Device for assessing need to replace absorbent member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11523945-B2
Application number	US-201716344404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2017
Priority date	Oct 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

This replacement necessity assessment apparatus for an absorbent member includes: a power generator which is configured to generate power as a result of contact with liquid absorbed in the absorbent member, and of which power generation amount changes in accordance with an amount of the liquid; a signal output unit configured to output a detection signal according to the power generation amount; and a processing unit configured to acquire a parameter regarding the amount of the liquid based on the detection signal, the processing unit configured to determine, based on the parameter, whether or not replacement of the absorbent member is necessary.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A replacement necessity assessment apparatus for an absorbent member, the replacement necessity assessment apparatus comprising:
a power generator configured to generate power as a result of contact with liquid absorbed in the absorbent member, and of which power generation amount changes in accordance with an amount of the liquid;
a power storage configured to be applied electromotive force generated by the power generator and to store electric charge;
an intermittent power supply configured to receive power when a predetermined amount of electric charge has been stored in the power storage and intermittently generate and output a detection signal every time power is supplied from the power storage; and
a processing unit configured to acquire a parameter regarding the amount of the liquid based on the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted by the intermittent power supply, the processing unit configured to determine, based on the parameter, whether or not replacement of the absorbent member is necessary.

2. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus for the absorbent member according to claim 1 , wherein
the parameter includes the number of times the liquid has been infused into the absorbent member.

3. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus for the absorbent member according to claim 1 , wherein
the parameter includes an amount of the liquid per infusion that has been infused into the absorbent member.

4. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
on the basis of a change in the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted by the intermittent power supply, the processing unit acquires, as the parameter, the number of times the liquid has been infused into the absorbent member.

5. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted is associated with the amount of the liquid for each predetermined range.

6. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein
the predetermined range is different in accordance with the number of times the liquid has been infused into the absorbent member.

7. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
on the basis of the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted by the intermittent power supply, the processing unit acquires, as the parameter, an amount of the liquid per infusion that has been infused into the absorbent member.

8. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processing unit acquires the parameter based on an average value of the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted by the intermittent power supply.

9. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a radio transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the detection signal; and
a radio receiver configured to receive the detection signal transmitted, wherein
the processing unit acquires the parameter based on the detection signal received by the radio receiver.

10. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
at a stage corresponding to a number of times before the number of times of infusion of the liquid that requires replacement of the absorbent member, the processing unit determines that replacement of the absorbent member is to be necessary at a subsequent infusion or thereafter.

11. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the power generator includes a sheet-shaped electrode that consists only of carbon or a sheet-shaped electrode that contains the carbon.

12. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the sheet-shaped electrode is disposed at a side opposite to a side where the liquid is infused into the absorbent member.

13. An apparatus comprising:
a power generator which is configured to generate power as a result of contact with liquid absorbed in an absorbent member, and of which power generation amount changes in accordance with an amount of the liquid;
a power storage configured to be applied electromotive force generated by the power generator and to store electric charge; and
an intermittent power supply configured to receive power when a predetermined amount of electric charge has been stored in the power storage and intermittently generate and output a detection signal every time power is supplied from the power storage.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising
a processing unit configured to acquire a parameter regarding the amount of the liquid based on the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted.

15. A replacement necessity assessment apparatus for an absorbent member, the replacement necessity assessment apparatus comprising:
a power generator configured to generate power as a result of contact with liquid absorbed in the absorbent member, and of which power generation amount changes in accordance with an amount of the liquid;
a signal output unit configured to output a detection signal according to the power generation amount; and
a processing unit configured to acquire a parameter that includes an amount of the liquid per infusion that has been infused into the absorbent member based on an average value of the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted by the signal output unit, the processing unit configured to determine, based on the parameter, whether or not replacement of the absorbent member is necessary.

16. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein
the time interval at which the detection signal is outputted is associated with the amount of the liquid for each predetermined range.

17. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a radio transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the detection signal; and
a radio receiver configured to receive the detection signal transmitted, wherein
the processing unit acquires the parameter based on the detection signal received by the radio receiver.

18. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein
at a stage corresponding to a number of times before the number of times of infusion of the liquid that requires replacement of the absorbent member, the processing unit determines that replacement of the absorbent member is to be necessary at a subsequent infusion or thereafter.

19. The replacement necessity assessment apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein
the power generator includes a sheet-shaped electrode that consists only of carbon or a sheet-shaped electrode that contains the carbon.

Assignees

• Ritsumeikan Trust
• Ablic Inc

Inventors

• Douseki Takakuni
• Tanaka Ami
• Suematsu Ryota
• Sakamoto Hiroya

Classifications

• A61F13/42 Primary

  with wetness indicator or alarm · CPC title

• A61F2013/426

  Moisture sensitive polymers · CPC title

• A61F2013/424

  having an electronic device · CPC title

• A61F2013/425

  being also a toilet training aid · CPC title

• G01N27/416

  Systems (G01N27/27 takes precedence) · CPC title