Color changing thermometer

• US 7,350,973 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Kaz Incorporated (Helen of Troy Limited)
• Inventors: Craig, Christopher, Howansky, Andrew P., Russak, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett; G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US11/426,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 340/548, 340/584, 374/173, 374160-162, 600/549, 600/474
• US Class Current: 374/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/06 Arrangements for facilitating reading, e.g. illumination, magnifying glass
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/00 Thermometers giving results other than momentary value of temperature G01K7/42 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention includes a thermometer with a backlight and a method for lighting the backlight. The thermometer has temperature sensing tip, a processor taking temperature readings and determining a sensed temperature reading of the living being from the temperature sensing tip. The thermometer also includes a display and a backlight for lighting the display. The backlight is activated upon a command from the processor and the processor determines whether a decrease in the temperature readings exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold in order to activate the backlight. The method embodiment can includes the steps of using the processor to monitor a temperature change indicated by a temperature sensing element. The processor then detects a temperature decrease and activates a first color light emitting element to backlight a display if the temperature decrease exceeds or equals a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A thermometer for use with a living being, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a processor determining a temperature of the living being based on the temperature sensor;

a memory storing;

information corresponding to a first range of temperatures, the first range indicating a normal temperature; and

information corresponding to a second range of temperatures, the second range indicating a fever condition;

a display including a first color light and a second color light for creating light of a first color and a second color; and

a common housing, said temperature sensor, said processor, said memory, and said display being provided within said common housing;

wherein the processor accesses the memory and compares the temperature to the temperature range information stored in the memory and illuminates one of the first and the second color light based on the temperature.

2. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores:

information corresponding to a third range of temperatures, the third range indicating an above normal temperature;

wherein the display further comprises a third color light for creating light of a third color.

3. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the processor compares the temperature to the information corresponding to the first range only,

wherein if the temperature falls within the first range, the first color light is illuminated and if the temperature falls outside the first range, the second color light is illuminated.

4. The thermometer of claim 1, wherein the processor compares the temperature to the information corresponding to the first range and the second range,

wherein if the temperature falls within the first range, the first color light is illuminated and if the temperature falls within the second range, the second color light is illuminated.

5. A thermometer for use with a living being, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a processor determining a temperature of the living being based on the temperature sensor;

a display; and

a backlight for lighting the display, the backlight being activated upon a command from the processor,

wherein the processor determines whether a decrease in the temperature readings exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold in order to activate the backlight.

6. The thermometer of claim 5, wherein the backlight further comprises:

a light emitting element having a first color and a first activation range; and

a light emitting element having a second color and a second activation range,

wherein the processor determines if the temperature falls within one of the first and the second activation range and activates the respective light emitting element.

7. The thermometer of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold is a temperature of about 0.1°

.

8. A thermometer for use with a living being, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a processor determining a temperature of the living being based on the temperature sensor;

a display; and

a backlight for lighting the display, the backlight being activated upon a command from the processor,

wherein the processor determines whether a decrease in the temperature readings exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold in order to activate the backlight,

wherein the predetermined threshold is based on the number of temperature readings in which the temperature drops, and

wherein the predetermined threshold is one temperature reading.

9. A method to determine a temperature of a living being, comprising the steps of:

using a processor to monitor a temperature change indicated by a temperature sensing element;

detecting a temperature decrease; and

activating a first color light emitting element to backlight a display if the temperature decrease exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

using the processor to continue monitoring for a temperature change if the temperature decrease does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a temperature decrease;

determining a temperature;

comparing the temperature to a first range, and if the temperature falls within the first range, activating a second color light emitting element to backlight the display; and

if the temperature does not fall within the first range, then comparing the temperature to a second range, and if the temperature falls within the second range activating a third color light emitting element.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined threshold is a temperature of about 0.1°

.

13. A method to determine a temperature of a living being, comprising the steps of:

using a processor to monitor a temperature change indicated by a temperature sensing element;

detecting a temperature decrease; and

activating a first color light emitting element to backlight a display if the temperature decrease exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold,

wherein the predetermined threshold is based on the number of temperature readings in which the temperature drops, and

wherein the predetermined threshold is one temperature reading.

14. A thermometer for use with a living being, comprising:

a temperature sensor;

a processor determining a temperature of the living being based on the temperature sensor; and

a light emitting element for indicating the temperature, the light being activated upon a command from the processor,

wherein the processor determines whether a decrease in the temperature readings exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold in order to activate the light emitting element.

15. A method to determine a temperature of a living being, comprising the steps of:

using a processor to monitor a temperature change indicated by a temperature sensing element;

detecting a temperature decrease; and

activating a first color light emitting element to indicate the temperature if the temperature decrease exceeds or is equal to a predetermined threshold.