LIVING BODY DETECTION SENSOR, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS HAVING LIVING BODY DETECTION SENSOR, METAL DETECTION SENSOR

• US 20150038864A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kataoka, Kazuki, Ohishi, Takafumi
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a living body detection sensor includes a substrate, a signal generation unit, a first conductor, a second conductor, and a detection unit. The substrate includes a reference potential electrode and a dielectric material. The signal generation unit generates a first signal, the signal generation unit is provided on the substrate. The first conductor receives the first signal, the first conductor is separated from the substrate. The second conductor t receive the first signal sent from the first conductor, the second conductor is separated from the substrate. The detection unit receives the first signal outputted from the second conductor and detects an electric field produced between the first conductor and the second conductor, the detection unit is provided on the substrate. The living body detection sensor detects whether a living body is close to the living body detection sensor.

Claims

1. A living body detection sensor comprising:

a substrate including a reference potential electrode and a dielectric material;

a signal generation unit to generate a first signal, the signal generation unit provided on the substrate;

a first conductor to receive the first signal, the first conductor being separated from the substrate;

a second conductor to receive the first signal sent from the first conductor, the second conductor being separated from the substrate; and

a detection unit to receive the first signal outputted from the second conductor and detect an electric field produced between the first conductor and the second conductor, the detection unit being provided on the substrate, wherein

the living body detection sensor detects whether a living body is close to the living body detection sensor.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising

a control unit to control the detection unit, the control unit being provided on the substrate and connected to the detection unit.

3. The sensor according to claim 2, further comprising:

a baseband unit;

a first switch;

a second switch;

a first high frequency unit; and

a second high frequency unit, wherein

the first high frequency unit is provided between the second switch and an antenna,

the second high frequency unit is provided between the second switch and the first conductor,

the first switch is provided between the signal generation unit and the first conductor, and connects or disconnects the signal generation unit and the first conductor on the basis of a first control signal from the control unit,

the second switch sends and receives a signal to and from the baseband unit, and connects the baseband unit and the first high frequency unit together, or the baseband unit and the second high frequency unit together, on the basis of a second control signal from the control unit, and

the living body detection sensor performs communication by use of an electromagnetic field produced around the living body when a distance between the living body and the living body detection sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and by use of the antenna when the distance between the living body and the living body detection sensor is greater than the predetermined distance.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, further comprising:

an electrocardiograph;

a first lowpass filter;

a second lowpass filter; and

a user interface, wherein

the electrocardiograph outputs electrocardiographic information to the baseband unit,

the first lowpass filter is provided between the electrocardiograph and the first conductor,

the second lowpass filter is provided between the electrocardiograph and the second conductor,

the electrocardiographic information on the living body measured by the electrocardiograph is inputted into the user interface through the control unit, and

the electrocardiographic information on the living body is transmitted to outside by switching the communication in accordance with the distance between the living body and the living body detection sensor.

5. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the first conductor and the second conductor are each shaped like any one of a plate, a disk and an elliptic disk, and are placed opposite to each other.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the second conductor is placed around the first conductor, and away from the first conductor by a predetermined distance.

7. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the substrate, the signal generation unit and the detection unit are housed in a housing.

8. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein

the first conductor and the second conductor are placed on an inner wall of the housing.

9. The sensor according to claim 7, wherein

the first conductor and the second conductor are placed on an outer wall of the housing.

10. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the first conductor and the second conductor are each composed of any one of a conductive sheet, a conductive ink and a transparent conductive material.

11. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

each of the first conductor and the second conductor includes a plurality of conductors,

the living body detection sensor further comprises a transmitting and receiving coil,

the transmitting and receiving coil has a shape of a winding,

the first conductor and the second conductor are alternately placed between each adjacent two of winding loops,

the transmitting and receiving coil wirelessly transmits electric power, and

the living body detection sensor detects whether or not the living body is close to the transmitting and receiving coil.

12. The sensor according to claim 11, wherein

the living body detection sensor is provided in a power transmission apparatus, and

the power transmission apparatus wirelessly transmits the electric power using any one of magnetic resonance, electromagnetic induction and radio emission.

13. A communication apparatus comprising:

a substrate including a reference potential electrode and a dielectric material;

a communication unit to transmit and receive a signal, the communication unit being provided on the substrate;

a first conductor separated from the substrate and connected to the communication unit;

a second conductor to receive a first signal sent from the first conductor, the second conductor being separated from the substrate;

a detection unit to receive the first signal outputted from the second conductor and detect an electric field produced between the first conductor and the second conductor, the detection unit being provided on the substrate;

a variable capacitance element provided on the substrate, one end of the variable capacitance element being connected to the communication unit, the other end of the variable capacitance element being connected to the reference potential electrode;

a control unit to control the detection unit and the variable capacitance element, the control unit being provided on the substrate and connected to the detection unit and a control terminal of the variable capacitance element; and

a magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit separated from the substrate, one end of the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit being connected to the communication unit and one end of the variable capacitance element, the other end of the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit being connected to the reference potential electrode, wherein

the communication apparatus transmits and receives the signal when a distance between the communication apparatus and a living body is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the communication unit, the variable capacitance element, the first conductor, and the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit jointly function as a bar antenna, and

the first conductor and the variable capacitance element jointly function as a matching adjustment element for the bar antenna.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit includes a magnetic material and a signal line spirally wound around the magnetic material.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the substrate, the communication unit, the detection unit, the variable capacitance element and the control unit are housed in a housing.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

the first conductor, the second conductor, and the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit are provided on an inner wall of the housing.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the magnetic field transmitting and receiving unit is placed in parallel with the first conductor.

19. A metal detection sensor comprising:

a substrate including a reference potential electrode and a dielectric body;

a signal generation unit to generate a first signal, the signal generation unit being provided on the substrate;

a first conductor to receive input of the first signal, the first conductor being separated from the substrate;

a second conductor to receive the first signal sent from the first conductor, the second conductor being separated from the substrate; and

a detection unit to receive the first signal outputted from the second conductor and detect an electric field produced between the first conductor and the second conductor, the detection unit being provided on the substrate, wherein

the metal detection sensor detects a piece of metal in an object.

20. The sensor according to claim 19, wherein

the signal generation unit, the first conductor, the second conductor and the detection unit are moved by a position control unit to scan over a surface of the object, and

a position and a shape of the piece of metal in the object are detected while associating a result of detection and a position of the detection with each other.