Ear Thermometer and Method for Measuring the Body Temperature

• US 20120063487A1
• Filed: 09/15/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Albrecht, Andrej
• Application Number:
  US13/233,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/128
• 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 5/6817 Ear canal
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/00 Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/223 Infrared clinical thermometers, e.g. tympanic

Abstract

An ear thermometer with an infrared sensor, a control unit and a power supply unit in a housing has a wireless communication interface. The wireless communication interface is a WLAN or Bluetooth interface for communication with a base station, in which temperature measurement values are displayed and stored.

Claims

1. An ear thermometer, comprising:

a housing;

an infrared sensor configured to record body temperature data;

a control unit;

a power supply unit located in the housing; and

a wireless communication interface configured to transmit the recorded body temperature data to a base station.

2. The ear thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ear thermometer has an optical waveguide connected to the infrared sensor.

3. The ear thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ear thermometer is integrated into a hearing aid.

4. The ear thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infrared sensor is a thermopile.

5. The ear thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication interface is a WLAN or Bluetooth interface.

6. The ear thermometer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed to convert a measurement value from the infrared sensor into a body temperature value.

7. A system, comprising:

a base station having a first wireless communication interface, a base control unit and a human-machine interface; and

an ear thermometer including a housing, an infrared sensor configured to record body temperature data, a control unit, a power supply unit located in the housing, and a second wireless communication interface configured to transmit the recorded body temperature data to the first wireless communication interface of the base station.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base station has a data storage device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base station has a clock.

10. A method for measuring the body temperature of a human with an ear thermometer having an infrared sensor and a base station, comprising:

a) measuring an infrared sensor measurement value from the infrared sensor;

b) converting the infrared sensor measurement value into a temperature measurement value;

c) wirelessly transmitting the infrared sensor measurement value or the temperature measurement value to a base station; and

d) displaying and storing the temperature measurement value.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the measurement takes place according to a prescribed timetable.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a warning signal is emitted if there is a fault in the communication between ear thermometer and base station.