Temperature talking indicating device

• US 4,428,685 A
• Filed: 10/02/1980
• Issued: 01/31/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christrian Grund, Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Christrian Grund, Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H., Grund, Christrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US06/193,284
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 73/362 R, 340/692, 179/1 SG, 179/1 SM, 364/557, 374/169, 374/163, 374/170
• US Class Current: 374/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/18 Micrometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/12 Audible indication of meter readings, e.g. for the blind
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/02 Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/083 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology

Abstract

An instrument for indicating variations in an ambient condition, such as temperature, atmospheric pressure or weather wherein such indications are given by means of synthetic speech. Control signals generated by the memory comparator are employed to selectively activate a speech synthesizer generating selected synthetic speech signals which are fed to a digital-to-analog converter and the analog signals generated thereby are transduced to speech sounds in a speaker. In one form, the instrument is supported in a hand held housing containing electronic circuits and a sensor for sensing temperature as well as a battery, controls, on-off switch, display, speaker and synthetic speech signal generator. In another form, the sensor is supported at the end of a tubular housing to be inserted into a body cavity or the mouth for sensing body temperature and generating signals indicative thereof which signals are transmitted to electronic circuit means via flexible cable to a hand held or table top supported unit containing such other elements. Temperature is both displayed and indicated with sounds of speech.

Claims

1. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer,

a micro-electronic circuit means supported within said housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals generated when said transducer senses temperature of material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals and generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said electrical circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, said first temperature indicating means including latch means for retaining a an indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer, and readable display means for displaying said temperature sensed,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means, and said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

means for repeatedly reproducing speech signals indicative of temperature to permit a person taking the temperature to have the verbal indication thereof repeated in the event that the first sound-verbal indication is not properly heard, and

normally open switch means for controlling said second temperature indicating means to generate synthetic speech signals indicative of the temperature sensed by said transducing means and sound operated means for closing said normally open switch to cause said synthetic speech signal generating means to generate speech signals indicative of the temperature sensed by said transducing means.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for converting speech signals generated by said speech signal generating means comprises a speaker supported by said housing.

8. A device in accordance with claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein said means for converting speech signals to sounds of words comprises a speaker earpiece and a flexible line extending from said housing to said earpiece to permit said earpiece to be connected to the ear of a person using said device.

9. A device in accordance with claims 1, 3, or 4 further including short wave transmitting means for transmitting signals generated by said second temperature indicating means to a remote location.

10. The apparatus of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein said micro-electronic circuit means includes means for generating a digital code signal which indicates the patient temperature.

11. A temperature measuring device in accordance with claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said temperature sensing electrically operated transducing means is supported by said housing.

12. A device in accordance with claims 1, 3, or 4 wherein said temperture sensing electrically operated transducing means is separate from said housing, further including a flexible wire connecting said transducing means to the electrical circuit means supported within said housing.

3. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer, housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals generated when said transducer senses temperature of material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals and generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said micro electronic circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, said first temperature indicating means including latch means for retaining a readable indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means and said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

means for repeatedly reproducing speech signals indicative of temperature to permit a person taking the temperature to have the verbal indication thereof repeated in the event that the first sound-verbal indication is not properly heard,

means for generating a frequency signal whose frequency is controlled by said temperature sensing transducer, and means for counting said frequency signal for a predetermined period, whereby the count at the end of the counting period is digital code signal representative of the number of signals in a particular temperature measurement.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 or 6 wherein said predetermined period is controlled by an oscillator.

14. The apparatus of claim 3 or 6 wherein said means for generating a frequency signal is a voltage controlled oscillator.

4. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer,

micro-electronic circuit means supported within said housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals generated when said transducer senses temperature of a material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said electrical circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, said first temperature indicating means including latch means for retaining a readable indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means and to said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

means for repeatedly reproducing speech signals indicative of temperature to permit a person taking the temperature to have the verbal indication thereof repeated in the event that the first sound-verbal indication is not properly heard,

further including a manually operable switch connecting said second temperature indicating means in circuit with said source of electrical energy and causing said synthetic speech signal generating means to generate synthetic speech signals indicative to the temperature measured when said manually operated switch is closed to effect the repeated reproduction of speech indications of temperature, wherein said manually operated switch is a normally open push-button switch, said synthetic speech signal generating means being operated to generate electrical signals defining words of synthetic speech indicative of the temperature displayed by said first indicating means whenever said push-button switch is manually closed.

5. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer,

micro-element circuit means supported within said housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals indicative of the temperature of material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals and generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said electrical circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, wherein said first temperature indicating means includes latch means for retaining a readable indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means and to said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

time delay means connected to said second temperature indicating means for activating said indicating means after said temperature sensing transducer has reached equilibrium with its ambient surroundings, and

including normally open switch means for controlling said second temperature indicating means to generate synthetic speech signals indicative of the temperature sensed by said transducing means and sound operated means for closing said normally open switch to cause said synthetic speech signal generating means to generate speech signals indicative of the temperature sensed by said transducing means.

6. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer,

micro-electronic circuit means supported within said housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals indicative of the temperature of material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said electrical circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, wherein said first temperature indicating means includes latch means for retaining a readable indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means and to said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

time delay means connected to said second temperature indicating means for activating said indicating means after said temperature sensing transducer has reached equilibrium with its ambient surroundings, and wherein said micro-electronic circuit means includes a means for generating a frequency signal whose frequency is controlled by said temperature sensing transducer and a means for counting said frequency signal for a predetermined period, whereby the count at the end of the counting period is a digital code signal representative of the number of signals in a particular temperature measurement.

7. A patient temperature measuring device comprising:

a support including a housing,

a temperature sensing electrically operated transducer,

micro-electronic circuit means supported within said housing and connected to said transducer for receiving signals indicative of the temperature of material adjacent said transducer and operable to process said signals generate output signals indicative of the temperature sensed,

first temperature indicating means connected to receive signals from said electrical circuit means for displaying indications of the temperature sensed by said transducer, wherein said first temperature indicating means includes latch means for retaining a readable indication of temperature sensed by said temperature sensing transducer,

second temperature indicating means connected to said electrical circuit means and to said first temperature indicating means, said second temperature indicating means including synthetic speech signal generating electronic circuit means and means for converting synthetic speech signals generated thereby to speech sounds indicative of the temperature displayed by said first temperature indicating means,

time delay means connected to said second temperature indicating means for activating said indicating means after said temperature sensing transducer has reached equilibrium with its ambient surroundings, and

further including a manually operable switch connecting said second temperature indicating means in circuit with said source of electrical energy and causing said synthetic speech signal generating means to generate synthetic speech singals indicative of the temperature measured when said manually operated switch is closed to effect the repeated reproduction of speech indications of temperature, wherein said manually operated switch is a normally open push-button switch, said synthetic speech signal generating means being operated to generate electrical signals defining words of synthetic speech indicative of the temperature displayed by said first indicating means whenever said push-button switch is manually closed.