Toto has filed a patent for a toilet system that includes a sensor in the toilet seat to measure a physical quantity reflecting the user’s blood flow conditions. A health index calculator calculates the user’s health index based on the sensor’s measurements, and a health index output part displays the calculated health index. The system also has a temperature determining part that can change the operation of the health index calculator and/or the health index output part based on the temperature state of the seat surface. GlobalData’s report on Toto gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Toto, reformer integrated fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. Toto's grant share as of September 2023 was 23%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Toilet system with health index calculation based on blood flow
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230309845A1) describes a toilet system that incorporates various features to provide health monitoring capabilities. The system includes a toilet seat with a sensor that measures a physical quantity reflecting the user's blood flow conditions. A health index calculator then calculates a health index based on the sensor's measurements. The calculated health index is outputted to the user through a health index output part.
One unique aspect of this toilet system is the inclusion of a temperature determining part. This component determines whether the temperature of the seat surface meets a predetermined condition. When the temperature is equal to or lower than a first threshold value, the operation of the health index output part is stopped. If the temperature is equal to or lower than a second threshold value, the health index output part will instead output error information. Additionally, when the temperature falls within a predetermined third range, the calculation operation of the health index calculator is modified.
The temperature determining part can base its determinations on various factors. It can utilize a temperature sensor to directly measure the temperature of the seat surface. Alternatively, it can rely on a room temperature sensor to measure the environmental temperature around the seat surface. The temperature determining part can even consider weather information to determine the temperature state of the seat surface.
The toilet system also includes a heater to heat the seat surface. A heater controller is responsible for changing the operational manner of the heater when the temperature determining part determines that the temperature state of the seat surface satisfies the predetermined condition. This change in operation is only implemented if the user desires the output of the health index, as indicated by information stored in a storage part.
In summary, this patent describes a toilet system that incorporates health monitoring capabilities. By measuring a physical quantity related to blood flow conditions and calculating a health index, the system provides users with valuable health information. The inclusion of a temperature determining part and a heater allows for adjustments to the system's operation based on the temperature state of the seat surface.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Toto, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
