TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130315276A1
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinsa Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kinsa Inc.
• Inventors: Segal, Edo, Suzuki, Kent, Fusaro, Michael, Panin, Dmitro, Singh, Inder
• Granted Patent: US 8,974,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 374/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• 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 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/005 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device

Abstract

In one or more implementations, a temperature measuring system is provided, including a temperature sensing probe having (a) a thermistor operatively connected to a first conductor and (b) a resistor operatively connected to a second conductor, and a temperature determination application stored in a memory of a computing device operatively connected to the temperature sensing probe. When executed by a processor of the computing device, the temperature determination application configures the computing device to: transmit a first instance of a signal to the first conductor, receive a temperature signal from the thermistor, the temperature signal corresponding to the first instance of the signal as output from the thermistor, transmit a second instance of the signal to the second conductor, receive a reference signal from the resistor, the reference signal corresponding to the second instance of the signal as output from the resistor, process the temperature signal and the reference signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal, and compute a temperature based on the relationship.

Claims

1. A temperature measuring system comprising:

a temperature sensing probe comprising a thermistor operatively connected to a first conductor, a resistor operatively connected to a second conductor, and

a computing device operatively connected to the temperature sensing probe and configured to;

transmit a first instance of a signal to the first conductor;

receive a temperature signal from the thermistor, the temperature signal comprising the first instance of the signal as output from the thermistor;

transmit a second instance of the signal to the second conductor;

receive a reference signal from the resistor, the reference signal comprising the second instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

process the temperature signal and the reference signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal; and

compute a temperature based on the relationship.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises a switch, the switch being configured to:

(a) disconnect the first conductor and the thermistor, and

(b) operatively connect the first conductor and the resistor upon activation of the switch; and

wherein the computing device is further configured to;

transmit a third instance of the signal to the first conductor;

receive a calibration signal from the resistor, the calibration signal comprising the third instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

process the calibration signal with the reference signal to identify a discrepancy between the calibration signal and the reference signal; and

calibrate one or more subsequent temperature computations based on the discrepancy.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein the switch is further configured to:

(c) ground the thermistor

upon activation of the switch.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch is configured to be manually activated by a user.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is further configured to activate the switch substantially without user intervention.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the computing device is further configured to process the calibration signal with the reference to perform one or more of:

determine an optimal output;

determine an optimal input gain; and

determine a linear range of an input associated with the computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a calibration adapter, the calibration adapter configured to:

(a) disconnect the first conductor and the thermistor, and

(b) operatively connect the first conductor and the resistor; and

wherein the computing device is further configured to;

transmit a third instance of the signal to the first conductor;

receive a calibration signal from the resistor, the calibration signal comprising the third instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

process the calibration signal with the reference signal to identify a discrepancy between the calibration signal and the reference signal; and

calibrate one or more subsequent temperature computations based on the discrepancy.

8. The system of claim 7,

wherein the adapter is further configured to (c) ground the thermistor.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the calibration adapter comprises a 3.5 millimeter (mm) plug connector.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device further comprises a 3.5 mm input jack

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is further configured to process the calibration signal with the reference to perform one or more of:

determine an optimal output;

determine an optimal input gain; and

determine a linear range of an input.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises a 3.5 millimeter (mm) plug connector.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computing device further comprises a 3.5 mm input jack.

14. A temperature measuring system comprising:

a temperature sensing probe comprising a thermistor operatively connected to a first conductor, a resistor operatively connected to a second conductor, and

a temperature determination application stored in a memory of a computing device operatively connected to the temperature sensing probe, wherein the temperature determination application, when executed by a processor of the computing device, configures the computing device to;

transmit a first instance of a signal to the first conductor;

receive a temperature signal from the thermistor, the temperature signal comprising the first instance of the signal as output from the thermistor;

transmit a second instance of the signal to the second conductor;

receive a reference signal from the resistor, the reference signal comprising the second instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

process the temperature signal and the reference signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal; and

compute a temperature based on the relationship.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a calibration application stored in the memory;

wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises a calibrator, the calibrator being configured to;

(a) disconnect the first conductor and the thermistor, and

(b) operatively connect the first conductor and the resistor upon activation of the switch; and

wherein the calibration application, when executed by the processor, configures the computing device to;

transmit a third instance of the signal to the first conductor;

receive a calibration signal from the resistor, the calibration signal comprising the third instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

process the calibration signal with the reference signal to identify a discrepancy between the calibration signal and the reference signal; and

calibrate one or more subsequent temperature computations based on the discrepancy.

16. The system of claim 15,

wherein the calibrator is further configured to (c) ground the thermistor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the calibrator comprises at least one of a calibration adapter and a switch.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the switch is configured to be manually activated by user.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computing device is further configured to activate the switch substantially without user intervention.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the computing device is further configured to process the calibration signal with the reference to perform one or more of:

determine an optimal output;

determine an optimal input gain; and

determine a linear range of an input.

21. A computer-implemented method for measuring temperature with a computing device, the computing device being operatively connected to a temperature sensing probe, the temperature sensing probe comprising a thermistor operatively connected to a first conductor and a resistor operatively connected to a second conductor, the method comprising:

transmitting a first instance of a signal to the first conductor;

receiving a temperature signal from the thermistor, the temperature signal comprising the first instance of the signal as output from the thermistor;

transmitting a second instance of the signal to the second conductor;

receiving a reference signal from the resistor, the reference signal comprising the second instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

processing the temperature signal and the reference signal with a processor to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal; and

computing a temperature based on the relationship.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises a calibrator, the calibrator being configured to:

(a) disconnect the first conductor and the thermistor, and

(b) operatively connect the first conductor and the resistor upon activation of the switch; and

the method further comprising;

transmitting a third instance of the signal to the first conductor;

receiving a calibration signal from the resistor, the calibration signal comprising the third instance of the signal as output from the resistor;

processing the calibration signal with the reference signal to identify a discrepancy between the calibration signal and the reference signal; and

calibrating one or more subsequent temperature computations based on the discrepancy.

23. The method of claim 22,

wherein the calibrator is further configured to (c) ground the thermistor.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the calibrator comprises at least one of a calibration adapter and a switch.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the switch is configured to be manually activated by user.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the computing device is further configured to activate the switch substantially without user intervention.

27. A temperature measuring system comprising:

a temperature sensing probe comprising;

a thermistor,

a resistor,

a power source,

an amplifier,

a signal selector that is operable to connect voltage from the thermistor or the resistor to the amplifier, and

a voltage controlled oscillator configured to receive an amplified signal from the amplifier and to generate a reference signal or a temperature signal; and

a computing device operatively connected to the temperature sensing probe and configured to;

selectively transmit a control signal to control the signal selector;

receive the reference signal from the voltage controlled oscillator, the reference signal comprising output from the voltage controlled oscillator when the voltage controlled oscillator is configured to receive output from the resistor;

receive the temperature signal from the voltage controlled oscillator, the temperature signal comprising output from the voltage controlled oscillator when the voltage controlled oscillator is configured to receive output from the thermistor;

process the reference signal and the temperature signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal;

compute a temperature based on the relationship; and

display the temperature.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the computing device further comprises an input, and further wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises:

a signal conditioner that is operable to receive output from the voltage controlled oscillator and convert the output for the computing device.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the temperature sensing probe includes a connector, and further wherein the connector is received by the input.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the signal conditioner draws DC current from the input to enable the computing device to detect that the sensing probe is connected.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the signal conditioner is a microphone coupler.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the connector is a 3.5 millimeter (mm) plug connector and the input is a 3.5 mm input jack.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the control signal is a tone that is output by the computing device on a first of two channels, and further wherein the computing device is configured to output a power signal on a second of the two channels to connect the power source to at least part of the sensing probe.

34. The system of claim 27, wherein the power signal is a tone and wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises:

a switch that, in response to the power signal, connects the power source to one or more of the amplifier, the signal selector and the voltage controlled oscillator.

35. The system of claim 27, wherein the voltage controlled oscillator generates a tone having a frequency that is proportional to voltage from the amplifier.

36. The system of claim 27, wherein the power source includes at least one battery.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein the power source is a power harnessing circuit.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the power harnessing circuit comprises a voltage multiplier and a rectifier.

39. The system of claim 27, wherein the signal selector is a multiplexer.

40. The system of claim 27, wherein the signal selector comprises a plurality of switches.

41. A computer-implemented method for measuring temperature with a computing device, the computing device being operatively connected to a temperature sensing probe, the temperature sensing probe comprising a thermistor, a resistor, a signal selector, a voltage controlled oscillator, a power source, and an amplifier, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the computing device, a control signal to control the signal selector;

receiving, by the voltage controlled oscillator, an amplified signal from the amplifier to generate a reference signal or a temperature signal;

receiving, by the computing device from the voltage controlled oscillator, a reference signal comprising output from the voltage controlled oscillator when the voltage controlled oscillator is configured to receive output from the resistor;

receiving, by the computing device from the voltage controlled oscillator, a temperature signal comprising output from the voltage controlled oscillator when the voltage controlled oscillator is configured to receive output from the thermistor;

processing, by the computing device, the reference signal and the temperature signal to determine a relationship between the temperature signal and the reference signal;

computing, by the computing device, a temperature based on the relationship; and

displaying, by the computing device, the temperature.

42. A temperature measuring system comprising:

a computing device that is operatively coupled to a temperature sensing probe;

the temperature sensing probe comprising;

a thermistor,

a resistor,

a processor,

a power source that provides voltage to at least the thermistor and the resistor,

a signal selector that is operable to connect voltage from the thermistor or the resistor to the processor, and

a signal conditioner that is operable to output a signal to the computing device, and

wherein the processor is configured to;

alternately read a reference signal that comprises output associated with the resistor, and read a temperature signal that comprises output associated with the thermistor;

calculate a temperature value as a function of the reference signal and the temperature signal; and

transmit the temperature value to the computing device via the signal conditioner, wherein the computing device displays a temperature associated with the temperature value.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises an amplifier that receives at least one of the reference signal or the temperature signal from the signal selector and amplifies the at least one of the reference signal or the temperature signal for the processor.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises an analog/digital converter to enable the processor to read the reference signal and the temperature signal.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein the analog/digital converter is external to the processor.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein the analog/digital converter is internal to the processor.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is further configured to control the signal selector to select the reference signal or the temperature signal.

48. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises an analog/digital converter, and wherein the reference signal and the temperature signal represent voltage from resistor and the thermistor, respectively, and further wherein the processor reads the respective voltage as a function of the analog/digital converter.

49. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing probe includes a connector, and further wherein the computing device includes an input to receive the connector.

50. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal conditioner draws DC current from the input to enable the computing device to detect that the sensing probe is connected.

51. The system of claim 42, wherein the connector is a 3.5 millimeter (mm) plug connector and the input is a 3.5 mm input jack.

52. The system of claim 42, wherein the temperature sensing probe further comprises:

a switch that, in response to a signal received from the computing device, connects the power source to one or more of an amplifier, the signal selector and the processor.

53. The system of claim 42, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the temperature value to the computing device by causing the signal conditioner to transmit at least one signal to the computing device.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the computing device is configured to receive the at least one signal from the signal conditioner and display the temperature represented by the at least one signal.

55. The system of claim 42, wherein the power source includes at least one battery.

56. The system of claim 42, wherein the power source is a power harnessing circuit.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the power harnessing circuit comprises a voltage multiplier and a rectifier.

58. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal selector is a multiplexer.

59. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal selector comprises a plurality of switches.

60. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal conditioner is a microphone coupler.

61. The system of claim 42, wherein the signal selector is internal to the processor.

62. A computer-implemented method for measuring temperature with a computing device, the computing device being operatively connected to a temperature sensing probe, the temperature sensing probe comprising a thermistor, a resistor, a signal selector, a processor and a power source, the method comprising:

alternately;

reading, by the processor, a reference signal that comprises output associated with the resistor, and

reading, by the processor, a temperature signal that comprises output associated with the thermistor;

calculating, by the processor, a temperature value as a function of the reference signal and the temperature signal;

receiving, by the computing device from the processor, the temperature value; and

displaying, by the computing device a temperature associated with the temperature value.