DE20215448U1 - Infrared ear thermometer has exchangeable probe cover with automatic mode switch - Google Patents

Abstract

An infra red ear thermometer has exchangeable probe covers (20) for ear and forehead use that clip (26) in place to receive radiation through a window (22) and automatically switch the instrument mode to produce correct readings.

Description

TERMEER STEINMEISTER & PARTNER GbR

PATENT ATTORNEYS - EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

Dr. Nicolaus ter Meer, Dipl.-Chem. Helmut Steinmeister, Dipl.-Ing.

Peter Urner, Dipl.-Phys. Manfred Wiebusch

Gebhard Merkle, Dipl.-Ing. (FH)

Bernhard P. Wagner, Dipl.-Phys.

Mauerkircherstrasse 45 Artur-Ladebeck-Strasse 51

D-81679 MUNICH D-33617 BIELEFELD

Case: TAD 2003 Ur/Js/bt

0 B. Oct. 2082

TaiDoc Corp., Ltd.

9F, No. 80, Sec.l,
Kwang-Fu Rd.
Taipei City, Taiwan

Infrared thermometer Description

The invention generally relates to an ear thermometer.

Currently, mercury thermometers, electronic thermometers and infrared ear thermometers are tools commonly used to measure a person's body temperature. Mercury and electronic thermometers are suitable for measuring mouth, rectal and forearm temperatures. However, since a mercury thermometer operates on the basis of thermal contact equilibrium, a longer measurement time is usually required. Electronic thermometers produce the thermal equilibrium temperature from the temperature change within a short period of time. An ear thermometer uses a sensor to detect the infrared radiation of a heat radiation source.

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source, and it converts the measurement result into a temperature within a very short time. However, such non-contact temperature measuring devices can only provide an accurate measurement result under certain external conditions. Since the ear is close to the heat source of the human brain, the internal structure of the ear prevents interference with the radiated heat radiation. Therefore, an ear thermometer is very useful for measuring body temperature. To measure the ear temperature, the probe of an ear thermometer is inserted into the ear and a measurement button is pressed. The measurement result can be obtained within seconds. This is why ear thermometers are becoming more and more popular.

An infrared temperature measuring device still has certain disadvantages in some respects. Although the measuring principle of such a device is not limited in terms of the area to be measured, an ear thermometer cannot be used outside the ear. That is, it is not guaranteed that the measurement obtained from an area other than the ear can be used as a reference. Furthermore, even if a temperature is measured, the user cannot determine what the measured temperature belongs to. An ear thermometer is also not usable if the ear is injured. Other factors may also make an ear thermometer unusable.

The invention is based on the object of creating a versatile ear thermometer.

This object is achieved by the infrared thermometer according to the appended claim 1 and the additional device for an ear thermometer according to claim 8.
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The infrared temperature measuring device according to the invention is suitable for measuring the temperature of two different areas, such as the ear and the forehead. For this purpose, the device can be switched between the modes of an ear temperature measurement and a forehead temperature measurement. The measurement results are then converted into corresponding temperatures for reading by the user.

According to one aspect, the invention provides an infrared temperature measuring device applicable to measuring heat radiation from the ear and forehead. This device has a collecting cap for covering the probe of a conventional ear thermometer. A switch is installed on the case covered by the collecting cap to automatically switch to the forehead temperature measuring mode when the collecting cap is attached to the probe and to switch to the ear temperature measuring mode when it is removed from the probe. The automatic switching function between the measurement of forehead temperature and ear temperature can also be replaced by manual control by adding an additional switch button or using an existing button. Depending on the attachment of the collecting cap, the user can switch to the required mode.
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According to another aspect, the invention provides a collecting cap that can be attached to the probe of a conventional ear thermometer, allowing the user to measure body temperature in an area other than the ear. The collecting cap has a collecting window for contact with the area to be measured. The area is, for example, the forehead. This maintains a certain distance between the infrared probe and the heat radiation emitted by the area to be measured and prevents interference from another source of heat radiation.

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This means that the infrared probe only measures the radiation received through the collection window. The measurement results are then converted into temperature values that the user can read. The user can also compare the measured ear temperature with the forehead temperature to convert the forehead measurement result into a readable temperature value. For example, the ear temperature can be measured by first removing the collection cap from the probe. Then the measurement mode is automatically or manually switched to the forehead temperature measurement mode when the collection cap is placed on the probe. Then an internal computing unit converts the measurement results into temperature values shown on a display. If the collection cap is manufactured as a functional retrofit part for an ear thermometer, an additional look-up table can be attached, allowing the user to determine the temperature that corresponds to the reading shown on the display.

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional infrared ear thermometer;

Fig. 2 shows a device according to the invention which can be attached to a conventional infrared ear thermometer;

Fig. 3A and 3B shows a local magnification of a
with automatic mode switch; and

Fig. 4A and 4B show the probe shown in Fig. 3A with a collecting cap as shown in Fig. 2 fitted thereon.

The infrared ear thermometer 10 shown in Fig. 1

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has a housing 12 and a probe 14 which are formed as one piece. The probe has a geometry which is adapted to the inside of the human ear. The tip 142 of the probe has a transparent window. The heat radiation emitted by the human ear is radiated through this transparent window to a sensor (not shown) installed in the probe 14. The remaining surface 144 of the probe 14 consists of a heat-insulating material. The technology for the probe 14 is well known. The housing 12 has a liquid crystal display 122 and several buttons 124. By pressing one of the buttons 124, the power supply is switched on. By pressing a function button and activating a measurement button, the temperature is measured within a short time and displayed on the liquid crystal display 122. The measurement and the implementation of the measured value are also well known in the art.

Fig. 2B shows a collecting cap 20. This collecting cap 20 has a collecting window 22, a frame 24 and several frame holding elements 26. The collecting window 22 is made of a material that is transparent to thermal radiation. When the collecting window 22 is brought into direct contact with an area such as the forehead, the thermal radiation emitted by this area is collected. The frame 2 2 and the frame holding elements 26 are attached to the ear thermometer 10. By pressing the frame 24 towards the probe 14, the frame 24 is held on the probe 14. With the support of the frame holding elements 26, the collecting cap 20 can thus be combined with the ear thermometer 10.

To provide two different measurement modes, e.g. an ear temperature and a forehead temperature measurement mode, the ear thermometer 10 has a switch button 124. By manually pressing the button 124, the user can switch between the

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ear temperature and forehead temperature measurement modes. The temperature corresponding to the measurement result in the selected measurement mode is calculated by a built-in circuit and displayed on the liquid crystal display 122. The temperature reading obtained in the ear temperature measurement mode is the same as that obtained in the forehead temperature measurement mode. Such temperature reading corresponds to the scale that the ordinary user can use for reference to recognize the physical condition. The user can easily read both the measurement result for the ear temperature and forehead temperature. As a result, an additional choice for measuring the body temperature is provided.

If the above ear thermometer 10 is not integrally provided with the collecting cap 20, a look-up table may be attached to enable the user to determine the temperature for one measurement mode which is converted from a certain other measurement mode. For example, if the collecting cap 20 is provided as an accessory device for the ear thermometer 10, the user can use the look-up table to determine the corresponding temperature as measured using the collecting cap 20.

The manual switch for switching between different measurement modes can be replaced by an automatic switch. Figures 3A and 3B show the external and internal construction of the probe 30 of the thermometer using the collecting cap 20. The probe has a push button switch 32. When the switch 32 is activated, the thermometer can be switched between different measurement modes by means of the internal circuit design depending on whether the collecting cap 20 is attached or not. Before the activation switch 32 is operated, the ear temperature mode is selected. After the collecting cap 20 is attached, the ear temperature mode is selected.

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brought, the switch 3 2 is actuated by the frame holding elements 24 so that the forehead temperature mode is automatically selected. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the construction of the probe 3 0 includes an outer layer covered by a plastic sheath 34, a metal element 3 6 for heat dissipation and a sensor 38 arranged therein. The thermal radiation detected by the sensor 38 is converted into a signal which is transmitted to the internal circuitry (not shown) by means of a line 39. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the probe 30 has an additional switch 32. The probe does not require a waveguide. Instead, the sensor receives the thermal radiation directly, which is then converted into the corresponding signal which is transmitted to the internal circuitry.

Figures 4A and 4B show an infrared thermometer with the probe shown in Figure 3A without the collecting cap 20 shown in Figure 2. They correspond to a similar condition to that achieved when the collecting cap 20 is attached to the ear thermometer 10. Differences include that the switch 32 is used as a trigger to activate the mode switch when the frame holding members 26 are pressed onto the probe 30.

5 According to Fig. 4B, the collecting cap 20 can ensure that the infrared probe 30 maintains a constant distance from the area to be measured and excludes interference from other thermal radiation. This means that only the thermal radiation within the collecting window 22 is collected. In this way, a stable thermal radiation source can be achieved.

Claims (10)

1. Infrared thermometer, characterized in that it has a first measuring mode for measuring the temperature in a first area and a second measuring mode for measuring the temperature in a second area, with: - a probe ( 30 ) operable to perform a measurement in the first measurement mode when brought into contact with the first region and including a sensor ( 38 ) receiving thermal radiation emitted from the first or second region; - a collecting cap ( 20 ) which can be placed on the probe to contact the second region in order to carry out a measurement in the second measurement mode; and - a switch that switches between the first and second measuring mode depending on whether the collecting cap is placed on the probe or not. 2. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting cap ( 20 ) further comprises a collecting window ( 22 ) for contact with the second region, the sensor ( 38 ) receiving thermal radiation from the second region spaced therefrom only from the opening area of the collecting window. 3. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting cap ( 20 ) further comprises a frame attached to the probe ( 30 ) with a plurality of frame holding elements ( 26 ) which can be placed on the probe and with which the collecting cap is held on the probe. 4. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the probe ( 30 ) is adapted to the shape of a human ear as the first measuring area and the shape of the collecting cap ( 20 ) is adapted to the human forehead as the second measuring area. 5. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a circuit which ensures that the measured values recorded by the sensor ( 38 ) in the first and second measuring modes are converted into the same temperature value. 6. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch is provided so that it automatically switches from the first to the second measuring mode when the collecting cap ( 20 ) is attached to the probe ( 30 ). 7. Infrared thermometer according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch is manually operable to switch from the first to the second measuring mode when the collecting cap ( 20 ) is attached to the probe ( 30 ). 8. An additional device ( 20 ) which can be attached to a probe ( 30 ) of an ear thermometer to enable the ear thermometer to measure the ear temperature and the skin temperature in an area other than the ear, comprising: - a collection window for contact with an area to be measured, wherein a sensor ( 38 ) of the ear thermometer is kept spaced from this area to measure thermal radiation emitted therefrom, and wherein thermal radiation from another source is blocked out so that only thermal radiation emitted within the area of the collection window is received; and - a frame that is placed on the probe of the ear thermometer. 9. Additional device according to claim 8, characterized by a plurality of frame holding elements ( 24 ) which are designed such that they can be placed on the probe ( 30 ) of the ear thermometer so that the additional device firmly receives the probe. 10. Additional device according to claim 8, characterized in that its surface with the collecting window ( 22 ) is adapted to the shape of a human forehead.