Biological signal processing unit, wireless memory, biological signal processing system, and control system of device to be controlled

• US 8,818,497 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): D'ANGELO, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/631,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20080294033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,332 Days
• Field of Search: 600544-545
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

It is an object to provide a means for easily operating various devices to be controlled (i.e. a word processor or a car) using a brain wave signal of a patient with Alzheimer'"'"'s disease or a psychological disorder, and for supporting the active performance of a user by employing wireless communication with a memory (wireless memory) capable of communicating without wires in which a command on the human movement is memorized. A present biological signal processing unit has an electrode for detecting a biological signal (an electric signal) from a living body, or for transmitting an electric signal into a living body, an interface, and an antenna which can communicate with an external device (i.e. wireless memory, reader/writer); therefore, convenience of the user is improved in the case where a user utilizes an electronic device or the like. In addition, the active performance of a user can be supported.

Claims

1. A biological signal processing unit comprising:

an electrode for at least one of detecting a biological signal from an inside of a living body and transmitting an electric signal to the inside of the living body;

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

an antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless memory configured to be attached to the living body, which is located outside the biological signal processing unit;

an interface comprising a rectification circuit provided between the electrode and the antenna and over the plastic substrate having flexibility; and

a processor over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the processor comprises a transistor electrically connected to the antenna, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film,

wherein at least the antenna, the rectification circuit, and the processor are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

2. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

3. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 1, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

8. A helmet including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 1 and claim 4.

9. A hat including the biological signal processing unit according to any any one of claim 1 and claim 4.

10. A pair of glasses including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 1 and claim 4.

11. A headphone including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 1 and claim 4.

12. An accessory including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 1 and claim 4.

4. A biological signal processing unit comprising:

an electrode for transmitting an electric signal including information to an inside of a living body;

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

an antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility, the antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader/writer located outside of the living body;

an interface comprising a rectification circuit provided between the electrode and the antenna and over the plastic substrate having flexibility; and

a processor over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the processor comprises a transistor, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film,

wherein at least the antenna, the rectification circuit, and the processor are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

5. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 4, wherein the electric signal including information is a brain wave.

6. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 4, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

7. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 4, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

13. A wireless memory comprising:

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

a memory element over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the memory element is configured to memorize information on an electric signal transmitted to an inside of a living body, and wherein the memory element comprises a transistor, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film; and

an antenna configured to communicate with a biological signal processing unit located outside the wireless memory,

wherein the wireless memory is configured to be attached to the living body, and

wherein the memory element and the antenna are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

14. The wireless memory according to claim 13, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

15. A biological signal processing system comprising:

a biological signal processing unit comprising,

an electrode and a first interface for transmitting an electric signal including first information to an inside of a living body,

a first antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless memory configured to be attached to the living body; and

a second interface comprising a rectification circuit; and

the wireless memory comprising,

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

a memory element over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the memory element is configured to memorize second information on the electric signal transmitted to the inside of the living body, and wherein the memory element comprises a transistor, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film; and

a second antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility configured to wirelessly communicate with the biological signal processing unit,

wherein the memory element and the second antenna are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

16. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 15, wherein the electric signal including first information is a brain wave.

17. The biological signal processing system according to claim 15, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

18. The biological signal processing system according to claim 15, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

19. A control system of a device to be controlled comprising:

a biological signal processing unit comprising;

an electrode and a first interface for detecting an electric signal from an inside of a living body;

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

an antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader/writer located outside of the living body;

a second interface comprising a rectification circuit over the plastic substrate having flexibility; and

a processor over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the processor comprises a transistor electrically connected to the antenna, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film,

wherein the antenna and the processor are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween;

the reader/writer configured to wirelessly communicate with the biological signal processing unit; and

a device to be controlled connected to the reader/writer,

wherein the device to be controlled can be controlled based on the electric signal, which is transmitted from the inside of the living body to the device to be controlled through the reader/writer.

20. The control system according to claim 19,

wherein the device to be controlled is one selected from the group consisting of an electronic device and a mobile object.

21. The control system according to claim 19, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

22. The control system according to claim 19, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

23. A biological signal processing unit comprising:

an electrode for at least one of detecting a biological signal from an inside of a living body and transmitting an electric signal to the inside of the living body;

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

an antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly communicate with a wireless memory configured to be attached to the living body, which is located outside the biological signal processing unit;

an interface comprising a rectification circuit over the plastic substrate having flexibility; and

a means for processing at least one of the biological signal and the electric signal provided between the electrode and the antenna and provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility,

wherein the means comprises a transistor electrically connected to the antenna, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film, and

wherein the antenna and the means for processing at least one of the biological signal and the electric signal are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

24. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 23, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

25. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 23, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.

30. A helmet including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 23 and claim 26.

31. A hat including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 23 and claim 26.

32. A pair of glasses including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 23 and claim 26.

33. A headphone including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 23 and claim 26.

34. An accessory including the biological signal processing unit according to any one of claim 23 and claim 26.

26. A biological signal processing unit comprising:

an electrode for transmitting an electric signal including information to an inside of a living body;

a plastic substrate having flexibility;

an antenna over the plastic substrate having flexibility, the antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader/writer located outside of the living body;

an interface comprising a rectification circuit over the plastic substrate having flexibility; and

a means for processing at least one of a biological signal detected from the inside of the living body and the electric signal provided between the electrode and the antenna and provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility,

wherein the means comprises a transistor electrically connected to the antenna, the transistor comprising;

a first insulating film;

a first electrode over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film over the first insulating film and the first electrode;

a semiconductor layer over the second insulating film, so as to overlap with the first electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer comprises a channel region, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region between the channel region and the first impurity region, and wherein a concentration of an impurity element in the second impurity region is lower than a concentration of the impurity element in the first impurity region;

a third insulating film over the semiconductor layer;

a second electrode over the third insulating film, so as to overlap with the semiconductor layer;

a third electrode over the second electrode, wherein a width of the third electrode is shorter than a width of the second electrode in a channel length direction;

a fourth insulating film over the third insulating film, second electrode and the third electrode; and

a fourth electrode over the fourth insulating film, the fourth electrode electrically connected to the first impurity region through a contact hole in the third insulating film and the fourth insulating film, and

wherein the antenna and the means for processing at least one of the biological signal and the electric signal are provided over the plastic substrate having flexibility with an adhesive agent interposed therebetween.

27. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 26, wherein the electric signal including information is a brain wave.

28. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 26, wherein the plastic substrate comprises one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyarylate, and polyethersulfone.

29. The biological signal processing unit according to claim 26, wherein the second impurity region is overlapped with the second electrode and is not overlapped with the third electrode.