# US 10,371,129 B2 · Semiconductor device and sensor system

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- Number: US 10,371,129 B2
- Document ID: US10371129B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/431,015
- Filed: 2017-02-13
- Published: 2017-08-31
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-02-26
- Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jun Koyama; Sho Nagao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371129B2

## CPC

- F03G 7/081: {recovering energy from moving road or rail vehicles, e.g. collecting vehicle vibrations in the vehicle tyres or shock absorbers}
- F03G 7/08: recovering energy derived from swinging, rolling, pitching or like movements, e.g. from the vibrations of a machine
- H10B 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- H10D 30/6734: {having gate electrodes arranged on both top and bottom sides of the channel, e.g. dual-gate TFTs}
- H10D 30/6755: {Oxide semiconductors, e.g. zinc oxide, copper aluminium oxide or cadmium stannate}
- H10D 30/6757: {characterised by the structure of the channel, e.g. transverse or longitudinal shape or doping profile (TFTs having channel structures for preventing kink or snapback effects H10D30/6708; TFTs having lightly-doped source or drain extensions H10D30/6715)}
- H10D 86/423: {comprising semiconductor materials not belonging to the Group IV, e.g. InGaZnO}
- H10D 86/60: wherein the TFTs are in active matrices
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- H10B: ELECTRONIC MEMORY DEVICES
- H10D: INORGANIC ELECTRIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

## Abstract

A sensor system that does not require wiring connection is provided. The sensor system includes a power generator, a power storage device, a wireless device, a sensing device, and a power switch (PSW). Data is transmitted and received wirelessly. Energy harvesting with vibration or the like is used as a power source, and supply of power to an unused portion of the PSW is stopped.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A semiconductor device comprising:
a power generator;
a wireless device;
a sensing device configured to perform sensing;
a sensing device controller;
a power switch;
a power switch controller; and
a memory,
wherein the memory includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor,
wherein the power switch and the power switch controller are configured to power off the sensing device controller and the memory when the sensing is not performed,
wherein data obtained by the sensing device is transmitted through the wireless device, and
wherein the sensing device uses power generated in the power generator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the power generator is a vibration power generator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer,
wherein the timer is powered off during sensing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising an analog-digital converter circuit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The semiconductor device according to claim 4, further comprising a CPU,
wherein the power switch and the power switch controller power off the CPU when the sensing is not performed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The semiconductor device according to claim 5, wherein the CPU includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The semiconductor device according to claim 4, further comprising an image display device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A vehicle comprising the semiconductor device according to claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising a power storage device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.

### Claim 11

A sensor system comprising:
a power generator;
a wireless device;
a sensing device configured to perform sensing;
a sensing device controller;
a power switch;
a power switch controller; and
a memory,
wherein the memory includes a transistor whose channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor,
wherein the power switch and the power switch controller are configured to power off the sensing device controller and the memory when the sensing is not performed,
wherein data obtained by the sensing device is transmitted through the wireless device,
wherein the sensing device uses power generated in the power generator, and
wherein at least one of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, a light wavelength, light quantity, acceleration, and a gas concentration is obtained by the sensing device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the power generator is a vibration power generator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising a timer,
wherein the timer is powered off during sensing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising an analog-digital converter circuit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The sensor system according to claim 14, further comprising a CPU,
wherein the power switch and the power switch controller power off the CPU when the sensing is not performed.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The sensor system according to claim 14, further comprising an image display device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The sensor system according to claim 11, further comprising a power storage device.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The sensor system according to claim 11, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.