Wireless patch temperature sensor system
First Claim
1. An electronic thermometer for measuring and displaying the temperature of an object comprising:
- a patch for placement on the object, the patch including an electrical circuit including an electronic temperature sensor that outputs a signal indicative of the temperature of the object and a patch antenna;
a receiver including an antenna for generating a magnetic field that is useful in powering the patch, the receiver receiving signals transmitted from the patch indicative of the temperature of the object, the receiver including a circuit for converting the signals from the patch to signals that are compatible with a monitor; and
a monitor for receiving signals from the receiver indicative of the temperature of the object and displaying the temperature of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic thermometer for measuring and displaying the temperature of an object comprising: a patch for placement on the object, the patch including an electrical circuit including an electronic temperature sensor that outputs a signal indicative of the temperature of the object and a patch antenna; a receiver including an antenna for generating a magnetic field that is useful in powering the patch, the receiver receiving signals transmitted from the patch indicative of the temperature of the object, the receiver including a circuit for converting the signals from the patch to signals that are compatible with a monitor; and a monitor for receiving signals from the receiver indicative of the temperature of the object and displaying the temperature of the object.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic thermometer for measuring and displaying the temperature of an object comprising:
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a patch for placement on the object, the patch including an electrical circuit including an electronic temperature sensor that outputs a signal indicative of the temperature of the object and a patch antenna;
a receiver including an antenna for generating a magnetic field that is useful in powering the patch, the receiver receiving signals transmitted from the patch indicative of the temperature of the object, the receiver including a circuit for converting the signals from the patch to signals that are compatible with a monitor; and
a monitor for receiving signals from the receiver indicative of the temperature of the object and displaying the temperature of the object.
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2. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor having a resistive output.
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3. The thermometer of paragraph 2 wherein the receiver includes a circuit for converting a signal indicative of the resistive output of the thermistor to a signal that is compatible with the monitor.
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4. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the thermometer additionally includes an ambient temperature sensor.
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5. The thermometer of paragraph 4 wherein the receiver includes a circuit for generating a signal indicative of the internal or core body temperature of the object based upon the signals output by the object temperature sensor and the ambient temperature sensor.
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6. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the patch includes a pulse width modulator for modulating the patch antenna based on the signal output of the temperature sensor.
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7. The thermometer of paragraph 6 wherein the patch antenna is capacitively tuned by a tuned circuit.
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8. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the electric circuit in the patch includes a rectifier.
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9. The thermometer of paragraph 8 wherein the receiver includes an RF oscillator.
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10. The thermometer of paragraph 3 wherein the circuit for converting the resistive output includes a digital potentiometer or a FET.
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11. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the patch additionally includes a heat collector.
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12. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the antenna in the patch is an interleaved coil.
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13. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the antenna in the receiver is an interleaved coil.
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14. The thermometer of paragraph 2 wherein the patch additionally includes circuitry for storing including a calibration factor for the thermistor.
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15. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the monitor receives signals from the receiver by means of a wire.
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16. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the monitor receives signals from the receiver by means of an RF signal.
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17. The thermometer of paragraph 11 wherein an adhesive is provided on the heat c
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18. The thermometer of paragraph 11 wherein the object is a human being.
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19. A method for monitoring the temperature of an object using the thermometer of paragraph 1.
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20. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the receiver includes a display for displaying the temperature of the object.
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21. The thermometer of paragraph 20 wherein the receiver is a wand that includes an LCD for displaying the temperature of the object.
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22. The thermometer of paragraph 20 wherein the receiver is useful in a first mode in which it transmits a signal indicative of the temperature of the object to the monitor, and in a second mode in which the receiver displays the temperature of the object and does not transmit a signal to the monitor.
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23. The thermometer of paragraph 18 wherein the patch is adapted for placement on the head or near the temporal artery.
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24. The thermometer of paragraph 4 wherein the ambient temperature sensor is present in the receiver.
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25. The thermometer of paragraph 6 wherein the width of the pulse is indicative of the temperature of the object.
Specification