EP2079996A1

EP2079996A1 - An infrared thermometer with color change lighting display for measuring the temperature of a patient

Info

Publication number: EP2079996A1
Application number: EP06831562A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alain Chemla; Antony Guchet
Original assignee: Chinasia Products Ltd
Current assignee: Chinasia Products Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-10
Filing date: 2006-11-10
Publication date: 2009-07-22
Also published as: WO2008056199A1

Abstract

The thermometer comprises an infrared temperature measuring sensor (10) and a display unit (30) for displaying the temperature measured by the measuring sensor (10). It further comprises an illuminating unit (60) for lighting up the display unit (30) in at least two different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor (10). Application to infrared thermometers with color change lighting display for measuring the temperature of a patient.

Description

An infrared thermometer with color change lighting display for measuring the temperature of a patient

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an infrared thermometer for measuring the temperature of a patient, in particular the ear or forehead temperature of a patient, the thermometer comprising an infrared temperature measuring sensor and a display unit for displaying the temperature measured by the measuring sensor. These thermometers are for medical use and allow users to check easily the level of their temperatures by checking the color of screen that display the result, based on standard values or ranges set in the thermometer, to define temperature level of the patient. The patient can then check his condition only by looking at the different colors provided by the backlight module of the unit.

Description of the Related Art

The body temperature is the one of the first condition checked by the patient when he feels himself unwell, his body warm or sick; temperature can be checked using a traditional thermometer (mercury, gallium), a digital thermometer (anal, oral or armpit check), or with an ear or forehead thermometer. For instance, for forehead or ear thermometer, temperature in the ranges below 36.6°C or above 37.6°C may be not normal for most of patient, whilst temperature in the range between these values is correct or may be subject to further investigation by a doctor in case of doubt. Some traditional ear and forehead thermometers provides light signal by activating small color LED on the product to determine whether or not their temperature is normal or not normal. However, these small lamps usually come with a very small volume or weak brightness and therefore, for elderly people, kid's parents and patient whose vision are not so good, they may not see clearly the result. Summary of the Invention

In view of the shortcomings of the traditional thermometers, the inventor of the present invention aimed at providing an infrared thermometer that can be used easily and accurately under any conditions. Accordingly, the subject matter of the invention is an infrared thermometer as described above characterized in that it further comprises:

- an illuminating unit for lighting up the display unit in at least two different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor. The infrared thermometer according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features:

- the light generated by the illuminating unit is focused on the display unit to allow the temperature displayed on the display unit to be read in the dark when the illuminating unit is active; - the illuminating unit comprise a backlight unit able to light the display unit in two different colors corresponding respectively to each of the different states of the illuminating unit;

- it comprises a controller operatively connected to the measuring sensor and the illuminating unit, the controller comprising: - a memory for storing at least a first and a second temperature range;

- a comparator for determining the range in which the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is located;

- a control unit for selectively illuminating the illuminating unit in a first state when the comparator determines that the temperature is located in a first range and in a second state when the comparator determines that the temperature is located in a second range;

- the illuminating unit is able to illuminate the display unit in at least three different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor;

- an acoustic unit for emitting at least two different acoustic signals corresponding respectively to each different state of the illuminating unit ; - the or each acoustic signal is a voice message; and

- it comprises a scan key for activating the measuring sensor, the display unit and the illuminating unit.

Accordingly, the thermometer according to the invention provides more clear information to the patient using some different lighting color on the screen directly, adding or not some voice to inform the patient about his health condition.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide instantly a clear and easy reading of the result from the patient and to help the user and/or the relatives to evaluate its conditions by simply looking at the color for the screen. Three conditions for the patient can be checked according to his body temperature level:

- range above 37.9°C : Condition/temperature is too high : the backlight on the display of the thermometer will turn RED and/or will be flashing to indicate that temperature is not normal;

- range between 37°6 C and 37.9⁰C : condition is not clear; the backlight on the display of the thermometer will turn Orange to indicate that temperature may not be normal (with or without flashing);

- range between 36°6 C and 37°5 C: condition/temperature is fine, the backlight of the display of the thermometer will turn Green to indicate that temperature is fine;

- range below 36.6⁰C : condition is not clear; the backlight on the display of the thermometer will turn Orange to indicate that temperature may not be normal (with or without flashing). Another objective is to allow the user to use his thermometer in some places without any lights, some dark place, and therefore to be still able to see easily the result, without having to turn on any lighting, or waking a kid sleeping.

A further objective of the present invention is, by coupling this lighting LCD feature with the talking features to enhance the quality of the information to the patient by providing for example a special talking message warning him about his condition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To make it easier to understand the objective, shape, assembly, structure, characteristics and performance of the present invention, the following purely illustrative embodiments accompanied with the related drawings are described in details.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of the present invention; and Figure 3 is a flow chart of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 for an infrared thermometer with standard defined temperature values or ranges in accordance with the present invention, capable of measuring body temperature with an infrared sensor.

The thermometer includes a casing 70 which can be of any shape. The casing 70 has a power supply unit 41 coupled to a start key 40 and a scan key 20 disposed on the casing 70. The start key 40 can activate the unit, while the scan key 20 can activate the thermometer and start the measurement of the temperature. The thermometer comprises an infrared temperature sensor 10 which protrudes out of the casing 70. The casing 70 includes a microprocessor 100 coupled to the power unit

41 , and the microprocessor 100 is coupled to the infrared measuring unit 10 that is put on a human forehead or ear to check the body temperature. The infrared measuring unit 10 is activated by pressing the scan key 20.

The microprocessor 100 is coupled with the display unit 30 and a reminding or illuminating unit 60. The display unit 30 is a LCD module that displays the result. The reminding unit 60 is a backlight module so that the measured results can be lighted up in at least two different colors on the display according to the value compared to at least two standard ranges defined by the user and stored in a memory of the microprocessor 100. The microprocessor 100 comprises a comparator to determine the range in which the temperature measured by the measuring sensor 10 is located. If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is in the first range above 37.9 degrees Celsius, then the reminding unit 60 will turn a RED light to light up the display unit, with or without flashing, to remind the user that his temperature is not normal. If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is in the second range between 36.6 degrees Celsius and 37.5 degrees Celsius, then the reminding unit 60 will turn a GREEN light to light up the display unit to remind the user that his temperature is normal.

If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is in the third range below 36 degrees Celsius or between 37.6 degrees Celsius and 37.9 degrees Celsius, then the reminding unit 60 will turn a ORANGE light to light up the display unit, with or without flashing, to remind the user that his temperature may be too high.

In another option, the microprocessor 100 is coupled with the display unit 30 and the reminding unit 60 and a second reminding unit 80. The display unit 30 is a LCD module that displays the result. The first reminding unit 60 is a backlight module focused on the LCD module so that the measured results can be lighted up on the display unit in different colors according to the value compared to the standard value stored in the microprocessor 100 as described above. The second reminding unit 80 is a speaker that announces with a voice the exact temperature and a special warning message according to the result compared to the standard temperature set in the microprocessor 100.

In use, the user places the temperature sensor 10 in the vicinity of the ear or forehead of the patient. The user then presses the scan key 20 to activate the measuring sensor 10. The value of temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is determined by the microprocessor 100 and compared with the ranges set in the memory by the comparator.

If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is in the first range above 37.9 degrees Celsius, then the first reminding unit 60 will turn a RED light to light up the display unit to remind the user that his temperature is not normal. The second reminding unit 80 will announce the exact temperature by voice and announce a first supplementary message to indicate that the temperature is not normal.

If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is between 36.6 degrees Celsius and 37.5 degrees Celsius, then the reminding unit 60 will turn a GREEN light to light up the display unit to remind the user that his temperature is normal. The second reminding unit

80 will announce the exact temperature by voice and announce a second supplementary message distinct from the first message to indicate that the temperature is normal. If the value of the body temperature measured by the infrared sensor 10 is below 36.6 degrees Celsius or between 37.6 degrees Celsius and 37.9 degrees Celsius, then the reminding unit 60 will turn a ORANGE light to light up the display unit to remind the user that his temperature may be too high.

The second reminding unit 80 will announce the exact temperature by voice and announce a supplementary message to indicate that the temperature may not be normal.

The key 50 allows the users to repeat the displayed result or to access the temperature that have been stored in the unit during the previous measurements. More generally, the thermometer according to the invention is a thermometer, in particular an infrared thermometer for measuring the temperature of a patient, the thermometer comprising a temperature measuring sensor, a display unit for displaying the temperature measured by the measuring sensor, and an acoustic unit for emitting at least two different acoustic signals depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor. The thermometer can further comprise a light indicator which emits lights in at least two different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor, in which each state of the light indicator corresponds to a state of the acoustic unit. The light indicator can be the first reminding unit 60 as disclosed above, or at least one LED distinct from the display unit, in which case the illuminating unit for the display unit can emit light in only one color. As disclosed above, the or each acoustic signal is a voice message.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An infrared thermometer for measuring the temperature of a patient, in particular the ear or forehead temperature of a patient, the thermometer comprising: - an infrared temperature measuring sensor (10) ; and

- a display unit (30) for displaying the temperature measured by the measuring sensor (10), characterized in that it further comprises:

- an illuminating unit (60) for lighting up the display unit (30) in at least two different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor (10).

2. An infrared thermometer according to claim 1 , characterized in that the light generated by the illuminating unit (60) is focused on the display unit (30) to allow the temperature displayed on the display unit (30) to be read in the dark when the illuminating unit (60) is active.

3. An infrared thermometer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the illuminating unit (60) comprise a backlight unit able to light the display unit (30) in two different colors corresponding respectively to each of the different states of the illuminating unit (60).

4. An infrared thermometer according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a controller (100) operatively connected to the measuring sensor (10) and the illuminating unit (60), the controller comprising:

- a memory for storing at least a first and a second temperature range;

- a comparator for determining the range in which the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (10) is located;

- a control unit for selectively illuminating the illuminating unit (60) in a first state when the comparator determines that the temperature is located in a first range and in a second state when the comparator determines that the temperature is located in a second range.

5. An infrared thermometer according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that the illuminating unit (60) is able to illuminate the display unit (30) in at least three different states depending on the value of temperature measured by the measuring sensor (10).

6. An infrared thermometer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an acoustic unit (80) for emitting at least two different acoustic signals corresponding respectively to each different state of the illuminating unit (60).

7. An infrared thermometer according to claim 6, characterized in that the or each acoustic signal is a voice message.

8. An infrared thermometer according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a scan key (20) for activating the measuring sensor, the display unit and the illuminating unit.