Infrared thermometer

• US 7,665,892 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Actherm Inc.
• Original Assignee: Actherm Inc.
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chih-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): KAPLAN VERBITSKY, GAIL
• Application Number:
  US11/812,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20080267254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 374/120, 374/121, 374/29, 374 43- 44, 374/30, 374/137, 374/163, 374/183, 374/129, 374/208, 374/170, 374/141, 600/549, 600/474, 738/665
• US Class Current: 374/121
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0003 for sensing the radiant heat transfer of samples, e.g. emittance meter
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0011 Ear thermometers G01J5/021 and G01J5/049 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/026 Control of working procedures of a pyrometer, other than calibration; Bandwidth calculation; Gain control
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/028 using a charging unit or battery
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/049 Casings for tympanic thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/061 by controlling the temperature of the apparatus or parts thereof, e.g. using cooling means or thermostats
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/064 Ambient temperature sensor; Housing temperature sensor; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

This invention discloses an infrared thermometer for ear or skin temperature. The infrared thermometer comprises a body, an infrared sensing element, and a heat dissipating means. The heat dissipation means is provided behind or below the infrared sensing element for urging the air flowing in and out of the body, so as to contribute better heat dissipation and air circulation around the infrared sensing element. Hence the accuracy and stability of the infrared thermometer are improved.

Claims

1. An infrared ear thermometer comprising:

a body, which comprises a housing (102), a display (104), a power switch (106), a control circuit (108), a protrudent first opening (110), a second opening (112) and a second outlet (122); and

an infrared sensor (114), which is provided inside the body and near the protrudent first opening (110) and comprises a thermopile (124), a color filter (126), a metal cap (128) and a thermistor (130);

said infrared ear thermometer characterized in;

a heat dissipation means (116), which is provided inside the body and comprises a fan (118) and an air channel (120), said fan (118) is provided near the second opening (112), said air channel (120) comprises at least one inlet which provided behind said infrared sensor (114) and an exit which provided at said second outlet (122);

so that when the power switch (106) is turned on, the thermistor (130) is actuated to measure the temperature variation of the thermopile (124), wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) exceeds a predetermined level, the heat dissipation means (116) operates, the fan (118) urges the outside air flowing in and cooling said infrared sensor (114), then flowing out of the body via said air channel (120), and the heat dissipation means (116) shuts when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) becomes lower than or equal to the predetermined level, wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) is lower than or equal to the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an operational state while when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) is higher than the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an nonoperational state.

2. The infrared ear thermometer of claim 1, wherein the display presents a signal to inform a user when the infrared ear thermometer is at the operational state.

3. The infrared ear thermometer of claim 1, further comprising a buzzer for giving an alarm to inform a user when the infrared ear thermometer is at the operational state.

4. The infrared ear thermometer of claim 1, wherein the power switch is selected from a group consisting of a push-button switch, a touch switch, a vibration switch and a sensor switch.

5. The infrared ear thermometer of claim 1, further comprising a trigger for starting the infrared sensor to conduct temperature measurement when the infrared ear thermometer is at the operational state.

6. A method for manufacturing an infrared ear thermometer comprising:

providing a body which comprises a housing (102), a display (104), a power switch (106), a control circuit (108), a protrudent first opening (1l0), a second opening (112) and a second outlet (122);

providing an infrared sensor (114), which is provided inside the body and near the protrudent first opening (110) wherein the infrared sensor (114) comprises a thermopile (124), a color filter (126), a metal cap (128) and a thermistor (130); and

providing a heat dissipation means (116), which is provided inside the body and comprises a fan (118) and an air channel (120), said fan (118) is provided near the second opening (112), said air channel (120) comprises at least one inlet which provided behind said infrared sensor (114) and an exit which provided at said second outlet (122);

so that when the power switch (106) is turned on, the thermistor (130) is actuated to measure the temperature variation of the thermopile (124), wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) exceeds a predetermined level, the heat dissipation means (116) operates, the fan (118) urges the outside air flowing in and cooling said infrared sensor (114), then flowing out of the body via said air channel (120), and the heat dissipation means (116) shuts when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) becomes lower than or equal to the predetermined level, wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) is lower than or equal to the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an operational state while when the temperature variation of the thermopile (124) is higher than the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an nonoperational state.

7. An infrared thermometer comprising:

a body, which comprises a housing (202), a display (204), a power switch (206), a control circuit (208), a first opening (210), a second opening (212) and a second outlet (222); and

an infrared sensor (214), which is provided inside the body and near the first opening (210) wherein the infrared sensor (214) comprises a thermopile (224), a color filter (226), a metal cap (228) and a thermistor (230);

said infrared thermometer characterized in;

a heat dissipation means (216), which is provided inside the body and comprises a fan (218) and an air channel (220), said fan (218) is provided near the second opening (212), said air channel (220) comprises at least one inlet which provided behind said infrared sensor (214) and an exit which provided at said second outlet (222);

so that when the power switch (206) is turned on, the thermistor (230) is actuated to measure the temperature variation of the thermopile (224), wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) exceeds a predetermined level, the heat dissipation means (216) operates, the fan (218) urges the outside air flowing in and cooling said infrared sensor (214), then flowing out of the body via said air channel (220), and the heat dissipation means (216) shuts when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) becomes lower than or equal to the predetermined level, wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) is lower than or equal to the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an operational state while when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) is higher than the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an nonoperational state.

8. The infrared thermometer of claim 7, wherein the display presents a signal to inform a user when the infrared thermometer is at the operational state.

9. The infrared thermometer of claim 7, further comprising a buzzer for giving an alarm to inform a user when the infrared thermometer is at the operational state.

10. The infrared thermometer of claim 7, wherein the power switch is selected from a group consisting of a push-button switch, a touch switch, a vibration switch and a sensor switch.

11. The infrared thermometer of claim 7, further comprising a trigger for starting the infrared sensor to conduct temperature measurement when the infrared thermometer is at the operational state.

12. A method for manufacturing an infrared thermometer comprising:

providing a body which comprises a housing (202), a display (204), a power switch (206), a control circuit (208), a first opening (210), a second opening (212) and a second outlet (222), wherein the power switch (206) is selected from a group consisting of a push-button switch, a touch switch, a vibration switch and a sensor switch;

providing an infrared sensor (214), which is provided inside the body and near the first opening (210) wherein the infrared sensor (214) comprises a thermopile (224), a color filter (226), a metal cap (228) and a thermistor (230); and

providing a heat dissipation means (216), which is provided inside the body and comprises a fan (218) and an air channel (220), said fan (218) is provided near the second opening (212), said air channel (220) comprises at least one inlet which provided behind said infrared sensor (214) and an exit which provided at said second outlet (222);

wherein when the power switch (206) is turned on, the thermistor (230) is actuated to measure the temperature variation of the thermopile (224), wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) exceeds a predetermined level, the heat dissipation means (216) operates, the fan 218 urges the outside air flowing in and cooling said infrared sensor (214), then flowing out of the body via said air channel (220), and the heat dissipation means (216) shuts when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) becomes lower than or equal to the predetermined level, wherein when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) is lower than or equal to the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an operational state while when the temperature variation of the thermopile (224) is higher than the predetermined level, the infrared ear thermometer is at an nonoperational state.