BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a sensing module and a receiving module of the diaper according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a diaper according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a sensing module and a receiving module of the diaper according to the embodiment of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that those who are familiar with the subject art can carry out various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures described in the present invention and also achieve the effectiveness of the present invention. Hence, it is to be understood that the description of the present invention should be accorded with the broadest interpretation to those who are familiar with the subject art, and the invention is not limited thereto.
FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a diaper according to an embodiment of the present invention. The diaper 1 of the present invention comprises a body 10, a sensing module 20 disposed on the body 10 for detecting humidity of the body and wirelessly transmitting an electrical signal converted from the humidity, and a receiving module 30 for receiving the electrical signal transmitted from the sensing module 20 and generating an alarm signal.
Further referring to FIG. 2, it shows a block diagram of a sensing module and a receiving module of the diaper according to the embodiment of the present invention. The diaper 1 of the present invention comprises a sensing module 20 having a humidity sensing element 21 for detecting the humidity of the body 10, a signal processor 22 for converting the humidity detected by the humidity sensing module 21 to an electrical signal, a micro power supply 23 for providing power to the sensing module 20 for activating the sensing module 20, and a signal transmitter 24 for receiving the electrical signal from the signal processor 22 and transmitting a wireless signal converted from the electrical signal to the receiving module 30.
According to the above embodiment, the sensing module 20 is disposed on a flexible circuit board such that the sensing module 20 can be attached onto the body 10, and therefore the sensing module 20 can be a disposable sensing module or a reusable sensing module. Furthermore, the material of the flexible circuit board can be a polyimide film (PI) or a polyester film (PET).
Besides, the signal processor 22 is used to amplify the converted electrical signal to improve signal quality, and transmit the amplified signal to the signal transmitter 24.
The material of the humidity sensing element 21 is a polymer material. The micro power supply 23 is a micro battery cell or a flexible battery cell. The signal transmitter 24 is a micro antenna for transmitting wireless signal or a micro speaker. According to the embodiment, the signal frequency of the micro antenna can be 125-134 kHz, 13.56 MHz, 400-900 MHz, 2.45 GHz or 5.8 GHz.
The receiving module 30 has an alarm 31 for informing the diaper's wearer's parents, families, babysitter or nurses to change the diaper by whistling, lighting or glittering after receiving the electrical signal from the sensing module 20. And the receiving module 30 can be carried by the diaper's wearer's parents, families, babysitter or nurse as a mobile device.
FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the diaper according to another embodiment of the present invention. The diaper 1 of the present invention comprises a body 10, a sensing module 20 disposed on the body 10 for detecting humidity of the body 10 and wirelessly transmitting an electrical signal converted from the humidity, and a transmitting/receiving module 40 for providing power to the sensing module 20 coupled with said transmitting/receiving module to generate a induction current and receiving the electrical signal from the sensing module 20 to send out an alarm signal accordingly.
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a sensing module and a receiving module of the diaper according to the above embodiment of the present invention. The sensing module 20 of the present invention comprises a humidity sensing element 21 for detecting humidity of the body 10, a signal processor 22 for converting humidity detected by the humidity sensing element 21 to an electrical signal, and an inductance 25 for inducting an induction current from the power of the transmitting/receiving module 40. So that the sensing module 20 can be used to detect the humidity of the body 10 of the diaper, and then the transmitting/receiving module 40 is used to readout a signal from the inductance 25.
According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module 20 is disposed on a flexible circuit board such that the sensing module 20 can be attached onto the body 10, and therefore the sensing module 20 can be a disposable sensing module or a reusable sensing module. Furthermore, the material of the flexible circuit board can be a polyimide film (PI) or a polyester film (PET).
Besides, the signal processor 22 is used to amplify the converted electrical signal to improve signal quality, and transmit the amplified signal to the signal transmitter 24.
The material of the humidity sensing element 21 is a polymer material. The transmitting/receiving module 40 has an alarm 41 for informing the diaper's wearer's parents, families, babysitter or nurse by whistling, lighting or glittering to change the diaper after receiving the electrical signal from the sensing module 20. And the receiving module 30 can be set on a baby cot, a sickbed or a room bed as a fixed device.
As such, the diaper 1 of the present invention primarily comprises a body 10 and a sensing module 20. The sensing module 20 can be classified into two types of active transmission and passive induction. According to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an active transmission sensing module 20 comprises a humidity sensing element 21, a signal processor 22, a micro power supply 23 and a signal transmitter 24. Extraordinary humidity raised inside the diaper makes the electrical characteristic of the humidity sensing element 21 change, and then making the electrical characteristic of the humidity sensing element 21 differ from the ordinary electrical characteristic. As such, the active sensing module 20 monitors wetness based on the difference of the electrical characteristic. The difference of the electrical characteristic will be transmitted to the signal processor 22 for signal processing and amplification, and then transmitted to the receiving module 30 by the micro antenna of the signal processor 24. And, the power source of the active sensing module 20 is supplied from the micro power supply 23.
According to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the passive induction sensing module 20 does not require an external power but requires a sensor 25. When the sensor 25 is closed to the transmitting/receiving module 40, the sensor 25 inducts an induction current from the power of the transmitting/receiving module 40. The induction current successively passed through the humidity sensing element 21 and the signal processor 25 of the sensing module 20. After passing the humidity sensing element 21, the current memorizes the electrical characteristic affected from humidity variation of the humidity sensing element 21, and transmits the variation of the electrical characteristic to the signal processor 22 for processing and amplification. Then, the signal is transmitted back to the sensor 25, and the transmitting/receiving module 40 reads out the signal of the sensor 25. When the transmitting/receiving module 40 reads information that the humidity sensing module 20 inside the diaper detects extraordinary humidity, the transmitting/receiving module generates a high-decibel alarm signal to cause attention of a nurse staying nearby so that the nurse can replace a fresh and dry diaper immediately.
As such, the diaper of the present invention has features such as easily use, simple manufacturing process, and intelligent wetness monitoring and wirelessly alarm signal transmission by associating with wireless technology. It satisfies the user demands and also improves the market potential and competitiveness in this industry.
While the invention has been described by way of examples and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, those who are familiar with the subject art can carry out various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, under the scope of appended claims and broadest interpretation.
Patent Application
20080074274
