Electronic thermometer with flex circuit location
First Claim
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1. An electronic thermometer comprising:
- a probe tip adapted to be heated to a temperature by an object for use in measuring the temperature of the object;
a flex circuit including a deformable substrate, an electrical conductor on the substrate and at least one temperature sensor on the substrate electrically connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the temperature of the probe tip;
a probe shaft supporting the probe tip and flex circuit and including an end portion; and
a locating member supported by the probe shaft and at least temporarily locating the flex circuit, said locating member comprising a resilient locator resiliently deformed by engagement with the flex circuit, the resilient locator biasing the flex circuit into a selected position.
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Abstract
An electronic thermometer is configured for ease and accuracy in construction. A probe of the thermometer includes a flex circuit containing electronic components used to measure temperature and transmit signals to a calculating unit of the thermometer. A resilient locator can function to pre-position the flex circuit prior to final fixation so that the electronic components are reliably positioned in manufacture.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electronic thermometer comprising:
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a probe tip adapted to be heated to a temperature by an object for use in measuring the temperature of the object; a flex circuit including a deformable substrate, an electrical conductor on the substrate and at least one temperature sensor on the substrate electrically connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the temperature of the probe tip; a probe shaft supporting the probe tip and flex circuit and including an end portion; and a locating member supported by the probe shaft and at least temporarily locating the flex circuit, said locating member comprising a resilient locator resiliently deformed by engagement with the flex circuit, the resilient locator biasing the flex circuit into a selected position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A probe for an electronic thermometer comprising:
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a probe tip adapted to be heated to a temperature by an object for use in measuring the temperature of the object; a flex circuit including a deformable substrate, an electrical conductor on the substrate and at least one temperature sensor on the substrate electrically connected to the electrical conductor for detecting the temperature of the probe tip; a probe shaft supporting the probe tip and flex circuit and including an end portion; and a locating member supported by the probe shaft and at least temporarily locating the flex circuit, said locating member comprising a resilient locator, said resilient locator being resiliently deformed by engagement with the flex circuit and biasing the flex circuit to a selected position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of making a probe for an electronic thermometer comprising:
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positioning a flex circuit together with a probe shaft; connecting a locating member to the probe shaft, said locating member comprising a resilient locator; and resiliently deforming the resilient locator by engagement with the flex circuit thereby to bias the flex circuit to a selected position; wherein positioning the flex circuit comprises deforming the flex circuit by bending arms of the flex circuit to an arcuate shape. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification