identification signatures. A front to back weight ratio may be able to determine if a user is facing forward or backwards while standing on the foot scale. 
     Bio-impedance  108  or tissue impedance  114  may be obtained using one or more electrodes on the toilet seat and the toilet foot scale. The bio-impedance or tissue impedance  114  measurements may include sweeping a range of frequencies and amplitudes or may use select frequencies and amplitudes associated with user profile data. The measurements may be between multiple electrodes on a toilet seat, multiple electrodes on a foot scale, between electrodes on the toilet seat and electrodes on the foot scale, or a combination thereof. Bio-impedance signatures may be associated with user identification data. 
     An electrocardiogram (ECG)  110  may be obtained using toilet seat electrodes and foot scale electrodes. The ECG may be used associated with user identification data. A heart rate  112  may be obtained by using toilet seat electrodes or by using foot scale electrodes of a combination thereof. The heart rate data may be associated with user identification data. 
     Time of use data may be obtained as a user is using a toilet. The time of use data may be recorded in memory along with each of the other inputs  102  relative to real-time sensor data readings as a user is using a toilet. From the time of use data and the sensor data  102 , user identification signature data sets may be obtained and recorded in memory. The time of (toilet) use data may include date and time of day data along with a length of time and sensor reading times of each sensor  102 . Sensors may be read on a continuous bases or at a clock cycle or sampling rate. Sensor data along versus time of sensor reading may be used to generate identification signatures of toilet users. Frequency versus sensor data may also be used to generate identification signatures of toilet users. 
     At step  118 , the data is obtained from a user and a determination is made if it matches an existing stored user identification. The determination may be based on locally stored data or remotely stored data. Locally stored data may include data in a local memory in the toilet or in a user device. Remotely stored data may include data stored on a user device or in a cloud database over the Internet. If no match is found a new data record is formed and the user is assigned an anonymous user identification unknown to the user. If the user identification is found, then the newly generated toilet data is associated with the existing user identification. User identification data may contain sensor calibration values associated with the user. For instance, if a user is identified more easily by a user weight greater than 200 pounds on the toilet seat, processing calibration values or sensor weighting factors may be prioritized over other data gathered for user identity of a specific individual. Classification of individuals into weighted filtering categories based on sensor data reading may allow greater accuracy and speed of identification of users. If the user has an account associated with their identification  126 , then custom feedback  130  may be given to the user. If not, the user may be may be asked if he or she wants to create a user account  122 . The custom feedback may include access to modify the user&#39;s account  134  or options for controlling the toilet  132 , or options for user data storage locations  136 . A user account may include user name, email address, doctor, phone number, date of birth, online health record access, home address, height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, etc. A user identification may be a subset of information found within a user account. The user identification or data associated with the user identification may be used to calibrate sensors or processor determination steps. The user may be classified into a calibration category based on the user inputted data. User account preferences may include all of the data associated with a user identification including trending health charts and records, weight history, frequency of urination, frequency of bowel movements, sounds associated with toilet use, voice feedback settings, foot scale heater settings, bidet settings, toilet seat heater settings, flush settings, display settings, user interface settings, and reporting of data settings. User storage location options  136  may include selections for reporting data to an email address, to a website address, to a doctor&#39;s office, to a central health system, to a cloud based software service, or to a combination thereof. 
     If a toilet user desires to not have an account  122  and remain anonymous  124  then user data is still recorded but the user only receives limited toilet functionality and data options. The user identification  120  is still created and any new data is associated with this user identification when the user reused the toilet, but user account functionality is limited. The user&#39;s anonymous data may be used for statistical reporting and research studies of medical conditions. When a user uses the toilet for the first time, an automatic association of user&#39;s data with a file name or random alphanumeric number may take place. Then, if the same user uses the toilet again in the future the toilet may recognize the user by stored identification data and inform the user that he or she has lost 5 pounds in the last six months (or since last use of the toilet). If the user has used the toilet in the past the toilet may associate the new data with the old data and inform the user of any changes or trends related to weight, heart rate, health or hydration status. 
     Custom feedback  130  may include options on screen at the toilet such as access to a bidet, options for music or video, options for connection of a user device, etc as setup within user account settings of a user account. 
       FIG. 2  shows a toilet  200  with a first plurality of strain gauge pressure transducers  202 ,  208 ,  232  and  236  attached to toilet seat  230 . A first plurality of electrodes  204 ,  206 ,  210 , and  212  are also attached to toilet seat  230 . A processor  214  may communicate wirelessly or by wire with foot scale  218 , toilet seat  230 , and a network or Internet server (not shown). A first processor may be used in the toilet shown at  214 , a second processor may be used within the foot scale  218  and a third processor may be used within the toilet seat  230 . Separate memory may be associated with each of the processors and may be located with the processors. Each of the processors may also have a communication port for communicating wirelessly or by a wired connection. The toilet seat  230 , the foot scale  218  or the processor  214  may be battery powered or powered by a wired wall type connection. Toilet  200  may be powered by cord  228  which may supply high or low voltage to the toilet  200 . Foot scale  218  has electrodes  216 ,  220 ,  226 , and  224  attached to a top portion of the foot scale in each of the corners. The electrode configuration of the foot scale allows a user&#39;s foot to contact multiple electrodes while using the toilet. 
     In  FIG. 3  a toilet seat  300  is shown with some of the components detached from the seat. The electrodes  302  and  304  shown are placed on a surface  308  and  310  of the toilet seat so as to contact a user&#39;s skin while the user is sitting on the toilet seat. 
       FIG. 4  shows a bottom side of a toilet seat with a wireless processor  414  with connects with the electrodes on the top side of the toilet seat and strain gauges  408 , and  402  and  406 . Processor  414  may wirelessly report toilet seat sensor data to a different processor located on the toilet or to another remote processor such as a server. 
       FIG. 5  shows a user  502  sitting on a toilet with his feet  504  resting on a toilet foot scale  516 . The weight of the user&#39;s legs and feet cause strain gauges  514  and  518  to register weight data to processor  512 . The toilet seat sends strain gauge data and electrode data  524  to processor  512  for processing. The data may be wired or wireless. User  502  was automatically identified by weight ratios and bio-impedance values transmitted over the internet to a remote cloud based service. The cloud based service then redirected processor  512  to a health database server where user has health account. The user&#39;s health account then updated the user health data with the recently obtained heart rate, ECG, hydration status, and weight and then asked the user if he wants to have the information reviewed by a physician or suggests that he have the information reviewed by a physician based on the data results. Toilet setting may have also been loaded into the toilet for controlling the toilet. 
       FIG. 6  shows top view of the toilet  600 . The foot scale  616  includes a display  624  for giving communicating with a user. Electrodes  606 ,  608 ,  612 ,  614 ,  618 ,  620 ,  622 , and  626  communicate bio-impedance or tissue impedance signals  610  and  604  to processor  628 . 
     In  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b   , a user  702  is standing facing a toilet. The processor  708  recognizes the user by his weight and also recognizes that the user&#39;s weight distribution ratio on the foot scale and determines that the user&#39;s preferences are setup to automatically lift the toilet seat when the user stands facing the toilet for a predetermined amount of time or gives a voice command while facing the toilet for the seat to raise up  710 . This feature is helpful to users who are unable to bend over or who have back problems. Hinge  706  may be a motorized hinge and able to lift on command by the user or by automatic processor instructions. 
     In  FIG. 8 , we see a heater  804  which is attached to a bottom side or inner side of foot scale  802 . The electrodes may be located on an opposite side of foot scale  802 . The heater may be configured by a user and automatically turned on and set to a user&#39;s predetermined settings based on the toilet recognizing the user. The heater may by powered by a wired connection  808 . Wired connection  808  may be connected the toilet or to another wired power source. 
       FIG. 9  shows an exploded view of foot scale  900 . Electrodes  904 ,  906 ,  910 , and  912  are shown and the strain gauges are hidden from view. Heater  916  is shown located between a base section  914  and a top section  902  of the foot scale. Power cord  918  is shown located at a toilet interface  908  of the foot scale. 
       FIG. 10  shows a bottom side of the foot scale with for strain sensors  1002 ,  1006 ,  1008 , and  1010  located at opposite corners of the foot scale. The foot scale  1000  also shows a processor  1004  connected to each of the strain sensors. 
     The toilet apparatus and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.