Axillary infrared thermometer and method of use
First Claim
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1. A radiation detector comprising:
- a radiation sensor which provides an output as a function of difference between target temperature and sensor temperature over a design range of target temperatures and a design range of sensor temperatures;
an amplifier in circuit with the radiation sensor which amplifies the sensor output;
an analog-to-digital converter which generates a multibit digital output from the amplified output over a voltage range of the amplified sensor output; and
a variable reference to the radiation sensor and providing a variable reference voltage to the amplifier to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over the design ranges of target and sensor temperatures with sensor temperatures either above or below target temperature, the resolution being greater than would be obtained with a fixed reference over a full design range of target temperature and design range of sensor temperatures.
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Abstract
A radiation detector for axillary temperature measurement comprises a wand having an axially directed radiation sensor at one end and an offset handle at the opposite end. The radiation sensor is mounted within a heat sink and retained by an elastomer in compression. The radiation sensor views a target surface through an emissivity compensating cup and a plastic film. A variable reference is applied to a radiation sensor and amplifier circuit in order to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over design ranges of target and sensor temperature with the sensor temperature either above or below target temperature.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A radiation detector comprising:
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a radiation sensor which provides an output as a function of difference between target temperature and sensor temperature over a design range of target temperatures and a design range of sensor temperatures; an amplifier in circuit with the radiation sensor which amplifies the sensor output; an analog-to-digital converter which generates a multibit digital output from the amplified output over a voltage range of the amplified sensor output; and a variable reference to the radiation sensor and providing a variable reference voltage to the amplifier to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over the design ranges of target and sensor temperatures with sensor temperatures either above or below target temperature, the resolution being greater than would be obtained with a fixed reference over a full design range of target temperature and design range of sensor temperatures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting temperature comprising:
amplifying the output of a radiation sensor with an amplifier and applying the amplified output to an analog-to-digital converter; and
varying a reference to the radiation sensor and to the amplifier to maintain full analog-to-digital converter resolution over design ranges of target and sensor temperatures with sensor temperatures either above or below the target temperature, the resolution being greater than would be obtained with a fixed reference over a full design range of target temperatures and design range of sensor temperatures.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification