DE19918681A1

DE19918681A1 - Nappy contains superabsorber and is associated with electronics to show state of wetness

Info

Publication number: DE19918681A1
Application number: DE1999118681
Authority: DE
Inventors: Hans Schreiber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-25
Filing date: 1999-04-25
Publication date: 2000-10-26

Abstract

The electronic system (5) is incorporated in a pocket associated with the nappy. The microelectronics (5), which can be recycled, comprise an integrated circuit, an aerial (8), an oscillating quartz (16), separate resistors (12) and condensers. A button battery (6) is the preferable source of electricity. A receiver and transmitter unit displays the degree of soiling acoustically or visually.

Description

Die Windel hat seit der Stoffwindel über die Einmalwindel und weiter über den Saugkern bis hin zum Superabsorber neben den sonstigen funktionellen Merkmalen eine rasante Entwicklung durchgemacht.The diaper has since the cloth diaper over the disposable diaper and over the suction core to the superabsorber in addition to the other functional ones Undergone rapid development.

Dem Verfasser ist bis dato jedoch nicht bekannt, daß die Schnittstelle zur Elektronik realisiert wurde.To date, however, the author is not aware that the interface to Electronics was realized.

Dabei würde gerade die einfache Realisierung insbesondere für Mütter oder Heimpersonal die Information liefern, wann ein Windelwechsel ansteht. Dabei wird physikalisch von der Tatsache ausgegangen, daß ein nasses Elektrolytmilieu elektrisch leitend ist und daß ein solcher Vorgang - Isolation - Einnässen - elektrische Leitfähigkeit - als Information genutzt werden kann, indem bei einer durchnäßten Windel über die freiwerdenden Ionen ein Stromfluß zustande kommt, der wiederum zur Signalverarbeitung nutzbar ist.The simple implementation would be especially for mothers or Home staff provide the information when a diaper change is due. This is based physically on the fact that a wet Electrolyte environment is electrically conductive and that such a process - insulation - wetting - electrical conductivity - used as information can be by putting the diaper on a wet diaper A current flow occurs, which in turn is used for signal processing is usable.

Die Elektronik selbst muß aus Kostengründen wiederverwendbar sein, indem sie einfach mit einer neuen Windel kontaktiert wird.The electronics themselves must be reusable for cost reasons, by simply contacting them with a new diaper.

Seitens der Antennenfunktion zwischen Windel und Empfangs- bzw. Empfangs- und Sendeeinheit ist einerseits eine Grenzdistanz vorgesehen, andererseits die Windel bevorzugt auf den Empfänger oder auf den Empfänger und Sender abgestimmt. On the part of the antenna function between the diaper and the receiving or On the one hand, the receiving and transmitting unit has a limit distance, on the other hand, the diaper preferably on the recipient or on the Receiver and transmitter matched.

Als elektrischer Leiter im Windelbereich kann bevorzugt der hautfreundlichen Schicht ein elektrischer Leiter, wie z. B. Aluminium bevorzugt in Bahnen zum Prozessorkontakt aufgedampft werden.The electrical conductor in the diaper area can preferably be the skin-friendly layer an electrical conductor, such as. B. aluminum preferably vaporized in lanes for processor contact.

Die Erfindung wird nun anhand der Ansprüche 1-16 und der Fig. 1 und 2 näher erläutert.The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to claims 1-16 and FIGS. 1 and 2.

Dabei zeigt Fig. 1 in schematisierter Schnittdarstellung im Detail einen Windelausschnitt,Here, FIG. 1 shows in a schematic sectional view in detail a diaper segment,

Fig. 2 in schematisierter Darstellung das Zusammenspiel der Elektronikkomponenten von Windel zu Empfangs- und Sendegerät. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the interaction of the electronic components from the diaper to the receiving and transmitting device.

Fig. 1 zeigt in schematisierter Schnittdarstellung im Detail einen Windelausschnitt mit den begrenzenden hautfreundlichen Oberflächen (1), der leitenden Beschichtung (2) und dem angedeuteten Superabsorber (10). In trockenem Zustand der Windel ist der Superabsorber nicht leitend. Tritt jedoch Nässe in Form von Urin und/oder Kot hinzu, werden Ionen frei und das Absorbermedium leitend. Damit ist über Stromquelle (6) und Widerstand (12) ein Stromfluß gegeben, der die Elektronik (5) der Windel in Tasche (4) anregt, eine durch einen bevorzugten Schwingquarz evozierte Funkwelle auszusenden, die bevorzugt frequenzmoduliert und damit digitalisiert ist. Fig. 1 shows in a schematic sectional view in detail a diaper clipping with the limiting skin-friendly surfaces (1), the conductive coating (2) and the indicated superabsorbent (10). The superabsorbent is not conductive when the diaper is dry. However, if moisture is added in the form of urine and / or faeces, ions are released and the absorber medium is conductive. This gives a current flow via current source ( 6 ) and resistor ( 12 ), which excites the electronics ( 5 ) of the diaper in pocket ( 4 ) to emit a radio wave evoked by a preferred quartz crystal, which is preferably frequency-modulated and thus digitized.

Fig. 2 zeigt in schematisierter Darstellung das Zusammenspiel der Elektronikkomponenten von Windel zu Empfangs- und Sendegerät, Wir erkennen in der angedeuteten Tasche (4) der Windel hier die Hauptbestandteile mit Knoptbatterie (6), IC (13) mit Port (14) über Kontakt (3) und Widerstand (12). Über Schwingquarz (16) wird die erforderliche Abstrahlfrequenz erreicht. Auf die Darstellung der Elektronikkomponenten (15) zur Modulation bzw. Demodulation wurde im Detail verzichtet. Fig. 2 macht jedoch deutlich, daß die bestimmenden Elemente (8'. . .) auch mit der Empfangs- und Sendeeinheit im Wesen analog sind. Als Antenne soll in der schematischen Darstellung eine Dipolantenne dienen. Klebebereich (12) dient dazu, die Elektronikkomponenten (5) vor Nässe zu schützen. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of the interaction of the electronic components from the diaper to the receiving and transmitting device. We can see in the indicated pocket ( 4 ) of the diaper here the main components with a button battery ( 6 ), IC ( 13 ) with port ( 14 ) via contact ( 3 ) and resistor ( 12 ). The required radiation frequency is achieved via quartz crystal ( 16 ). The electronic components ( 15 ) for modulation or demodulation have not been shown in detail. Fig. 2, however, makes it clear that the determining elements ( 8 '...) Are essentially analogous to the receiving and transmitting unit. In the schematic representation, a dipole antenna is to serve as the antenna. The adhesive area ( 12 ) serves to protect the electronic components ( 5 ) from moisture.

Claims

1. Diaper with super absorber, characterized in that the diaper has a skin-compatible surface, that the diaper is provided with a metallized or conductive coating on the inside of the surface, which in turn is circularly isolated from the diaper course, apart from a contact area, access to a Microelectronics permit, so that data such as the degree of wetting or the filling status of the diaper are preferably transmitted telemetrically to a receiver.

2. Diaper according to claim 1, characterized, that the data prefers information about the degree of wetting or allow the diaper to be filled.

3. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1, 2, characterized, that the recipient visually and / or the recorded data acoustically.

4. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-3, characterized, that the electrical supply of the diaper from the capacity sufficient, preferably by radio, a limit distance to the receiver to overcome where the signals are broken down and that moreover, the data is preferably transported bidirectionally.

5. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-4, characterized, that the short circuit preferentially over the salts of the excrement comes about.

6. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-5, characterized in that in addition to the enclosed superabsorber ( 10 ) or the like. From a skin-friendly surface ( 1 ), an inside metallized or other conductive coating ( 2 ), a circular insulation preferably with a contact area ( 3 ), preferably as part of at least one pocket ( 4 ) in which the reusable microelectronics ( 5 ) with IC, quartz crystal, antenna ( 8 ), possibly separate resistors and / or capacitors and the power supply ( 6 ), preferably in the form of a button cell, that a receiving and preferably transmitting unit ( 9 ) is additionally suitable for visually and / or acoustically indicating the degree of wetting and / or the filling status of the diaper ( 7 ).

7. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the bag ( 4 ) can be closed watertight and has at least one contact ( 3 ) for microelectronics ( 5 ).

8. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the microelectronics ( 5 ) and the power supply ( 6 ) on the part of the mother can be changed in a few simple steps in seconds or are to be inserted into a new diaper.

9. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the conductive coating ( 2 ) of the skin-friendly surface ( 1 ) is preferably vapor-deposited.

10. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the conductive coating ( 2 ) is preferably only partially and preferably on defined paths, preferably defined width and arrangement of the skin-friendly surface ( 1 ) is evaporated.

11. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the pockets ( 4 ) are / are suitable, preferably to be securely closed by an adhesive area ( 12 ).

12. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the antennas ( 8 ) of the diaper and transmitting and / or receiving unit ( 9 ) preferably serve as a transmitting and receiving antenna with preferably frequency-modulated radio signal.

13. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-12. characterized in that the transmitting and receiving unit ( 9 ) preferably has its own identifier for the associated diaper, in that the diaper processor ( 5 ) is preferably frequency-modulated by its transmission signal to the transmitting and receiving processor of ( 9 ) and thus digitized.

14. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-13, characterized in that the transmitting and receiving unit ( 9 ) is suitable for preferably responding simultaneously to several diapers.

15. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-14, characterized in that a type of tolerance limit for wetting and / or filling degree can be set via at least one corresponding resistor ( 11 ).

16. Diaper according to at least one of claims 1-15, characterized in that the electronics ( 5 ) and the power supply ( 6 ) are suitable for the pocket (s) ( 4 ) of the new diaper to be introduced such that contact ( 3 ) is guaranteed and the pockets ( 4 ) can then be securely closed again.