Wristwatch with measuring function

• US 6,781,921 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Original Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Inventors: Markart, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/458,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 600/309.322
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/528 Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

In a wristwatch including a housing, a time measuring device (32), a test measuring device (34) for a measuring by way of electric current a test strip (24) which has at least one test field wetable by a liquid to be investigated, and an indicator device (14) connected with the time measuring device (32) and test measuring device (34), a band holding member (38) is releasably connected to the housing and is oriented parallel to a housing outer surface (28), and together with the housing outer surface (28) forms a receiving opening (40) for holding a test strip (24) in a pre-given position, with the housing outer surface (28) having at least two measuring contact elements (50) connected with the test measuring device (34) for contacting electrodes of the test strip (24) and so arranged that their free ends protrude into the receiving opening (40).

Claims

1. A wristwatch including a housing (10), a time measuring device (32), a test measuring device (34) for measuring by way of electric currents a test strip (24) having at least one test field wetable by a liquid to be investigated, and an indicator device (14) connected with the time measuring device (32) and the test measuring device (34), characterized in that on the housing (10) is arranged a band holding member (38) which is releasably connected with the housing and is oriented parallel to a housing outer surface (28) and together with the housing outer surface (28) defines a receiving opening (40) for holding a test strip (24) in a pre-given position and that in the housing outer surface (28) are arranged at least two measuring contacts (50) which extend with their free ends into the receiving opening (40) and which electrodes are connected with the test measuring device (34) and are designed to contact electrodes (52) of the test strip (24).

2. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the housing outer surface having the measuring contacts (50) is that of the housing bottom (28).

3. A wristwatch according to claim 2 further characterized in that the band holding member (38) is a plate having a surface similar to that of the housing bottom (28).

4. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the band holding member (38) is connectable with the housing (10) by way of clip connectors (54, 56).

5. A wristwatch according to claim 4, further characterized in that the clip connectors include detent protrusions (54) on the band holding part member (38) and detent openings (56) in the housing (10) designed to receive the detent protrusions.

6. A wristwatch according to claim 1 further characterized in that the measuring contact elements (50) are arranged in an insulating part (48) inserted into the housing outer surface (28).

7. A wristwatch according to claim 6, further characterized in that the insulating part (48) is supported in the receiving housing surface (28) so as to be resiliently movable perpendicularly to the housing surface (28).

8. A wristwatch according to claim 6 further characterized in that the insulating part is made of a hydrophobic material.

9. A wristwatch according to claim 1 further characterized in that a pressing element is provided on the band holding member (38) for pressing the test field against the measuring contact elements (50).

10. A wristwatch according to claim 9 further characterized in that the pressing element is formed by a leaf spring (58).

11. A wristwatch according to claim 9 further characterized in that the pressing element is formed of one piece with the band holding member (38).

12. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in the region of the measuring contact elements (50) a moisture sensor is provided.

13. A wristwatch according to claim 12, further characterized in that the moisture sensor includes an auxiliary contact (62) and a resistance measuring device by means of which the electrical resistance between the auxiliary contact (62) and at least one of the measuring contact elements (50) is measurable.

14. A wristwatch according to claim 13, further characterized in that the resistance measuring device is connected with an amplitude measuring circuit which upon the falling below of a pre-given resistance value creates a signal.

15. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the time measuring device (32) and the test measuring device (34) are alternately activatable.

16. A device according to claim 1, further characterized in that at least one of the measuring devices (time measuring device 32, test measuring device 34) is continuously active and the other is capable of being selectively turned on.

17. A wristwatch according to claim 15, further characterized in that to switch between the measuring devices (32, 34) or to turn on the selectively activatable measuring device, a switch (16, 18, 20, 22) is arranged at the housing outer side.

18. A wristwatch according to claim 15, further characterized in that the switching between the measuring devices (32, 34) or the turning on of the selectively activatable measuring device takes place in dependence on the insertion or removal of a test strip (24) into or out of the receiving opening (40).

19. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the time measuring device (32) and the test measuring device (34) are formed as separate modules.

20. A wristwatch according to claim 1, further characterized in that the test measuring device (34) has a data processing unit which by way of contacts (64) arranged at the housing outer side can be connected to an external device for the exchange of data.