INFRARED CLINICAL THERMOMETER

• US 20070291820A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiant Innovation Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiant Innovation Inc.
• Inventors: Liao, Jason, Weng, Vincent, Yang, Gavin, Chen, Eileen
• Granted Patent: US 7,651,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• 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 5/048 Protective parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0843 Manually adjustable

Abstract

The present invention discloses an infrared clinical thermometer, which can measure both the forehead and ear temperatures, wherein after moving the temperature sensing unit close to an intended site, the user can obtain the temperature of the intended site via merely pressing the forehead or ear temperature button.

Claims

1. An infrared clinical thermometer, which is capable of measuring an ear temperature and a forehead temperature comprising:

a body;

an ear temperature button on said body;

a forehead temperature button on said body;

a temperature sensing unit at one end of said body and having an infrared sensor therein for detecting infrared radiation; and

a microprocessor coupled to said ear temperature button, said forehead temperature button and said infrared sensor, wherein when said ear temperature button or said forehead temperature button is pressed, said infrared sensor performs an ear temperature measurement or a forehead temperature measurement.

2. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein when said ear temperature button is pressed, said microprocessor starts said infrared sensor to perform said ear temperature measurement for detecting infrared radiation from an ear, and said infrared sensor generates an ear temperature signal and then sends the ear temperature signal to said microprocessor.

3. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein when said forehead temperature button is pressed, said microprocessor starts said infrared sensor to perform said forehead temperature measurement for detecting infrared radiation from a forehead, and said infrared sensor generates a forehead temperature signal and sends the forehead temperature signal to said microprocessor.

4. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, which is on said body, coupled to said microprocessor, and used to present a result of said ear temperature measurement or said forehead temperature measurement.

5. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 4, wherein said display unit is a liquid crystal display device.

6. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensing unit further has a window transparent to infrared radiation, and said window is moved close to a measured site of an ear or a forehead when said infrared sensor performs said ear or forehead temperature measurement.

7. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said ear temperature button is on one surface of said body, and said forehead temperature button is on another surface of said body.

8. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 7, wherein said one surface is on a first surface of said body, and said another surface is on a second surface of said body, and said first surface is adjacent to said second surface.

9. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slide rail on said body and having a first blocker and a second blocker, wherein said first blocker is closer to said temperature sensing unit than said second blocker is, and said ear temperature button, said forehead temperature button, said first blocker and said second blocker are on a same surface of said body; and

a slide cover having an opening at a front end thereof, sliding on said slide rail between said first blocker and second blocker, covering said ear temperature button and revealing said forehead temperature button with said temperature sensing unit inside said opening when sliding to said first blocker, covering said forehead temperature button and revealing said ear temperature button with said temperature sensing unit emerging from said opening when sliding to said second blocker.

10. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 9, wherein said slide cover has a notch used to reveal said ear temperature button or said forehead temperature button.

11. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 9, wherein said slide cover has a hole used to reveal said ear temperature button or said forehead temperature button.

12. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slide rail on said body and having a first blocker and a second blocker, wherein said first blocker is closer to said temperature sensing unit than said second blocker is, and said ear temperature button, said forehead temperature button, said first blocker and said second blocker are on a same surface of said body; and

a slide cover having an opening at a front end thereof, sliding on said slide rail between said first blocker and second blocker, and having a press region made of transparent and elastic plastic material, wherein when said slide cover slides to said first blocker, said forehead temperature button is below said press region, and said temperature sensing unit is inside said opening of said slide cover;

when said slide cover slides to said second blocker, said ear temperature button is below said press region, said temperature sensing unit emerges from said opening of said slide cover.

13. An infrared clinical thermometer, which is capable of measuring an ear temperature and a forehead temperature comprising:

a body;

an ear temperature button on one surface of said body;

a forehead temperature button on another surface of said body;

a temperature sensing unit at one end of said body and having an infrared sensor therein for detecting infrared radiation; and

a microprocessor coupled to said ear temperature button, said forehead temperature button and said infrared sensor, wherein when said ear temperature button or said forehead temperature button is pressed, said infrared sensor performs an ear temperature measurement or a forehead temperature measurement.

14. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 13, wherein said one surface is on a first surface of said body, and said another surface is on a second surface of said body, and said first surface is adjacent to said second surface.

15. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 13, wherein when said ear temperature button is pressed, said microprocessor starts said infrared sensor to perform said ear temperature measurement for detecting infrared radiation from an ear, and said infrared sensor generates an ear temperature signal and sends the ear temperature signal to said microprocessor.

16. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 13, wherein when said forehead temperature button is pressed, said microprocessor starts said infrared sensor to perform said forehead temperature measurement for detecting infrared radiation from a forehead, and said infrared sensor generates a forehead temperature signal and sends the forehead temperature signal to said microprocessor.

17. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 13, further comprising a display unit, which is on said body, coupled to said microprocessor, and used to present a result of said ear temperature measurement or said forehead temperature measurement.

18. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 17, wherein said display unit is a liquid crystal display device.

19. The infrared clinical thermometer according to claim 13, wherein said temperature sensing unit further has a window transparent to infrared radiation and said window is moved close to a measured site of an ear or a forehead when said infrared sensor performs said ear or forehead temperature measurement.