JP2001289775A - Moisture detecting sensor and noncontact type diaper moisture detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a diaper with a moisture detecting sensor and a moisture detector, which informs that a diaper used by a cared person has become wet with urine and the like, to a care nursing person giver and the like, so as to relieve the cared parson from uncomfortableness due to the wet diaper. SOLUTION: In the diaper provided with an absorbing part for absorbing water, a sensor 2 for detecting water is embedded, and the moisture detector 1 determines whether the sensor detects water without making a contact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moisture detection sensor and a moisture detection device for detecting that a diaper used for a person in need of nursing has become wet due to urination or the like and notifying a caregiver or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Detecting wetting as a change in electric resistance is widely performed. In the conventional diaper, there is a diaper that notifies the wetness of the diaper by a change in color, and in a diaper disclosed in a patent, a diaper main body is provided with a complicated device to detect and notify the wetness.

[0003]

An object of the present invention is to propose a moisture detection sensor and a device having the following functions. 1) The diaper can be detected without a diaper changing person directly looking at the diaper. 2) The diaper body does not require a power source such as a battery. 3) Moisture can be detected in a non-contact manner without being connected to the diaper body with an electric wire or the like. 4) Moisture can be directly detected without detecting a change in electric resistance.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The above object has been solved by a non-contact diaper moisture detecting device and a moisture detecting sensor described in the claims. Specifically, the problem was solved by electromagnetically coupling the sensor for detecting moisture and the non-contact type moisture detecting device, or by changing the level of electromagnetic coupling.

[0005]

The diaper with a simple moisture detection that does not require a complicated circuit such as a battery in the diaper main body can be provided by utilizing the detection of moisture to detect a change in the level of the LC resonance circuit.

[0006] Since water is detected by detecting a change in the level of electromagnetic coupling with a sensor in the diaper,
A third party who changes diapers does not have to look directly at the diaper.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As can be seen from FIG. 1, a diaper moisture detector according to the present invention is a non-contact diaper moisture detector (1).
And a moisture detection sensor (2), both of which are capable of detecting moisture at a predetermined distance.

The moisture detection switch (SW) is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, when a metal plate (2a) having conductivity and elasticity like a leaf spring, a metal plate (2b) having conductivity, an insulator (2c), and water such as paper or fiber are absorbed, the volume is increased. Is formed from a shrinking material (2d), and as shown in FIG. 2-2, when 2d absorbs moisture, the volume of 2d decreases and 2d
The contact 2e between a and 2b closes and functions as a switch.

As shown in FIG. 3, the moisture detection sensor is formed of a moisture detection switch 2, a coil L1, and a capacitor C. When moisture is detected, the switch closes (FIG. 2).
A C resonance circuit is created. The resonance frequency of the coil L1 and the capacitor C is f0.

[0010] The non-contact moisture detector (1) includes a coil L2, a high-frequency oscillation circuit (3), a detection circuit (4), a DC amplification circuit (5), a level comparison circuit (6), and a display section (7). Form. The high frequency oscillation circuit (3) oscillates the frequency f0. The high frequency signal is converted to direct current by the detection circuit (4). The signal detected by the DC amplifier circuit (5) is DC-amplified. The level comparison circuit (6) compares the normal state (no moisture detection) with the level when moisture is detected. The display unit (7) determines whether or not moisture has been detected by the level comparison circuit (6) and displays the result.

A circuit shown in FIG. 3 is formed in an absorbing portion for absorbing diaper moisture, and is incorporated therein. The diaper and the non-contact moisture detector (1) detect moisture at predetermined intervals. In the normal state, the output level is the output level LV1 of the moisture detecting device (1) as shown in FIG. By detecting moisture in the diaper, a circuit with a resonance frequency f0 is formed in the diaper,
The output level drops to LV2 by electromagnetic coupling with the moisture detector (1). The level comparison circuit (6) compares the output levels LV1 and LV2 to determine the presence or absence of moisture. In order to secure the distance between the diaper and the non-contact moisture detecting device (1), the coil L1 is wound around a substance having high magnetic permeability.

[0012] Further, by making the moisture detection sensor (2) of FIG. 1 into FIG. 6, the output level of FIG.
As shown in Fig. 5, it becomes LV2 by electromagnetic coupling, and by detecting moisture, electromagnetic coupling is prohibited and it becomes LV1 to determine the presence or absence of moisture.

[0013] In addition, when the moisture detection sensor (2) in FIG. 1 is changed to FIG. 7, the output level in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the resistance value between the conductive patterns is infinite and becomes LV4 by electromagnetic coupling. By detecting moisture, the resistance value between the conductive patterns decreases to make it difficult to electromagnetically couple, and becomes LV3 to become LV3. Judge whether or not.

[Effects of the Invention] The diaper can be detected without a diaper replacement person directly looking at the diaper, and a power source such as a battery is not required for the diaper main body, so that there is no power consumption on the diaper main body side. In addition, moisture can be detected in a non-contact manner without being connected to the diaper main body with an electric wire or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2-1: Normal state of the moisture detection switch SW

FIG. 2-2: Moisture detection switch SW moisture detection state

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the moisture detection sensor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the non-contact moisture detecting device of FIG. 1;

5 is an output level of FIG. 4 when the moisture detection sensor of FIG. 1 is changed to FIG. 3 or FIG. 6 with respect to an oscillation frequency.

FIG. 6 is another circuit diagram of the moisture detection sensor of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram when the moisture detection sensor of FIG. 1 is a conductive pattern.

FIG. 8 is a conductive pattern having two electrodes.

9 shows the output level of FIG. 4 when the moisture detection sensor of FIG. 1 is changed to FIG. 7 with respect to the oscillation frequency.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 non-contact moisture detecting device 2 moisture detecting sensor 2a conductive and resilient metal plate like leaf spring 2b conductive metal plate 2c insulator 2d When absorbing moisture such as paper or fiber, the volume increases. Shrinking object 2e Contact part between 2a and 2b 2f Lead wire 3 High frequency oscillation circuit 4 Detection circuit 5 DC amplification circuit 6 Level comparison circuit 7 Display SW Water detection switch L1 Coil L2 Coil C Capacitor LV1, LV2, LV3, LV4 FIG. Output level f0 Oscillation frequency (resonance frequency)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A switch that closes a contact by absorbing water to reduce the volume of an insulator. 2. A diaper provided with an absorbing portion for absorbing moisture, the diaper having a circuit formed by the switch (FIG. 2), a coil L and a capacitor C in the moisture absorbing portion. 3. The non-contact circuit provided in the diaper according to claim 2, which is normally open, and closes when moisture is detected, and detects a change in the level of the electromagnetic coupling with the LC resonance circuit to determine the moisture detection. Type diaper moisture detector. 4. A diaper having a water absorbing part, wherein a sensor formed by a circuit formed by a conductive pattern having two electrodes in the water absorbing part, a coil L and a capacitor C is provided inside. 5. A non-contact diaper moisture in which a circuit provided in the diaper according to claim 3 detects a moisture to detect a change in a level of an electromagnetic resonance circuit and an electromagnetic coupling in the diaper to determine the moisture detection. Detection device.