Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fluid level detection sensor, and an objective of the present invention is to provide a capacitive fluid level detection sensor, in which an electrode for sensing a fluid level in a capacitive method is formed on a film in a printing method so that the film can be easily attached to and detached from a connector module having a wireless transmission function, and thus a value of a sensed fluid level can be transmitted to a central control office at a remote site, and the film can be used as a disposable item.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a fluid level detection sensor, in which an electrode for sensing a fluid level in a capacitive method is formed on a film in a printing method so that the film can be easily attached to and detached from a wireless module, and thus a value of a sensed fluid level can be transmitted to a remote site, and the film can be used as a disposable item. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When an intravenous solution is injected using a Ringer solution tube or bottle used at a clinic, the fluid level of the intravenous solution may not be frequently confirmed due to the lengthy injection. 
         [0005]    Although a nurse determines an appropriate time according to the amount of the injected solution to confirm the fluid level, this is not accurate, and, furthermore, if the nurse does not remember the time to confirm, the needle may not be removed at an appropriate time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a capacitive fluid level detection sensor, in which an electrode for sensing a fluid level in a capacitive method is formed on a film in a printing method so that the film can be easily attached to and detached from a connector module having a wireless transmission function, and thus a value of a sensed fluid level can be transmitted to a central control office at a remote site, and the film can be used as a disposable item. 
         [0007]    To accomplish the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a capacitive fluid level detection sensor including: a sensor film having a pair of electrodes formed on a base film in parallel to each other in a printing method to make a condenser and an adhesive layer on a bottom surface of the base film; and a connection module connected to connection terminals of the sensor film to convert a capacitance value detected by the electrodes into level information and wirelessly transmit the converted level information to a remote site, in which the connector module is configured to include: a receiving groove formed at one side of a housing to receive the connection terminals of the sensor film; a cover provided on the receiving groove and combined with the housing by means of a hinge to cover the receiving groove; connection pins provided inside the cover to pass through and electrically connect to the connection terminals of the sensor film received in the receiving groove; and pin grooves formed on a bottom unit of the receiving groove at positions corresponding to the connection pins, and a battery; a controller electrically connected to the connection pins to convert the detected capacitance value into the level information; and a wireless transmission unit for wirelessly transmitting the level information calculated by the controller to a remote site are embedded inside the housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a view showing an external appearance structure of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view showing the structures of electrodes and connection terminals formed on a base film. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view showing the structure of a connector module. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a circuit provided in a connector module. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a state of a sensor of the present invention attached on an intravenous solution tube and sensing a fluid level. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   100: Sensor film 
                   110: Base film 
                 
                 
                     
                   111: Electrode 
                   112: Connection terminal 
                 
                 
                     
                   120: Adhesive layer 
                 
                 
                     
                   130: Top surface protection layer 
                 
                 
                     
                   200: Connector module 
                 
                 
                     
                   210: Housing 
                   220: Cover 
                 
                 
                     
                   221: Hinge 
                   222: Connection pin 
                 
                 
                     
                   230: Receiving groove 
                   231: Bottom unit 
                 
                 
                     
                   232: Pin groove 
                   240: Controller 
                 
                 
                     
                   250: Wireless transmission unit 
                   260: Battery 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0013]    The present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0014]    First, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is largely configured of a sensor film  100  and a connection module  200 . 
         [0015]    The sensor film  100  is configured of a base film  110 , an adhesive layer  120  formed on the bottom surface of the base film  110 , and a top surface protection layer  130  stacked on the top of the base film  110  to protect the top surface of the base film. 
         [0016]    Such a base film  110  is formed of a film material such as PET, PE, PTFE, PVC or the like, and a pair of conductor line type electrodes  111  are formed on the top surface of the base film along the length direction in the shape of a strip. The electrodes  111  are formed in a printing method using a silver compound, a pure conductive ink having a resistance of 0 to 20Ω or the like. 
         [0017]    The electrodes  111  are electrically connected to connection terminals  112  formed at one end of the base film  110 , and end portions of the pair of electrodes  111  are electrically connected to each other to flow current. 
         [0018]    The top surface protection layer  130  is stacked on the top of the base film  110  to protect the electrodes  111  and the connection terminals  112  formed on the top surface of the base film  110 , and the adhesive layer  120  of a double-sided tape is formed on the bottom surface of the base film  110 . 
         [0019]    The connector module  200  has a structure of receiving the connection terminals  112  of the base film  110 , sensing a fluid level through an electrical connection, and wirelessly transmitting information on a sensed level to a remote site, and as shown in  FIG. 3(   a ), the front side of a housing  210  is open to form a receiving groove  230  for receiving one end of the sensor film  100 , and a cover  220  rotating by a hinge  221  is provided on the top of the receiving groove  230 . 
         [0020]    In addition, conductive connection pins  222  protruded downwards are formed inside the cover  220 , and the connection pins  222  are formed to correspond to the positions and the number of connection terminals  112 . Pin grooves  232  for inserting the connection pins  222  provided inside the cover  220  are formed on a bottom unit  231  of the receiving groove  230  to correspond to the positions of the connection pins  222 . 
         [0021]    Therefore, since the receiving groove  230  is covered by the cover  220  while the connection terminals  112  of the base film  110  are received in the receiving groove  230  of the housing  210 , the connection pins  222  pass through the connection terminals  112  as shown in  FIG. 3(   b ), and the end portions of the connection pins  222  are received in the pin grooves  232 . 
         [0022]    Therefore, the connection pins  222  pass through the connection terminals  112  and electrically connect to each other. 
         [0023]    In addition, since the connection pins  222  pass through the sensor film  100 , the sensor film  100  is prevented from being departed from the connector module  200 . 
         [0024]    A controller  240  electrically connected to the connection pins  222  to convert a capacitance value sensed by the electrodes  111  into level information, a wireless transmission unit  250  for transmitting a value of the level information output from the controller  240  to a remote site, and a battery  260  are embedded inside the housing  210 . 
         [0025]    A use state and an operation state of the present invention will be described. 
         [0026]    First, if a user opens the cover  220  of the connector module  200 , puts an end portion of the sensor film  100  where the connection terminals  112  are formed into the receiving groove  230 , and closes the cover  220 , the sensor film  100  and the connector module  200  are electrically connected. 
         [0027]    Then, the sensor film  100  is attached at a position for sensing a fluid level using the adhesive layer  120 , and as shown in  FIG. 5 , it can be attached on the outer surface of an intravenous solution tube  300  in the form of a pad in the vertical direction. 
         [0028]    The controller  240  receives power from the battery  240  provided inside the housing  210 , supplies power for periodically sensing a temperature through the connection pins  222 , and receives a capacitance value from the electrodes  111 . 
         [0029]    The capacitance is a unique value of static electricity that every substance has, and if a substance is placed between the two electrodes  111 , a capacitance value of the substance is inverse proportional to the distance between the electrodes  111  and proportional to the areas of the electrodes  111 . 
         [0030]    A fluid level is sensed by detecting an electrical signal value corresponding to such a property. 
         [0031]    Therefore, since the capacitance value changes according to the fluid level of the intravenous solution tube  300 , the controller  240  reads the changing capacitance value, converts the value into level information, and wirelessly transmits the level information to a central control office at a remote site through the wireless transmission unit  250 . 
         [0032]    When the sensor film  100  is replaced, the connector module  200  is separated from the fixed sensor film  100  when the cover  220  is opened and the sensor film  100  is removed, and the sensor can be reused by connecting a new sensor film  100  to the separated connection module  200  as described above and attaching the sensor film on the intravenous solution tube  300 . 
         [0033]    That is, the sensor film  100  can be used as a disposable item, and the connector module  200  can be used repeatedly. 
         [0034]    Since the present invention uses a flexible film material as described above, the sensor can be easily attached to a curved intravenous solution tube or bottle, and since the electrodes for sensing capacitance are formed in a printing method, it is easy to manufacture the sensor, and manufacturing cost of the sensor is low. 
         [0035]    In addition, since the sensor can be manufactured in various sizes, can be easily attached to and detached from a wireless module, and is able to transmit information on a sensed fluid level to a central control office at a remote site, it is advantageous in that a complex wiring is not needed, and changes of the fluid level can be immediately confirmed at a remote site to properly cope with the changes in the fluid level. 
         [0036]    While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.