Electric circuit body, and electronic instrument

Abstract

To provide an electric circuit body and circuit unit that can improve versatility.SOLUTION: An electric circuit body 10 comprises: a plurality of sensor cells 13 that are integrally arrayed; at least one terminal part 15 (a first terminal part 15a and second terminal part 15b); and a conduction line 17 (a first conduction line 17a and second conduction line 17b). Each terminal part 15 includes a plurality of terminals 15t to be connected to the plurality of sensor cells 13. The conduction line 17 is configured to connect the plurality of terminals 15t and the plurality of sensor cells 13. A proper location of the plurality of conduction lines 17 is disconnected, so that the plurality of sensor cells 13 is separated into a first cell group to be connected to the prescribed terminal part 15 (for example, the first terminal part 15a) and a second cell group to be disconnected from the prescribed terminal part 15. The conduction line 17 disconnected from the sensor cell 13 of the plurality of conduction lines 17 is set to a reference potential.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric circuit and an electronic device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a flexible capacitance-type sensor that includes a pair of electrodes that sandwich an elastically deformable dielectric body from both sides in the thickness direction (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-105964 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, a sensor array having a plurality of sensor cells regularly arranged together, such as a sensor device attached or worn by a human body or a robot, may be individually designed and manufactured according to conditions such as the shape of the installation location and the number of sensor cells required. However, individual design and manufacturing requires complicated work and is problematic in that it is costly.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit body and an electronic device that can improve versatility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following aspects. (1): An electric circuit body according to one aspect of the present invention (e.g., electric circuit body 10 in the embodiment) includes a plurality of cells (e.g., sensor cell 13 in the embodiment) having a predetermined function and arranged integrally, at least one terminal portion (e.g., first terminal portion 15a and second terminal portion 15b in the embodiment) having a plurality of terminals (e.g., terminal 15t in the embodiment) connected to the plurality of cells, and a plurality of conductors (e.g., conductor 17, first conductor 17a, and second conductor 17b in the embodiment) connecting the plurality of terminals and the plurality of cells, and the plurality of cells are separated into a first cell group connected to any of the at least one terminal portions (e.g., first terminal portion 15a in the embodiment) and a second cell group disconnected from any of the terminal portions by cutting appropriate positions of the plurality of conductors.

[0007] (2) In the electric circuit described above in (1), the conductor that is disconnected from the cell among the plurality of conductors may be set to a reference potential.

[0008] (3): An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention includes the electric circuit body described in (2) above, and a reference potential setting unit (e.g., connection switching unit 53, first connection switching unit 53a, second connection switching unit 53b in the embodiment) that is connected to any of the terminal portions and sets the conductor disconnected from the cell to the reference potential.

[0009] (4): The electronic device described in (3) above may include a connection switching unit (e.g., the connection switching unit 53, the first connection switching unit 53a, and the second connection switching unit 53b in the embodiment) that is connected to any one of the terminal units and sequentially switches and selects one of the multiple conductors connected to any one of the terminal units, and a processing unit (e.g., the control unit 55 in the embodiment) that prohibits the connection switching unit from selecting the conductor that has been disconnected from the cell, and sets the conductor that has been prohibited from being selected by the connection switching unit to the reference potential by the reference potential setting unit.

[0010] (5): In the electronic device described in (4) above, each of the multiple cells includes a first electrode (e.g., first electrode 31, positive electrode 93p in the embodiment) and a second electrode (e.g., second electrode 33, negative electrode 93n in the embodiment) that are arranged apart from each other, and a dielectric or conductive elastic substrate (e.g., substrates 11b, 11c in the embodiment) that is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the processing unit detects, via the connection switching unit, a capacitance or an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode of each of the cells corresponding to each of the conductors connected to any of the terminal units, and if the capacitance is less than a predetermined threshold capacitance or the electrical resistance is greater than a predetermined threshold resistance, determines that the conductor selected by the connection switching unit is abnormal, and sets the abnormal conductor to the reference potential. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the above (1), since the multiple cells are separated into a first cell group that is connected to a desired terminal portion and a second cell group that is disconnected from the desired terminal portion, the shape and number of cells of the first cell group can be easily changed as needed. For example, compared to a case where individual designs and manufacturing are performed according to various conditions such as the shape of the installation location and the required number of cells, it is possible to suppress the need for complicated work and increase in costs and improve versatility.

[0012] In the case of (2) above, the conductors disconnected from the cells are set to the reference potential, so that it is possible to prevent, for example, conductors that are not connected to any cells from acting as antennas and becoming susceptible to noise.

[0013] According to the above feature (3), by providing the reference potential setting unit, it is possible to easily prevent, for example, a conductor that is not connected to any cell from acting as an antenna and becoming susceptible to noise.

[0014] In the case of (4) above, by providing a connection switching unit, it is possible to sequentially switch between connection and disconnection of the multiple conductors, so that the processing unit can detect the presence or absence of connection to the conductors for each of the multiple cells using the connection switching unit. The processing unit prohibits the conductor disconnected from the cell from being a selection target for connection in the connection switching unit, so that unnecessary current flow, etc. can be suppressed. The processing unit sets the conductor disconnected from the cell to a reference potential using the reference potential setting unit, so that it is possible to suppress the conductor from becoming susceptible to noise.

[0015] In the above case of (5), the processing unit can detect whether or not there is an abnormality in each conductor, for example, at the time of startup and operation, and can dynamically update the connection selection items in the connection switching unit and appropriately suppress an increase in noise. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electronic device including an electric circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a sensor cell of the electric circuit body according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electronic device including separated electric circuits according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a sensor cell according to a modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electric circuit body and an electronic device according to embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electronic device 1 including an electric circuit body 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a sensor cell 13 in the electric circuit body 10 according to an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electronic device 1 including a separated electric circuit body 10 according to an embodiment. The electronic device 1 of the embodiment is, for example, a flexible and stretchable circuit device including an electric circuit body 10 having flexibility and stretchability and which is attached to or worn by a human body or a robot.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric circuit body 10 includes, for example, a flexible circuit board 11, a plurality of sensor cells 13, at least one terminal portion 15, and a plurality of conductive wires 17. The flexible circuit board 11 includes, for example, a substrate 11a and a base material 11b. The substrate 11a is formed of, for example, a soft insulating material such as a so-called flexible substrate. The base material 11b is fixed onto the surface of the substrate 11a by adhesion, etc. The base material 11b is formed of a flexible dielectric material, such as a so-called thermosetting elastomer. The flexible circuit board 11 is separated into a plurality of pieces by cutting together with the conductors 17 at any position between the plurality of sensor cells 13 and each terminal portion 15, which will be described later, as necessary.

[0019] The multiple sensor cells 13 are regularly arranged integrally on the flexible circuit board 11. The multiple sensor cells 13 are arranged, for example, in a matrix when viewed from the thickness direction of the flexible circuit board 11. Each of the multiple sensor cells 13 is, for example, a capacitance-type one-axis force sensor. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the sensor cells 13 includes, for example, a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 33 that are spaced apart from each other, and a base material 11b between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33.

[0020] The first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 are formed of a conductive material having flexibility and elasticity, such as a resin containing a conductive metal filler. The first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 have, for example, a rectangular plate shape of the same size. The first electrode 31 is supported by the base material 11b, and the second electrode 33 is supported by the substrate 11a. The first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 are arranged, for example, to face each other in the thickness direction of the flexible circuit board 11 via a part of the base material 11b. Each sensor cell 13 outputs a signal related to a change in capacitance caused by deformation of the base material 11b between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 due to the action of an external force, for example.

[0021] 1, the at least one terminal portion 15 is, for example, two terminal portions 15 (i.e., a first terminal portion 15a and a second terminal portion 15b). Each terminal portion 15 is connected to and disconnected from a connection portion 51 of a processing device 50, which will be described later, to switch between connection and disconnection. Each terminal portion 15 is, for example, a male or female connector that forms a pair with the connection portion 51 of the processing device 50. The first terminal portion 15a and the second terminal portion 15b are, for example, disposed at diagonal corners of a flexible circuit board 11 having a rectangular plate shape. Each terminal portion 15 includes, for example, a plurality of terminals 15t connected to the first electrodes 31 and the second electrodes 33 of each of the plurality of sensor cells 13. The number of terminals 15t of each terminal portion 15 is, for example, the total number of rows and columns of the plurality of sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix.

[0022] Each of the plurality of conductive wires 17 is formed of a conductive material having flexibility and elasticity, such as a resin containing a conductive metal filler. The plurality of conductive wires 17 are, for example, a plurality of first conductive wires 17a arranged along the row direction of the plurality of sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix and a plurality of second conductive wires 17b arranged along the column direction. The number of the plurality of first conductive wires 17a is the number of rows of the plurality of sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix. The number of the plurality of second conductive wires 17b is the number of columns of the plurality of sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix. Each of the first conducting wires 17a, for example, connects the first electrodes 31 of the sensor cells 13 in each row to each terminal 15t of each terminal portion 15. Each of the second conducting wires 17b, for example, connects the second electrodes 33 of the sensor cells 13 in each column to each terminal 15t of each terminal portion 15.

[0023] 3, each of the conductive wires 17 is separated into a plurality of pieces by being cut together with the flexible circuit board 11 at any position between the plurality of sensor cells 13 and each terminal portion 15, as necessary. The portion of each of the conductive wires 17 that is separated from any of the sensor cells 13 by cutting is set to the reference potential by the connection switching unit 53, which will be described later. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the electric circuit body 10 is separated into a first electric circuit body 10a including a first cell group of the plurality of sensor cells 13 connected to the first terminal portion 15a and a second electric circuit body 10b including a second cell group of the plurality of sensor cells 13 connected to the second terminal portion 15b by cutting the flexible circuit board 11 and the plurality of conductive wires 17 at appropriate positions.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 1 includes a processing device 50 connected to an electric circuit body 10 . The processing device 50 includes, for example, a connection unit 51, two connection switching units 53, and a control unit 55. The connection portion 51 is connected to and disconnected from the terminal portion 15 of the electric circuit body 10. The connection portion 51 is, for example, a female or male connector that forms a pair with the terminal portion 15 of the electric circuit body 10. The connection unit 51 includes, for example, a plurality of terminals 51t connected to the two connection switching units 53 by a plurality of wirings 51a. The number of the terminals 51t of the connection unit 51 is, for example, the same as the number of the terminals 15t of the terminal unit 15 of the electric circuit body 10, and is the total number of rows and columns of the plurality of sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix.

[0025] The two connection switching units 53 are, for example, a first connection switching unit 53a and a second connection switching unit 53b. The first connection switching unit 53a is provided corresponding to the rows of the sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix. The second connection switching unit 53b is provided corresponding to the columns of the sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix. Each connection switching unit 53 includes, for example, a plurality of terminals 53t whose alternative selection is sequentially switched. For example, each connection switching unit 53 sets one of the terminals 53t selected by sequential switching from among the plurality of terminals 53t to be selected as selection targets to a connection state, and sets the other terminals 53t to a reference potential by grounding or the like. For example, each connection switching unit 53 sets the terminals 53t selected as other than the selection targets of the connection state to a reference potential by grounding or the like. The terminals 53t to be selected as the selection targets of the connection state and the terminals 53t to be other than the selection targets among the plurality of terminals 53t of each connection switching unit 53 are instructed by, for example, a control unit 55 described later. The first connection switching unit 53a selectively switches the connection to one of the rows of the sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix, i.e., one of the first conducting wires 17a, in response to an instruction from the control unit 55, which will be described later. The second connection switching unit 53b selectively switches the connection to one of the columns of the sensor cells 13 arranged in a matrix, i.e., one of the second conducting wires 17b, in response to an instruction from the control unit 55, which will be described later.

[0026] The control unit 55 is a software function unit that functions by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a predetermined program. The software function unit is an ECU that includes a processor such as a CPU, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, and electronic circuits such as a timer. At least a part of the control unit 55 may be an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration).

[0027] The control unit 55 is connected to the first connection switch unit 53a and the second connection switch unit 53b by, for example, a pair of first signal lines 55a and 55b and a pair of second signal lines 55c and 55d. The pair of first signal lines 55a, 55b transmit signals to the first connection switching unit 53a and the second connection switching unit 53b, for example, instructing each of the first and second connection switching units 53a, 53b to select one of the multiple terminals 53t to be set to a connected state and to select a terminal 53t to be set to a reference potential without being set to a connected state. Each of the terminals 53t to be set to a connected state by each of the connection switching units 53a, 53b is a terminal 53t connected to the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 of the same sensor cell 13. The terminals 53t to be set to a reference potential without being set to a connected state are, for example, a terminal 53t that is not selected as a connection state and is not selected as a connection state depending on the timing, and a terminal 53t that is not selected as a connection state (i.e., is prohibited from being selected) and is constantly set to a reference potential. The terminals 53t that are not selected as a connection state are, for example, a terminal 53t that is separated from all the sensor cells 13 by cutting the flexible circuit board 11 and the conductive wire 17 as necessary, and a terminal 53t in which an abnormality such as a disconnection between the sensor cell 13 and the terminal 53t is detected. The pair of second signal lines 55c, 55d transmit input and output signals for detecting capacitance to each sensor cell 13 via, for example, the first connection switch unit 53a and the second connection switch unit 53b, respectively.

[0028] The control unit 55 detects the capacitance of each sensor cell 13 based on, for example, an input signal and an output signal for each sensor cell 13 that is alternatively set to a connected state at a predetermined period. The control unit 55 detects a change in capacitance due to deformation of the base material 11b between the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 33 of each sensor cell 13 caused by the action of an external force. The control unit 55 detects the magnitude and distribution, etc. of the external force acting on each sensor cell 13 in one axial direction based on the change in capacitance of each sensor cell 13. For example, when the capacitance of a given sensor cell 13 is less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 55 determines that the sensor cell 13 is separated from the terminal unit 15 (predetermined terminal unit 15) connected to the connection unit 51, or that an abnormality such as a disconnection has occurred between the sensor cell 13 and each connection switching unit 53a, 53b. The predetermined threshold is, for example, a predetermined value smaller than the capacitance of the sensor cell 13 in an unloaded state where no external force is acting.

[0029] The control unit 55, for example, detects the presence or absence of a sensor cell 13 whose capacitance is less than a predetermined threshold when the electronic device 1 is started up, thereby determining whether or not the sensor cell 13 has been separated due to disconnection or the like, and grasps the region (connection region) in which the sensor cell 13 connected to the predetermined terminal portion 15 is present. For example, the control unit 55 sets only the sensor cells 13 included in the connection region as targets for selecting the connection state in the connection switching unit 53. For example, the control unit 55 detects the presence or absence of a sensor cell 13 whose capacitance is less than a predetermined threshold when the electronic device 1 is in operation, thereby detecting whether or not an abnormality such as a disconnection has occurred in the connection region grasped at the time of start-up, etc. If the control unit 55 detects a new abnormal sensor cell 13 in the connection region, it updates the connection region.

[0030] As described above, according to the electric circuit body 10 of the embodiment, the multiple sensor cells 13 are separated into a first cell group that is connected to a desired terminal portion 15 and a second cell group that is disconnected from the desired terminal portion 15, so that the shape and number of cells of the first cell group can be easily changed as needed. For example, compared to a case where individual designs and production are performed according to various conditions such as the shape of the installation location and the required number of cells, it is possible to suppress the need for complicated work and increase in costs and to improve versatility. Since the conductor 17 that is disconnected from any of the sensor cells 13 is set to the reference potential, it is possible to prevent, for example, the conductor 17 that is not connected to any of the sensor cells 13 from acting as an antenna and becoming susceptible to noise.

[0031] According to the electronic device 1 of the embodiment, by providing the connection switching unit 53, it is possible to easily prevent, for example, the conductive wire 17 that is not connected to any sensor cell 13 from becoming an antenna and becoming susceptible to noise. Since the connection switching unit 53 can sequentially switch between connection and disconnection of the multiple conductors 17, the control unit 55 can detect the presence or absence of connection of the conductors 17 to each of the multiple sensor cells 13 using the connection switching unit 53. The control unit 55 prohibits the conductors 17 disconnected from the sensor cell 13 from being selected for connection by the connection switching unit 53, thereby preventing unnecessary current flow, etc. The control unit 55 sets the conductors 17 disconnected from the sensor cell 13 to a reference potential using the connection switching unit 53, thereby preventing the conductors 17 from becoming susceptible to noise. The control unit 55 can detect the presence or absence of abnormalities in each sensor cell 13 and each conductor 17, for example, at the time of startup and operation, and can dynamically update the connection state selection targets in the connection switching unit 53 and appropriately suppress an increase in noise.

[0032] (Modification) Modifications of the embodiment will be described below. Note that the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted or simplified. In the above-described embodiment, the multiple sensor cells 13 are arranged in a matrix when viewed in the thickness direction of the flexible circuit board 11, but this is not limiting. For example, the multiple sensor cells 13 may be arranged in an appropriate regular manner, such as along appropriately oblique rows and columns instead of orthogonal rows and columns when viewed in the thickness direction of the flexible circuit board 11, or along the circumference of concentric circles or along an appropriate figure.

[0033] In the above embodiment, each sensor cell 13 is a capacitance type one-axis force sensor, but is not limited to this. For example, each sensor cell 13 may be a multi-axis force sensor such as a capacitance type three-axis force sensor. In the above embodiment, each of the sensor cells 13 is a capacitance type one-axis force sensor, but this is not limiting. For example, each of the sensor cells 13 may be an electrical resistance type force sensor. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a sensor cell 13A according to a modified example of the embodiment. 4, the sensor cell 13A of the modified example is, for example, configured with a pressure-sensitive resistive base material 11c provided in place of the base material 11b in the embodiment, and a positive electrode 93p and a negative electrode 93n supported by the substrate 11a. The sensor cell 13A of the modified example is, for example, an electric resistance type one-axis force sensor.

[0034] Each sensor cell 13A of the modified example outputs a signal related to a change in the electrical resistance of the base material 11c between the positive electrode 93p and the negative electrode 93n caused by the action of an external force, for example. The control unit 55 of the modified example detects the magnitude and distribution of an external force acting on each sensor cell 13A in one axial direction based on a change in the electrical resistance of each sensor cell 13A. For example, the control unit 55 detects the presence or absence of a sensor cell 13A whose electrical resistance is greater than a predetermined threshold value to determine whether or not the sensor cell 13A has been separated due to cutting or the like, and to grasp the region (connection region) in which the sensor cell 13A connected to a predetermined terminal portion 15 exists.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the electric circuit body 10 includes a plurality of sensor cells 13, but is not limited to this. For example, the electric circuit body 10 may include a plurality of cells having a predetermined function other than a sensor, such as a tactile stimulation cell such as electricity or an actuator cell such as vibration, instead of the sensor cell 13.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the electric circuit body 10 includes the flexible circuit board 11 having the flexible substrate 11a and the flexible base material 11b, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electric circuit body 10 is not limited to a flexible base (insulator, dielectric, etc.), and may be formed of other bases (insulator, dielectric, etc.). For example, the electric circuit body 10 may include various circuit boards such as a so-called rigid board, a flexible board, a rigid-flexible board, or a board having elasticity. For example, the rigid board includes a base having no flexibility. The flexible board includes a base having flexibility. The rigid-flexible board includes a composite of a base having no flexibility and a base having flexibility. The board having elasticity includes a base having elasticity such as an elastomer. As described above, various circuit boards are not limited to a rigid plate-like base, and may include various bases such as a thin film having at least one of flexibility and elasticity. The electric circuit body 10 may be, for example, an electronic component in which wiring, electronic components, etc. are directly disposed on various bases.

[0037] The embodiments of the present invention are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims, as well as the scope and spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1...electronic device, 10...electrical circuit body, 11...flexible circuit board, 11a...board, 11b, 11c...substrate (elastic substrate), 13, 13A...sensor cell, 15...terminal portion, 15a...first terminal portion, 15b...second terminal portion, 15t...terminal, 17...conductor, 17a...first conductor, 17b...second conductor, 31...first electrode, 33...second electrode, 50...processing device, 51...connection portion, 51a...wiring, 51t...terminal, 53...connection switching portion (reference potential setting portion), 53a...first connection switching portion (reference potential setting portion), 53b...second connection switching portion (reference potential setting portion), 53t...terminal, 55...control portion (processing portion), 93p...positive electrode, 93n...negative electrode.

Claims

1. A plurality of cells having a predetermined function and arranged together; At least one terminal portion having a plurality of terminals connected to the plurality of cells; a plurality of conductors connecting the plurality of terminals and the plurality of cells; Equipped with The plurality of cells are separated into a first cell group connected to any one of the at least one terminal portion and a second cell group disconnected from the any one of the terminal portion by cutting the plurality of conductors at appropriate positions. Electrical circuit body.

2. The conductors of the plurality of conductors that are disconnected from the cell are set to a reference potential.

2. The electrical circuit assembly of claim 1.

3. The electric circuit body according to claim 2; a reference potential setting unit that sets the conductor wire that is connected to any one of the terminal units and disconnected from the cell to the reference potential; Equipped electronic equipment.

4. a connection switching unit that is connected to any one of the terminals and that sequentially switches and selects one of the plurality of conductors connected to any one of the terminals; a processing unit that prohibits the conductor that has been disconnected from the cell from being selected by the connection switching unit, and sets the conductor that has been prohibited from being selected by the connection switching unit to the reference potential by the reference potential setting unit; Equipped 4. The electronic device according to claim 3.

5. Each of the plurality of cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from each other, and a dielectric or conductive elastic substrate disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; The processing unit includes: detecting, via the connection switching unit, a capacitance or an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode of each of the cells corresponding to each of the conductors connected to any of the terminal units; If the capacitance is less than a predetermined threshold capacitance or the electrical resistance is greater than a predetermined threshold resistance, the conductor selected by the connection switching unit is determined to be abnormal, and the abnormal conductor is set to the reference potential.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

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