Sensor device

Abstract

This sensor device comprises a circuit board 10 in which a circuit pattern is printed on a flexible material, a battery 22, a control unit 20 having a control part, and a first sensor part, the circuit board 10 and the battery 22 being provided on a first member, and the control unit 20 being provided on a second member. The circuit board is provided with a feed terminal for connecting the battery, and a first connection terminal for connecting the control unit. The first member and the second member are configured so as to be detachable, and the first sensor part is provided to the circuit board and / or the control unit. This makes it possible to provide a sensor device that enables easy exchange for a suitable sensor as necessary.

Description

Sensor Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sensor device. This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-101708, filed on June 18, 2021. The entire contents of the above-mentioned patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Conventionally, techniques have been disclosed for acquiring biometric information of a user by providing a wearable sensor on the user or by providing a sensor on a part other than the user, such as clothing (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] JP 2017-38839 A JP 2020-76185 A

[0004] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a sensor device that allows for easy replacement of an appropriate sensor as needed.

[0005] The sensor device disclosed herein is a sensor device comprising a circuit board having a circuit pattern printed on a flexible material, a battery, a control unit having a control unit, and a first sensor unit, wherein a first member has the circuit board and the battery, a second member has the control unit, the circuit board has a power supply terminal for connecting the battery and a first connection terminal for connecting the control unit, the first member and the second member are configured to be detachable, and the first sensor unit is provided on the circuit board and / or the control unit.

[0006] According to the sensor device of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a sensor device or the like that allows for easy replacement of an appropriate sensor as needed.

[0007] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a sensor device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the sensor device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a top view of the sensor device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a printed wiring diagram of the sensor device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a unit of the sensor device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a control unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the sensor device according to the first embodiment in an attached state. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a sensor device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a sensor device according to the second embodiment. (a) is a plan view of the sensor device, (b) is a side view of the sensor device, (c) is a front view of the sensor device, (d) is a diagram illustrating the state of the circuit board as viewed from the side, and (e) is a diagram illustrating the state of the circuit board as viewed from the front. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a lid of the sensor device according to the second embodiment. (a) is a plan view of the lid, (b) is a side view of the lid, and (c) is a front view of the lid. FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a sensor device according to a third embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a cover member of the sensor device according to the third embodiment. 1A is a plan view of the cover member, (b) is a front view of the cover member, (c) is a bottom view of the cover member, and (d) is a side view of the cover member. It is an exploded view of the sensor device in a fourth embodiment. It is a diagram showing the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. (a) is a bottom view of the sensor device, (b) is a plan view of the sensor device, (c) is a front view of the sensor device, (d) is a right side view of the sensor device, and (e) is a left side view of the sensor device. It is a diagram showing a perspective view of the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. It is a diagram showing the main body of the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. (a) is a bottom view of the main body, (b) is a plan view of the main body, (c) is a front view of the main body, (d) is a right side view of the main body, and (e) is a left side view of the main body. It is a diagram showing a perspective view of the main body of the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. It is a diagram showing the mounting portion of the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. 10A is a bottom view of the mounting portion, (b) is a plan view of the mounting portion, (c) is a front view of the mounting portion, (d) is a right side view of the mounting portion, and (e) is a left side view of the mounting portion. It is a diagram showing a perspective view of the mounting portion of the sensor device in a fifth embodiment. It is a diagram showing a unit board included in the main body of the sensor device in the fifth embodiment.10A is a bottom view of the unit substrate portion, (b) is a plan view of the unit substrate, (c) is a front view of the unit substrate, (d) is a right side view of the unit substrate, and (e) is a left side view of the unit substrate. FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a unit substrate included in a main body of a sensor device according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 10C is an exploded view of another shape of the mounting portion of the sensor device according to the fifth embodiment.

[0008] An embodiment for carrying out the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example for explaining the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the invention described in the claims is not limited to the following description.

[0009] Generally, wearable sensors attached to devices such as watches or clothing, or skin-attachable wearable sensors, are used to acquire biological information such as a subject's heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, SpO2, etc.

[0010] While skin-attached wearable sensors have the advantage of being able to continuously acquire biological information 24 hours a day, they generally have the disadvantage of lacking flexibility in their main components, such as the battery, control circuit, and sensor device. Therefore, wearable sensors that lack flexibility have the problem of being difficult to bend and stretch, making them unsuitable for skin attachment, and limiting the areas where they can be attached.

[0011] Furthermore, wearable sensors that pursue flexibility by integrating a battery, control circuit, and sensor device have the problem of being expensive and not easily usable, and expensive wearable sensors can only be used for limited purposes such as research or medical settings.

[0012] Here, the subject is a person whose biological information is measured and whose body movements are detected, such as a patient, a person requiring care, etc. The subject may also include healthy people, regardless of age or gender.

[0013] In the following embodiments, "staff" refers to anyone other than the subject who uses the data acquired from the sensor. For example, in the case of a hospital or facility, "staff" refers to medical professionals such as doctors and nurses, facility staff such as caregivers working at the facility, and also includes family members and home caregivers such as visiting service staff. In the case of a training gym or fitness club, "staff" refers to trainers and instructors. In the case of a construction site or event site, "staff" refers to not only industrial physicians but also counselors, operation managers, etc.

[0014] A sensor device and the like for solving such problems will be described below based on detailed embodiments. Note that the following embodiments are examples of the present disclosure, and the invention is not limited to the contents thereof.

[0015] [1. First Embodiment] [1.1 Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an overall system 1000 including a sensor device 1. The sensor device 1 is a device that can be directly attached to the body of a subject P. The sensor device 1 can be attached directly to any part of the subject P's body, such as the upper arm, chest, or thigh, using an adhesive member (e.g., double-sided tape, etc.). The sensor device 1 can be connected to, for example, a terminal device 9 via wireless communication. The sensor device 1 and the terminal device 9 may be connected using short-range wireless communication (Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE, ZigBee (registered trademark)), a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi, or a mobile communication network such as LTE / 4G / 5G. The sensor device 1 and the terminal device 9 may be connected using any of the communication methods.

[0016] Furthermore, the terminal device 9 can acquire biometric information of the subject P from the sensor device 1 by executing the installed application.

[0017] The sensor device 1 may transmit the biological information directly to a device located near the bed device or to a device used by staff, etc. The sensor device 1 may also be directly connected to a server, etc., and the biological information of the subject may be automatically stored in the server.

[0018] [1.2 Configuration of the sensor device] The configuration of the sensor device 1 in this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the sensor device 1. Fig. 3A is a top view of the sensor device 1 including the lid. Fig. 3B is a top view of the sensor device 1 with the lid removed (excluding the lid).

[0019] The sensor device 1 is configured to include, as lower layers, a circuit board 10 serving as a base and attachment members (double-sided tape 50, single-sided tape 52) attached to the underside of the circuit board 10. Hereinafter, when simply referring to the circuit board 10, the attachment members may also be included. Furthermore, if a battery 22 is provided on the circuit board 10, the battery 22 is included in the lower layers.

[0020] The sensor device 1 also has a cover member 32 as an upper layer. The circuit board 10 including the attachment member as a lower layer and the cover member 32 as an upper layer together form a case 30. In other words, the case 30 does not include the control unit 20.

[0021] The circuit board 10 can be connected to a plurality of units such as a control unit 20 and other sensor units.

[0022] The circuit board 10 is a stretchable circuit board. In this embodiment, the circuit board 10 is formed by printing wiring on a urethane sheet member (sheet portion) using an electronic material such as a metal paste for electrodes (e.g., gold paste, silver paste, copper paste, etc.) as a conductive member. The sheet member is made of a stretchable material such as urethane, and is characterized by the fact that it does not feel uncomfortable when attached to the user's skin.

[0023] The circuit board 10 can be provided with a battery 22 and a control unit 20. As will be described later, the circuit board 10 can be provided with a sensor on the board or with an additional sensor unit.

[0024] In this embodiment, the sensor device 1 is provided with a battery 22 on one side. The sensor device 1 is also provided with a control unit 20 on the other side opposite the battery 22 in the longitudinal direction of the sensor device 1. The sensor device 1 is also configured so that a sensor unit can be provided in the center.

[0025] When a sensor unit outputs a complex signal, multiple wires are required. By arranging the sensor unit near the connector, the circuit board 10 allows for easy wiring. Furthermore, shortening the distance between the sensor unit and the connector prevents noise from being carried on the wiring.

[0026] Furthermore, the circuit board 10 is a flexible circuit board that can be bent. Therefore, the flexibility of the entire circuit board 10 is the flexibility of the entire sensor device 1. Therefore, it is important to devise a way to avoid overlapping parts as much as possible. Even if parts overlap, it is important to keep the overlap to a minimum.

[0027] The battery 22 in this embodiment may be, for example, a thin flexible battery. Here, a thin flexible battery is a battery formed from a thin sheet-like material. Specifically, a flexible battery has a separator (film) between a positive electrode material and a negative electrode material inside an exterior body. The entire battery is then filled with an electrolyte (aqueous solution) that is a sheet material. Such a battery 22 is characterized by its ease of bending and its ability to maintain performance even when repeatedly bent or twisted.

[0028] In the sensor device 1 of this embodiment, the battery 22 is integrally formed with the circuit board 10. That is, while the control unit 20 is detachable, the battery 22 may remain detachable and be disposable. In this way, the circuit board 10 and the battery 22 are formed as lower layers and can be replaced after use.

[0029] The battery 22 may be configured to be detachable from the circuit board 10. In this case, the user or staff can replace the battery 22.

[0030] The control unit 20 has a control unit that controls the sensor device 1, a communication unit that performs communication, and a storage unit that stores various data and programs. The control unit 20 is provided with a connection terminal, and can be connected to the sensor device 1 via the connection terminal. The control unit 20 may further have other components. For example, the control unit 20 may have a processing unit that processes data acquired from the sensor. The processing unit may perform edge processing on the data acquired from the sensor or calculate an index from the data acquired from the sensor. Furthermore, these functions may be implemented in a single controller as a System-On-a-Chip (SoC).

[0031] Furthermore, the control unit 20 is configured to be detachable from the circuit board 10 using a connection terminal. For example, when it is time to replace the sensor device 1, the subject or staff can remove only the control unit 20. This makes it possible to replace only the case 30, which is the part other than the control unit 20.

[0032] As described in FIG. 2 , the case 30 refers to the components other than the control unit 20. The case 30 may be configured as an integrated unit that can be separately mounted. That is, the case 30 is configured as the first member, and the control unit 20 is configured as the second member. The first member and the second member are configured to be detachable. Therefore, by removing the control unit 20, which is the second member, it is possible to replace only the case 30, which is the first member.

[0033] In this way, since only the parts other than the control unit 20 can be replaced, the control unit 20 can be reused even if the target person changes, which is economical. For example, in a hospital, facility, etc., the control unit 20 can be reused even if patients or residents change.

[0034] Furthermore, only a part of the case 30 comes into contact with the subject. Therefore, by replacing the case 30 for each subject, the sensor device 1 is kept clean and is also effective in preventing infection.

[0035] Furthermore, for the same subject, the sensor device 1 can be used by replacing the control unit 20 even if the case 30 is replaced. As a result, if the control unit 20 of the sensor device 1 stores information about the subject himself or herself or biological information, for example, the data can be inherited even if the case 30 is replaced.

[0036] The attachment member includes a double-sided tape 50 attached to the underside of the circuit board 10 and a single-sided tape 52 that protects one side of the double-sided tape 50 .

[0037] The user can attach the sensor device 1 to the human body by peeling off the single-sided tape 52 and sticking the double-sided tape 50 to the skin.

[0038] The double-sided tape 50 may further include a protective member. That is, the sensor device 1 may further include a protective member between the subject and the double-sided tape to protect the subject's skin. For example, the protective member may be a gel adhesive or the like that is attached between the double-sided tape and the subject.

[0039] The sensor device 1 has a lid 40 as a component of the case 30. The lid 40 is made of, for example, a molding material (molding resin).

[0040] The lid 40 has a flap (tongue-shaped body) 402 formed by cutting a portion near the center of one end of the lid 40, leaving a small cutout. As an example, the fulcrum of the flap 402 in this embodiment is provided on the outside of the lid 40, so that the inside opens, but the fulcrum may be provided on the other side. Alternatively, the fulcrum may be provided on the upper or lower side of the lid 40, so that the bottom or top opens.

[0041] By using the flap 402 on the lid portion 40, the subject, staff, etc. can easily attach and detach the control unit 20. In other words, the flap 402 is preferably formed in a size and shape that allows the control unit 20 to be attached and detached.

[0042] Furthermore, multiple flaps 402 may be formed as necessary. For example, if the battery 22 is detachable, a flap may be formed by making a cut at a position where the battery 22 can be replaced. Furthermore, the lid 40 may be cut so that a flap is formed in the same manner at the position of the additional unit, separate from the position of the additional control unit 20.

[0043] Furthermore, the cover 40 may have a shape other than a flap, as long as it has a notch that allows for easy attachment and detachment of the control unit 20. For example, the cover 40 may further include a snap-on cover or may include a window.

[0044] Note that a part of the cover 40 may be open. For example, when a sensor for measuring the amount of moisture evaporation from the skin or an external light detection sensor is mounted as an additional unit, the sensor of the additional unit can be provided in the open part.

[0045] In addition, a side wall 44 is provided between the circuit board 10 and the lid portion 40. The side wall 44 forms a storage space for each unit, the battery 22, etc. between the circuit board 10 and the lid portion 40. In addition, the side wall 44 is adhered to the circuit board 10 with double-sided tape 46. In addition, the side wall 44 is adhered to the lid portion 40 with double-sided tape 42.

[0046] Here, it is preferable that the side wall 44 is also made of the same material as the lid portion 40. For example, if the side wall 44 is also made of a molding material, the sensor device 1 can be formed to be easily bent or to have elasticity.

[0047] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a printed wiring diagram of the sensor device 1. As shown in the printed wiring diagram of Fig. 4, a connection terminal 120 (power supply terminal) of the battery 22 is arranged on the left side of Fig. 4 (on the battery 22 side). That is, a connection terminal 122 of the negative electrode of the battery 22 and a connection terminal 124 of the positive electrode of the battery 22 are arranged.

[0048] The control unit 20 is disposed on the opposite side to the battery 22. The control unit 20 is connected to the circuit board 10 via a connector 110. The connection terminal 120 of the battery 22 extends its wiring to the other end side along the vicinity of the end of the sensor device 1 (the lower side of the circuit board in FIG. 4 ) and connects to the connector 110. Thus, when the battery 22 is connected to the connection terminal 120, it supplies power to the control unit 20 via the connector 110.

[0049] Furthermore, the connector unit 110 extends wiring along the vicinity of the end of the sensor device 1 to the battery side and connects to the temperature sensor 140. That is, the temperature sensor 140 is connected to the control unit 20. The control unit 20 can receive information about temperature (e.g., the body temperature of the subject wearing the sensor) from the connected temperature sensor 140.

[0050] The connector 110 may easily become disconnected from the control unit 20 (connection with the connector 210) due to the influence of a tensile force caused by expansion and contraction of the circuit board 10. Therefore, the connector 110 may be made of a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

[0051] In this way, when connecting the connection terminal 120 of the battery 22 to the connector portion 110, and when connecting the connector portion 110 to the temperature sensor 140, the wiring is routed along the upper and lower ends of the sensor device 1. This allows the sensor device 1 to form a space in the center where the sensor unit 24 is provided.

[0052] In this embodiment, the sensor provided on the circuit board 10 is the temperature sensor 140, but it may be another sensor. For example, the sensor provided on the circuit board 10 may be a sensor capable of acquiring biological information, such as a heart rate sensor or an SPO2 sensor.

[0053] It should be noted that the circuit board 10 does not necessarily need to be provided with a sensor. In this case, the control unit 20 receives information from a sensor unit that will be provided later, as will be described later.

[0054] The lower layer circuit board 10 may be appropriately provided with one or more holes. By providing holes in the circuit board 10, it is possible to reduce the contact area with the skin, which can contribute to reducing stuffiness when worn.

[0055] 5A is a schematic diagram of the circuit board 10 and the units. The circuit board 10 and the control unit 20 are electrically connected by connecting the connector portion 110 of the circuit board 10 to the connector portion 210 of the control unit 20. The circuit board 10 and the sensor unit 24 are electrically connected by connecting the connector portion 150 of the circuit board 10 to the connector portion 350 of the sensor unit 24. When these units are connected to the circuit board 10, the sensor device 1, including the units, becomes an integrated device.

[0056] It is preferable that the connector portion 150 is located near the connector portion 110. The connector portion 150 may be directly connected to a part of the connector portion 110. The connector portion 150 may also be common to the connector portion 110.

[0057] The circuit board 10 is provided with a battery 22 and a temperature sensor 140. In other words, since the circuit board 10 is directly attached to the subject, it may be replaced as needed. In this case, the subject or staff member can simply remove the unit and replace only the circuit board 10 (battery 22, temperature sensor 140). Furthermore, the control unit 20 and sensor unit 24 can be reconnected to another circuit board 10 as needed. In other words, the control unit 20 and sensor unit 24 can be reused.

[0058] 5B is a schematic diagram of the control unit 20. The control unit 20 includes a control unit 200, a connector unit 210, a storage unit 220, and a communication unit 230 on a circuit board 290.

[0059] The control unit 200 has a function of controlling the sensor device 1. The control unit 200 is, for example, a controller that integrates an arithmetic unit, a control unit, and a storage unit. The control unit 200 is generally realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a SoC (System-on-a-chip), or the like.

[0060] The memory unit 220 stores various programs and various data necessary for the operation of the sensor device 1. The memory unit 220 is a general semiconductor memory. The memory unit 220 includes a rewritable memory (RAM: Random Access Memory) as a main memory device used by the control unit 200 when executing processes, and a non-volatile memory (ROM: Read Only Memory) whose contents are not erased even when the power is turned off. The memory unit 220 may also be a storage device that stores programs, data, etc.

[0061] The communication unit 230 communicates with an external device. For example, it has a function capable of wireless communication, and can communicate with the terminal device 9 via Bluetooth (registered trademark), which is a short-range wireless communication. Furthermore, it is sufficient if the communication unit 230 can provide a function for communicating with an external device, and it may be, for example, a module that can connect to a network such as a wireless LAN, or a communication module that communicates via LTE / 4G / 5G. If the communication unit 230 can connect to 5G or the like, it may transmit biometric information directly to a server device.

[0062] The connector portion 210 is a connector that connects to the connector portion 110 of the circuit board 10. When the connector portion 210 and the connector portion 110 are electrically connected (for example, by mating to form a wired and electrically connected connection), the circuit board 10 and the control unit 20 can communicate with each other. This allows power to be supplied from the battery 22, enabling the components in the control unit 20 to operate. Furthermore, the control unit 20 can receive sensor information, including biological information, from sensors mounted on the circuit board 10 and the sensor unit 24.

[0063] The circuit board 290 of the control unit 20 is configured as a bendable board. For example, the circuit board 290 has a bending member 295 in the center that can be flexibly bent. The control unit 20 has a connector section 210 on one side of the bending member 295, and a control section 200 and the like on the other side. Here, the bending member 295 may be, for example, a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

[0064] By folding the circuit board 290 in a mountain fold at the position of the folding member 295, the two boards can be folded and attached to the sensor.

[0065] 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating the case where the sensor device 1 is attached to a subject P. A battery 22 is provided on the circuit board 10. The connector 110 is connected to a connector 210 of the control unit 20.

[0066] The control unit 20 is folded in half as a whole by bending the bending member 295 in a mountain fold. The control unit 20 is folded so that the connector section 210, the control section 200, the memory section 220, and the communication section 230 are on the outside, and is connected to the circuit board 10.

[0067] Then, the cover 40 is placed over the circuit board 10 to form a single unit as the sensor device 1. The sensor device 1 is attached to the subject P using double-sided tape 50 attached to the underside of the circuit board 10. This makes it possible to acquire biometric information from the subject P.

[0068] The control unit 20 may also be provided with a sensor. For example, the control unit 20 may be provided with an acceleration sensor. This allows the sensor device 1 to acquire the subject's body movements, breathing, and heart rate using only the control unit 20.

[0069] Although the control unit 20 has been described using the bendable circuit board 290 as an example, the circuit board 290 may have other configurations. For example, the control unit 20 may be configured using the circuit board 290 as a double-sided board or a multi-layer board.

[0070] [1.3.2 Sensor Unit] The sensor unit 24 is a sensor that can be added by the subject, staff, etc. For example, the sensor unit 24 is provided with a connector portion 350. The connector portion 350 is electrically connected to the circuit board 10 by connecting to the connector portion 150 of the circuit board 10.

[0071] 5A, the sensor unit 24 includes a sensor 300. The sensor 300 may be any sensor such as a photosensor, a sound sensor, or a vibration sensor.

[0072] For example, the sensor 300 can acquire the heart rate, blood flow, and SpO2 by using an image sensor. In this case, the image sensor of the sensor 300 may have a lower resolution than a general image sensor. By lowering the resolution of the image sensor of the sensor 300, it becomes possible to use a more compact sensor.

[0073] It is preferable that the sensor unit 24 be configured as a flexible sensor unit. For example, by using a flexible sensor made of an organic material, the sensor unit 24 becomes a sensor device that can easily follow the skin as a whole.

[0074] The above-mentioned units (control unit 20, sensor unit 24) may be in the form of a board, or the board may be packaged with some other member.

[0075] The sensor unit 24 is included in the second member (the member including the control unit 20) described above. That is, the sensor unit 24 is configured to be detachable from the circuit board 10, which is the first member.

[0076] The sensor unit 24 may also be included in the first member. The sensor unit 24 may be configured integrally with the circuit board 10. By configuring the circuit board 10 and the sensor unit 24 integrally, the case 30 may be separated for each type of sensor unit 24. In this case, when attaching the sensor device 1 to the subject, the staff member selects the case 30 corresponding to the required sensor and connects the control unit 20 to form the sensor device 1.

[0077] [1.4 Effects] As described above, according to the sensor device 1 of this embodiment, the control unit 20 and the sensor unit 24 of the sensor device 1 can be detached from the circuit board 10. Therefore, it is possible to replace only the case portion 30 (the first member including the circuit board 10, etc.) that comes into contact with the skin, and continuously and repeatedly use the control unit 20 and the second member that is the added sensor unit 24.

[0078] Furthermore, the circuit board 10 that constitutes the case 30 does not need to have a sensor. This allows the subject, staff, etc. to freely add the necessary sensor unit 24. Furthermore, by reusing the control unit 20, the control program and optimized processing algorithm can be reused even if the case 30 is changed.

[0079] Furthermore, among the components of conventional sensor devices, the sensor body and battery can be made flexible and mounted in the case 30. As a result, the only hard part is the control unit 20 (processing circuit), which has been miniaturized to the bare minimum, and the case 30 has a flexible, bandage-like sensor structure. This provides the effect of a high level of wearability, as it easily conforms to the subject's skin and does not cause discomfort.

[0080] Furthermore, the control unit 20 and the case 30 are detachable, allowing the case 30 to be disposed of each time and the control unit 20 to be reused. This eliminates the need for subjects or staff to charge or replace batteries. Second, it reduces costs by allowing the expensive control unit 20 (processing circuit) to be reused. Third, it allows the sensors in the case 30 to be changed depending on the application, while enabling the optimized parameters and data processing algorithms to be used continuously.

[0081] 2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment is an embodiment in which the shape of the sensor is different from that of the first embodiment.

[0082] The configuration of the sensor of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the sensor device 2000 of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the sensor device 2000. FIG. 8(a) is a plan view seen from above, FIG. 8(b) is a side view seen from the side, and FIG. 8(c) is a front view seen from the front. FIG. 8(d) is a diagram showing the state of the circuit board seen from the side, and FIG. 8(e) is a diagram showing the state of the circuit board seen from the front. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing only the lid portion 2040. FIG. 9(a) is a plan view of the lid portion 2040 seen from above, FIG. 9(b) is a side view seen from the side, and FIG. 9(c) is a front view seen from the front.

[0083] The sensor device 2000 is configured to include, as lower layers, a circuit board 2010 and an attachment member attached to the underside of the circuit board 2010 .

[0084] The circuit board 2010 is a stretchable substrate, i.e., a circuit board having flexibility. For example, the circuit board 2010 is a circuit board in which a wiring pattern (circuit pattern) is printed with a conductive material on a PCB (polychlorinated polyphenylene) substrate.

[0085] The circuit board 2010 may also be equipped with a battery. The circuit board 2010 may also have a sensor for acquiring biological information of the subject. For example, the circuit board 2010 is preferably provided with a temperature sensor.

[0086] The attachment member includes a double-sided tape 2050 attached to the underside of the circuit board 2010, a protective member 2052, and a separator 2054. The protective member 2052 is a member for protecting the skin, and may be made of a gel adhesive or the like. Note that the circuit board 2010 does not need to be provided with the protective member 2052 as an attachment member. In this case, the circuit board 2010 may be directly attached to the subject with the double-sided tape 2050.

[0087] The sensor device 2000 also has a lid 2040. The lid 2040 is made of, for example, a molding material.

[0088] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a space between the lid portion 2040 and the circuit board 2010 so that components such as a battery and a control unit that are arranged on the circuit board 2010 can be accommodated. For this reason, a sidewall 2020 is provided between the lid portion 2040 and the circuit board 2010. The sidewall 2020 has a rectangular cutout formed therein so as to provide a space that can accommodate the components on the circuit board 2010. The circuit board 2010 and the sidewall 2020 are adhered together with double-sided tape 2022. The double-sided tape 2042 also adheres the sidewall 2020 to the lid portion 2040. The lid portion 2040 may also be provided with an insulator 2030 to protect the components of the circuit board 2010.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 8, the circuit board 2010 has a battery 22B, a control unit 200B, and the like arranged thereon.

[0090] The sensor device 2000 of this embodiment includes a rectangular region R1 in which a circuit board 2010 is provided, and a region R2 in which a temperature sensor 140 is provided. The region R2 in which the temperature sensor 140 is provided is a region that protrudes from the region R1.

[0091] When using a sensor to measure the body surface temperature under the user's armpit, the sensor must be attached to the armpit. However, wearing the sensor under the armpit often causes discomfort to the user. Therefore, with the sensor device 2000 of this embodiment, only region R2 can be attached to the user's armpit, and region R1 can be attached to the user's chest or back. As a result, the area of ​​the sensor placed under the user's armpit can be reduced, reducing the discomfort experienced by the user.

[0092] By reducing the area of ​​the sensor placed under the user's armpit, it is possible to reduce the armpit from becoming stuffy and the rubbing of the sensor device 2000 against the arm.

[0093] 3. Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described. The sensor of the third embodiment is composed of a circuit board and a packaging member.

[0094] 10 is an exploded view of a sensor device 3000 according to the third embodiment. The sensor device 3000 is configured to have a circuit board 3100 as a first member and a packaging member 3200 as a second member. The difference from the first embodiment is that the replaceable case 30 of the first member is the circuit board 3100. Furthermore, the control unit 20, which is a reusable second member, is integrally formed as the packaging member 3200.

[0095] The packaging member 3200 has a cover member 3210, a control unit 3220, and a lid portion 3230. The cover member 3210 and the lid portion 3230 are made of, for example, silicon. The detailed shape of the cover member 3210 is as shown in FIG. 11 . FIG. 11( a) is a plan view of the cover member 3210. FIG. 11( b) is a front view of the cover member 3210. FIG. 11( c) is a bottom view of the cover member 3210. FIG. 11( d) is a side view (right side view) of the cover member.

[0096] The cover member 3210 has a predetermined height (thickness) so that a space is formed inside on the side where the control unit 3220 is arranged (the R side in FIG. 11( a)). In other words, when the circuit board 3100 is used as a base, the cover member 3210 has a height that is large enough to accommodate the control unit 3220.

[0097] The center of the cover member 3210 also has a predetermined height (thickness) to form a space inside so that an additional unit (sensor unit) can be placed therein.

[0098] The battery is placed on the side opposite to the side where the control unit 3220 is placed (side L in FIG. 11( a)). The cover member 3210 has a height (thickness) on the battery side that allows the battery to be placed in the space. Here, the sensor device 3000 uses a thin flexible battery. Therefore, the height (thickness) on the battery side of the cover member 3210 does not need to be as high (thick) as the control unit or sensor unit.

[0099] 11 is lower on the battery side on the L side and higher on the control unit 3220 side on the R side. Also, the cover member 3210 has a shape in which the height gradually increases (the thickness increases) from the L side toward the center.

[0100] Furthermore, the cover member 3210 may have a plurality of holes on the battery side. By providing a plurality of holes in the cover member 3210, it becomes possible to deal with heat generated by the battery.

[0101] Furthermore, the cover member 3210 has an opening on the entire bottom side. Therefore, the packaging member 3200 may have the control unit 3220 disposed in the space of the cover member 3210, and a lid portion 3230, which is a lid member, attached to the cover member 3210 so as to cover the opening. In this way, the packaging member 3200 has the cover member 3210, the control unit 3220, and the lid portion 3230 integrated into a single package.

[0102] Here, the side of the lid portion 3230 facing the circuit board 3100 can be attached with an adhesive material. For example, the lid portion 3230 is configured to be attached to the circuit board 3100 by providing double-sided tape on the underside of the lid portion 3230. The lid portion 3230 and the circuit board 3100 are detachable because they are attached with the double-sided tape. An adhesive material is also provided on the underside of the circuit board 3100 (the side opposite the packaging member 3200). For example, double-sided tape is attached to the underside of the circuit board 3100. The circuit board 3100 can be attached to a part of the subject's body, such as the skin, with the double-sided tape.

[0103] Furthermore, the circuit board 3100 can be peeled off from the packaging member 3200. This allows the circuit board 3100 to be replaced. Furthermore, the packaging member 3200 including the control unit 3220 can be reused.

[0104] The circuit board 3100 is a stretchable substrate, i.e., a circuit board having flexibility. For example, the circuit board 3100 is a circuit board in which a wiring pattern is printed with a conductive material on a PCB (polychlorinated polyphenylene) substrate. The circuit board 3100 may be equipped with a battery. The circuit board 3100 may also have a sensor for acquiring biological information of the subject.

[0105] As described above, according to this embodiment, the packaging member 3200 including the control unit 3220, which is the second member, can be reused. Also, the circuit board 3100, which is the first member, can be replaced as needed.

[0106] 4. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the cover portion 3230 is eliminated from the configuration of the third embodiment.

[0107] 12 shows a sensor device 4000 of this embodiment. In the sensor device 4000 of this embodiment, a subject or staff member connects a control unit 3220 to a circuit board 3100. After the control unit 3220 is connected to the circuit board 3100, the entire circuit board 3100 is covered with a cover member 3210, thereby forming the sensor device 4000.

[0108] In this embodiment, the cover member 3210 and the circuit board 3100 are bonded together with an adhesive such as double-sided tape. At this time, the control unit 3220 is housed in a space formed in the cover member 3210.

[0109] When replacement becomes necessary after use, only the circuit board 3100 is replaced. In this case, the cover member 3210 and the control unit 3220 can be reused.

[0110] In this way, the present embodiment makes it possible to realize the sensor device 4000 with a simpler configuration than the third embodiment.

[0111] 5. Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, a sensor device 5000 shown in the shapes shown in FIGS.

[0112] 13 and 14 are diagrams showing the external appearance of the sensor device 5000. Fig. 13(a) is a bottom view of the sensor device 5000, Fig. 13(b) is a plan view of the sensor device 5000, Fig. 13(c) is a front view of the sensor device 5000, Fig. 13(d) is a right side view of the sensor device 5000, and Fig. 13(e) is a left side view of the sensor device 5000. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the sensor device 5000 seen obliquely from above.

[0113] The sensor device 5000 includes a main body 5100 and an attachment part 5200 for attaching the sensor device 5000 to the human body.

[0114] 15 and 16 are diagrams showing the external appearance of the main body 5100. Fig. 15(a) is a bottom view of the main body 5100, Fig. 15(b) is a plan view of the main body 5100 from above, Fig. 15(c) is a front view of the main body 5100, Fig. 15(d) is a right side view of the main body 5100 from the right side, and Fig. 15(e) is a left side view of the main body 5100 from the left. Also, Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the main body 5100 seen obliquely from above.

[0115] 17 and 18 are diagrams showing the appearance of the mounting portion 5200. Fig. 17(a) is a bottom view of the mounting portion 5200, Fig. 17(b) is a plan view of the mounting portion 5200, Fig. 17(c) is a front view of the mounting portion 5200, Fig. 17(d) is a right side view of the mounting portion 5200, and Fig. 17(e) is a left side view of the mounting portion 5200. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the mounting portion 5200 seen obliquely from above.

[0116] 19 and 20 are diagrams showing the appearance of the unit substrate 5300 built into the main body 5100. Fig. 19(a) is a bottom view of the unit substrate 5300, Fig. 19(b) is a plan view of the unit substrate 5300 from above, Fig. 19(c) is a front view of the unit substrate 5300, Fig. 19(d) is a right side view of the unit substrate 5300 from the right side, and Fig. 19(e) is a left side view of the unit substrate 5300 from the left. Also, Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the unit substrate 5300 seen obliquely from above.

[0117] The main body 5100 includes, for example, a control unit. For example, the control unit may be a unit substrate 5300 shown in Figs. 19 and 20 that has components capable of implementing various functions mounted thereon. The components mounted on the unit substrate 5300 may be semiconductor components, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an MCU (Micro Controller Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a SoC (System on a Chip).

[0118] In the unit substrate 5300, a circuit board 5310 and a reinforcing member 5320 are connected by a flexible substrate 5330. The flexible substrate 5330 is a bendable circuit board (e.g., a flexible printed wiring board). Therefore, the entire sensor device 5000 is configured to be bendable. The flexible substrate 5330 may also be shaped like an inverted V. That is, the flexible substrate 5330 may be formed in a curved or linear shape so that it is wider on the circuit board 5310 side and narrower toward the reinforcing member 5320 side. By forming the flexible substrate 5330 in a shape such as that shown in FIG. 19 , even if a force that twists the reinforcing member 5320 and the circuit board 5310 is applied, stress concentration on the components mounted on the circuit board 5310 can be prevented, and cracks, poor contact, and damage to the components can be prevented.

[0119] The entire unit substrate 5300 may be made of a flexible substrate. In this case, a reinforcing plate or resin potting may be provided to ensure the strength of each substrate.

[0120] The circuit board 5310 is mounted with the various components described above. For example, the circuit board 5310 may be equipped with, in addition to a controller such as a CPU, an acceleration sensor or a communication unit 5340. The communication unit 5340 is a module that realizes wireless communication. The communication unit 5340 may realize, for example, wireless communication using Wi-Fi or the like, mobile communication such as 4G / 5G, or short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth or NFC.

[0121] Furthermore, the circuit board 5310 may further be equipped with a sensor unit. The sensor unit may be equipped with, for example, an acceleration sensor, an inclination sensor, a gyro sensor, etc. For example, the circuit board 5310 in Fig. 19 is preferably equipped with an acceleration sensor to acquire the subject's movements (body movements), behavior, and biological information of the subject.

[0122] The reinforcing member 5320 is equipped with an attachment terminal that connects to the attachment portion 5200. For example, the reinforcing member 5320 has a connection terminal 5120. The connection terminal 5120 connects to a connection terminal 5240 of the attachment portion 5200. This electrically connects the attachment portion 5200 and the main body portion 5100, and functions as the sensor device 5000. The reinforcing member 5320 may further have a circuit board. The circuit board and the reinforcing member 5320 may be fixed with an adhesive or double-sided tape. The reinforcing member 5320 is, for example, a plate-shaped member (reinforcing plate), and may be made of stainless steel, plastic, aluminum, or the like.

[0123] The reinforcing member 5320 may also include a connecting member 5130. The connecting member 5130 is configured, for example, by a magnet (e.g., a magnet or a ferromagnetic material). The connecting member 5130 and the connecting member 5230 of the mounting portion are magnetically bonded together, thereby connecting the main body portion 5100 and the mounting portion 5200 so that they do not come off. The connecting members 5130 and 5230 also facilitate positioning. Furthermore, providing the reinforcing member 5320 can ensure contact stability of the connecting member 5230.

[0124] As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the circuit board 5310, the reinforcing member 5320, and the flexible substrate 5330 are covered with the case member 5110 to form the main body 5100.

[0125] The mounting portion 5200 has a seat portion 5210 and a mounting main body portion 5220. The mounting main body portion 5220 may be equipped with, for example, a battery. The battery is stored in a storage portion 5225 inside the mounting main body portion 5220. When the connection terminal 5240 and the connection terminal 5120 are connected, the battery supplies power to the main body portion 5100.

[0126] The attachment portion 5200 may have a lower layer (bottom layer) provided with medical tape for attachment to the skin and a decorative sheet provided with an upper layer. A urethane sheet substrate or a flexible substrate may be provided as an intermediate layer between the lower and upper layers. A sensor such as a temperature sensor may also be provided on the intermediate layer, such as the urethane substrate. The decorative sheet of the upper layer may be made of, for example, a printable material. Printing characters, logos, etc. on the decorative sheet allows for a wider range of design possibilities. For example, in FIG. 17 , the lower layer may be the sheet portion 5210, and the upper layer may be a member covering the attachment main body portion 5220.

[0127] The attachment unit 5200 may also be configured as shown in FIG. 21 . For example, the attachment unit 5202 in FIG. 20 includes a skin attachment tape 5212 as a lower layer and a decorative sheet 5222 as an upper layer. The intermediate layer between the upper and lower layers includes a urethane sheet 5250. The urethane sheet 5250 is provided with a flexible substrate 5260, a temperature sensor 5270, and a battery 5280. The flexible substrate 5260 is connected to the temperature sensor 5270 and the battery 5280 via, for example, wiring. For convenience of illustration, the flexible substrate 5260, the temperature sensor 5270, and the battery 5280 are arranged adjacent to each other in FIG. 21 . However, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement. The temperature sensor 5270 or the battery 5280 may be arranged separately from the flexible substrate 5260. In this case, the temperature sensor 5270 or the battery 5280 may be connected to the flexible substrate 5260 via silver paste wiring on the urethane sheet 5250. The flexible substrate 5260 is provided with connection sections (connection members 5230, connection terminals 5240) for connection to the main body 5100. The flexible substrate 5260 also has connection terminals (power supply terminals), and a battery 5280 is connected via the connection terminals.

[0128] The attachment unit 5200 may also be provided with a sensor separate from the main body unit 5100. For example, the attachment unit 5200 may be provided with a temperature sensor to acquire the subject's body temperature. The attachment unit 5200 may be provided with an optical sensor to acquire the subject's heart rate, SpO2, etc. The attachment unit 5200 may also be provided with electrodes (e.g., nanomesh electrodes, nanosheet electrodes, etc.) formed from a flexible material to measure electrocardiograms or electromyograms.

[0129] The main body unit 5100 can acquire information from the sensors provided in the attachment unit 5200. As a result, the main body unit 5100 acquires information about the subject from the sensors provided in the main body unit 5100 and the sensors provided in the attachment unit 5200.

[0130] The sheet unit 5210 has an adhesive member on the surface that contacts the user. For example, the sheet unit 5210 may have double-sided tape attached to the surface shown in FIG. 17( a) (the surface that contacts the subject). The sheet unit 5210 may be attached to a location that makes it easy to acquire the subject's biological information. For example, the sheet unit 5210 may be attached near the upper center of the chest. In other words, by attaching the sensor device 5000 directly to the upper center of the subject's chest, various biological information such as the subject's body temperature, heart rate, respiration, and activity level can be appropriately acquired.

[0131] Furthermore, it is preferable that the main body 5100 is small, thin, and lightweight. As an example, the main body 5100 may be approximately 35 mm x 40 mm in size and approximately 6 mm in thickness. Furthermore, the main body 5100 may have a two-tone color scheme to give the impression of thinness.

[0132] Furthermore, the packaging of the main body unit 5100 may have a depression (recess) on the top. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 , the main body unit 5100 has a recess 5115 formed on the upper side of the main body unit 5100. The recess 5115 is formed so as to have recesses on the upper and lower surfaces across the entire width. This recess 5115 corresponds to a position on the flexible substrate 5330, which has flexibility. The recess 5115 may also be made of a flexible material. In this way, the main body unit 5100 can be bent around the recess 5115. Therefore, the main body unit 5100 can freely deform in accordance with the movement (body movement) of the subject.

[0133] As described above, the sensor device 5000 of this embodiment is lightweight and compact, allowing the user to wear it without feeling uncomfortable. Furthermore, the sensor device 5000 can be easily deformed to match the subject's body movements, allowing the user to wear it without feeling uncomfortable. Furthermore, the attachment unit 5200 is replaceable, allowing a different attachment unit 5200 to be used for each subject. Because the attachment unit 5200 is disposable (disposable), the subject can use a new attachment unit 5200, allowing the sensor device 5000 to be used in a clean state.

[0134] [6. Modifications] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and designs that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included in the scope of the claims.

[0135] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 sensor device 10 circuit board 20 control unit 22 battery 24 sensor unit 40 lid 42 double-sided tape 44 side wall 46 double-sided tape 50 double-sided tape 52 single-sided tape 9 terminal device

Claims

1. A sensor device including a circuit board having a circuit pattern printed on a flexible material, a battery, a control unit having a control unit, and a first sensor unit, A first member has the circuit board and the battery, The second member has the control unit; the circuit board includes a power supply terminal for connecting the battery and a first connection terminal for connecting the control unit; The first member and the second member are configured to be detachable, The sensor device, wherein the first sensor portion is provided in the control unit.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the circuit board has a power supply terminal on one end side and a first connection terminal on the other end side, and the first sensor unit is disposed between the power supply terminal and the first connection terminal.

3. A sensor unit having a second sensor portion is further provided, 3. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a second connection terminal, which is connected to the circuit board, for connecting the sensor unit.

4. 3. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein a wiring that connects the power supply terminal and the first connection terminal is disposed on the circuit board so as to avoid the first sensor portion.

5. The first member includes a cover member, The cover member and the circuit board are bonded to form a storage space; The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is accommodated in the accommodation space.

6. The second member includes a cover member, A storage space is formed by covering the cover member and the lower side of the cover member with a lid member, The sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is accommodated in the accommodation space.

7. 7. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the first connection terminal is formed of a flexible printed wiring board.

8. the second member further includes a third connection terminal connected to the first connection terminal, 2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit and the third connection terminal are connected by a bendable circuit board.