Wireless thermometer on a film-like substrate using quartz vibrator

• US 9,909,928 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Original Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Yoshihiro, Hoshino, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): AHMED, NASIR UDDIN
• Application Number:
  US14/493,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20150010040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/32 using change of resonant frequency of a crystal

Abstract

A wireless thermometer is provided, which measures a deep temperature with high accuracy and has an improved communication distance. A wireless thermometer includes a flat film-like substrate. A quartz crystal vibrator and an antenna are disposed on a principal surface of the substrate. A quartz crystal vibrator and an antenna are disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate. A winding conductor of the antenna is substantially symmetrical with a winding conductor of the antenna with respect to the substrate. A lead conductor of the antenna is connected to the winding conductor at one end and is connected to the quartz crystal vibrator at the other end. A central portion of the lead conductor is bent. By folding the central portion, the quartz crystal vibrator can be positioned opposite the quartz crystal vibrator with a heat insulator interposed there between.

Claims

1. A wireless thermometer comprising:

a heat insulator having a predetermined thickness, a predetermined thermal resistivity, and a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite each other;

one or more first temperature detecting means disposed on the first principal surface of the heat insulator;

one or more second temperature detecting means disposed on the second principal surface of the heat insulator;

a first antenna connected to the first temperature detecting means and configured to transmit a first detection signal generated by the first temperature detecting means; and

a second antenna connected to the second temperature detecting means and configured to transmit a second detection signal generated by the second temperature detecting means,

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are spaced apart by a predetermined distance in a direction parallel to a thickness direction of the heat insulator, and disposed so that antenna forming regions are at least partially overlapped with each other as viewed in the direction parallel to the thickness direction.

2. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a first lead conductor connecting the first temperature detecting means to the first antenna and a second lead conductor connecting the second temperature detecting means to the second antenna has at least one bent portion;

and

the bent portion is formed such that the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means are overlapped with each other by folding, as viewed in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the heat insulator or a substrate on which the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged.

3. The wireless thermometer according to claim 2, wherein at least an overlapping portion of the first lead conductor or the second lead conductor, the overlapping portion being formed by folding, is sandwiched between insulating layers.

4. The wireless thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the overlapping portion formed by folding is in contact with a surface of the substrate opposite to a surface where the first lead conductor or the second lead conductor is formed.

5. The wireless thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the overlapping portion formed by folding is welded or bonded.

6. The wireless thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the substrate is provided with a cut or an indentation at a position of a folded portion of the first lead conductor or the second lead conductor.

7. The wireless thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the folded portion is made of a thermally deformable material.

8. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are wound on a surface substantially orthogonal to the thickness direction of the heat insulator, and

the first temperature detecting means is disposed on a region surrounded by the first antenna, and the second temperature detecting means is disposed on a region surrounded by the second antenna.

9. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means operate in response to respective radio signals input through the first antenna and the second antenna, and generate the first detection signal and the second detection signal, respectively, corresponding to detected temperatures.

10. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are formed on different substrates.

11. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are formed on a single substrate.

12. The wireless thermometer according to claim 11, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are formed on opposite surfaces of the single substrate.

13. The wireless thermometer according to claim 11, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are formed on one surface of the single substrate.

14. The wireless thermometer according to claim 13, wherein one of the first antenna and the second antenna is disposed to surround another.

15. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein a shape of a radiating portion of the first antenna is substantially the same as a shape of a radiating portion of the second antenna.

16. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the wireless thermometer comprises a plurality of at least one of the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means, and an antenna is provided for each of the plurality of the at least one of the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means.

17. The wireless thermometer according to claim 16, wherein the antennas connected to the plurality of the least one of the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means are arranged close to each other as viewed along the thickness direction of the heat insulator.

18. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means are each a resonator having a resonance frequency that varies with temperature.

19. The wireless thermometer according to claim 18, wherein the resonator is a quartz crystal vibrator.

20. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means are each an RFID-IC having a temperature sensor.

21. The wireless thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the wireless thermometer is a deep body thermometer including mounting means for mounting on a temperature measured portion of an object, the deep body thermometer being configured to measure a deep body temperature of the object.

22. A wireless thermometer comprising:

a heat insulator having a predetermined thickness, a predetermined thermal resistivity, and a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite each other;

one or more first temperature detecting means disposed on the first principal surface of the heat insulator;

one or more second temperature detecting means disposed on the second principal surface of the heat insulator;

a first antenna connected to the first temperature detecting means and configured to transmit a first detection signal generated by the first temperature detecting means; and

a second antenna connected to the second temperature detecting means and configured to transmit a second detection signal generated by the second temperature detecting means,

wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged close to each other in substantially the same plane parallel to the first principal surface and the second principal surface.

23. The wireless thermometer according to claim 22, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are wound on a surface substantially orthogonal to the thickness direction of the heat insulator.

24. The wireless thermometer according to claim 22, wherein at least one of a first lead conductor connecting the first temperature detecting means to the first antenna and a second lead conductor connecting the second temperature detecting means to the second antenna has at least one bent portion;

and

the bent portion is formed such that the first temperature detecting means and the second temperature detecting means are overlapped with each other by folding, as viewed in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the heat insulator or a substrate on which the first antenna and the second antenna are arranged.