Electronic thermometer with high intensity fever alarm

• US 5,923,258 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: K-Jump Health Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: K-Jump Health Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Tseng, Daniel Chao Man
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/094,330
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/584, 340/586, 340/588, 340/589, 340/384.1, 340/384.2, 340/384.4, 340/384.6, 340/384.73, 381/26, 381/28, 381/61, 381/62
• US Class Current: 340/584
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

An electronic thermometer features a high intensity, dual media fever alarm. The thermometer includes a temperature detection module for generating a digital temperature signal and a fever signal. Elements responsive to the temperature and fever signal are provided to display a temperature readout and provide a fever alarm that is both audible by use of a buzzer and visible at the thermometer display. For providing these functions, the thermometer also includes a sound oscillator for generating a buzzer alarm signal, a flash oscillator for generating a display flash signal, an alarm controller responsive to the fever signal for alarm activation, a display module for displaying the a fever indication, a buzzer signal optimizer for enhancing buzzer intensity and an associated buzzer for generating the audible portion of the fever alarm.

Claims

1. An electronic thermometer comprising:

a temperature detector module for generating a digital temperature signal and a fever signal;

a sound oscillator for generating an alarm sound signal;

a flash oscillator for generating a display flash signal;

an alarm controller operably connected to said alarm sound signal, said display flash signal, and said fever signal, said alarm controller having a buzzer output signal and a display output signal;

a digital display module responsive to said display output signal and said temperature signal for producing a visual fever indication corresponding to said display output signal and a temperature read-out corresponding to said temperature output;

a buzzer signal optimizer responsive to said buzzer output signal; and

a buzzer for generating a sound alarm, said buzzer being operably connected to said buzzer signal optimizer.

2. The electronic thermometer according to claim 1 wherein said buzzer signal optimizer includes a phase shifter responsive to said buzzer output signal for producing a complimentary signal.

3. The electronic thermometer according to claim 2 wherein said buzzer signal optimizer further includes a parallel circuit for adding said complimentary signal to said buzzer output signal.

4. The thermometer according to claim 2 wherein said phase shifter is an inverter.

5. The thermometer according to claim 4 wherein said inverter is a CMOS inverter.

6. The thermometer according to claim 1 wherein said buzzer is a piezoelectric buzzer.

7. An electronic thermometer comprising:

a temperature detector module for generating a buzzer control signal;

a sound oscillator for generating an alarm sound signal;

a buzzer signal controller responsive to said control signal and operably connected to said alarm sound signal, said buzzer signal controller having a controlled signal output;

a buzzer signal optimizer including a phase shifter responsive to said controlled signal for generating complimentary signals;

a buzzer operably connected to said complimentary signals for generating sound.

8. An electronic thermometer comprising:

a temperature detector for generating a temperature signal;

a reference oscillator for generating a reference signal, said reference signal having a relatively lower frequency than said temperature signal;

a counter responsive to said temperature signal and said reference signal for counting the temperature signal on the basis of said reference signal and generating a temperature reading;

a temperature memory unit operably connected to said counter for detecting and storing a maximum temperature reading;

a fever detector operably connected to said memory unit for generating a fever signal when said maximum temperature is greater than a normal limit, said normal limit being stored in said fever detector;

a sound oscillator for generating an alarm sound signal;

a flash oscillator for generating a display flash signal;

an alarm controller responsive to said fever signal, and operably connected to said alarm sound signal and said display flash signal;

said alarm controller having a buzzer output signal and a display output signal;

a digital display module operably connected to said memory unit and responsive to said display output signal for producing a visual fever indication corresponding to said display output signal and a temperature read-out corresponding to the temperature value stored in said memory unit;

a buzzer signal optimizer responsive to said buzzer output signal;

a buzzer for generating a sound alarm, said buzzer being operably connected to said buzzer signal optimizer.