Wireless patch temperature sensor system

• US 20060122473A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: YSIS, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: YSIS, Inc. (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Simpson, Jeff Joaquin, Murphy, Sean Patrick, Kill, Robert Allen, Yogi, Takashi
• Application Number:
  US11/249,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122473A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0025 Living bodies ear thermometers G01J5/0011; detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0837 Microantennas, e.g. bow-tie
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2215/00 Details concerning sensor power supply

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.

Claims

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.

2. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the temperature sensor is a thermistor having a resistive output.

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.

4. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the thermometer additionally includes an ambient temperature sensor.

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.

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.

7. The thermometer of paragraph 6 wherein the patch antenna is capacitively tuned by a tuned circuit.

8. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the electric circuit in the patch includes a rectifier.

9. The thermometer of paragraph 8 wherein the receiver includes an RF oscillator.

10. The thermometer of paragraph 3 wherein the circuit for converting the resistive output includes a digital potentiometer or a FET.

11. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the patch additionally includes a heat collector.

12. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the antenna in the patch is an interleaved coil.

13. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the antenna in the receiver is an interleaved coil.

14. The thermometer of paragraph 2 wherein the patch additionally includes circuitry for storing including a calibration factor for the thermistor.

15. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the monitor receives signals from the receiver by means of a wire.

16. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the monitor receives signals from the receiver by means of an RF signal.

17. The thermometer of paragraph 11 wherein an adhesive is provided on the heat c

18. The thermometer of paragraph 11 wherein the object is a human being.

19. A method for monitoring the temperature of an object using the thermometer of paragraph 1.

20. The thermometer of paragraph 1 wherein the receiver includes a display for displaying the temperature of the object.

21. The thermometer of paragraph 20 wherein the receiver is a wand that includes an LCD for displaying the temperature of the object.

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.

23. The thermometer of paragraph 18 wherein the patch is adapted for placement on the head or near the temporal artery.

24. The thermometer of paragraph 4 wherein the ambient temperature sensor is present in the receiver.

25. The thermometer of paragraph 6 wherein the width of the pulse is indicative of the temperature of the object.