Device for detecting and/or transmitting at least one environmental influence, method for producing said device and use thereof

• US 20040062294A1
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: PolyIC GmbH & Co. KG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Clemens, Wolfgang, Schewe, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,534,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/185
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/14 influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 9/0054 integral with a semiconducting diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure

Abstract

A device for detecting and/or transmitting at least one environmental influence, and a method for producing the same. The device comprises at least one receiver element and an evaluation circuit that is substantially composed of organic functional material.

Claims

1. Device for detecting and/or transmitting at least one environmental influence which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one receiver element which records at least one environmental influence and/or converts this environmental influence into an electrical signal and at least one evaluation circuit which processes and transmits a received signal.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least the receiver element and the evaluation circuit are disposed on a carrier or substrate.

3. Device according to one of the claims 1 or 2 which receives, processes and transmits multiple environmental influences in parallel and/or sequentially.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims which transmits the received environmental signals in digital or analog form.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the substrate is a flexible film.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one organic functional material is identical in at least one receiver element and in at least one element of the evaluation circuit.

7. Method for producing a device for detecting and/or transmitting at least one environmental influence, wherein, by coating with organic material on at least one substrate, at least one receiver element, one evaluation circuit and/or one associated connection arrangement is built up.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the coating is applied at least partially by printing and/or introducing material by means of a doctor blade.

9. Method according to one of the claims 7 or 8, wherein the coating is applied in a continuous process.

10. Use of a device for detecting and/or transmitting at least one environmental influence in industry, monitoring/sensor technology, medical engineering and/or transportation.

11. Temperature sensor which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one receiver element which measures at least one temperature change and/or converts this temperature change into an electrical signal and at least one evaluation circuit which processes and transmits a received signal.

12. Heater which is substantially constructed of organic material and which comprises at least one circuit which evaluates a received signal/information and controls a heatable element in accordance with the received signal.

13. Heater according to claim 12, wherein the heatable element is a reversibly heatable element.

14. Pressure sensor which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one receiver element which measures at least one change in pressure and/or converts this change in pressure into an electrical signal and at least one evaluation circuit which processes and transmits a received signal.

15. Speaker which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one circuit which evaluates a received signal/item of information and controls a pressure-transmitting element in accordance with the received signal.

16. Sensor which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one receiver element which analyzes at least the concentration and/or the aggregate status of a material in the environment and/or converts this into an electrical signal and at least one evaluation circuit which processes and transmits a received signal.

17. Security element which is substantially composed of organic material and which comprises at least one receiver element which analyzes at least the concentration and/or the aggregate status of a material in the environment and/or converts this into an electrical signal, at least one evaluation circuit which processes and transmits a received signal, and a closed-loop and control system.