Sensor card

• US 4,972,099 A
• Filed: 01/27/1989
• Issued: 11/20/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kudo, Yoshiaki, Amano, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Stanley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROSEEN, RICHARD R
• Application Number:
  US07/302,293
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 357/25, 357/31, 357/74, 357/75, 307/303, 307/311, 307/303
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 1/00 Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/007 Data loggers attached to transport containers for perishable products, e.g. food or medicines
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A sensor card includes a signal card substrate in which are mounted a sensor for sensing an external physical phenonemon and for converting the sensed physical phenomenon into an electric signal. An integrated circuit processes the output of the sensor and stores the sensed value represented thereby in a memory. An output terminal outputs the sensed value stored in the memory of the integrated circuit. The sensor card can be adapted not only to store signal-processed detection values but also to have a function for subjecting these signals to computation or evaluation. The stored data can be read out to an external unit in the form of a signal through a physical contact or magnetically in contactless fashion.

Claims

1. A sensor card comprising:

a sensor for sensing an external physical phenomenon, for converting the sensed physical phenomenon into an electric signal and for outputting said electric signal;

an integrated circuit having a memory, said integrated circuit processing the electric signal from said sensor and storing a sensed value represented by said electric signal in said memory;

an output terminal for outputting the sensed value stored in said memory to a device which is external to said sensor card; and

a single card substrate in which said sensor, said integrated circuit and said output terminal are mounted.

2. A sensor card as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a power switch which starts said sensor sensing the external phenomenon.

3. A sensor card as claimed in claim 1, wherein said integrated circuit includes a timing means for at least one of limiting operating time and sampling sensor output at a predetermined time interval.

4. A sensor card comprising:

a single card substrate provided with

a sensor card for sensing an external physical phenomenon and for converting the sensed physical phenomenon to an electric signal;

an integrated circuit for processing the electric signal from said sensor and for storing a sensed value represented by said electric signal in a memory thereof;

an output terminal, connectable with an external device, outputting the sensed value stored in said memory of said integrated circuit to said external device; and

a power supply supplying electric power for operation of said sensor and said integrated circuit.

5. A sensor card as set forth in claim 4, wherein said integrated circuit is provided with a means for computing and for processing the output of said sensor and for continuously storing the sensed value in said memory.

6. A sensor card as set forth in claim 4 wherein said integrated circuit is provided with an internal timer for limiting operation time.

7. A sensor card as set forth in claim 4, wherein a power switch is furnished for on-off operation of said power supply.

8. A sensor card as set forth in claim 4, wherein, said integrated circuit is provided with an internal timer which samples the sensor output at a predetermined time interval.