Heat flow meter and electronic device

• US 10,260,965 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akira, Shimizu, Sakiko
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhodes, Jr., Leon W
• Application Number:
  US15/053,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20160252407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0276 comprising a thermosensitive compound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/04 Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 17/00 Measuring quantity of heat measuring temperature by calorimetry G01K3/00 - G01K11/00; specially adapted for measuring thermal properties of materials, e.g. specific heat, heat of combustion G01N

Abstract

A heat flow sensor includes a heat transfer layer that has first and second surfaces confronting each other and has flexibility and a temperature difference measurement unit that measures a temperature difference between the first and second surfaces of the heat transfer layer. The heat transfer layer includes a first member having flexibility and a second member with higher thermal conductivity than the first member. The thickness of the heat transfer layer is equal to or greater than 0.5 mm, thermal conductivity of the heat transfer layer is equal to or greater than 10 W/(m×K), and Shore hardness of the heat transfer layer is equal to or less than A50.

Claims

1. A heat flow meter comprising:

a heat transfer unit that has first and second surfaces confronting each other and has flexibility; and

a temperature difference measurement unit that is embedded in the heat transfer unit and that measures a temperature difference between the first and second surfaces of the heat transfer unit,

wherein the heat transfer unit further includes a first member having flexibility and a second member dispersed in the first member, the second member having higher thermal conductivity than the first member.

2. The heat flow meter according to claim 1,

wherein a thickness of the heat transfer unit is equal to or greater than 0.5 mm, thermal conductivity of the heat transfer unit is equal to or greater than 10 W/(mxK), and Shore hardness of the heat transfer unit is equal to or less than A50.

3. The heat flow meter according to claim 2,

wherein a heat diffusion layer with thermal conductivity greater than 100 W/(mxK) is disposed on the first surface.

4. The heat flow meter according to claim 3,

wherein a protective layer formed of an organic substance is disposed on a surface of the heat diffusion layer.

5. The heat flow meter according to claim 4,

wherein the Shore hardness of the protective layer is equal to or less than A50.

6. The heat flow meter according to claim 4,

wherein the heat transfer unit, the heat diffusion layer, and the protective layer are joined to each other by sewing.

7. The electronic device according to claim 3,

wherein the heat diffusion layer causes a temperature distribution to be uniform in the plane of the first surface.

8. The heat flow meter according to claim 1,

wherein the temperature difference measurement unit measures a temperature difference based on temperature information at a plurality of points of the first surface and temperature information at a plurality of points of the second surface.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a belt on which a heat flow meter including a heat transfer unit that has first and second surfaces confronting each other and has flexibility and a temperature difference measurement unit that measures a temperature difference between the first and second surfaces of the heat transfer unit is mounted;

a casing that is connected to the belt; and

a control unit that is provided inside the casing and that controls the heat flow meter,

wherein the heat transfer unit further includes a first member having flexibility and a second member dispersed in the first member, the second member having higher thermal conductivity than the first member.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9,

wherein thermal conductivity of the belt is less than thermal conductivity of the heat transfer unit.