Patent Description:
An existing electronic toilet can achieve rectum flushing, anus cleaning and flushing for female, and water discharged therefrom is supplied from a hot-water tank. The hot-water tank forms a circulating water way together with a circulating water pump and a seat, and the temperature of the flushing water is achieved by controlling the work of a heating tube of the hot-water tank. When the water temperature is adjusted from a high degree to a low degree by a user, such a temperature reduction can be achieved by the system only after discharging high-temperature hot-water in the hot-water tank through a spray bar first and then replenishing cold-water, or after natural cooling of the water in the hot-water tank. Both methods cannot realize rapid reduction of the water temperature.

<CIT>) discloses acceleration of circulation of the blood by bringing alternately warm water and cold water into contact with a wide range of the neighborhood of private parts of a human body and sufficiently increasing the temperature difference especially for the purpose of therapy and prevention of hemorrhoids. A warm water flow path and a cold water flow path are independently arranged in a nozzle body and a movable body <NUM> wherein a water passage connected with both flow paths respectively with flexible connecting tubes is provided. While the warm water and the cold water are respectively approximately simultaneously discharged from a warm water discharging hole 64a and a cold water discharging hole 64b, energization of electricity to an electromagnetic coil is controlled and the movable body <NUM> is moved back and forth in a gap <NUM> in which a magnetic field is formed thereby. As a result, being accompanied with the movement back and forth, the cleaning water reaching a lesion part <NUM> of a user is alternately switched between the warm water and the cold water. When the movement of the movable body <NUM> is appropriately controlled, as the warm water and the cold water are quickly switched and the large temperature difference before and after switching can be kept, it is possible thereby to effectively perform warm-cold therapy.

<CIT>) discloses improvement of the circulation of the blood near the anus and medical treatment or prevention for hemorrhoids, by alternately jetting hot water and cold water from a nozzle provided in a toilet seat. Water supplied from a water supply source is appropriately heated by a heater <NUM> installed in a hot water tank <NUM> of a hot water unit <NUM> and supplied to a changeover valve <NUM> by a pump <NUM> and cold water is separately and directly supplied to the changeover valve <NUM> from the water supply source through a cold water supply system <NUM>. And hot water and cold water are alternately supplied to a jet nozzle <NUM> provided in the toilet seat <NUM> of a toilet seat body <NUM> to jet hot and clod water, by operating the changeover valve by a control unit <NUM>. Or hot water and cold water are alternately jetted from the jet nozzle <NUM> by ON-OFF control of the heater <NUM> of the hot water unit <NUM> by the control unit <NUM>, without separate installation of the hot water supply system and the cold water supply system.

<CIT> (A1) discloses an automatic bidet having a toilet seat fixedly mounted to a toilet, a bottom sprayer disposed in the toilet seat that can stretch out freely from the toilet seat, and a handheld sprayer that is separated from the toilet seat. A water storage tank, a booster pump, a liquid valve are disposed in the toilet seat and are connected in sequence. The water in the water storage tank flows respectively to the bottom sprayer and the handheld sprayer from the liquid valve under the pressure of the booster pump. The handheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved head portion having a bulge. The top of the bulge is provided with a mammilliform water outlet. The automatic bidet is capable of cleaning anus and private parts of a male or a female, and the handheld spray device can be used to carry out enema by a user and the wastes can be let off completely. The whole process can be done under the condition that a user sits on the toilet. The wastes directly enter the toilet and the user's clothes are kept clean. The user can independently operate the present invention without help from other people so as to avoid the embarrassment of exposure of privacy.

<CIT>) discloses a body cleaner. The body cleaner is provided with a water temperature regulating switch, a temperature regulation valve, a hot water port, a cold water port, a water pressure regulating switch, a pressure regulating valve, a water outlet, a water outlet pipe, a water spray nozzle, a positioning regulating ring and a mounting hole, and is characterized in that the water pressure regulating switch is connected with the pressure regulating valve; the hot water port and the cold water port are arranged on two sides of the temperature regulating valve, and are connected with an external hot water input pipe and an external cold water input pipe respectively; the temperature regulation valve and the pressure regulating valve are connected with each other through a pipeline; the pressure regulating valve is connected with the water pressure regulating switch; the water outlet is formed in the pressure regulating valve; one end of the water outlet pipe is connected with the water outlet; the other end of the water outlet pipe is connected with the water spray nozzle; the water spray nozzle can expand and contract freely; and the positioning regulating ring is placed in the mounting hole, and is used for mounting and positioning the body cleaner with closestools of different screw intervals. The body cleaner has the advantages that the stucture is reasonable and simple; the use is convenient and practical; and the problem that a mechanical body cleaner is not easy to mount, maintain and clean is solved. <CIT>) discloses a refrigeration and heat production device relating to the refrigeration and heat production equipment field and comprises a semiconductor refrigeration chip, a radiator, a heat absorption water tank, a cooler and a cold storage water tank; both sides of the semiconductor refrigeration chip are respectively connected with the radiator and the cooler; the radiator is connected with the heat absorption water tank; and the cooler is connected with the cold storage water tank. The utility model has simple structure and is easy to use, which does not produce noise in the refrigeration and heat production process and replaces the freon in a cooling compressor by refrigerating fluid to reduces pollution and damage to the atmosphere; besides, the utility model has good cooling effect and enhances heat utilization so as to save energy sources and achieve a good energy-saving effect.

The present disclosure provides an electronic toilet as detailed in claim <NUM> and a method of controlling an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water according to claim <NUM>.

Advantageous features are provided in dependent claims.

A first objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water, which includes:.

<CIT>) discloses an automatic bidet having a toilet seat fixedly mounted to a toilet, a bottom sprayer disposed in the toilet seat that can stretch out freely from the toilet seat, and a handheld sprayer that is separated from the toilet seat. A water storage tank, a booster pump, a liquid valve are disposed in the toilet seat and are connected in sequence. The water in the water storage tank flows respectively to the bottom sprayer and the handheld sprayer from the liquid valve under the pressure of the booster pump. The handheld sprayer comprises a hollow handle portion and a curved head portion having a bulge. The top of the bulge is provided with a mammilliform water outlet. The automatic bidet is capable of cleaning anus and private parts of a male or a female, and the handheld spray device can be used to carry out enema by a user and the wastes can be let off completely. The whole process can be done under the condition that a user sits on the toilet. The wastes directly enter the toilet and the user's clothes are kept clean. The user can independently operate the present invention without help from other people so as to avoid the embarrassment of exposure of privacy.

The present disclosure provides an electronic toilet as detailed in claim <NUM>, and a method of controlling an electronic toilet for treating hemorrhoids as claimed in claim <NUM>. Advantageous features are provided in dependent claims.

Preferably, the water chiller also includes: a cold-water tank; a semiconductor chilling plate with a chilling surface thereof installed within the cold-water tank; a radiating fin installed within the cold-water tank and pressed against the chilling surface of the semiconductor chilling plate; a water level switch installed within the cold-water tank; and a temperature sensor installed within the cold-water tank.

Preferably, a radiating surface of the semiconductor chilling plate is communicated with a pipe of the water heater through a cold-water joint so as to heat water in the water heater.

Preferably, the water heater also includes: a hot-water tank; a heating tube installed in the hot-water tank; a water level switch installed within the hot-water tank; and a temperature sensor installed within the hot-water tank.

Preferably, a heat sink is disposed between the hot-water tank and a pipe connected with the seat having a water receiving cavity, and the heat sink includes a radiator and a fan.

The pipe connection of the above electronic toile is as follows: a main water inlet pipe is divided into two branches after passing through a tee joint. One branch enters the cold-water tank after passing through a water inlet valve. A pipe is connected to the electromagnetic valve after passing through the water outlet of the cold-water tank, and finally joins a hot-water pipe to be connected to the water spraying cleaner. The other branch enters the hot-water tank through a water inlet valve. A pipe is connected to a circulating water pump through a circulating water outlet of the hot-water tank. After passing through the circulating water pump, the pipe is connected to the cold-water joint. After passing through the cold-water joint, the pipe is communicated with the seat, and the pipe is communicated with the radiator through the water outlet of the seat. Through the outlet of the radiator, the pipe is communicated with the circulating water inlet of the hot-water tank. This process results in a water heating seat loop. A water inlet for the water spraying cleaner is also provided in the hot-water tank. A pipe is communicated with the electromagnetic valve after passing through the water inlet for the water spraying cleaner. The pipe passing through the electromagnetic valve joins the cold-water pipe through a tee joint, and the confluent pipe is connected to the water spraying cleaner after passing through the booster water pump.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method of controlling an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water. The electronic toilet includes: a controller; a water spraying cleaner; a water chiller having a cold-water outlet pipe and a cold-water electromagnetic valve disposed on the cold-water outlet pipe; a water heater having a hot-water outlet pipe and a hot-water electromagnetic valve disposed on the hot-water outlet pipe; and a booster water pump having a water inlet connected to a confluent water outlet pipe which is formed by the cold-water outlet pipe through the cold-water electromagnetic valve of the water chiller joining to the hot-water outlet pipe through the hot-water electromagnetic valve of the water heater, and a water outlet connected to the water spraying cleaner. The method includes the following steps:.

Preferably, the step of determining, by the controller, the pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and the stopping time for the booster water pump according to the obtained temperature of cold-water includes:.

Preferably, the pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and the stopping time for the booster water pump are less with lower temperature of cold-water.

Preferably, the temperature of cold-water is greater than or equal to <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>.

Preferably, the correspondence of temperatures of water, pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and stopping time for the booster water pump in the correspondence list includes:
Temperature of Cold-water (°C) Pressure boosting operation Time for Booster water pump (S) Stopping time for Booster water pump (S).

Additionally, an embodiment of the present invention also provides another method of controlling an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water. The electronic toilet includes: a controller; a water spraying cleaner; a water chiller having a cold-water outlet pipe and a cold-water electromagnetic valve disposed on the cold-water outlet pipe; a water heater having a hot-water outlet pipe and a hot-water electromagnetic valve disposed on the hot-water outlet pipe; and a booster water pump having a water inlet connected to a confluent water outlet pipe which is formed by the cold-water outlet pipe through the cold-water electromagnetic valve of the water chiller joining to the hot-water outlet pipe through the hot-water electromagnetic valve of the water heater, and a water outlet connected to the water spraying cleaner. The method includes:.

Preferably, the step of enabling, by the controller, the booster water pump to perform the pressure boosting operation when receiving the anus cleaning instruction from a user includes:.

Preferably, the controller alternately opens or closes the cold-water electromagnetic valve and the hot-water electromagnetic valve during the pressure boosting operation of the booster water pump, which specifically includes:.

In the above two methods, controller detects the temperature of cold-water in a cold-water tank by means of a temperature sensor installed in the cold-water tank, and controls a semiconductor chilling plate to chill the water in the cold-water tank according to a detection result.

Preferably, controlling the semiconductor chilling plate to chill the water in the cold-water tank according to the detection result includes:.

Preferably, the first temperature is <NUM>±<NUM>%°C; and the second temperature is <NUM>±<NUM>%°C.

The present invention has the following advantages: <NUM>) rapid switching between cold-water and hot-water can be achieved; <NUM>) when cold-water or alternate cold and hot-water is utilized to clean the anus, the pain caused by hemorrhoids can be alleviated.

In the present application the method claims are not be understood as directed to methods for treating the hemorrhoids, as this kind of methods are excluded from patentability, in conformity with art. <NUM>(c) EPC.

It is to be appreciated that "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "up", "down", "leftwards", "rightwards", etc., as used herein, are directional terms are descriptions with regard to non-limiting orientations indicated in the accompanying drawings. The terms "inward", "outward", "in", "out", "inside" and "outside" used herein refer to ranges relative to the center of a member, unless stated otherwise. For example, with reference to the axis of a motor, "in" and "inside" mean positions or orientations closer or pointing to the axis of the motor. "out" and "outside" mean being further away from the center position of the motor. In addition, the terms "horizontal", "vertical" and "overhanging" do not mean requiring absolute horizontal or overhanging of a member, which may slightly tilt. For example, "horizontal" just refers to that the direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical" and does not mean that the structure is to be fully horizontal, which, however, may slightly tilt.

As shown in <FIG>, an electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water includes a controller <NUM>, a main body <NUM>, a seat <NUM> in hinged connection with the main body, and a seat cover (not shown). The electronic toilet is provided with a water spraying cleaner <NUM>, a water chiller and a water heater. An electronic valve <NUM> and an electronic valve <NUM> are mounted on water outlet pipes of the water chiller and the water heater, respectively. The water outlet pipe of the water chiller through the electronic valve <NUM> joins the water outlet pipe of the water heater through the electronic valve <NUM> by means of a tee joint <NUM>. The confluent pipe is connected to the water spraying cleaner <NUM> through a booster water pump <NUM>. The electronic toilet is switchable between cold-water and hot-water under the control of a wireless operator <NUM>.

<FIG> are two implementations of the chiller, where the chiller of <FIG> is disposed within the main body, and the chiller of <FIG> is disposed outside the main body.

As shown in <FIG>, the water chiller includes a cold-water tank <NUM>, a semiconductor chilling plate <NUM>, a radiating fin <NUM>, a temperature sensor <NUM> and a water level switch <NUM>. A chilling surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM> is installed within the cold-water tank <NUM>. The radiating fin <NUM> is connected against the chilling surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM>. The radiating fin <NUM> serves to expand the contact area of the chilling surface and water in the cold-water tank for rapid chilling. A radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM> is connected to the water heater through a cold-water joint <NUM>. The water level switch <NUM> and the temperature sensor <NUM> are installed within the cold-water tank <NUM>. The water level switch <NUM> serves to control water replenishment to the cold-water tank <NUM>. The temperature sensor <NUM> serves to detect the temperature in the cold-water tank <NUM>. A program controller <NUM> controls the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM> to operate according to a detection signal from the temperature sensor <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the water heater includes a hot-water tank, a heating tube <NUM>, a temperature sensor <NUM> and a water level switch <NUM>. The radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM> of the water chiller is connected to the pipe of the water heater through the cold-water joint <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the seat <NUM> has a water receiving cavity and a water inlet/outlet. A heat sink is disposed between the circulating water inlet <NUM> of the hot-water tank and a connecting pipe of the seat <NUM>, and the heat sink includes a radiator <NUM> and a fan <NUM>. Two ports are provided on the radiator <NUM>, one port connected with the seat <NUM> and the other port connected with the hot-water tank. Also provided on the external surface of the radiator <NUM> is the fan <NUM>. When the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM> starts chilling to bring the temperature in the hot-water tank <NUM> to a set temperature, the fan <NUM> is activated, and the heat sink may rapidly take away the heat from the radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate, thereby increasing the chilling speed.

As shown in <FIG>, the pipe connection of the electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water is as follows: a main water inlet pipe is divided into two branches through a tee joint <NUM>. One branch enters the cold-water tank <NUM> after passing through a water inlet valve <NUM>; a pipe is connected to the electromagnetic valve <NUM> after passing through the water outlet of the cold-water tank <NUM>. The pipe through the electromagnetic valve <NUM> joins the hot-water pipe through the tee joint <NUM>. The confluent pipe then passes through the booster water pump <NUM> and is finally connected to the water spraying cleaner <NUM>. The other branch enters the hot-water tank <NUM> after passing through a water inlet valve <NUM>. The hot-water tank is provided with a circulating water outlet <NUM>, a circulating water inlet <NUM> and a water inlet <NUM> for the water spraying cleaner. A pipe is connected to a circulating water pump <NUM> through the circulating water outlet <NUM> of the hot-water tank. The pipe is connected to the cold-water joint <NUM> through the circulating water pump <NUM>. After passing through the cold-water joint <NUM>, the pipe is communicated with the seat <NUM>, and then the pipe communicates the water outlet 101b of the seat <NUM> with the radiator <NUM>. After passing through the radiator <NUM>, the pipe is connected to the circulating water inlet <NUM>. This process results in a circulating loop of the heat seat. The pipe is then led out from the water inlet <NUM> for the water spraying cleaner in the hot-water tank <NUM> to communicate the electromagnetic valve <NUM> with the hot-water tank <NUM>. The pipe through the electromagnetic valve <NUM> joins the cold-water pipe through the tee joint <NUM>, and the confluent pipe then passes through the booster water pump <NUM> and is finally connected to the water spraying cleaner <NUM>.

In the working process, when the hot-water tank <NUM> and the cold-water tank <NUM> are both below set temperatures, the water in the hot-water tank comes into contact with the radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate after passing through the circulating water outlet <NUM> and the cold-water joint <NUM>. The water in the hot-water tank can be heated by using the heat from the radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM>, and meanwhile, the water flowing from the radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate will take away the heat of the radiating surface <NUM>, thereby increasing the chilling speed of the cold-water tank <NUM>. When the hot-water tank <NUM> is at the set temperature and the cold-water tank <NUM> is below the set temperature, the fan <NUM> is activated, and the radiator <NUM> in the circulation loop of the water heating seat rapidly takes away the heat generated by the radiating surface <NUM> of the semiconductor chilling plate, allowing rapid chilling. In this process, the heat dissipated by the heat sink is more than the heat generated by the semiconductor chilling plate <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the wireless operator <NUM> is provided with two function keys: a cold-water key <NUM> for controlling spraying of cold-water and a cold/hot-water key <NUM> for controlling alternate spraying of cold-water and hot-water. When the cold-water key <NUM> of the wireless operator <NUM> is pressed down, the electromagnetic valve <NUM> is closed and the electromagnetic valve <NUM> is opened allowing cold-water to be sprayed from the water spraying cleaning device <NUM>. When the cold/hot-water key <NUM> is pressed down, step <NUM> is performed first: opening the electromagnetic valve <NUM> and closing the electromagnetic valve <NUM>; and then step <NUM> is performed: closing the electromagnetic valve <NUM> and opening the electromagnetic valve <NUM>. Subsequently, circulating actions are carried out in accordance with step <NUM> and step <NUM> to realize alternating of hot-water and cold-water, allowing cold-water and hot-water to be alternately sprayed from the water spraying cleaning device <NUM>. If the anus is cleaned by using cold-water or alternately cleaned by using cold-water and hot-water for a long time, a good treatment effect on the hemorrhoids can be produced.

<FIG> and <FIG> are a structure diagram and a pipe connection diagram of embodiment <NUM> of the electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water. Compared to embodiment <NUM>, water tank <NUM> is a cavity communicating with the outside of the main body, and such electronic elements of chilling, water level, temperature sensing and the like are not needed within the water tank. When a user needs cold-water for cleaning, cold-water is injected into the water tank <NUM> in advance.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a method of controlling the electronic toilet to be switchable between cold-water and hot-water as described above. The method includes the following steps:.

In a particular period of time, by cleaning the anus with the cold-water, the anal muscle may be caused to contract in addition to cleaning of the anus, thereby allowing alleviation of the pain caused by the hemorrhoids.

The step of determining, by the controller, the pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and the stopping time for the booster water pump according to the obtained temperature of cold-water includes: obtaining, by the controller, the temperature of cold-water according to a detection signal from a temperature sensor of the water chiller; and determining, by the controller, the pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and the stopping time for the booster water pump that correspond to the temperature of cold-water by looking up a prestored correspondence list containing a correspondence of temperatures of water, pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and stopping time for the booster water pump.

Preferably, after controlling the booster water pump to perform the pressure boosting operation and to stop according to the pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and the stopping time for the booster water pump that correspond to the temperature of cold-water a number of times, the controller stops water supply from the cold-water pipe by controlling the booster water pump.

The inventor has found through practices that the lower the temperature of cold-water is, the shorter the time it takes for cleaning the anus with the cold-water, thereby arriving at a handling method which the lower the temperature of cold-water is, the shorter the pressure boosting operation time and the stopping time for the booster water pump take.

Additionally, the inventor also found that the temperature of cold-water should be higher than or equal to <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>.

The inventor obtained from a lot of experiments the following correspondence of temperatures of water, pressure boosting operation time for the booster water pump and stopping time for the booster water pump in the correspondence list:.

An embodiment of the present invention also provides a method of controlling the electronic toilet as described above. The method includes: enabling, by the controller, the booster water pump to perform a pressure boosting operation when receiving an anus cleaning instruction from a user; alternately opening or closing, by the controller, the cold-water electromagnetic valve or the hot-water electromagnetic valve during the pressure boosting operation of the booster water pump such that cold-water in the water chiller and hot-water in the water heater are alternately sprayed via the water spraying cleaner (the time of each spray is about <NUM> seconds); stopping, by the controller, the pressure boosting operation of the booster water pump after alternately opening or closing the cold-water electromagnetic valve and the hot-water electromagnetic valve a number of times (e.g., <NUM> times).

The step of enabling, by the controller, the booster water pump to perform the pressure boosting operation when receiving the anus cleaning instruction from a user includes: opening, by the controller, the cold-water electromagnetic valve and controlling the cleaner to stretch out according to the anus cleaning instruction; and enabling, by the controller, the booster water pump to perform the pressure boosting operation after the cleaner stretches out such that the cold-water in the water chiller is sprayed via the water spraying cleaner.

The controller alternately opens or closes the cold-water electromagnetic valve and the hot-water electromagnetic valve during the pressure boosting operation of the booster water pump, which specifically includes: starting, by the controller, a timer for timing when the cold-water in the water chiller is sprayed via the water spraying cleaner; by the controller, according to timing expiration information of the timer, closing the cold-water electromagnetic valve and opening the hot-water electromagnetic valve such that hot-water in the water heater is sprayed via the water spraying cleaner; by the controller, starting the timer for timing again when the hot-water in the water heater is sprayed via the water spraying cleaner, and according to the timing expiration information of the timer, closing the hot-water electromagnetic valve and opening the cold-water electromagnetic valve such that the cold-water in the water chiller is sprayed via the water spraying cleaner, thereby allowing the cold-water in the water chiller and the hot-water in the water heater to be alternately sprayed via the water spraying cleaner.

Claim 1:
An electronic toilet switchable between cold-water and hot-water, comprising: a water spraying cleaner (<NUM>);
a booster water pump (<NUM>);
a cold-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>);
a hot-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>);
a controller (<NUM>), for making the booster water pump (<NUM>) to perform a pressure boosting operation when receiving an anus cleaning instruction from a user, and alternately opening or closing the cold-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) or the hot-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) during the pressure boosting operation of the booster water pump (<NUM>);
a water chiller, having the cold-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) opened or closed by the controller and disposed on a cold-water outlet pipe of the water chiller;
a water heater, having the hot-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) opened or closed by the controller and disposed on the hot-water outlet pipe of the water heater;
the booster water pump (<NUM>) for performing a pressure boosting operation for cold water from the cold-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) or hot water from the hot-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>), having a water inlet connected to the cold-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) and the hot-water electromagnetic valve (<NUM>) of the water heater through a tee joint (<NUM>), and a water outlet connected to the water spraying cleaner (<NUM>).