Digital pressure gauge

• US 7,117,746 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Yeh
• Original Assignee: Michael Yeh
• Inventors: Yeh, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Colilla, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FERGUSON SAMRETH, MARISSA LIANA
• Application Number:
  US09/927,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 737/55, 731/15, 731/16, 734/31, 737/28, 702/91, 702/130, 600/493, 600/481, 600/488, 600/490, 600/484, 600/485, 600/487, 600/513, 600/585, 128/900, 128/908
• US Class Current: 73/717
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 27/007 Malfunction diagnosis, i.e. diagnosing a sensor defect

Abstract

A digital pressure gauge comprises a power supply, an input button unit, a pressure sensor, a display unit, a warning unit, and a control unit. The control unit counts the number of operations and/or operation duration of the digital pressure gauge and generates an alarm through the display unit and the warning unit when the counted number of operations and/or operation duration of the digital pressure gauge exceeds a threshold.

Claims

1. A digital pressure gauge comprising:

a pressure sensor for use when measuring the blood pressure of a person;

a control unit having an input connected to the pressure sensor for establishing a blood pressure value for the person, said control unit monitoring cumulative usage of the digital pressure gauge by automatically maintaining relative to a prior calibration at least one of a count parameter corresponding to a number of operations of the digital pressure gauge and an operational duration parameter corresponding to a usage period thereof, said control unit detecting that calibration of the digital pressure gauge is required if at least one of said count and duration parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold value corresponding thereto;

means, connected to the control unit, for visibly depicting the blood pressure value to an operator of the digital pressure gauge; and

means, connected to the control unit, for warning the operator if the control unit detects that calibration of the digital pressure gauge is required.

2. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, wherein the means for warning comprises means for emitting a signal selected from the group consisting of an audible signal, a light signal, a vibration signal, or a combination thereof.

3. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, wherein each said predetermined threshold value is set during manufacture of tilt digital pressure gauge.

4. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, wherein each said predetermined threshold value is set by the operator.

5. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, further comprising a power supply coupled to the pressure sensor, the control unit, the means for warning, and the means for visibly depicting.

6. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, further comprising an input button unit coupled to the control unit for operationally activating the digital pressure gauge.

7. The digital pressure gauge of claim 1, wherein the means for warning comprises means for emitting an audible warning signal.