Wireless sensor device

• US 8,508,360 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US13/558,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/572.1, 340/870.01, 600/300
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• 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 wireless sensor device comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements, wherein the plurality of semiconductor elements are formed using the semiconductor substrate;

a first insulating film covering the plurality of semiconductor elements;

a thin-film secondary battery over the first insulating film;

a second insulating film covering the thin-film secondary battery;

a sensor electrically connected to the circuit through the first insulating film and the second insulating film;

an antenna; and

a package packing the semiconductor substrate, the circuit, the thin-film secondary battery, the sensor and the antenna.

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

3. The wireless sensor device according to claim 1,

wherein the thin-film secondary battery has a multi-layered structure, and

wherein each of layers forming the multi-layered structure has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 μ

m and less than or equal to 3 μ

m.

4. The wireless sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a demodulation circuit, a modulation circuit and a logic circuit.

5. The wireless sensor device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless sensor device is used inside the living body.

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

7. The wireless 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.

8. A wireless sensor device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a thin-film secondary battery provided on a first surface of the first substrate;

a circuit provided on a first surface of the second substrate, the circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements;

an insulating film covering the plurality of semiconductor elements;

an antenna over the insulating film;

a sensor electrically connected to the thin-film secondary battery and the circuit; and

a package packing the first substrate, the second substrate, the thin-film secondary battery, the circuit, the sensor and the antenna,

wherein the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate face each other, and

wherein the sensor is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate.

9. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8, wherein the thin-film secondary battery is a thin-film lithium-ion secondary battery.

10. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8,

wherein the thin-film secondary battery has a multi-layered structure, and

wherein each of layers forming the multi-layered structure has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 μ

m and less than or equal to 3 μ

m.

11. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8, wherein the circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a demodulation circuit, a modulation circuit and a logic circuit.

12. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8, wherein the wireless sensor device is used inside the living body.

13. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8, wherein a thickness of the wireless sensor device is less than or equal to 2 mm.

14. The wireless sensor device according to claim 8, 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.

15. A wireless sensor device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate;

a thin-film secondary battery provided on a first surface of the first substrate;

a circuit provided on a first surface of the second substrate, the circuit comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements;

an insulating film covering the plurality of semiconductor elements;

an antenna over the insulating film;

a sensor attached to a second surface of the first substrate, the sensor electrically connected to the thin-film secondary battery and the circuit through the first substrate; and

a package packing the first substrate, the second substrate, the thin-film secondary battery, the circuit, the sensor and the antenna,

wherein the first surface of the first substrate and the first surface of the second substrate face each other.

16. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15, wherein the thin-film secondary battery is a thin-film lithium-ion secondary battery.

17. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15,

wherein the thin-film secondary battery has a multi-layered structure, and

wherein each of layers forming the multi-layered structure has a thickness greater than or equal to 0.1 μ

m and less than or equal to 3 μ

m.

18. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15, wherein the circuit includes a rectifier circuit, a demodulation circuit, a modulation circuit and a logic circuit.

19. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15, wherein the wireless sensor device is used inside the living body.

20. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15, wherein a thickness of the wireless sensor device is less than or equal to 2 mm.

21. The wireless sensor device according to claim 15, 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.