Wireless sensor system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
Smart Images
Figure JP2025036018_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Wireless Sensor System
[0008] ,
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wireless sensor system.
[0002] When culturing a substance such as cell culture, the substance is contained in a container such as a petri dish. When culturing such a substance, it is important to monitor the temperature of the substance. Containers such as petri dishes containing the substance are sterilized by irradiating with γ-rays.
[0003] Conventionally, it has been possible to monitor the temperature of a substance by attaching a thermocouple to a container such as a petri dish and based on a temperature detection signal transmitted using a signal line from the thermocouple.
[0004] However, in a wired temperature measurement device that transmits a temperature detection signal using a signal line from a thermocouple, there is a problem that handling of the signal line is complicated when moving a container such as a petri dish. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to measure the temperature of a substance using a wireless temperature measurement device.
[0005] Japanese Patent No. 4896006 (Patent Document 1) discloses a configuration in which a transponder device that communicates in an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) manner is provided in a biological sample storage device, and various types of information can be communicated wirelessly between the biological sample storage device and a computer.
[0006] Japanese Patent No. 7029442 (Patent Document 2) discloses a device for detecting a temperature limit violation of an item such as a biological substance. A sensor storing a fluid that changes phase from a solid to a liquid when the temperature of the item reaches a temperature limit violation is arranged near the item, and when the temperature of the item reaches a temperature limit violation, the fact that the state of the fluid has permanently changed from a solid to a liquid is transmitted to an interrogation device by wireless communication.
[0007] Japanese Patent No. 5992496 (Patent Document 3) discloses a configuration in which a wireless temperature sensor is provided in a biocontainer in order to guarantee the integrity of a biopharmaceutical material contained in the biocontainer.
[0008] Patent No. 4896006 Patent No. 7029442 Patent No. 5992496
[0009] However, when applying the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 to measuring the temperature of a substance, there was a problem in that malfunctions were likely to occur due to reasons such as the materials constituting the integrated circuit used in RFID wireless communication being degraded by the effects of gamma rays used for sterilization.
[0010] Furthermore, when applying the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 2 to the measurement of the temperature of a substance, there was a problem in that the sensor could not be easily installed inside various devices such as incubators and microscopes when the substance contained in the container was set in these devices.
[0011] Furthermore, when applying the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 3 to the measurement of the temperature of a substance, there was a problem in that the wireless temperature sensor could not be easily installed inside various devices such as incubators and microscopes when the substance contained in the biocontainer was set in these devices.
[0012] This disclosure was made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to enable the easy placement of a configuration within various devices that has the function of detecting physical quantities, including the temperature of a substance, when the substance contained in the biocontainer is placed in various devices such as an incubator (constant temperature device) and a microscope, while being less susceptible to the effects of sterilization gamma rays.
[0013] A wireless sensor system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a piezoelectric vibrator that can be installed in a container for a substance and outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of the substance; a first antenna that can be installed in the container and transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator by radio waves; a platform-shaped structure made of an insulator on which the container can be placed; and a second antenna installed on the platform-shaped structure and receiving the physical quantity detection signal transmitted by radio waves from the first antenna in the container placed on the platform-shaped structure.
[0014] A wireless sensor system relating to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a platform structure made of an insulator, a piezoelectric vibrator, a first antenna, and a second antenna, wherein the platform structure includes a container portion for containing a substance, the piezoelectric vibrator is provided in the container portion and outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of the substance, the first antenna is provided in the container portion and transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator via radio waves, and the second antenna is provided on the platform structure and receives the physical quantity detection signal transmitted via radio waves from the first antenna.
[0015] A wireless sensor system according to one aspect of this disclosure can be equipped with a piezoelectric vibrator that outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of a substance, on a container containing the substance. Since the piezoelectric vibrator does not contain an integrated circuit, it is less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays even if the container is irradiated with gamma rays for sterilization. Therefore, the wireless sensor system can be made less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays for sterilization. Furthermore, a first antenna, which can be equipped on the container, transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator as radio waves, and a second antenna, equipped on a platform-shaped structure made of an insulator, receives the physical quantity detection signal transmitted as radio waves from the first antenna on the container placed on the platform-shaped structure. Since the platform-shaped structure is made of an insulator, even if the platform-shaped structure is placed on a conductive surface, adverse effects on the communication state between the first antenna and the second antenna from the surface on which the platform-shaped structure is placed can be suppressed. Therefore, by moving the platform-shaped structure on which the container is placed, the wireless sensor system can be easily placed inside various devices such as incubators and microscopes.
[0016] In other aspects of this disclosure, a wireless sensor system can be provided in a container portion of a platform structure that houses a substance, which outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of the substance. Since the piezoelectric vibrator does not contain an integrated circuit, it is less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays even if the container portion is irradiated with gamma rays for sterilization. Therefore, the wireless sensor system can be made less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays for sterilization. Furthermore, a first antenna, which can be provided in the container portion, transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator via radio waves, and a second antenna provided in the platform structure receives the physical quantity detection signal transmitted via radio waves from the first antenna in the container portion. Since the platform structure is made of an insulator, even if the platform structure is placed on a conductive surface, adverse effects on the communication state between the first antenna and the second antenna from the surface on which the platform structure is placed can be suppressed. Therefore, by moving the platform structure including the container portion, the wireless sensor system can be easily placed in various devices such as incubators and microscopes.
[0017] This is a perspective view of the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1. This is a plan view of the sensor unit included in the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1. This is a side view showing the relationship between the container and the sensor unit of the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1. This is a block diagram showing the configuration related to signal processing in the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1. This is a diagram showing an example of the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal in the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1 in graph form. This is a diagram showing the correlation between the resonance frequency and temperature of the piezoelectric vibrator in the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 1 in graph form. This is a perspective view of the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 2. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 2. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container and sensor unit used in the wireless sensor system according to Embodiment 3. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a wireless sensor system with a configuration combining the tabletop structure shown in Embodiment 1 and the container and sensor unit shown in Figure 10. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a wireless sensor system with a configuration combining the tabletop structure shown in Embodiment 2 and the container and sensor unit shown in Figure 10. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the tabletop structure according to Embodiment 4. This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the tabletop structure according to Embodiment 4.
[0018] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. While multiple embodiments will be described below, it has been intended from the outset that the configurations described in each embodiment may be combined as appropriate. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.
[0019] [Embodiment 1] (Overall configuration of wireless sensor system 1) Figure 1 is a perspective view of the wireless sensor system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 3 is a plan view of the sensor unit 4 included in the wireless sensor system 1 according to Embodiment 1.
[0020] In the following, the overall configuration of the wireless sensor system 1 will be explained using Figures 1, 2, and 3. The wireless sensor system 1 described below is an example of a system that measures the physical quantity of a substance using wireless communication. Specifically, the wireless sensor system 1 is a system that measures the temperature of a substance as a physical quantity of the substance using wireless communication.
[0021] Figure 1 shows the wireless sensor system 1 without the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 (see Figures 2(B) and 3) is attached.
[0022] Figure 2(A) shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1 without the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 is attached. Figure 2(B) shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1 with the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 is attached.
[0023] As shown in Figure 2(B), the wireless sensor system 1 can measure the temperature of substance 7 by measuring the temperature of the container 3 containing the substance 7 when the container 3 with the sensor unit 4 attached is placed on top of it. The reason why it is possible to measure the temperature of substance 7 by measuring the temperature of the container 3 is that, when substance 7 is contained in the container 3, the temperature of the container 3 and the temperature of substance 7 are basically the same. In this way, the wireless sensor system 1 is capable of measuring the physical quantity of substance 7, namely its temperature.
[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), the wireless sensor system 1 is a device for measuring the temperature of a substance 7 in an environment where a substance is cultured, such as in cell culture. Specifically, the wireless sensor system 1 can measure the temperature of the substance 7 by measuring the temperature of a container 3 containing the substance 7 to be cultured, as shown in Figure 2(B). The substance 7 is, for example, cells used in cell culture.
[0025] Container 3 is a translucent vessel used for culturing substance 7, such as a petri dish or beaker made of glass or synthetic resin. Container 3 may be transparent or translucent. Such a container 3 is sterilized by irradiation with gamma rays.
[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), the wireless sensor system 1 includes a cylindrical platform structure 10. The platform structure 10 is made of a translucent synthetic resin. The synthetic resin constituting the platform structure 10 is polyethylene or polypropylene. The platform structure 10 includes a base portion 11, a groove portion 12, and a container support portion 13. A second antenna 20 is provided in the groove portion 12 of the platform structure 10.
[0027] The synthetic resin constituting the platform structure 10 may be any material that has heat resistance to the temperature of the environment in which the platform structure 10 is placed, and may be a synthetic resin other than the polyethylene or polypropylene mentioned above.
[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), in the platform structure 10, the base portion 11, the groove portion 12, and the container support portion 13 are integrally formed from a translucent synthetic resin. Alternatively, the platform structure 10 may be constructed by joining together individual translucent synthetic resin parts for the base portion 11, the groove portion 12, and the container support portion 13.
[0029] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), the base portion 11 is a disc-shaped part located at the bottom of the platform structure 10. The container support portion 13 is a circular, dish-shaped part located at the top of the platform structure 10. The base portion 11 and the container support portion 13 have approximately the same diameter.
[0030] As shown in Figures 1 and 2(A), the groove 12 is a disc-shaped portion located between the base 11 and the container support 13. The groove 12 has a diameter smaller than the base 11 and the container support 13. Therefore, around the base structure 10, the groove 12 has a groove shape that is recessed one step towards the center of the base structure 10 relative to the base 11 and the container support 13. The second antenna 20 is wound around the entire circumference of the groove 12.
[0031] A side wall 132 is provided on the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the container support portion 13. The upper surface of the container support portion 13 includes a peripheral surface 131 on the peripheral side and a recess 133 on the central side. The peripheral surface 131 is located on the upper surface of the container support portion 13, inside the side wall 132, and is composed of an annular surface having a predetermined width. The recess 133 has a bottom surface located one step lower than the peripheral surface 131, and is a circular recess with a depth capable of accommodating the sensor unit 4 as shown in Figure 2(B). The depth of the recess 133 is greater than the thickness of the sensor unit 4.
[0032] As shown in Figure 2(B), the wireless sensor system 1 is configured such that the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13, with the sensor unit 4 housed within the recess 133. In this way, the wireless sensor system 1 has the container 3 placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13, with the sensor unit 4 housed inside the recess 133.
[0033] As shown in Figure 2(B), the wireless sensor system 1 can measure the temperature of the substance 7 contained in the container 3 when the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13 and supported by the peripheral surface 131.
[0034] The wireless sensor system 1 further includes a sensor unit 4 as shown in Figure 2(B). As shown in Figure 2(B), the sensor unit 4 is attached to the container 3. Therefore, when the container 3 is sterilized by irradiating it with gamma rays, the sensor unit 4 attached to the container 3 is also irradiated with gamma rays.
[0035] As shown in Figures 2(B) and 3, the sensor unit 4 is a sheet-like structure in which a piezoelectric vibrator 41, a first antenna 42, and wiring 43 are provided within a rectangular plate-shaped sheet 40. The sheet 40 is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin. In this way, the piezoelectric vibrator 41, the first antenna 42, and the wiring 43 are integrated into a sheet-like structure within the sheet 40. In other words, the piezoelectric vibrator 41, the first antenna 42, and the wiring 43 are integrated into a tag-like structure within the sheet 40.
[0036] In Figure 2(B), the sheet 40 is shown with diagonal lines indicating its cross-section, but the piezoelectric vibrator 41, the first antenna 42, and the wiring 43 omit the diagonal lines indicating their cross-sections in order to clearly distinguish them from the sheet 40.
[0037] As shown in Figure 2(B), the sensor unit 4 is attached to the underside (back side) of the bottom surface of the container 3. The sensor unit 4 can be attached to the container 3 by adhesive. The sensor unit 4 can be removed from the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3 by removing the adhesive used to attach it to the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3. The sensor unit 4 may be attached to the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3 in a detachable manner, or it may be fixedly attached to the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3.
[0038] Referring to Figure 3, the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is a temperature sensor that outputs a temperature detection signal with a different resonant frequency depending on the temperature. The temperature detection signal is a detection signal for the physical quantity of temperature. The first antenna 42 is an annular antenna. The first antenna 42 is connected to the piezoelectric vibrator 41 via wiring 43 and transmits the temperature detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator 41 as radio waves.
[0039] As shown in Figure 2(B), when the container 3 is placed on the container support 13, the second antenna 20 and the first antenna 42 are electromagnetically coupled. Radio waves are transmitted and received between the second antenna 20 and the first antenna 42. A signal processing device 2 is connected to the second antenna 20.
[0040] The signal processing device 2 performs various signal processes including signal processing for transmitting radio waves from the second antenna 20 to the first antenna 42, and signal processing for obtaining the temperature detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41 based on the radio waves received by the second antenna 20 from the first antenna 42. The signal processing device 2 may generally be called an interrogation device.
[0041] The wireless sensor system 1 may be composed of the second antenna 20, the pedestal structure 10, and the sensor unit 4, or may be composed of the second antenna 20, the pedestal structure 10, the sensor unit 4, and the signal processing device 2.
[0042] When the container 3 containing the substance 7 is housed in the incubator 5 (constant temperature device), as shown in FIG. 2(B), among the wireless sensor system 1, the pedestal structure 10 on which the container 3 is placed on the container support portion 13 is housed inside the incubator 5, and the signal processing device 2 is arranged outside the incubator 5. In that case, the second antenna 20 provided on the pedestal structure 10 and the signal processing device 2 are connected by a signal line.
[0043] When the substance 7 is observed with a microscope, as shown in FIG. 2(B), in order to observe the substance 7, light 60 is irradiated from the light source 6 existing below to the pedestal structure 10 on which the container 3 containing the substance 7 is placed on the container support portion 13. In that case, the second antenna 20 provided on the pedestal structure 10 and the signal processing device 2 are connected by a signal line.
[0044] Since the pedestal structure 10 and the sensor unit 4 of the wireless sensor system 1 have translucency, when light 60 is irradiated from the light source 6 in the microscope, the light 60 emitted by the light source 6 passes through the pedestal portion 11 and the groove portion 12 in the pedestal structure 10 and is irradiated toward the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached. The sensor unit 4 has translucency, and the ratio of the piezoelectric vibrator 41, the first antenna 42, and the wiring 43 occupying the surface of the sensor unit 4 is relatively small. Therefore, most of the light 60 irradiated toward the container 3 passes through the sensor unit 4 and irradiates the container 3.
[0045] (Relationship between the container 3 and the sensor unit 4) Fig. 4 is a side view showing the relationship between the container 3 and the sensor unit 4 of the wireless sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment. In Fig. 4(A), a state where the sensor unit 4 is not attached to the container 3 is shown. In Fig. 4(B), a state where the sensor unit 4 is attached to the container 3 is shown.
[0046] In Fig. 4(A), a state where the sensor unit 4 is not attached to the container 3 is shown. In Fig. 4(B), a state where the sensor unit 4 is attached to the container 3 is shown.
[0047] As shown in Fig. 4(A), the sensor unit 4 can be attached to the back side of the container 3 as shown in the direction of the white arrow in the figure. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4(B), the sensor unit 4 can be removed from the back side of the container 3 as shown in the direction of the white arrow in the figure.
[0048] The sensor unit 4 can be attached to the container 3 by adhering it to the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3 with an adhesive. The sensor unit 4 can be removed from the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3 by removing the adhesive used for adhering it to the back side of the bottom surface of the container 3.
[0049] (Configuration related to signal processing in the wireless sensor system 1) Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration related to signal processing in the wireless sensor system 1 according to the first embodiment. The second antenna 20 and the signal processing device 2 are connected via a wiring 23. In the sensor unit 4, a piezoelectric vibrator 41 and a first antenna 42 are connected via a wiring 43.
[0050] Between the second antenna 20 and the first antenna 42, the first radio wave 51 can be transmitted from the second antenna 20 toward the first antenna 42. Between the second antenna 20 and the first antenna 42, the second radio wave 52 can be transmitted from the first antenna 42 toward the second antenna 20. A signal corresponding to the first radio wave 51 received by the first antenna 42 is sent from the first antenna 42 to the piezoelectric vibrator 41. A signal corresponding to the second radio wave 52 received by the second antenna 20 is sent from the second antenna 20 to the signal processing device 2.
[0051] The signal processing device 2 includes a computer 21 and a signal processing circuit 22. The computer 21 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 211, memory 212 (various storage devices including ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and non-volatile memory such as flash memory), and input / output buffers (not shown) for inputting and outputting various signals.
[0052] The CPU 211 loads the software programs stored in the ROM of the memory 212 into RAM or similar and executes them. The ROM stores various programs that indicate the processing procedures related to temperature measurement in the wireless sensor system 1.
[0053] In the computer 21, the CPU 211 executes a program read from the memory 212, thereby performing various processes including the following first and second processes. The first process is the process of transmitting a signal for detecting temperature by the piezoelectric vibrator 41 from the second antenna 20 using the first radio wave 51. The second process is the process of determining the temperature detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41 based on the temperature detection signal (temperature detection signal) that the second antenna 20 receives, which has been detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and transmitted from the first antenna 42 using the second radio wave 52.
[0054] The signal processing circuit 22 includes a circuit capable of performing signal processing to transmit the first radio wave 51 from the second antenna 20 in response to a command signal from the computer 21 when the computer 21 performs the first processing described above. Furthermore, the signal processing circuit 22 includes a circuit capable of performing signal processing to supply the computer 21 with a signal necessary for the computer 21 to perform the second processing in response to the second radio wave 52 received by the second antenna 20 when the computer 21 performs the second processing described above.
[0055] (Temperature measurement method in wireless sensor system 1) Next, the temperature measurement method in wireless sensor system 1 will be described. The computer 21 sends a command signal to the signal processing circuit 22 for transmitting a burst wave signal on the first radio wave 51. The signal processing circuit 22 performs signal processing to generate a burst wave signal in response to the command signal sent from the computer 21, and transmits the burst wave signal from the second antenna 20 on the first radio wave 51.
[0056] The burst wave signal generated by the signal processing circuit 22 is a signal with a frequency that causes the piezoelectric vibrator 41 to resonate, and is a signal that causes the piezoelectric vibrator 41 to resonate for a predetermined period of time.
[0057] The first antenna 42 receives the first radio wave 51 transmitted from the second antenna 20. The first antenna 42 sends a burst wave signal to the piezoelectric oscillator 41 via wiring 43 in accordance with the first radio wave 51 received by the first antenna 42.
[0058] The piezoelectric vibrator 41 resonates for a predetermined period of time in response to the received burst wave signal. When the piezoelectric vibrator 41 resonates in this way, a high-frequency signal (corresponding to a temperature detection signal) indicating the high frequency generated by the resonance is sent from the piezoelectric vibrator 41 to the first antenna 42 via the wiring 43. The first antenna 42 transmits the high-frequency signal received from the piezoelectric vibrator 41 as a second radio wave 52.
[0059] The second antenna 20 receives the second radio wave 52 transmitted from the first antenna 42. The second antenna 20 sends a high-frequency signal from the piezoelectric oscillator 41 to the signal processing circuit 22 via wiring 23, corresponding to the second radio wave 52 received by the second antenna 20.
[0060] The signal processing circuit 22 samples the high-frequency signal sent from the second antenna 20, converts it into a digital signal, and sends it to the computer 21.
[0061] When the piezoelectric vibrator 41 resonates due to a burst wave signal, the resonance of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 continues for a certain period of time even after the burst wave signal is turned off. As a result of this continued resonance of the piezoelectric vibrator 41, a reverberation wave is output from the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0062] Computer 21 performs processes such as fast Fourier transforming the reverberation signal contained in the high-frequency signal sent from the signal processing circuit 22 to determine the frequency characteristics of the reverberation signal (see Figure 6). Then, computer 21 obtains the peak frequency based on the frequency characteristics of the reverberation signal. This peak frequency is identified as the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0063] There is a correlation (see Figure 7) between the resonant frequency obtained based on the reverberation wave signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator 41 when the piezoelectric vibrator 41 resonates, and the temperature detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41. This is because there is a correlation (see Figure 7) between the temperature of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 that resonates due to the burst wave signal, as will be explained later.
[0064] The computer 21 uses data showing the correlation between the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41, obtained based on the reverberation wave signal, and the temperature detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41 to identify the temperature corresponding to that resonant frequency as the temperature detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41. The computer 21 then determines this identified temperature as the temperature measurement result using the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0065] (Example of frequency characteristics of reverberation wave signal) Figure 6 is a graph showing an example of the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal in the wireless sensor system 1 according to Embodiment 1. Figure 6 shows the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal after the Fast Fourier Transform.
[0066] Figure 6 shows the relationship between frequency and amplitude when the amplitude of the reverberation wave signal is plotted on the vertical axis and the frequency of the reverberation wave signal is plotted on the horizontal axis.
[0067] Figure 6 shows the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal, illustrating the relationship between frequency and amplitude when the amplitude of the reverberation wave signal is plotted on the vertical axis and the frequency of the reverberation wave signal is plotted on the horizontal axis. Based on the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal as shown in Figure 6, the computer 21 reads the peak frequency with the largest amplitude as the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0068] (Correlation between resonant frequency obtained from reverberation wave signal and temperature) Figure 7 is a graph showing the correlation between the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and temperature in the wireless sensor system 1 according to Embodiment 1. The correlation between the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and temperature is, for example, a proportional relationship as shown in Figure 7.
[0069] Figure 7 shows the relationship between frequency and temperature when the vertical axis represents the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the horizontal axis represents the measured temperature.
[0070] Computer 21 identifies the temperature corresponding to the resonance frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41, which is obtained from the peak frequency read based on the frequency characteristics of the reverberation wave signal shown in Figure 6, in the correlation shown in Figure 7. Then, Computer 21 determines that the temperature identified in this way is the temperature measured by the wireless sensor system 1.
[0071] Thus, in the wireless sensor system 1, a piezoelectric vibrator 41 that outputs a temperature detection signal corresponding to the temperature of the substance 7 contained in the container 3 on the non-conductive platform structure 10 can be provided on the container 3. Since the piezoelectric vibrator 41 does not contain an integrated circuit, it is less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays even if the container 3 is irradiated with gamma rays for sterilization. Therefore, the wireless sensor system 1 can be made less susceptible to the effects of gamma rays for sterilization. Furthermore, a first antenna 42 in a sensor unit 4 that can be provided on the container 3 transmits the temperature detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator 41 as a second radio wave 52, and a second antenna 20 provided on the non-conductive platform structure 10 receives the temperature detection signal transmitted as a second radio wave 52 from the first antenna 42 in the sensor unit 4 attached to the container 3 placed on the platform structure 10. Since the platform structure 10 is made of a non-conductive material, even if the platform structure 10 is placed on a conductive surface, adverse effects on the communication state between the second antenna 20 and the first antenna 42 from the surface on which the platform structure 10 is placed can be suppressed. Therefore, by moving the platform-like structure 10 on which the container 3 is placed, the wireless sensor system 1 can be easily positioned inside various devices such as the incubator 5 and a microscope.
[0072] Furthermore, as explained with reference to Figure 4, since the sensor unit 4, which includes the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the first antenna 42, is detachable from the container 3, the wireless sensor system 1 can be equipped with the sensor unit 4, which includes the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the first antenna 42, in various types of containers.
[0073] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2(B) and other figures, the platform structure 10 is provided with a recess 133 in the container support portion 13, so the wireless sensor system 1 can house the sensor unit 4 within the recess 133.
[0074] Furthermore, since the platform-shaped structure 10 is translucent, it is possible to irradiate the container 3 with light 60 from the light source 6. Therefore, in the wireless sensor system 1, observation with a microscope that irradiates light 60 from below the platform-shaped structure 10 can be facilitated.
[0075] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the first antenna 42 are used as a sensor unit 4 integrated into a sheet, making it easy to handle, such as attaching and detaching it from the container 3. In addition, because the piezoelectric vibrator 41 and the first antenna 42 are integrated into a sheet, the volume of the sensor unit 4 can be reduced.
[0076] In the wireless sensor system 1, the substance 7 that the piezoelectric vibrator 41 detects as a physical quantity is not limited to the aforementioned cells, but may also include various other substances such as culture media used in cell culture.
[0077] Furthermore, in the wireless sensor system 1, temperature was explained as an example of a physical quantity that the piezoelectric vibrator 41 can detect. Other physical quantities that the piezoelectric vibrator 41 can detect include the viscosity of a substance and the pH (hydrogen ion concentration) of a substance. Therefore, the piezoelectric vibrator 41 can be installed in the container 3 that contains the substance 7, and only needs to output a physical quantity detection signal (a physical quantity detection signal including a temperature detection signal, a viscosity detection signal, and a pH detection signal) corresponding to the physical quantities of the substance 7 (physical quantities including temperature, viscosity, and pH).
[0078] For example, when the piezoelectric vibrator 41 measures the viscosity of the culture medium contained in container 3, the wireless sensor system 1 can either reduce the thickness of the bottom surface of container 3 or place the piezoelectric vibrator 41 inside container 3. In such a configuration, the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 changes in response to a change in the viscosity of the culture medium inside container 3, so the change in the viscosity of the culture medium can be detected by the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0079] For example, when the piezoelectric vibrator 41 measures the pH of the culture medium contained in container 3, the wireless sensor system 1 replaces a portion of the bottom surface of container 3 with a pH-sensitive membrane. In this configuration, the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 41 changes in response to a change in the pH of the culture medium in container 3, so the piezoelectric vibrator 41 can detect the change in pH.
[0080] Therefore, the technical effects obtained in the wireless sensor system 1 of Embodiment 1 are not limited to the configuration in which the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a temperature sensor, but can also be obtained in configurations in which the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a sensor other than a temperature sensor, such as the configuration in which the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a viscosity sensor, or the configuration in which the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a pH sensor.
[0081] Furthermore, in configurations where the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a sensor other than a temperature sensor, the same technical effects as in configurations where the piezoelectric vibrator 41 is used as a temperature sensor can be obtained, and this is also true in other embodiments described later.
[0082] [Embodiment 2] (Overall configuration of wireless sensor system 1A) Figure 8 is a perspective view of the wireless sensor system 1A according to Embodiment 2. Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1A according to Embodiment 2.
[0083] In the following, the overall configuration of the wireless sensor system 1A will be explained using Figures 8 and 9.
[0084] Figure 8 shows the wireless sensor system 1 without the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 (see Figure 9(B)) is attached.
[0085] Figure 9(A) shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1A without the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 is attached. Figure 9(B) shows a vertical cross-sectional view of the wireless sensor system 1A with the container 3 on which the sensor unit 4 is attached.
[0086] As shown in Figure 9(B), the wireless sensor system 1A can measure the temperature of substance 7 by measuring the temperature of the container 3 containing the substance 7 when the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached is placed.
[0087] The difference between the wireless sensor system 1A of Embodiment 2 and the wireless sensor system 1 of Embodiment 1 is that, as shown in Figures 8 and 9(A), a hole 14 is provided in the center of the tabletop structure 10A, penetrating the tabletop structure 10A in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 9(A), the hole 14 penetrates the center of the base portion 11A, the groove portion 12A, and the container support portion 13A included in the tabletop structure 10A.
[0088] In the wireless sensor system 1A, as shown in Figure 9(B), the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13 in such a manner that the sensor unit 4 is housed in the hole 14. In this way, in the wireless sensor system 1A, the sensor unit 4 is housed inside the hole 14 with the container 3 placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13.
[0089] As shown in Figure 9(B), the wireless sensor system 1A can measure the temperature of substance 7 when the container 3 to which the sensor unit 4 is attached is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13 and supported by the peripheral surface 131 of the hole 14.
[0090] When the substance 7 is observed with a microscope, as shown in Figure 9(B), in order to observe the substance 7, light 60 is irradiated from a light source 6 located below onto a platform structure 10A on which a container 3 containing the substance 7 is placed on a container support 13. In the wireless sensor system 1A, a hole 14 is provided that penetrates the platform structure 10A in the vertical direction, so that the light 60 from below the platform structure 10A can be guided to the top of the platform structure 10A through this hole 14.
[0091] In the wireless sensor system 1A of the second embodiment, the hole 14 that penetrates the vertical direction of the platform-shaped structure 10A allows light emitted from the light source 6 located below to be guided upward to irradiate the container 3, thus eliminating the need for the platform-shaped structure 10A to be translucent. Therefore, the platform-shaped structure 10A is made of a non-translucent synthetic resin. However, the platform-shaped structure 10A may be made of a translucent synthetic resin.
[0092] In Embodiment 2, similar to Embodiment 1, the same technical effects as in Embodiment 1 can be obtained by using the piezoelectric vibrator 41 as a temperature sensor.
[0093] In the second embodiment, a hole 14 is provided that can guide light from below the platform structure 10A to the top of the platform structure 10A. Since such a hole 14 guides light emitted from the light source 6 of the microscope to irradiate the container 3, it is possible to facilitate the observation of the substance 7 contained in the container 3 with a microscope. Furthermore, since such a hole 14 can accommodate the sensor unit 4, there is no need to provide a separate recess for accommodating the sensor unit 4.
[0094] [Embodiment 3] In the following description, a wireless sensor system 1B and 1C, which integrate a container 3A and a sensor unit 4A, will be explained.
[0095] (Configuration of container 3A and sensor unit 4A of wireless sensor system 1B.1C) Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container 3A and sensor unit 4A used in the wireless sensor system 1B.1C according to Embodiment 3.
[0096] Container 3A is a dish-shaped container similar to container 3 in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, with a sensor unit 4A fixedly mounted on its back side. Sensor unit 4A has the same configuration as sensor unit 4 shown in Figure 3.
[0097] The sensor unit 4 described in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 is detachably mounted to the container 3, as shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), but the sensor unit 4A of Embodiment 3 is fixedly mounted on the back side of the container 3A.
[0098] The configuration in which the sensor unit 4A is fixedly provided on the back side of the container 3A includes a configuration in which it is attached to the back side of the container 3A in a manner that makes it impossible to remove, and a configuration in which it is integrally formed with the container 3A on the back side of the container 3A.
[0099] A configuration in which the sensor unit 4A is attached to the back side of the container 3A in a manner that makes it impossible to remove includes, for example, a configuration in which, when forming the container 3A, a space for inserting the sensor unit 4A is formed on the back side of the container 3A, and once the sensor unit 4A is inserted into that space, the sensor unit 4A cannot be removed.
[0100] Furthermore, a configuration in which the sensor unit 4A is attached to the back side of the container 3A in a manner that makes it impossible to remove includes a configuration in which the sensor unit 4A is joined to the back side of the container 3A in a manner that prevents removal.
[0101] The configuration in which the sensor unit 4 is integrally formed with the container 3A on the back side of the container 3A includes a configuration in which the container 3A is formed in such a way that the sensor unit 4A is embedded on the back side of the container 3A.
[0102] (Overall configuration of wireless sensor systems 1B and 1C) Figure 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a table-shaped structure 1B according to Embodiment 3. Figure 11 shows a wireless sensor system 1B that combines the table-shaped structure 1 shown in Embodiment 1 with the container 3A and sensor unit 4A shown in Figure 10.
[0103] As shown in Figure 11, the platform structure 10B of the wireless sensor system 1B includes a base portion 11B, a groove portion 12B, and a container support portion B, which have the same shape as the base portion 11, groove portion 12, and container support portion 13 shown in Figure 2(B).
[0104] As shown in Figure 11, in the wireless sensor system 1B, similar to the case of the platform structure 1 and container 3 shown in Embodiment 1, the container 3A is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13B in such a manner that the sensor unit 4A is housed in the recess 133. In the state shown in Figure 11, the wireless sensor system 1B can measure temperature using the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0105] Figure 12 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a table-shaped structure 1C according to Embodiment 3. Figure 12 shows a wireless sensor system 1C that combines the table-shaped structure 1A shown in Embodiment 2 with the container 3A and sensor unit 4A shown in Figure 10.
[0106] As shown in Figure 12, the platform structure 10C of the wireless sensor system 1C includes a base portion 11C, a groove portion 12C, and a container support portion C, which have the same shape as the base portion 11A, groove portion 12A, and container support portion 13A shown in Figure 9(B).
[0107] As shown in Figure 12, in the wireless sensor system 1C, similar to the case of the platform structure 1A and container 3 shown in Embodiment 1, the container 3A is placed on the peripheral surface 131 of the container support portion 13C in such a manner that the sensor unit 4A is housed in the hole 14. In the state shown in Figure 12, the wireless sensor system 1C can measure temperature using the piezoelectric vibrator 41.
[0108] When using a sensor unit 4A fixed to a container 3A as shown in Embodiment 3, the same technical effects as when using a sensor unit 4 detachably provided to a container 3 as shown in Embodiments 1 and 2 can be obtained.
[0109] Furthermore, in wireless sensor systems 1B and 1C that use a sensor unit 4A fixedly mounted on a container 3A as shown in Embodiment 3, when measuring the temperature of the substance 7 contained in the container 3A with a piezoelectric vibrator 41 included in the sensor unit 4A, the cumbersome task of attaching the sensor unit 4A to the container 3A can be omitted.
[0110] [Embodiment 4] In the following description, the configuration of the wireless sensor systems 1D and 1E according to Embodiment 4 will be explained using Figures 13 and 14. Embodiment 4 describes an example in which a container section for containing the substance 7 is provided on the platform-shaped structure itself.
[0111] Figure 13 illustrates an example in which a container section 13D is provided on a translucent platform structure 10D, such as the platform structure 10 shown in Figure 2. Figure 14 illustrates an example in which a container section 13E is provided on a platform structure 10E, which has a hole 14A, such as the platform structure 10A shown in Figure 9.
[0112] (Overall configuration of wireless sensor system 1D) Figure 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a table-shaped structure 1D according to Embodiment 4.
[0113] As shown in Figure 13, the platform structure 10D of the wireless sensor system 1D includes a base portion 11D and a groove portion 12, which have the same shape as the base portion 11 and groove portion 12 shown in Figure 2(B), and a container portion 13D, which is different from the container support portion 13 shown in Figure 2(B).
[0114] The container portion 13D itself functions as a container for holding substance 7. The container portion 13D is provided with side walls 132 having the same shape as the container support portion 13 shown in Figure 2(B), and constitutes a circular dish-shaped container of the same size as the container support portion 13. The container portion 13D is a container having a bottom surface 134 without the recess 133 shown in Figure 2(B).
[0115] In the container section 13D, the substance 7 is directly contained in the space formed by the bottom surface 134 and the side walls 132. In other words, the container section 13D has the functions of both the container support section 13 and the container 3 shown in Figure 2(B).
[0116] In the container portion 13D, a space portion 135 is provided inside (on the back side) of the bottom surface 134 at the same position as the recess 133 provided in the container support portion 13 shown in Figure 2(B). The space portion 135 is the part that houses the sensor unit 4 inside (on the back side) of the bottom surface 134. The space portion 135 consists of, for example, a circular space region. However, the space portion 135 may consist of a space region of other shapes, such as a rectangular space region. The space portion 135 may be any shape as long as it is configured to accommodate the sensor unit 4.
[0117] The base-shaped structure 10D has a base portion 11D and a groove portion 12D formed integrally, and a container portion 13D is formed separately from these parts. In the container portion 13D, the sensor unit 4 is mounted inside the bottom surface 134 (back side) so that it is housed in the space portion 135. The container portion 13D with the sensor unit 4 is fixedly attached by joining it to the upper part of the groove portion 12D in the manner shown in Figure 13. In this way, the container portion 13D, the groove portion 12D, and the base portion 11D are integrally constructed.
[0118] As described above, the platform structure 10D is configured such that the container portion 13D itself functions as a container for holding the substance 7. With this configuration, the platform structure 10D can hold the substance 7 without using a container 3 as shown in Figure 2(B).
[0119] In this type of platform structure 10D, the piezoelectric vibrator 41 in the sensor unit 4 located inside the container portion 13D can detect the temperature of the container portion 13D. Then, communication similar to that described in Embodiment 1 is performed between the first antenna 42 provided on the sensor unit 4 and the second antenna 20 provided on the groove portion 12D. Therefore, the wireless sensor system 1D of Embodiment 3 can perform temperature measurement similar to that of the wireless sensor system 1 of Embodiment 1.
[0120] Furthermore, since the platform structure 10D is light-transmitting, similar to the platform structure 1 of Embodiment 1, when light 60 is irradiated from the light source 6 in the microscope, as shown in Figure 13, the light 60 emitted from the light source 6 passes through the base portion 11 and groove portion 12 of the platform structure 10 and is irradiated toward the container portion 13D to which the sensor unit 4 is attached.
[0121] (Overall configuration of wireless sensor system 1E) Figure 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a table-shaped structure 1E according to Embodiment 4.
[0122] As shown in Figure 14, the platform structure 10E of the wireless sensor system 1E includes a base portion 11E and a groove portion 12E, which have the same shape as the base portion 11A and groove portion 12A shown in Figure 9(B), and a container portion 13E that is different from the container support portion 13A shown in Figure 9(B).
[0123] The container portion 13E itself functions as a container for holding substance 7. The container portion 13E is provided with side walls 132 having the same shape as the container support portion 13A shown in Figure 9(B), and constitutes a circular dish-shaped container of the same size as the container support portion 13A. The container portion 13E is a container that has a bottom surface 134 in which the holes 14 shown in Figure 9(B) are not provided.
[0124] In the container section 13E, the substance 7 is directly contained in the space formed by the bottom surface 134 and the side walls 132. In other words, the container section 13E has the functions of both the container support section 13A shown in Figure 9(B) and the container 3.
[0125] In the container portion 13E, a space portion 136 is provided on the inside of the bottom surface 134 at the same position as the hole 14 provided in the container support portion 13A shown in Figure 9(B). The space portion 136 is a portion that accommodates the sensor unit 4 on the inside of the bottom surface 134. The space portion 136 consists of, for example, a circular space region. However, the space portion 136 may consist of space regions of other shapes, such as a rectangular circular space region. The space portion 136 may be any shape as long as it is configured to accommodate the sensor unit 4.
[0126] The base-shaped structure 10E has a base portion 11E and a groove portion 12E formed integrally, and a container portion 13E is formed separately from these parts. In this case, the base portion 11E and the groove portion 12E are provided with holes 14A similar to the holes 14 shown in Figure 9(B). For example, as shown in Figure 14, the container portion 13E is composed of holes with the same diameter as the holes 14.
[0127] In the container portion 13E, the sensor unit 4 is attached to the underside of the bottom surface 134 so that it is housed in the space portion 136. The container portion 13E, on which the sensor unit 4 is provided, is fixedly attached by joining it to the upper part of the groove portion 12E in the manner shown in Figure 14. In this way, the container portion 13E, the groove portion 12E, and the base portion 11E are integrally formed.
[0128] The platform-shaped structure 10E may be formed by integrally creating the base portion 11E, the groove portion 12E, and the container portion 13E, and by providing a hole in the center of the platform-shaped structure 10E, thereby forming the hole 14A and the space portion 136 at the same time.
[0129] As described above, the platform structure 10E is configured such that the container portion 13E itself functions as a container for holding the substance 7. With this configuration, the platform structure 10E can hold the substance 7 without using a container 3 as shown in Figure 9(B).
[0130] In this type of platform structure 10E, the piezoelectric vibrator 41 in the sensor unit 4 located inside the container portion 13E can detect the temperature of the container portion 13E. Then, communication similar to that described in Embodiment 1 is performed between the first antenna 42 provided on the sensor unit 4 and the second antenna 20 provided on the groove portion 12E. Therefore, the wireless sensor system 1E of Embodiment 3 can perform temperature measurement similar to that of the wireless sensor system 1A of Embodiment 2.
[0131] Furthermore, since the platform structure 10E is light-transmitting, similar to the platform structure 1 of Embodiment 1, when light 60 is irradiated from the light source 6 in the microscope, as shown in Figure 14, the light 60 emitted from the light source 6 passes through the base portion 11E and groove portion 12E of the platform structure 10E and is irradiated toward the container portion 13E to which the sensor unit 4 is attached.
[0132] [Other Modifications] Next, other modifications of the embodiments described herein will be described.
[0133] (1) The first antenna 42 and second antenna 20 shown in Figure 5 are examples of antennas with an annular shape. However, other types of antennas may be used for the first and second antennas, as long as they are antennas capable of wireless communication.
[0134] (2) In the description of a tabletop structure, the tabletop structure 10 shown in Figure 1 is a representative example in which the shape when viewed from above is circular. However, the tabletop structure may have other shapes, such as a polygon when viewed from above.
[0135] (3) The table-shaped structures 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C, with the table-shaped structure 10 having a container support portion such as the container support portion 13 shown in Figure 1 as a representative example, show an example in which a side wall such as the side wall 132 is provided on the container support portion. However, such a container support portion only needs to be able to support the container 3, and may not have a side wall.
[0136] (4) The aforementioned platform structure, with the platform structure 10 shown in Figure 2 as a representative example, may be formed integrally, or it may be formed by individually forming a base portion such as the base portion 11, a groove portion such as the groove portion 12, and a container support portion such as the container support portion 13, and then joining them together to form a single structure. Alternatively, the platform structure may be formed by integrally forming the base portion and the groove portion, and separately forming the container support portion, and then joining them together to form a single structure. Alternatively, the platform structure may be formed by integrally forming the groove portion and the container support portion, and separately forming the base portion, and then joining them together to form a single structure.
[0137] [Note] Next, the features of the embodiments described herein will be summarized.
[0138] (1) A piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) which can be installed on a container (container 3) containing a substance (substance 7) and outputs a physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) corresponding to the physical quantity (temperature) of the substance (substance 7); a first antenna (first antenna 42) which can be installed on the container (container 3) and transmits the physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) output from the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) by radio waves; and a non-conductive platform on which the container (container 3) can be placed. A wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C) comprising a structure (tabletop structure 10, 10A, 10B, 10C) and a second antenna (second antenna 20) provided on the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10, 10A, 10B, 10C) for receiving the physical quantity detection signal transmitted by radio waves from the first antenna (first antenna 42) in the container (container 3) placed on the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10, 10A, 10B, 10C).
[0139] (2) The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1A) according to (1), wherein the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) are detachable from the container (container 3).
[0140] <3> The piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) are fixedly provided in the container (container 3) as described in <1> (wireless sensor systems 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E).
[0141] (4) The piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) are provided at the bottom of the container (container 3), and the platform structure is provided with a recess capable of accommodating the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) when the container (container 3) is placed on it, the wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1B) according to any one of (1) to (3).
[0142] <5> The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1A, 1C) according to any one of <1> to <3>, wherein the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10A, 10C) is provided with a hole (hole 14) that can guide light from below the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10A, 10C) to the top of the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10A, 10C), and the container (container 3) can be supported by the periphery of the hole (hole 14).
[0143] <6> The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1A, 1C) according to <5>, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) are provided at the bottom of the container (container 3), and the platform structure (platform structure 10A, 10C) is capable of accommodating the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) in the hole (hole 14) when the container (container 3) is placed on it.
[0144] <7> The device comprises a table-shaped structure made of an insulator (table-shaped structure 10D, 10E), a piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41), a first antenna (first antenna 42), and a second antenna (second antenna 20), wherein the table-shaped structure (table-shaped structure 10D, 10E) includes a container section (container section 13D, 13E) for containing a substance (substance 7), and the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) is provided in the container section (container section 13D, 13E) and outputs a physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) corresponding to the physical quantity (temperature) of the substance (substance 7). The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1D, 1E) is provided with the first antenna (first antenna 42) on the container section (container section 13D, 13E) and transmits the physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) output from the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) by radio waves, and the second antenna (second antenna 20) is provided on the table-shaped structure (table-shaped structure 10D, 10E) and receives the physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) transmitted by radio waves from the first antenna (first antenna 42).
[0145] <8> The table-shaped structure (table-shaped structure 10, 10B) is a light-transmitting wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) according to any one of <1> to <4> or <7>.
[0146] <9> The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1E) according to <7>, wherein the table-shaped structure (table-shaped structure 10E) has at least the container portion (container portion 13E) which is light-transmitting, and is provided with a hole (hole 14A) that can guide light from below the table-shaped structure (table-shaped structure 10E) to the bottom surface (bottom surface 134) of the container portion (container portion 13E).
[0147] <10> The wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) according to any one of <1> to <9>, wherein the tabletop structure (tabletop structure 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E) is provided with grooves (grooves 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E), and the second antenna (second antenna 20) is provided in the grooves (grooves 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E).
[0148] <11> The piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) and the first antenna (first antenna 42) are integrated into a sheet, as described in any of <1> to <10>, in the wireless sensor system (wireless sensor system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E).
[0149] (12) A wireless sensor system according to any one of (1) to (11) (wireless sensor system 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E), further comprising a signal processing device (signal processing device 2) that performs signal processing to determine the physical quantity (temperature) detected by the piezoelectric vibrator (piezoelectric vibrator 41) in response to the physical quantity detection signal (temperature detection signal) received by the second antenna (second antenna 20).
[0150] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are intended to be included.
[0151] 7 substance, 3 container, 41 piezoelectric vibrator, 42 first antenna, 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E platform structure, 20 second antenna, 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E wireless sensor system, 14 hole, 13D, 13E container section, 134 bottom surface, 2 signal processing device.
Claims
1. A wireless sensor system comprising: a piezoelectric vibrator that can be installed on a container for containing a substance and outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of the substance; a first antenna that can be installed on the container and transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator by radio waves; a platform-shaped structure made of an insulator on which the container can be placed; and a second antenna installed on the platform-shaped structure and receiving the physical quantity detection signal transmitted by radio waves from the first antenna in the container placed on the platform-shaped structure.
2. The wireless sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna are detachable from the container.
3. The wireless sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna are fixedly mounted in the container.
4. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna are provided at the bottom of the container, and the platform structure is provided with a recess capable of accommodating the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna when the container is placed on it.
5. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the platform structure is provided with a hole that can guide light from below the platform structure to the top of the platform structure, and the periphery of the hole can support the container.
6. The wireless sensor system according to claim 5, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna are provided at the bottom of the container, and the platform structure is capable of accommodating the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna in the hole when the container is placed on it.
7. A wireless sensor system comprising a platform-shaped structure made of an insulator, a piezoelectric vibrator, a first antenna, and a second antenna, wherein the platform-shaped structure includes a container portion for containing a substance, the piezoelectric vibrator is provided in the container portion and outputs a physical quantity detection signal corresponding to the physical quantity of the substance, the first antenna is provided in the container portion and transmits the physical quantity detection signal output from the piezoelectric vibrator via radio waves, and the second antenna is provided in the platform-shaped structure and receives the physical quantity detection signal transmitted via radio waves from the first antenna.
8. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 7, wherein the platform structure is translucent.
9. The wireless sensor system according to claim 7, wherein at least the container portion of the platform structure is translucent, and a hole is provided that allows light from below the platform structure to be guided to the bottom surface of the container portion.
10. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the platform-shaped structure is provided with a groove around its periphery, and the second antenna is provided in the groove.
11. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the piezoelectric vibrator and the first antenna are integrated into a sheet.
12. The wireless sensor system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a signal processing device that performs signal processing to determine the physical quantity detected by the piezoelectric vibrator in response to the physical quantity detection signal received by the second antenna.