MULTIPLE OBJECT TALKING NON-CONTACT THERMOMETER

• US 20110228810A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Abhishek Shrivastava, Craig Sizer, Gary O'Hara, Keith Houlihan
• Original Assignee: Abhishek Shrivastava, Craig Sizer, Gary O'Hara, Keith Houlihan
• Inventors: O'Hara, Gary, Shrivastava, Abhishek, Houlihan, Keith, Sizer, Craig
• Application Number:
  US13/023,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228810A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• 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 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049

Abstract

A thermometer is disclosed, comprising a handle, a sensor, an interface, a speaker, a memory, and a display. The sensor is configured to detect the surface temperature of an object without contacting the surface. In some embodiments, the interface includes a mode button to select from a plurality of modes of operation including a surface mode, a human body mode, an animal body mode, a high precision mode, and an ambient mode. Additionally, in some embodiments, the thermometer is configured to output audio/visual data. In some embodiments, temperature readings are stored in the memory for later retrieval and display. A method of generating a temperature reading is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A thermometer comprising:

a processor;

an infrared sensor coupled to the processor and configured to detect infrared radiation emitted from an object external to the thermometer to obtain a temperature reading;

a display screen coupled to the processor and configured to display a temperature reading;

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store a plurality of media files, wherein the media files comprise audio content or video content;

a user interface coupled to the processor and configured to enable a user to select a desired media file from among the plurality of media files; and

a speaker coupled to the processor and configured to output audio content of a selected media file.

2. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the display screen is configured to display video content of a selected media file.

3. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the media files comprise audio content or video content corresponding to one or more nursery rhymes, stories, or songs.

4. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the media files comprise audio recordings or video recordings of one or more familiar personalities.

5. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store modulation settings that enable the thermometer to process non-media files to generate audio/visual content with selectable characteristics.

6. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the memory includes at least one memory unit that is detachably connected to the thermometer.

7. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the media files are stored in a plurality of memory units.

8. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store step-by-step instructions for taking temperature, which are configured to be output via the speaker or the display.

19. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the media files comprise audio recordings or video recordings of one or more familiar personalities.

9. A method of operating an electronic thermometer having a temperature sensor, comprising:

activating the temperature sensor of the electronic thermometer to obtain a first temperature measurement of a target;

selecting a media file from among a plurality of media files stored in a memory of the electronic thermometer, the plurality of media files comprising audio content or video content; and

playing the selected media file on a speaker or a display screen of the electronic thermometer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic thermometer comprises a non-contact infrared thermometer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein activating the temperature sensor of the electronic thermometer comprises activating step-by-step instruction data output via the speaker or the display, wherein each incremental step of the step-by-step instruction data is activated upon completing of a preceding step.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the media files comprise audio content or video content corresponding to one or more nursery rhymes, stories, or songs.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the media files comprise audio recordings or video recordings of one or more familiar personalities.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting a modulation setting stored in the memory of the electronic thermometer to enable the electronic thermometer to generate audio/visual content with selected characteristics.

15. A non-contact thermometer comprising:

a handle having a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end;

a sensor disposed at the first end of the handle and configured to detect a surface temperature of an object external to the thermometer, the sensor comprising;

a housing;

a chamber disposed in the housing;

a detector disposed at a first end of the chamber;

a window disposed at a second end of the chamber so as to cover an opening in the chamber, wherein the window is substantially transparent to infrared radiation; and

a heat sink substantially surrounding sidewalls of the chamber;

a memory configured to store prior temperature readings and a plurality of media files comprising audio content or video content;

an interface disposed on the handle, the interface including;

an actuator;

a mode button configured to select at least one of a plurality of modes of operation of the non-contact thermometer; and

a memory button configured to select at least one of a plurality of stored temperature readings in the memory;

wherein the interface is configured to enable a user to select a media file from among the plurality of media files;

a speaker disposed in the handle, the non-contact thermometer being configured to output audio data through the speaker in a selected language; and

a display disposed on the handle, wherein the display is configured to display at least one of the surface temperature of the object, an ambient temperature, a core body temperature of the object, visual data from the memory, and a distance from the object.

16. The non-contact thermometer of claim 15, wherein the speaker is configured to output audio content of a selected media file.

17. The non-contact thermometer of claim 15, wherein the display is configured to display video content of a selected media file.

18. The non-contact thermometer of claim 15, wherein the media files comprise audio content or video content corresponding to one or more nursery rhymes, stories, or songs.

20. The non-contact thermometer of claim 15, wherein the mode button is configured to initiate a step-by-step instruction mode of operation.