Portable monitoring device and method
First Claim
1. A miniaturized monitoring device capable of being positioned at a preselected monitoring area, including small and relatively otherwise inaccessible monitoring areas, with said device being electrically isolated when at said monitoring area, said device comprising:
- housing means providing a sealed compartment of compact size suitable for positioning at said monitoring area;
sensing means within said sealed compartment of said housing means for sensing a predetermined parameter at said monitoring area and providing electrical output signals indicative thereof;
signal processing means within said sealed compartment of said housing means, said signal processing means including digital storage means connected with said sensing means for storing in digital form electrical output signals received from said sensing means, and control means including microprocessor means for automatically controlling operation of said sensing means and said storage means so that output signals are caused to be periodically produced by said sensing means at predetermined times as programmed into said microprocessor means and stored at said storage means when said housing means is at said monitoring area;
power means within said sealed compartment of said housing means for totally powering said signal processing means; and
signal transfer enabling means at said housing means and accessible outside said sealed compartment for enabling at least preselected programming of said microprocessor means and for enabling transfer of electrical signals stored at said storage means when said monitoring device is positioned at a console unit remote from said monitoring area, with said monitoring device being operationally independent of said console unit while said monitoring device is at said monitoring area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable monitoring device and method are disclosed for monitoring a predetermined parameter, such as temperature. The portable device, or probe, is miniaturized and includes a sensor and an associated electronic unit encased within a housing. The sensor senses the parameter to be monitored and produces signals indicative thereof, while the electronic unit includes a converter for converting signals received in analog form to digital signals, a memory for storing the digital signals, and a microprocessor for controlling the sensing and signal storing operations. The probe is a self-sufficient unit, is electrically isolated while at the monitoring area, and is caused to operate in an active mode during periods of sensing and storing of information in memory that requires low power with even lower power consumption being achieved when the probe is inactive. A band, electrically insulated from the remainder of the housing, allows readout of information stored in memory within the probe after the probe has been removed from the monitoring area and mounted at a console unit for readout purposes.
46 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A miniaturized monitoring device capable of being positioned at a preselected monitoring area, including small and relatively otherwise inaccessible monitoring areas, with said device being electrically isolated when at said monitoring area, said device comprising:
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housing means providing a sealed compartment of compact size suitable for positioning at said monitoring area; sensing means within said sealed compartment of said housing means for sensing a predetermined parameter at said monitoring area and providing electrical output signals indicative thereof; signal processing means within said sealed compartment of said housing means, said signal processing means including digital storage means connected with said sensing means for storing in digital form electrical output signals received from said sensing means, and control means including microprocessor means for automatically controlling operation of said sensing means and said storage means so that output signals are caused to be periodically produced by said sensing means at predetermined times as programmed into said microprocessor means and stored at said storage means when said housing means is at said monitoring area; power means within said sealed compartment of said housing means for totally powering said signal processing means; and signal transfer enabling means at said housing means and accessible outside said sealed compartment for enabling at least preselected programming of said microprocessor means and for enabling transfer of electrical signals stored at said storage means when said monitoring device is positioned at a console unit remote from said monitoring area, with said monitoring device being operationally independent of said console unit while said monitoring device is at said monitoring area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A miniaturized probe for monitoring a predetermined parameter when at a preselected monitoring area, including small and relatively otherwise inaccessible monitoring areas, said probe comprising:
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an electrically conductive housing having first and second portions, said housing being of compact size suitable for positioning at said preselected monitoring area with said probe being electrically isolated when at said monitoring area; sensing means at said first portion of said housing, said sensing means being capable of sensing said predetermined parameter at said monitoring area and providing analog output signals indicative thereof; signal processing means at said second portion of said housing, said signal processing means including analog-to-digital converter means connected with said sensing means to receive said analog signals therefrom and responsive thereto providing digital output signals, memory means connected with said analog-to-digital converter means to receive and store in digital form digital output signals received from said analog-to-digital converter means, and microprocessor means connected with said analog-to-digital converter means and said memory means for controlling signal transfer through said analog-to-digital converter means and storage of said digital signals at said memory means with transfer and storage occurring at predetermined times as programmed into said microprocessor means; battery means at said second portion of said housing for totally powering said signal processing means; and electrical contact means accessible at the exterior of said housing, said electrical contact means being electrically insulated from said housing means and connected with said microprocessor means and said memory means whereby at least preselected programming of said microprocessor means is enabled prior to monitoring of said parameter at said monitoring area and whereby information at said memory means can be transferred from said probe after removal of said probe from said monitoring area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A miniaturized monitoring device, comprising:
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housing means providing first and second sealed compartments of compact size for enabling positioning of said monitoring device at a monitoring area; sensing means within said first sealed compartment for sensing a predetermined parameter at said monitoring area and providing electrical output signals indicative thereof; signal processing means within said second sealed compartment and including memory means connected with said sensing means to receive said electrical output signals therefrom and store the same, and control means including microprocessor means for controlling the storage of said electrical signals at said memory means at predetermined times as programmed into said microprocessor means with said control means causing said monitoring device to be powered at a first level when receiving and storing said signals at said memory means and powered at a second level lower than said first level when said monitoring device is not receiving or storing said electrical signals from said sensing means; and battery means for totally powering said signal processing means at said first and second levels at least while said device is at said monitoring area. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method for monitoring a predetermined parameter at a preselected monitoring area, said method comprising:
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providing a sensor and storage means; encasing said sensor and storage means within a miniaturized and sealed probe having a microprocessor therein and power means for totally powering the probe; programming the microprocessor at least with respect to time and extent of desired sensing of a predetermined parameter; passing said probe through the area to be monitored after said microprocessor has been programmed; periodically sensing said predetermined parameter at said area to be monitored as selected by said programmed microprocessor and automatically storing the same in digital form at said storage means within the probe; removing the probe from the monitoring area; and reading out the digital information stored at said storage means after removal of the probe from the monitored area. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification