WO2010095435A1

WO2010095435A1 - Transmission module

Info

Publication number: WO2010095435A1
Application number: PCT/JP2010/001029
Authority: WO
Inventors: 末岡一彦; 中村俊昭; 浅山早苗; 湯田直毅
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2009-02-20
Filing date: 2010-02-18
Publication date: 2010-08-26
Also published as: JP2010188032A

Abstract

A module comprising a sensor unit, a communication control unit which stores extracted signals from the sensor unit, a communication unit which converts the signals from the communication control unit to modulated signals, a communication circuit unit which includes at least the communication control unit and the communication unit, an antenna unit which transmits the modulated signals, a power supply control unit which controls the supply of power to the communication circuit unit, a first power supply unit which supplies power to one input of the power supply unit, and a second power supply unit which supplies power to the other input of the power supply control unit. The communication circuit unit, power supply control unit, first power supply unit, and second power supply unit are arranged on one surface of a flexible first base material. This configuration allows the provision of a small and flexible transmission module that can be attached freely to the body.

Description

Module for transmission

The present invention relates to a small-sized high-frequency signal transmission module having a flexible structure.

Communication to inspect human body information by attaching a transmission module to a part of the body and communicating high-frequency signals between the transmission module and a communication device in order to inspect human body information related to the body of a patient or the like There is a device.

The transmission module used in the communication device includes a sensor unit that extracts information from the human body, a communication control unit that stores an extraction signal from the sensor unit, and a communication that converts a signal from the communication control unit into a modulation signal. And a battery unit such as a button battery for supplying power to the sensor unit, the communication control unit, and the communication unit.

However, in such a conventional transmission module, since a battery part such as a button battery is used, it is difficult to bend and it cannot be freely attached to the arm or leg which is a curved part of the body.

For example, Patent Document 1 is known as prior art document information related to the invention of this application.

JP 2006-303773 A

The transmission module of the present invention includes a sensor unit, a communication control unit that stores an extraction signal from the sensor unit, a communication unit that converts a signal from the communication control unit into a modulation signal, and at least a communication control unit and a communication unit. A communication circuit unit; an antenna unit that transmits a modulation signal; a power control unit that controls power supply to the communication circuit unit; a first power supply unit that supplies power to one input of the power control unit; A second power supply unit that supplies power to the other input of the control unit is provided, and the communication circuit unit, the power control unit, and the first and second power supply units are provided on one surface of the flexible first base material. Deploy.

This configuration makes it possible to provide a small-sized transmission module that has a flexible structure and can be freely attached to the body.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a transmission module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the transmission module shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the transmission module shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a top view of the transmission module according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of the transmission module shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the transmission module shown in FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a top view of a transmission module 11 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of the transmission module 11 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of the transmission module 11 shown in FIG.

1 to 3, the transmission module 11 includes a sensor unit 15 that extracts information from the human body, a communication control unit 17 that stores an extraction signal from the sensor unit 15, and a signal from the communication control unit 17. A communication unit 19 for converting into a modulation signal, an antenna unit 21 for transmitting the modulation signal from the communication unit 19, a sensor unit 15, a communication control unit 17, a communication circuit unit 29 including the communication unit 19, and this communication A power supply control unit 23 that controls power supply to the circuit unit 29, a solar cell 25 that is a first power supply unit that supplies power to the first input of the power supply control unit 23, and a power control unit 23 The fuel cell 27 is a second power supply unit that supplies power to the two inputs.

The antenna unit 21 includes an antenna unit 21a and an antenna unit 21b.

Further, on one surface 13 a of the flexible base material 13, a solar cell 25 is disposed at one end portion of the base material 13, and a fuel cell 27 is disposed at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the base material 13. Yes. A communication circuit unit 29 and a power supply control unit 23 are arranged between the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27, and an antenna unit 21 a is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the base material 13.

Here, the flexible base material is a base material that is flexible and can be greatly deformed. As an example, there is a film-like polyimide, which is widely used in portable devices and the like that are required to be reduced in size and weight.

Furthermore, an antenna portion 21b is provided on the back surface 13b of the one surface 13a of the substrate 13 so as to face the antenna portion 21a. It is also possible to operate only one of the

antenna portions

21a and 21b.

The antenna portion 21b is provided with an adhesive material 31 for attaching the transmission module 11 to a part of the body.

The base material 13 is provided with a slit 33 between the solar cell 25 and the communication circuit unit 29 or between the fuel cell 27 and the communication circuit unit 29. By providing the slit 33, the transmission module 11 attached to the body is bent, and even when the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are bent, the stress on the communication circuit unit 29 is relieved. Reliability is improved.

The actual operation of the transmission module 11 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS.

1 and 2, the sensor unit 15 detects human body information such as blood pressure, body temperature, and pulse. This human body information is input and stored in the communication control unit 17 and further converted into a digital signal.

The digital signal is converted into a modulated signal for transmission by the communication unit 19 and transmitted by the antenna unit 21 including the

antenna units

21a and 21b. Since the

antenna portions

21a and 21b can secure a length by being flat plate antenna portions arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 13, transmission using a low frequency is also possible.

In addition, by using an insulating material for the adhesive material 31, electric field type human body communication can be performed by attaching the sensor unit to the human body. Here, if a sensor unit that does not require a power source is used, power consumption can be reduced.

Furthermore, power is supplied from the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 to the first input 23a and the second input 23b of the power supply control unit 23, respectively. The solar cell 25 generates electricity by sunlight or light from a fluorescent lamp.

When power is supplied from the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27, respectively, for example, when the voltage from the solar cell 25 is lower than a predetermined voltage, the power supply voltage from the fuel cell may be switched to use. it can. Thereby, the power from the power control unit 23 is stably supplied to the communication circuit unit 29.

Next, a structure that is stronger against bending from the outside will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the bending to the stress is smaller than the base material 13 at the position of the back surface 13 b of the one surface 13 a of the base material 13 and including at least the back surface of the mounting surface of the communication circuit unit 29. A base material 37 is attached.

By this base material 37, the transmission module 11 having a structure strong against bending from the outside in the communication circuit unit 29 can be realized.

As described above, the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are arranged at the end portions on the one surface 13 a of the flexible base material 13, and the communication circuit unit 29 is interposed between the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27. The power supply control unit 23 is arranged.

Thereby, the flexible transmission module 11 arranged around the communication circuit unit 29 can be realized.

Note that the sensor unit 15 in the communication circuit unit 29 may not be disposed on the one surface 13 a of the base material 13. For example, if the sensor unit 15 is disposed on the back surface 13b of the one surface 13a, the sensor unit 15 can be disposed close to the human body, so that human body information can be easily detected. For example, when a flexible component is used for the sensor unit 15, it can be freely arranged on the base material 13. Further, the sensor unit 15 may be disposed outside the base material 13.

Further, instead of the antenna portion 21a, the antenna portion 21a may be provided at the end of the base member 13 in the short direction, and the antenna portion 21b opposed to the antenna portion 21a may be provided instead of the antenna portion 21b. Thereby, since the area of the base material 13 can be made small, the smaller-sized transmission module 11 is realizable.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the communication device is capable of communicating a high-frequency signal between the transmission module 11 and the communication device, but the transmission module 11 may be a transmission / reception module capable of transmitting and receiving.

Furthermore, the solar cell 25 can be a dye-sensitized solar cell using photosynthesis with a dye. The fuel cell 27 may be a sugar battery using sugar as a raw material.

Further, since the fuel injected into the fuel cell 27 has a lifetime, an external connection terminal may be provided so that the fuel cell 27 can be easily replaced with a new one.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a top view of transmission module 51 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of the transmission module 51 shown in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of the transmission module 51 shown in FIG.

The transmission module 11 according to the first embodiment includes a communication circuit unit 29 between the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 on one surface 13 a of the flexible base material 13. On the other hand, the second embodiment is different in that the communication circuit portion 29 is provided at one end portion of one surface 53a of the base material 53.

The parts used in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are the same as those in FIGS.

4 and 5, the solar battery 25 as the first power supply unit is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the one surface 53 a of the base material 53. Further, the communication circuit unit 29 and the power supply control unit 23 are arranged at the other end of the base material 53, and the fuel cell 27 as the second power supply unit is provided between the solar cell 25 and the communication circuit unit 29. ing.

Thereby, even if the transmission module 51 attached to the body is bent and the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are bent, the stress on the communication circuit unit 29 provided at the end of the base 53 is relieved. Therefore, reliability is improved.

Further, the adhesive material 55 is provided on the back surface 53 b side of the one surface 53 a of the base material 53. With this adhesive material 55, the transmission module 51 can be attached to a part of the body.

The adhesive material 55 is provided on a portion of the back surface 53b of the one surface 53a of the base material 53 excluding the mounting surface of the communication circuit unit 29 and the power supply control unit 23. Thereby, even when the transmission module 51 attached to the body is bent, only the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are bent, and stress on the communication circuit unit 29 is relieved. improves.

Further, a slit 57 is provided between the fuel cell 27 of the base material 53 and the communication circuit unit 29. By providing the slit 57, even when the transmission module 51 attached to the body is bent, the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are bent, and the stress on the communication circuit unit 29 is relieved. , Improve reliability.

5 and 6, the base 53 having a smaller bending with respect to stress than the base 53 is provided on the back 53 b of the one surface 53 a of the base 53 and including at least the back of the mounting surface of the communication circuit unit 29. 59 is installed.

By this base material 59, the transmission module 51 having a structure strong against bending from the outside in the communication circuit unit 29 can be realized.

As described above, on one surface 53a of the flexible base material 53, the solar cell 25 is disposed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the base material 53, and the communication circuit unit 29 and the power control unit 23 are provided at the other end. The fuel cell 27 is provided between the solar cell 25 and the communication circuit unit 29. Note that the solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 may be interchanged.

Thus, even when the transmission module 51 attached to the body is bent, the flexible solar cell 25 and the fuel cell 27 are bent. Since stress on the communication circuit unit 29 is relaxed, reliability is improved.

That is, the transmission module 51 having a flexible structure that can be attached to the body can be realized.

Note that the sensor unit 15 may not be disposed on the one surface 53 a of the base material 53. For example, by disposing the sensor unit 15 on the back surface 53b of the one surface 53a of the base material 53 on the side opposite to the communication circuit unit 29, the sensor unit 15 can be disposed close to the human body, so that human body information can be easily detected.

In this case, for example, by using a flexible component for the sensor unit 15, the sensor unit 15 can be freely arranged on the base material 53, and the sensor unit 15 may be arranged outside the base material 53.

Further, in place of the antenna portion 21a, the antenna portion 21a is provided at the end of the base material 53 in the short direction of the base material 53. Further, in place of the antenna portion 21b, the antenna portion 21b is provided to face the antenna portion 21a. May be. Thereby, since the area of the base material 53 can be made small, a smaller-sized transmission module can be realized.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the communication device is capable of communicating a high-frequency signal between the transmission module 51 and the communication device, but the transmission module 51 may be a transmission / reception module capable of transmitting and receiving.

The transmission module of the present invention is a small transmission module having a flexible structure, and is useful as a medical device for examining human body information related to a body such as a patient.

11, 51

Transmission module

13, 37, 53, 59

Base material

13a, 13b, 13c, 53a, 53b, 53c Surface 15 Sensor unit 17 Communication control unit 19

Communication unit

21, 21a, 21b Antenna unit 23 Power

supply control unit

23a, 23b Input 25 Solar cell 27 Fuel cell 29

Communication circuit part

31, 55

Adhesive material

33, 57 Slit

Claims

A sensor unit;
A communication control unit for storing an extraction signal from the sensor unit;
A communication unit that converts the signal from the communication control unit into a modulated signal;
A communication circuit unit including at least a communication control unit and a communication unit;
An antenna unit for transmitting the modulated signal;
A power control unit for controlling power supply to the communication circuit unit;
A first power supply unit for supplying power to one input of the power control unit;
A second power supply unit for supplying power to the other input of the power control unit;
The communication circuit unit, the power control unit, the first power supply unit, and the second power supply unit;
Is disposed on one surface of the flexible first base material.
The first power supply unit is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the first base material, and the second power supply unit is provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the first base material, The transmission module according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuit unit and the power control unit are provided between the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit.
3. The slit according to claim 2, wherein a slit is provided in the flexible base material between the first power supply unit and the communication circuit unit, or between the second power supply unit and the communication circuit unit. Module for transmission.
Either one of the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit is provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first base material, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first base material is provided. The transmission module according to claim 1, wherein the communication circuit unit and the power supply control unit are provided in the transmission module.
The flexible base between the communication circuit unit provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the first base material and the adjacent first power supply unit or the second power supply unit. The transmission module according to claim 4, wherein a slit is provided in the material.
A second base material having a lower bending with respect to stress than the first base material is provided at a position on the back side of the one surface of the first base material and on the back side of the mounting portion of the communication circuit unit. The transmission module according to claim 1, claim 2, or claim 4.
5. The transmission module according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is provided along a longitudinal direction of the first base material. 6.
The transmission module according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit is provided along a short direction of the base material.
The antenna unit is disposed on the first antenna unit disposed on one surface of the first base material, and on the back surface of the one base material surface facing the first antenna unit. The transmission module according to claim 1, further comprising a second antenna unit.
The transmission module according to claim 9, further comprising an insulating adhesive material in proximity to the second antenna portion.
The transmission module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is provided on a back surface of the one surface of the first base material.
5. The transmission according to claim 1, wherein one of the first power supply unit and the second power supply unit is a solar cell and the other is a fuel cell. module.
The transmission module according to claim 12, wherein the power supply control unit switches the power supply from the solar cell to the power supply from the fuel cell when a supply voltage from the solar cell is lower than a predetermined voltage.