End face sensor and method of producing the same

• US 7,508,044 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2003
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ideal Star Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ideal Star Inc.
• Inventors: Fujimoto, Satoshi, Kasama, Yasuhiko, Omote, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/538,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20060162474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 738/665, 734/31, 737/02, 737/03, 73/240.1, 73/290.1, 733/350.3, 737/05, 257/431, 257/432, 257/433, 257/434, 356/28, 356/35.5, 356/43, 356/44, 356/338, 356/400, 356/425, 356625-635
• US Class Current: 257/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor

Abstract

An end face sensor device and a method of producing the sensor device, where the sensor device has flexibility or bendability independent of its shape and is suitable for constructing various devices with desired shapes. The end face sensor device is characterized in that a receptor portion is formed on an end face of a filiform body, the receptor body receiving information from a subject and outputting it as different information.

Claims

1. An end face sensor device, comprising:

a linear body (2001), the linear body having a conductive polymer center electrode (2007) with an outer circumference of the center electrode coated with an insulating film made of polymer (2008) the linear body being flexible along a length of the linear body; and

a receiving part for receiving information from a subject and outputting the information as another information formed on an end face of the linear body, the receiving part being a light sensor coated with a transparent electrode (2006) extending along the length of the linear body, the transparent electrode defining a final exterior surface of the length of the linear body exposed to the atmosphere.

2. An end face sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light sensor comprises an active portion made of a conductive polymer.

3. An end face sensor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the light sensor is any of a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photo IC, a photo thyristor, a photoconductive element, a pyroelectric element, a color sensor, a solid-state image sensor, an element for position detection, and a solar battery.

4. An end face sensor device as in claim 3, characterized in that a part or all of the receiving part is formed of a polymer.

5. An end face sensor device as in claim 3, characterized in that the linear body is a linear element in which a circuit element is formed continuously or intermittently in a longitudinal direction.

6. An end face sensor device as in claim 3, characterized by being a linear element in which a cross section having plural regions for forming a circuit is formed continuously or intermittently in a longitudinal direction.

7. An end face sensor device, comprising:

a linear body (2001), the linear body having a conductive polymer center electrode (2007) with an outer circumference of the center electrode coated with an insulating film made of polymer (2008); and

a receiving part for receiving information from a subject and outputting the information as another information formed on an end face of the linear body, wherein, the receiving part is a light sensor comprising an n-type semiconductor layer (2004) formed on the end face of the linear body, with a p-type semiconductor layer (2003) formed on the n-type semiconductor layer, the n-type and p-type layers together forming a pn junction of the light sensor receiving part; and

a transparent electrode (2006) coating the p-type semiconductor layer, the end face of the linear body, and the insulating film, the transparent electrode defining a final exterior surface of a full length of the linear body exposed to the atmosphere.