HIGH-SPEED RESPONSE/HIGH-SENSITIVITY DRYNESS/WETNESS RESPONSIVE SENSOR
First Claim
1. A dryness/wetness responsive sensor comprisinga thin wire of a first metal, anda thin wire of a second metal, the second metal being different from the first metal,wherein the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal are disposed in juxtaposition with each other on an insulating substrate,wherein a spacing between the first thin wire and the second thin wire is in a range of 5 nm or more and less than 20 μ
- m, andwherein existence of water across the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal causes an electromotive force thereacross that allows galvanic current to flow.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention improves the sensitivity and the responsiveness of a dryness/wetness responsive sensor utilizing a galvanic current, allowing for downsizing of the dryness/wetness responsive sensor. Instead of the conventional structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are stacked with an intervening insulator, the present invention employs a structure in which both electrodes run in juxtaposition with each other on an insulating substrate in the form of, for example, a comb-shaped electrode as shown in the drawing. By utilizing a semiconductor manufacturing process or any other micro/nano-fabrication technology, an inter-electrode distance can be extremely shortened as compared with the conventional sensors, allowing enhancing the sensitivity per unit footprint of the electrodes. Accordingly, a decrease in the size of the dryness/wetness responsive sensor can be easily achieved.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A dryness/wetness responsive sensor comprising
a thin wire of a first metal, and a thin wire of a second metal, the second metal being different from the first metal, wherein the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal are disposed in juxtaposition with each other on an insulating substrate, wherein a spacing between the first thin wire and the second thin wire is in a range of 5 nm or more and less than 20 μ - m, and
wherein existence of water across the thin wire of the first metal and the thin wire of the second metal causes an electromotive force thereacross that allows galvanic current to flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- m, and
Specification