Temperature measurement apparatus

• US 5,246,292 A
• Filed: 05/28/1992
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saat, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Saat, Ltd.
• Inventors: Gerlitz, Yonatan, Moran, Dan, Gal, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTIERREZ, DIEGO F
• Application Number:
  US07/890,534
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 374/128, 374/129, 374/130, 374/133, 374/121, 128/736, 128/664, 250/351
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0019 based on measurement of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0265 Handheld, portable ear thermometers G01J5/049
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/064 Ambient temperature sensor; Housing temperature sensor; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0804 Shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0805 Means for chopping radiation

Abstract

Temperature measurement apparatus comprising an IR temperature change detector, a chopper for intermittently exposing the detector to an object whose temperature is to be measured, and means for providing an output indication representing the temperature of the object in response to the output of the detector, wherein the chopper is driven by a quartz timepiece movement.

Claims

1. Temperature measurement apparatus comprising:

an IR temperature change detector;

a chopper for intermittently exposing the detector to an object whose temperature is to be measured; and

means for providing an output indication representing the temperature of the object in response to an output of the detector,

wherein said chopper comprises;

a quartz timepiece movement assembly having a rotating element; and

a chopper blade mechanically connected to said rotating element for being driven in reciprocating rotational movement thereby.

2. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising:

empirically derived tables stored in a memory which relate measured temperature change and detector temperature, determined when said chopper prevents radiation from the object to reach the detector, to object temperature.

3. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 2 and also comprising means for analyzing and indicating menstrual status by employing said output indication.

4. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising:

a heat sink for stabilizing the temperature of the detector;

and wherein said chopper is operative to alternatively reflect to the detector radiation from the detector and direct to the detector radiation received from the object; and

calculation means for providing an output indication representing the temperature of the object in response to the output of the detector.

5. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 4 and also comprising means for analyzing and indicating menstrual status by employing said output indication.

6. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising means for analyzing and indicating menstrual status by employing said output indication.

7. Temperature measurement apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising:

a memory storing a multiplicity of temperatures of said object taken over a period of time; and

means for analyzing said multiplicity of temperatures and for indicting, as a result of the analysis, menstual status.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 and wherein said means for providing an output indication comprises a microprocessor which is also operative to directly drive the quartz timepiece movement assembly to drive the chopper blade in reciprocating rotational movement.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising mechanical limiting means for physically limiting the rotation of said chopper blade to a predetermined azimuth.