Probe structure

• US 7,988,352 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiant Innovation Inc.
• Original Assignee: Radiant Innovation Inc.
• Inventors: Liao, Joy, Weng, Vincent, Lin, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan; Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US12/318,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20090129435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 374/121, 374/208, 374/131, 600/474
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/04 Casings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/08 Optical arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0815 Light concentrators, collectors or condensers

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved probe structure, which is installed in the body of an infrared clinical thermometer and comprises a plastic hollow casing having an opening; a curved block annularly arranged inside the opening; a hollow sleeve arranged inside the casing and along the perimeter of the opening; a temperature sensor arranged inside sleeve and below the curved block; a support element arranged inside the sleeve and supporting the temperature sensor; and a thermal insulation ring encircling the temperature sensor and pressing against the inner wall of the sleeve. The thermal insulation ring has an outer diameter larger than a width of the temperature sensor, and an air gap is thus formed between the temperature sensor and the inner wall of the sleeve; the top of the thermal insulation ring has an altitude higher than the top of the temperature sensor, and another air gap is thus formed between the temperature sensor and the curved block. Thereby is effectively retarded heat conduction from the external to the temperature sensor.

Claims

1. An improved probe structure, installed in a body of an infrared clinical thermometer, comprising:

a plastic hollow casing having an opening;

a hollow sleeve having a front end defining a curved block, said hollow sleeve being arranged inside said casing and said curved block being disposed in juxtaposition with a perimeter of said opening, the curved block having an arcuate concave inner surface plated with a coating to increase reflectivity thereof for thereby concentrating infrared radiation from a surface being measured and reflect infrared radiation from divergent sources;

a temperature sensor arranged inside said sleeve and below said curved block, said sensor including a housing and a temperature sensing element disposed within said housing;

a support element arranged inside said sleeve and supporting said temperature sensor; and

a thermal insulation ring encircling said temperature sensor and pressing against an inner wall of said sleeve, said thermal insulation ring having an upper edge disposed contiguous with a bottom edge of said curved block, wherein said thermal insulation ring has an outer diameter larger than a diameter of said housing of said temperature sensor, and a first gap is thus formed between said temperature sensor and said inner wall of said sleeve, and wherein said upper edge of said thermal insulation ring has an altitude higher than a top of said housing of said temperature sensor to thereby space said top of said housing from said curved block to define a second air gap between said top of said housing and said bottom edge of said curved block.

2. An improved probe structure, installed in a body of an infrared clinical thermometer, comprising:

a plastic hollow casing having an opening;

a hollow sleeve having a front end defining a curved block, said hollow sleeve being arranged inside said casing and said curved block having an arcuate concave inner surface with a curvature in a range of 30-85 degrees disposed in juxtaposition with a perimeter of said opening to concentrate infrared radiation from a surface being measured and reflect infrared radiation from divergent sources;

a temperature sensor arranged inside said sleeve and below said curved block, said sensor including (a) a housing, (b) an encapsulation base closing a first end of said housing and having a diameter greater than a diameter of said housing, and (c) a temperature sensing element disposed within said housing and supported by said encapsulation base;

a support element arranged inside said sleeve and supporting said temperature sensor; and

a thermal insulation ring encircling said temperature sensor and pressing against an inner wall of said sleeve, said thermal insulation ring having an upper edge disposed contiguous with a bottom edge of said curved block, wherein said thermal insulation ring has an outer diameter larger than said diameter of said encapsulation base, and a first gap is thus formed between said temperature sensor and said inner wall of said sleeve, and wherein said upper edge of said thermal insulation ring has an altitude higher than a second end of said housing of said temperature sensor to thereby space a second end of said housing from said curved block to define a second air gap between said second end of said housing and said bottom edge of said curved block.

3. The improved probe structure according to claim 2, wherein said sleeve is made of metallic material.

4. The improved probe structure according to claim 2, wherein said infrared clinical thermometer is a forehead thermometer or an ear thermometer.

5. The improved probe structure according to claim 2, wherein a third air gap is formed between said casing and said sleeve to retard interference of temperatures of external environments.

6. The improved probe structure according to claim 2, wherein said arcuate concave inner surface of said curved block is plated with a coating to increase reflectivity and reduce divergent infrared radiation.