Electronic ear thermometer with multiple measurement and memory function

• US 20050083993A1
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovatech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovatech, LLC
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chin-Chih
• Granted Patent: US 6,939,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/163
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6815 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A multiple measurement memory-type electronic thermometer includes an ear temperature measuring unit, a microprocessor, a keypad unit, a display unit, and a memory unit. The ear temperature measuring unit, the display unit, and the memory unit are controlled by the microprocessor. When the activation key of the keypad unit is pressed by the user, being controlled by the microprocessor, the ear temperature unit is activated to perform measurement. The measuring result of the ear temperature unit is sent back to the microprocessor, displayed by the display unit, and saved in the memory unit. The memory unit is partitioned into a plurality of independent memory sectors. Each sector includes a queue data structure, such that the ear temperature measured from each person and the measuring time can be stored in the corresponding memory sector. Therefore, measurement of multiple people can be performed, memorized and retrieved.

Claims

1. A multiple measurement and memory electronic ear thermometer, comprising:

a keypad unit including an activation key, wherein when the activation key is pressed, the keypad unit is operative to generate an input signal;

a microprocessor in electric communication with the keypad unit, the microprocessor being operative to generate a first control signal in response to the input signal;

an ear temperature measuring unit, operative to measure ear temperature from a first user in response to the first control signal generated by the microprocessor and convert the ear temperature into an electric signal sent to the microprocessor to generate a second control signal;

a display unit, operative to display the ear temperature in response to the second control signal; and

a memory unit, being partitioned into a plurality of individual memory sectors, wherein a first memory sector is operative to save the ear temperature in response to the second control signal.

2. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein each of the memory sectors is in the form of a queue data structure.

3. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a liquid crystal display.

4. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the memory unit includes an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) or a random access memory (RAM).

5. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the ear temperature measuring unit is also operative to count time for ear temperature measurement.

6. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the ear temperature measuring unit is operative measure a second user in response to the first control signal, and a second memory sector is operative to save the ear temperature measured from the second user in response to the second control signal.

7. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the keypad unit further includes a key for inputting a number of users.

8. The thermometer of claim 7, wherein the keypad unit further includes a key for inputting identification code for each user.