End face sensor and method of producing the same

Abstract

An end face sensor device that has flexibility or bendability without being limited to its shape and can generate various apparatus with any shapes, and a method of producing the end face sensor device are provided. The end face sensor device is characterized in that a receiving part for receiving information from a subject and outputting the information as another information is formed on an end face of a linear body.

1 . A method of producing an end face sensor device, comprising the steps of:
 bundling plural linear bodies together to form a bundle of plural linear bodies; and   forming receiving parts on respective end faces of each of the linear bodies of said bundle.   
   
   
       2 . A method of producing a multi-functional end face sensor device, comprising the steps of:
 bundling linear bodies together to form plural bundles, each of the plural bundles comprising a bundle of plural linear bodies;   forming receiving parts on end faces of each of the plural bundles so that the receiving parts of each of the bundles has a different function, at least a first bundle having end faces of a first function and a second bundle having end faces of a second function;   removing the linear bodies from the plural bundles; and   rebundling the removed linear bodies into a new bundle that is a multi-functional comprising end faces of different functions, including at least a first linear body having a corresponding end face of the first function and a second linear body having a corresponding end face of the second function.   
   
   
       3 . A method of producing an end face sensor device, comprising the steps of:
 disposing at least one pair of electrodes in a linear body;   forming a film on an end face of the linear body while a bias voltage is applied between the electrodes.   
   
   
       4 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the one pair of electrodes are disposed in a center and a outer circumference of said linear body. 
   
   
       5 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as in any one of  claim 3 , wherein the film is made of a conductive polymer. 
   
   
       6 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a length of one molecule of the conductive polymer is shorter than or equal to a distance between the electrodes. 
   
   
       7 . An end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bias voltage is a DC voltage. 
   
   
       8 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bias voltage is an AC voltage. 
   
   
       9 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bias voltage comprises both a DC bias voltage and an AC bias voltage superimposed and applied between the electrodes. 
   
   
       10 . A method of producing an end face sensor device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a frequency of the AC bias voltage is changed with time. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each linear body comprises:
 a conductive polymer center electrode ( 2007 ) with an outer circumference of the center electrode coated with an insulating film made of polymer ( 2008 ), the linear body being flexible along a length of the linear body; and   the receiving part is for receiving information from a subject and outputting the information as another information formed on the end face of the linear body, the receiving part being a sensor coated with a transparent electrode ( 2006 ) extending along the length of the linear body, the transparent electrode defining a final exterior surface of the length of the linear body exposed to the atmosphere.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor comprising an active portion made of a conductive polymer. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor comprised of any of a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photo IC, a photo thyristor, a photoconductive element, a pyroelectric element, a color sensor, a solid-state image sensor, an element for position detection, and a solar battery. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a part or all of the receiving part is formed of a polymer. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each linear body further comprises a linear element in which a circuit element is formed continuously or intermittently in a longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each linear body further comprises a linear element in which a cross section having plural regions for forming a circuit is formed continuously or intermittently in a longitudinal direction. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the linear body comprises:
 a conductive polymer center electrode ( 2007 ) with an outer circumference of the center electrode coated with the film, the film being an insulating film made of polymer ( 2008 ), the linear body being flexible along a length of the linear body; and   a receiving part for receiving information from a subject and outputting the information as another information formed on the end face of the linear body, the receiving part being a sensor coated with a transparent electrode ( 2006 ) extending along the length of the linear body, the transparent electrode defining a final exterior surface of the length of the linear body exposed to the atmosphere.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor comprising an active portion made of a conductive polymer. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is a light sensor comprised of any of a photodiode, a phototransistor, a photo IC, a photo thyristor, a photoconductive element, a pyroelectric element, a color sensor, a solid-state image sensor, an element for position detection, and a solar battery. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein,
 a part or all of the receiving part is formed of a polymer, and   the linear body further comprises a linear element in which a circuit element is formed continuously or intermittently in a longitudinal direction.