Hand-held electronic instrument
First Claim
1. A hand-held electronic instrument for measuring an environmental parameter comprising:
- a housing having oppositely disposed front and rear end portions and a top panel, the housing defining a battery compartment and an electronics compartment adjacent the battery compartment;
an electronic assembly disposed within said electronics compartment of said housing including a microcomputer comprising a memory for storing a software program and data, said battery compartment facilitating electrical communication between a battery disposed therein and said electronic assembly for providing polarized electrical power to said electronic assembly;
a control pad mounted to said top panel of said housing for controlling the operation of said electronic assembly;
a front endcap mounted to said front end portion of said housing and fluidically sealed thereto;
a probe mounting member removably mounted to said front endcap and fluidically sealed thereto;
a sensing probe mounted to said probe mounting member, said sensing probe being in electrical communication with said electronic assembly; and
a battery door assembly removably mounted and fluidically sealed to said rear end portion of said housing for providing access to said battery compartment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-held electronic instrument including a unitary, sleeve-shaped housing having a battery compartment and an electronics compartment housing a microcomputer. A sensing probe and a probe mounting member are removably mounted and fluidically sealed to the front end portion of the housing. A battery door assembly fluidically seals the rear end portion of the housing and is removable to provide access to the battery compartment for replacing spent batteries. A latch pin extending laterally from the latch operator of the battery door assembly engages a partition on the housing to retain the assembly to the housing. A battery polarizing plate disposed intermediate the battery and the electrical contacts for the battery ensure that the proper polarity is applied. Software stored in the microcomputer includes a calibration routine for facilitating calibration of the instrument and an energy savings routine for extending the life of the battery.
96 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A hand-held electronic instrument for measuring an environmental parameter comprising:
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a housing having oppositely disposed front and rear end portions and a top panel, the housing defining a battery compartment and an electronics compartment adjacent the battery compartment; an electronic assembly disposed within said electronics compartment of said housing including a microcomputer comprising a memory for storing a software program and data, said battery compartment facilitating electrical communication between a battery disposed therein and said electronic assembly for providing polarized electrical power to said electronic assembly; a control pad mounted to said top panel of said housing for controlling the operation of said electronic assembly; a front endcap mounted to said front end portion of said housing and fluidically sealed thereto; a probe mounting member removably mounted to said front endcap and fluidically sealed thereto; a sensing probe mounted to said probe mounting member, said sensing probe being in electrical communication with said electronic assembly; and a battery door assembly removably mounted and fluidically sealed to said rear end portion of said housing for providing access to said battery compartment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A hand-held electronic instrument for measuring an environmental parameter comprising:
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a housing having oppositely disposed front and rear end portions and a top panel, the housing defining a battery compartment and an electronics compartment adjacent the battery compartment; an electronic assembly disposed within said electronics compartment of said housing including a microcomputer comprising a memory for storing a software program and data, said battery compartment facilitating electrical communication between a battery disposed therein and said electronic assembly for providing polarized electrical power to said electronic assembly; a control pad mounted to said top panel of said housing for controlling the operation of said electronic assembly; a probe mounting member removably mounted to said front end portion of said housing and fluidically sealed thereto; a sensing probe mounted to said probe mounting member, said sensing probe being in electrical communication with said electronic assembly; a battery disposed within said battery compartment, said battery having a positive, male snap connector and a negative, female snap connector, said male and female snap connectors each having a diameter wherein said diameter of said female snap connector is greater than said diameter of said male snap connector; first and second electrical contacts in electrical communication with said electronic assembly; and a battery polarizing plate disposed intermediate said battery compartment and said first and second electrical contacts, said battery polarizing plate defining first and second openings, said first and second openings each having a size selected such that said female snap connector will extend through said first opening but not through said second opening, wherein said female snap connector extends through said first opening and said male snap connector extends through said second opening to contact said first and second electrical contacts, respectively, to provide polarized electrical power to said electronic assembly; and a battery door assembly removably mounted to said rear end portion of said housing for providing access to said battery compartment.
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30. A hand-held electronic instrument for measuring an environmental parameter comprising:
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a housing having oppositely disposed front and rear end portions and a top panel, the housing defining a battery compartment and an electronics compartment adjacent the battery compartment; an electronic assembly disposed within said electronics compartment of said housing including a microcomputer comprising a memory for storing a software program and data, said battery compartment facilitating electrical communication between a battery disposed therein and said electronic assembly for providing polarized electrical power to said electronic assembly; a control pad mounted to said top panel of said housing for controlling the operation of said electronic assembly; a probe mounting member removably mounted to said front end portion of said housing and fluidically sealed thereto; a thermocouple probe mounted to said probe mounting member and in electrical communication with said electronic assembly, said thermocouple probe having a chromel lead, an alumel lead, a stainless steel shell, and a tip of substantially homogenous material formed from said chromel lead, said alumel lead and said stainless steel shell; and a battery door assembly removably mounted to said rear end portion of said housing for providing access to said battery compartment.
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Specification