Wireless sensor device

• US 9,485,883 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2013
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koyama, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US13/962,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 361/750, 340/539.12, 340/572.1, 340/870.01, 600/300
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/22 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2223/6677 for antenna, e.g. antenna included within housing of semiconductor device antennas per se H01Q
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/60 Protection against electrostatic charges or discharges, e.g. Faraday shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/66 High-frequency adaptations
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/13 combined with thin-film or thick-film passive components
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/118 specially for flexible printed circuits, e.g. using folded portions
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00

Abstract

A wireless sensor device capable of constant operation without replacement of batteries. The wireless sensor device is equipped with a rechargeable battery and the battery is recharged wirelessly. Radio waves received at an antenna circuit are converted into electrical energy and stored in the battery. A sensor circuit operates with the electrical energy stored in the battery, and acquires information. Then, a signal containing the information acquired is converted into radio waves at the antenna circuit, whereby the information can be read out wirelessly.

Claims

1. A sensor device comprising:

a substrate comprising an antistatic film;

a circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements over the substrate;

an antenna electrically connected to the circuit over the substrate;

a sensor provided over the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit; and

a flexible secondary battery over the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit and the antenna,

wherein the sensor device is configured to be implanted in a living body.

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible secondary battery is a lithium-ion secondary battery.

3. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

4. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sensor device is less than or equal to 2 mm.

5. The sensor device according to claim 1, further comprising a package packing the circuit, the antenna, the sensor and the substrate.

6. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is one selected from the group consisting of a photoelectric conversion element, a resistor, an element which uses capacitive coupling, an element which uses induced electromotive force, a photovoltaic element, a thermoelectric conversion element, a transistor, a thermistor, and a diode.

7. A sensor device comprising:

a substrate comprising an antistatic film;

a circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements over the substrate;

an antenna electrically connected to the circuit over the substrate;

a sensor provided over the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit; and

a flexible secondary battery over the substrate,

wherein the antenna is configured to receive radio waves and to transmit information wirelessly,

wherein the flexible secondary battery is configured to store electrical energy obtained from the radio waves received by the antenna, and

wherein the sensor device is configured to be implanted in a living body.

8. The sensor device according to claim 7,

wherein the circuit includes a memory circuit,

wherein the memory circuit is configured to store the information acquired by the sensor, and

wherein the information wirelessly transmitted by the antenna is the information acquired by the sensor stored in the memory circuit.

9. The sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the flexible secondary battery is a lithium-ion secondary battery.

10. The sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

11. The sensor device according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of the sensor device is less than or equal to 2 mm.

12. The sensor device according to claim 7, further comprising a package packing the circuit, the antenna, the sensor and the substrate.

13. The sensor device according to claim 7, wherein the sensor is one selected from the group consisting of a photoelectric conversion element, a resistor, an element which uses capacitive coupling, an element which uses induced electromotive force, a photovoltaic element, a thermoelectric conversion element, a transistor, a thermistor, and a diode.

14. A sensor device comprising:

a substrate comprising an antistatic film;

a circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements over the substrate;

a first antenna;

a second antenna;

a sensor provided over the substrate and electrically connected to the circuit; and

a flexible secondary battery over the substrate,

wherein the first antenna is configured to receive radio waves,

wherein the second antenna is configured to receive a signal and to transmit information wirelessly,

wherein the flexible secondary battery is configured to store electrical energy obtained from the radio waves received by the first antenna, and

wherein the sensor device is configured to be implanted in a living body.

15. The sensor device according to claim 14,

wherein the circuit includes a memory circuit,

wherein the memory circuit is configured to store the information acquired by the sensor, and

wherein the information wirelessly transmitted by the second antenna is the information acquired by the sensor stored in the memory circuit.

16. The sensor device according to claim 14, wherein the flexible secondary battery is a lithium-ion secondary battery.

17. The sensor device according to claim 14, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate.

18. The sensor device according to claim 14, wherein a thickness of the sensor device is less than or equal to 2 mm.

19. The sensor device according to claim 14, further comprising a package packing the circuit, the first antenna, the second antenna, the sensor and the substrate.

20. The sensor device according to claim 14, wherein the sensor is one selected from the group consisting of a photoelectric conversion element, a resistor, an element which uses capacitive coupling, an element which uses induced electromotive force, a photovoltaic element, a thermoelectric conversion element, a transistor, a thermistor, and a diode.

21. The sensor device according to claim 14,

wherein the first antenna is configured to receive the radio waves having a first frequency by utilizing a magnetic field,

wherein the second antenna is configured to receive the signal and to transmit the information with use of radio waves having a second frequency by utilizing an electric field, and

wherein the first frequency is lower than the second frequency.