THERMAL SIGNAL TRANSMISSION PATCH WITH INTELLIGENT DETERMINATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a thermal signal transmission patch electrically connected to an external controller, electronic component or signal source. The patch includes a substrate and a loop layer. The substrate is a sheet-shaped body. The loop layer is arranged on one side of the substrate. The loop layer includes a first loop layer and a second loop layer. The first loop layer includes a first contact, a second contact and a third contact. The second loop layer includes a fourth contact, a fifth contact and a sixth contact. An electrical connection mode of the first contact, the second contact, the fourth contact and the fifth contact electrically connected to the external controller or electronic component is changed, and the third contact and the sixth contact are electrically connected to the external signal source, so as to achieve a fast switching between electrotherapy and thermotherapy.

Claims

1. A thermal signal transmission patch, the thermal signal transmission patch electrically connected to an external controller, an external electronic component or an external signal source, the thermal signal transmission patch comprising: a substrate, wherein the substrate is a sheet-shaped body; and a loop layer arranged on one side of the substrate and at least comprising a first loop layer and a second loop layer, wherein the first loop layer comprises a first contact, a second contact and a third contact; wherein the second loop layer comprises a fourth contact, a fifth contact and a sixth contact; wherein an electrical connection mode of the first contact, the second contact, the fourth contact and the fifth contact of the loop layer electrically connected to the external controller or the external electronic component is changed, and the third contact and the sixth contact are electrically connected to the external signal source, so as to achieve a fast switching between an electrotherapy and a thermotherapy.

2. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the first loop layer comprises a first outer line segment and a first inner line segment electrically connected to the first outer line segment; the first outer line segment is C-shaped; one end of the first outer line segment is electrically connected to one end of the first inner line segment; the first inner line segment comprises two first straight line segments and a first C-shaped line segment electrically connected between the two first straight line segments; the other end of the first outer line segment fails to be directly connected to the other end of the first inner line segment; the first contact is formed at the other end of the first outer line segment; the second contact is formed at the other end of the first inner line segment; the third contact is formed where the first outer line segment and the first inner line segment are electrically connected.

3. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 2, wherein the second loop layer comprises a second outer line segment and a second inner line segment electrically connected to the second outer line segment; the second outer line segment is C-shaped; one end of the second outer line segment is electrically connected to one end of the second inner line segment; the second inner line segment comprises two second straight line segments and a second C-shaped line segment electrically connected between the two second straight line segments; the other end of the second outer line segment fails to be directly connected to the other end of the second inner line segment; the fourth contact is formed at the other end of the second outer line segment; the fifth contact is formed at the other end of the second inner line segment; the sixth contact is formed where the second outer line segment and the second inner line segment are electrically connected.

4. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the first contact and the second contact of the first loop layer and the fourth contact and the fifth contact of the second loop layer are electrically connected to the external controller.

5. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the external controller is an active component or a passive component.

6. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 5, wherein the active component is a proportional integral derivative controller.

7. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 6, wherein the proportional integral derivative controller is a microcontroller, a control chip or a temperature control chip.

8. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 5, wherein the passive component is an environmental sensor.

9. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 8, wherein the environmental sensor is a thermistor or a relay.

10. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the third contact of the first loop layer and the sixth contact of the second loop layer are electrically connected to an electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus.

11. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the first contact is connected to the second contact, and the fourth contact is connected to the fifth contact, so that a first loop-circuit of the first contact and the second contact is a first pole, and a second loop-circuit of the fourth contact and the fifth contact is a second pole, so as to perform the electrotherapy.

12. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the first contact is connected to the fourth contact, and the second contact is connected to the fifth contact, to form two loop-circuits in parallel for performing the thermotherapy.

13. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the first loop layer and the second loop layer are connected to form a parallel loop-circuit; the first contact of the first loop layer is connected to the fourth contact of the second loop layer; the second contact of the first loop layer is connected to the fifth contact of the second loop layer; the thermal signal transmission patch further comprises a first thermistor; the second contact and the fifth contact are electrically connected to the first thermistor; the third contact of the first loop layer and the sixth contact of the second loop layer are connected to the external signal source.

14. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, further comprising a third loop layer, a first thermistor and a second thermistor, wherein the third loop layer comprises a first innermost line segment and a second innermost line segment; the first loop layer, the second loop layer and the third loop layer are connected to form a parallel loop-circuit; the first contact of the first loop layer is connected to the fourth contact of the second loop layer; the second contact of the first loop layer is connected to the fifth contact of the second loop layer; the second contact and the fifth contact are electrically connected to the first thermistor; a seventh contact of the first innermost line segment is formed at one end of the first innermost line segment; an eighth contact of the second innermost line segment is formed at one end of the second innermost line segment; the seventh contact is connected to the eighth contact; the seventh contact and the eighth contact are electrically connected to the second thermistor; the other end of the first innermost line segment is electrically connected to the third contact of the first loop layer and the external signal source; the other end of the second innermost line segment is electrically connected to the sixth contact of the second loop layer and the external signal source.

15. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 14, wherein the first innermost line segment and the second innermost line segment are two oppositely arranged arcuate shapes.

16. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer arranged on the one side of the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer and the loop layer are arranged on the same one side of the substrate.

17. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 16, wherein the substrate is an adhesive bandage.

18. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the substrate is non-adhesive.

19. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 18, wherein the substrate is a bandage.

20. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the loop layer is a conductive cloth.

21. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 20, wherein the conductive cloth is a silver fiber cloth, nanometer silver wires or a conductive paste.

22. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 21, wherein the conductive paste is a thermal-transfer-type conductive gel.

23. The thermal signal transmission patch of claim 1, wherein the thermal signal transmission patch is a flexible printed circuit board, a flexible line-circuit board, a soft circuit board, a soft line-circuit board, a flexibility line-circuit board or a soft board.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the patch of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded schematic view of FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the circuit for electrically connecting the patch of the first embodiment, the external controller and the electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the patch of the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the patch of the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Regarding the technical contents and detailed descriptions of the present disclosure, it is now described with the drawings as follows:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the appearance of the patch of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows an exploded schematic view of the patch of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a thermal signal transmission patch (hereinafter referred to as the patch 10) with an intelligent determination system of the present disclosure includes a substrate 1 and a loop layer 2. Moreover, the loop layer 2 includes at least two loops in parallel to form two signal transmission loops. The two signal transmission loops are electrically connected to an external electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus (not shown in the figures) and a controller (not shown in the figures), as the signal transmission (thermal signal transmission) between the external electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus and the controller.

[0038] The substrate 1 has no signal transmission function. The patch 10 further includes an adhesive layer 11 arranged on one side of the substrate 1, so that the substrate 1 adheres to the patient's skin surface. In the figures, the substrate 1 is a sheet-shaped body, such as an adhesive bandage material which is the stretchable tape type, while the patch material of the adhesive bandage is a nonwoven cloth with good air permeability, stretchability and flexibility. Besides, the substrate 1 may be a non-adhesive bandage.

[0039] The loop layer 2 is arranged on the one side of the substrate 1 with the adhesive layer 11. The loop layer 2 at least includes a first loop layer 21 and a second loop layer 22. The first loop layer 21 includes a first outer line segment 211 and a first inner line segment 212 which is electrically connected to the first outer line segment 211. The first outer line segment 211 is C-shaped. One end of the first outer line segment 211 is electrically connected to one end of the first inner line segment 212. The first inner line segment 212 includes two first straight-line segments 2121 and a first C-shaped line segment 2122 which is electrically connected between the two first straight-line segments 2121. The other end of the first outer line segment 211 fails to be directly connected to the other end of the first inner line segment 212; a first contact 21a is formed at the other end of the first outer line segment 211; a second contact 21b is formed at the other end of the first inner line segment 212. A third contact 21c is formed where the first outer line segment 211 and the first inner line segment 212 are electrically connected. The second loop layer 22 includes a second outer line segment 221 and a second inner line segment 222 which is electrically connected to the second outer line segment 221. The second outer line segment 221 is C-shaped. One end of the second outer line segment 221 is electrically connected to one end of the second inner line segment 222. The second inner line segment 222 includes two second straight-line segments 2221 and a second C-shaped line segment 2222 which is electrically connected between the two second straight-line segments 2221. The other end of the second outer line segment 221 fails to be directly connected to the other end of the second inner line segment 222; a fourth contact 22a is formed at the other end of the second outer line segment 221; a fifth contact 22b is formed at the other end of the second inner line segment 222. A sixth contact 22c is formed where the second outer line segment 221 and the second inner line segment 222 are electrically connected.

[0040] The loop layer 2 mentioned above in the figures is a conductive cloth. The conductive cloth is a carrier with conductive function such as a silver fiber cloth, nanometer silver wires or a conductive paste (such as a thermal-transfer-type conductive gel) printing. The conductive cloth is processed and designed as a specific loop to achieve a single-piece single-layer which can perform thermotherapy treatment and which has the function of simple intelligent temperature control system, wherein the single-layer refers to a layer with a transmission function; other layers without electric signal transmission function may also be laminated on the other end of the main functional layer for modification, but do not affect the main functional layer. The intelligent temperature control refers to a temperature control system that has a determination function and can change due to changes in the external environment; for example, if the temperature of the product reaches 40 degrees, the system determines that the temperature is too high, and the product has other further operations to reduce harm. FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram of the circuit for electrically connecting the patch of the first embodiment, the external controller and the electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, when this embodiment is used, the first contact 21a and the second contact 21b of the first loop layer 21 of the loop layer 2, and the fourth contact 22a and the fifth contact 22b of the second loop layer 22 of the loop layer 2, are electrically connected to the external controller 20, which is an active component or a passive component. The active component is a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller; the proportional integral derivative controller is a microcontroller, a control chip or a temperature control chip. The passive component is an environmental sensor, such as a thermistor or a relay. The third contact 21c of the first loop layer 21 and the sixth contact 22c of the second loop layer 22 are electrically connected to an electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus 30.

[0041] In terms of electrotherapy, there are two independent circuits/loops for circuit requirements; for example, the first contact 21a is connected to the second contact 21b, and the fourth contact 22a is connected to the fifth contact 22b, so as to perform the electrotherapy; at this time, a first loop-circuit of the first contact 21a and the second contact 21b is a first pole, and a second loop-circuit of the fourth contact 22a and the fifth contact 22b is a second pole; the electric signal output voltage for electrotherapy is about 40V˜100V pulses, and the output current is 80 mA.

[0042] In terms of thermotherapy, a parallel loop-circuit is required for circuit requirements; for example, the first contact 21a is connected to the fourth contact 22a, and the second contact 21b is connected to the fifth contact 22b, to form two loop-circuits in parallel; the electric signal output for thermotherapy is the constant voltage (commonly 5V/12V/24V, etc.), the constant current (0.7 A/1.0 A/1.5 A, etc.), or changes in voltage and current according to the heating temperature design, so that the heating temperature can meet the requirement.

[0043] Therefore, the electrical connection of the first contact 21a, the second contact 21b, the fourth contact 22a and the fifth contact 22b of the loop layer 2 connected to the external controller 20 is changed (pins jumping/changing), so as to achieve a fast switching between the electrotherapy and the thermotherapy, allowing the user to feel both the electrotherapy and the thermotherapy simultaneously, or switching between the electrotherapy and the thermotherapy. The users are also allowed to adjust the operation mentioned above by themselves.

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of the patch of the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, except that: the first loop layer 21 and the second loop layer 22 are connected to form a parallel loop-circuit; the first contact 21a of the first loop layer 21 is connected to the fourth contact 22a of the second loop layer 22 to form a first coil; the second contact 21b of the first loop layer 21 is connected to the fifth contact 22b of the second loop layer 22; the patch 10 further includes a first thermistor 201; the second contact 21b and the fifth contact 22b are electrically connected to the first thermistor 201 to form a second coil; the third contact 21c of the first loop layer 21 and the sixth contact 22c of the second loop layer 22 form an electrode connection part to be connected to the signal source (the electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus 30).

[0045] In these two coils (loop-circuits), the inner loop-circuit resistance is smaller, the outer loop-circuit resistance is larger, while there is the first thermistor 201 in the inner loop-circuit, wherein if the temperature is higher than 40 degrees, the first thermistor 201 is the open circuit; if the temperature is lower than 36 degrees, the thermistor 201 changes back to the short circuit.

[0046] Because the temperature control range of the first thermistor 201 is not accurate enough and the first thermistor 201 is not sensitive enough, the dual-loop-circuit design is used to make the heating temperature of these two coils not too high and is used to avoid causing damage.

[0047] For example, when these two coils are used with a 5V, 1 A mobile power supply, the heating efficiency is 5 W, the inner loop-circuit resistance is 8.5 ohms, the outer loop-circuit resistance is 12 ohms, and the total resistance including the cable connecting the signal source is about 5 ohms.

[0048] The inner loop-circuit resistance is smaller, the line width is smaller, and the heating efficiency (the heat generated per unit area) is stronger, so the inner loop-circuit heats up fast, and the thermistor is triggered by the fast heating through the inner loop-circuit.

[0049] When the temperature reaches 40 degrees, the thermistor is cut off; at this time, only the outer loop-circuit continues to generate heat. The outer loop-circuit has a wider line width and a larger resistance; the overall heating efficiency is poor, and the temperature rise is slow, so that the overall system can maintain the temperature, and keep the temperature at 40 degrees (specific temperature).

[0050] With the design of the structure of the patch 10 of the present disclosure mentioned above, the patch 10 may be used in medical equipment, sport equipment or rehabilitation aids, such as compression stockings, compression garments, protectors and other highly elastic clothing combined with electrical stimulation (electrotherapy), thermotherapy, or elastic smart clothing (such as with input and output electric signal function or heating function), or thermotherapy products (such as heating eye masks, heating masks, heating blankets and heating clothing).

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the patch of the third embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment or the second embodiment, except that: the patch 10 further includes a third loop layer 23, a first thermistor 201 and a second thermistor 202; the first loop layer 21, the second loop layer 22 and the third loop layer 23 are connected to form a parallel loop-circuit; the first contact 21a of the first loop layer 21 is connected to the fourth contact 22a of the second loop layer 22 to form the outermost layer coil; the second contact 21b of the first loop layer 21 is connected to the fifth contact 22b of the second loop layer 22; the second contact 21b and the fifth contact 22b are electrically connected to the first thermistor 201 to form the middle layer coil; the third loop layer 23 includes a first innermost line segment 231 and a second innermost line segment 232; the first innermost line segment 231 and the second innermost line segment 232 are two oppositely arranged arcuate shapes; a seventh contact 231a of the first innermost line segment 231 is formed at one end of the first innermost line segment 231; an eighth contact 232a of the second innermost line segment 232 is formed at one end of the second innermost line segment 232; the seventh contact 231a is connected to the eighth contact 232a; the seventh contact 231a and the eighth contact 232a are electrically connected to the second thermistor 202 to form the innermost layer coil; the other end of the first innermost line segment 231 is electrically connected to the third contact 21c of the first loop layer 21 and the external signal source (the electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus 30); the other end of the second innermost line segment 232 is electrically connected to the sixth contact 22c of the second loop layer 22 and the external signal source (the electrotherapy-and-hot-compress therapy apparatus 30).

[0052] When this embodiment is used, the resistance value of the outermost layer coil connected as mentioned above is 25Ω (ohms), which is set as a temperature-maintaining coil.

[0053] The resistance value of the middle layer coil is 16.67Ω (ohms), which is set as a slow heating coil; with the first thermistor 201, an open circuit is formed when the temperature exceeds 45 degrees.

[0054] The resistance value of the innermost layer coil is 10Ω (ohms), which is set as a fast-heating coil; with the second thermistor 202, an open circuit is formed when the temperature exceeds 45 degrees.

[0055] Further, the patch 10 of the present disclosure may be manufactured with the flexible printed circuit (FPC) board, which is a special kind of the printed circuit board and is also known as a flexible line-circuit board, a soft circuit board, a soft line-circuit board, a flexibility line-circuit board or a soft board, and so on, so that the patch 10 of the present disclosure has the industrial practicability.

[0056] The descriptions mentioned above are only the embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, any equivalent changes made by using the contents of the descriptions or drawings of the present disclosure are equally included in the scope of the present disclosure.