JP2013210323A - Contact internal thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the amplitude of the heat flux passing through a plurality of sets of a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor disposed sandwiching a heat insulating material to be different easily in a contact internal thermometer.SOLUTION: A contact internal thermometer 100 comprises: a measuring surface 20 for contacting with a surface to be measured to calculate an internal temperature; a first temperature sensor laminate 33 in which a first measuring surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the measurement surface side of a first flexible print substrate and a first rear surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the rear surface side; and a controller which has at least a second temperature sensor laminate 34 in which a second measuring surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the measurement surface side of a second flexible print substrate and a second rear surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the rear surface side and calculates an internal temperature of the measuring object based on the measurement result of each temperature sensor, wherein the area of a second mounting part of the second flexible print substrate is larger than the area of a first mounting part of the first flexible print substrate.

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact-type internal thermometer.

  In various situations, there is a demand for measuring the internal temperature, not the surface temperature of an object to be measured, quickly, accurately, and simply (that is, non-invasively). A typical example of such a requirement is measurement of body temperature of a living body including a human body. However, it is usually difficult to measure the internal temperature of the living body (sometimes referred to as deep body temperature), that is, the temperature inside the living body that is considered to be maintained at a constant temperature by the blood flow. When the measurement target is a human body, generally hold the thermometer in a place where heat is difficult to escape to the outside, such as under the tongue or under the arm, and read the thermometer after the thermometer and human body are in thermal equilibrium. However, it takes a long time of about 5 to 10 minutes until the thermal equilibrium state is obtained, and the obtained body temperature does not always match the internal temperature. For this reason, this method may be difficult to apply to subjects that are difficult to measure body temperature for a long time, such as infants and certain injuries and patients, and a highly accurate body temperature is required to perform precise body temperature management. Hard to get.

  Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, as a thermometer for quickly and accurately measuring the internal temperature of the human body, the first temperature sensor that contacts the body surface and the first temperature sensor are insulated. A deep thermometer has been proposed in which at least two sets of second temperature sensors arranged with a material interposed therebetween are provided, and the thermal resistance value of the heat insulating material in each set is different. This deep thermometer solves the simultaneous heat conduction equation from the temperature measurement result of each temperature sensor in a steady state, and obtains the deep body temperature.

JP 2007-212407 A

  In the above-mentioned deep thermometer described in Patent Document 1, the heat resistance value of the heat insulating material sandwiched between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is different depending on the pair. In addition to molding, it is necessary to accurately attach a temperature sensor to the heat insulating material. By the way, the reason why the thermal resistance value of the heat insulating material differs depending on the set in such a thermometer is to determine the number of independent variables necessary for solving the simultaneous heat conduction equation, so that the heat flux passing through each set This is because the sizes need to be different.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the problem to be solved is a contact-type internal thermometer in which a plurality of first and second temperature sensors arranged with a heat insulating material interposed therebetween. The size of the heat flux passing through the set is simply made different.

  In addition, although the description so far mainly demonstrated the thermometer which measures the internal temperature of a human body as a typical example of a contact-type internal thermometer, the contact-type internal thermometer which this invention makes object is limited to this. It can be applied to any measurement object that needs to measure its internal temperature non-invasively regardless of whether it is living or inanimate.

  The invention disclosed in the present application in order to solve the above problems has various aspects, and the outline of typical aspects of the aspects is as follows.

  (1) A first measurement surface side temperature sensor is arranged on a measurement surface to be brought into contact with a measurement target surface of the measurement object and a measurement surface side of the first flexible printed circuit board in order to calculate an internal temperature of the measurement object. The first temperature sensor laminate in which the first back surface temperature sensor is disposed on the back surface side, and the second measurement surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the measurement surface side of the second flexible printed circuit board. It has at least a second temperature sensor stack in which a second back surface temperature sensor is disposed, and the first measurement surface side temperature sensor, the first back surface temperature sensor, and the second measurement surface side temperature. A controller for calculating an internal temperature of the measurement object based on a measurement result of the sensor and the second back surface temperature sensor, and the first measurement surface side temperature in the first flexible printed circuit board Sensor and said The second measurement surface side temperature sensor and the second back surface temperature sensor in the second flexible printed circuit board, rather than the area of the first mounting part which is a part on which the first back surface temperature sensor is mounted. A contact-type internal thermometer in which the area of the second mounting part, which is the part where the is mounted, is larger.

  (2) In (1), the first flexible printed circuit board has a strip-shaped first pattern formed with a wiring pattern that connects the controller, the first measurement surface side temperature sensor, and the first back surface temperature sensor. The second flexible printed circuit board has a strip-shaped first wiring pattern on which a wiring pattern for connecting the controller to the second measurement surface side temperature sensor and the second back surface temperature sensor is formed. The first mounting part is connected to one end of the first connection part and has a width larger than that of the first connection part. The second mounting part is A contact-type internal thermometer connected to one end of the second connection portion and having a width larger than that of the second connection portion.

  (3) In (1) or (2), the second mounting portion is a contact type internal thermometer in which a solid pattern of a conductive thin film is formed on at least one surface thereof.

  (4) In any one of (1) to (3), a contact type having a cooling mechanism for cooling the first temperature sensor stacked body and the second temperature sensor stacked body after the internal temperature is calculated by the controller. Internal thermometer.

  According to the above aspects (1) and (2), in the contact-type internal thermometer, the magnitude of the heat flux passing through a plurality of sets of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor arranged with the heat insulating material interposed therebetween. The thickness can be easily changed.

  According to the above aspect (3), the difference in the magnitude of the heat flux passing through the plurality of sets of the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor can be further increased.

  According to the above aspect (4), it is possible to accurately measure the internal temperature of the measurement object even when performing continuous measurement.

It is the external view which looked at the contact-type internal thermometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the back side. It is the external view which looked at the contact-type internal thermometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention from the measurement surface side. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the contact-type internal thermometer by the III-III line of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the measurement head in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the equivalent thermal circuit of the measurement part provided in the measurement head of the contact-type internal thermometer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional area A of the part of a radiation fin, perimeter length S, and length L. FIG. It is a top view of the temperature sensor laminated body by VI arrow view of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of a contact type internal thermometer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the back side, and FIG. 2 is an external view of the contact type internal thermometer 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from a measurement surface side. is there. In the present specification, the contact-type internal thermometer is a thermometer, and means a thermometer that measures the internal temperature by bringing it into contact with the surface to be measured. In addition, the internal temperature means not the surface temperature of the measurement target but the temperature inside the region that is considered to be a substantially constant temperature heat source. Here, it is considered that the heat source is substantially constant temperature when the heat capacity inside the measurement target is large, or when heat is constantly supplied to the measurement target, the measurement with the contact-type internal thermometer is practically applied to that temperature. It means that it is considered that there is no influence. For example, when the measurement target is a living body, heat is always supplied from the trunk by the blood flow, which corresponds to the latter.

  A contact-type internal thermometer 100 shown in the present embodiment is portable as shown in the figure, and a measurement head 2 is attached to the tip of a case 1. The measuring head 2 is provided so as to protrude from the case 1, and the tip thereof is a substantially flat measuring surface 20. And the internal temperature is measured by making this measurement surface 20 contact the to-be-measured surface of a measuring object, for example, skin. On the surface of the measurement surface 20, a substantially circular first probe 30 and second probe 31 are arranged in series along the longitudinal direction of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 as shown in FIG. 2. The arrangement of the first probe 30 and the second probe 31 is arbitrary, and the arrangement direction is not necessarily along the longitudinal direction of the contact-type internal thermometer 100.

  A lamp 11, a display unit 12, and a buzzer 13 are provided on the back surface 10 that is the surface opposite to the measurement surface 20 of the case 1. Hereinafter, in this specification, the direction in which the measurement surface 20 faces is referred to as the measurement surface side, and the direction in which the back surface, which is the opposite direction, faces, is referred to as the back surface side. Further, the case 1 has a long and rounded shape, and forms a grip 14 that the user has in his hand. As shown in FIG. 2, a battery lid 15 is provided on the measurement surface side of the grip 14 of the case 1, and a battery serving as a power source for the contact type internal thermometer 100 is accommodated therein. In addition, an intake hole 16 is provided at an appropriate position of the case 1, here the position shown in FIG. 2, and an exhaust hole 21 is provided on the side surface of the measurement head 2, so that each internal space communicates with the outside air. . Case 1 and measuring head 2 are connected by a support ring 5.

  In addition, the design of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is an example. Such a design may be appropriately changed in consideration of its main use and marketability. Further, the arrangement of each component may be arbitrarily selected within a range that does not impair its function.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 taken along line III-III in FIG. The case 1 is preferably a hollow molded product made of any synthetic resin such as ABS resin, and various parts constituting the contact-type internal thermometer 100 are integrally accommodated therein. A battery 6 and a circuit board 17 are accommodated in the grip 14. Various electronic components such as a controller (not shown) are mounted on the circuit board 17 and receive power from the battery 6 to supply power to all components that require power. In addition, the operation is controlled. The battery 6 shown in the figure is a commercially available AAA type (referred to as AAA in the United States) dry battery, but the type thereof may be arbitrary, such as a button type or a square type, or a primary type. The battery and secondary battery may be optional. Note that wiring for electrically connecting each component and the circuit board 17 is omitted because it is complicated to illustrate.

  The lamp 11 is preferably a light emitting diode capable of emitting multiple colors, and is lit to notify the user of the state of the contact-type internal thermometer 100. The display unit 12 is a liquid crystal display device in the present embodiment, and is used to notify the user of the measurement result of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 in a manner as shown in FIG. Of course, any other information such as the remaining amount of the battery 6 may be displayed on the display unit 12. Alternatively, the state of the contact type internal thermometer 100 may be displayed together and the lamp 11 may be omitted. The buzzer 13 is a general electronic buzzer in this embodiment, and is for notifying the user of the state of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 by a beep sound. The form of the buzzer 13 is also arbitrary, and a speaker may be provided to notify by voice or melody. Alternatively, the buzzer 13 may be omitted only for notification by the lamp 11 and / or the display unit 12.

  A partition wall 18 is provided inside the case 1 and partitions the inside of the case 1 into a grip space 19a and a head space 19b. The partition wall 18 is provided with an opening, and the blower 7 is attached so as to close the opening. The function of the blower 7 will be described later.

  A measuring head 2 is attached to the tip of the case 1 via a support ring 5. The support ring 5 is preferably made of a material having elasticity such as silicon rubber or its foam and having excellent heat insulation properties, and allows slight movement of the measuring head 2 with respect to the case 1, and from the measuring head 2 to the case. The heat transfer to 1 is cut off. This is because when the measurement surface 20 is brought into contact with the measurement object, the measurement surface 20 is surely brought into close contact with the measurement object, and the measurement error is caused by heat flowing from the measurement head 2 to the case 1. This is to prevent the occurrence of the above. However, the support ring 5 is not an essential configuration, there is no problem in the close contact between the measurement surface 20 and the measurement object, and the measurement head 2 is a material having a sufficiently low thermal conductivity, and there is no practical problem. This may be omitted, and the measurement head 2 may be directly fixed to the case 1 or both may be integrally formed. Further, the shape of the support ring 5 is not limited to a ring shape, and an arbitrary shape may be used.

  The measurement head 2 is preferably formed of a material having a stable shape, low thermal conductivity, and low specific heat. For example, rigid foam urethane or rigid foam vinyl chloride is preferably used. However, the material is not particularly limited in this respect as long as there is no practical problem, and any material may be used.

  The measurement surface 20 of the measurement head 2 is provided with openings at positions corresponding to the first probe 30 and the second probe 31, and each probe is attached so as to slightly protrude from the measurement surface 20. . Each probe is preferably made of a material having high thermal conductivity, and is made of metal in this embodiment. The material of each probe preferably has corrosion resistance, and aluminum or stainless steel is suitable as the metal material. As described above, since the measurement head 2 itself is made of a material having low thermal conductivity, the first probe 30 and the second probe 31 are thermally isolated from each other.

  A first temperature sensor stack 33 is provided on the back side of the first probe 30 and both are thermally coupled to each other. Further, a second temperature sensor laminate 34 is provided on the back side of the second probe 31, and both are thermally coupled to each other. Details of the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 will be described later. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor stack is provided with the first temperature sensor stack 33 and the second temperature sensor stack 34. For the purpose of error dispersion or backup in the event of a failure, a probe is used. Three or more temperature sensor stacks may be provided.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the measuring head 2 in FIG. Here, illustration of members located on the back side of the support ring 5 in FIG. 3 is omitted.

  As shown in detail in the figure, the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 is disposed on the measurement surface side, and contacts with the first probe 30 and is thermally coupled to the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a. A first back surface temperature sensor 33b disposed on the back surface side, and a first flexible surface disposed between the first back surface temperature sensor 33b and the first back surface temperature sensor 33b. The printed circuit board 33c is laminated. The first flexible printed board 33c functions as a thermal resistor that forms a heat flow path from the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a to the first back surface temperature sensor 33b.

  The second temperature sensor laminate 34 also has the same structure as that of the first temperature sensor laminate 33, and is arranged on the measurement surface side, and is in contact with the second probe 31 and thermally coupled thereto. The measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a, the second back surface temperature sensor 34b disposed on the back surface side, and the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a and the second back surface temperature sensor 34b disposed on both surfaces thereof. The second flexible printed board 34c to be mounted on is stacked. Similarly, the second flexible printed board 34c functions as a thermal resistor that forms a heat flow path from the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a to the second back surface temperature sensor 34b.

  Accordingly, when the measurement surface 20 is brought into contact with the measurement object, heat is transferred from the measurement object to the first probe 30 and the second probe 31, and the heat is first for the first temperature sensor stack 33. The measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a, the first flexible printed circuit board 33c, and the first back surface side temperature sensor 33b are sequentially passed, and the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a, The light passes through the second flexible printed board 34c and the second back surface temperature sensor 34b in order and is dissipated into the atmosphere.

  Any temperature sensor may be used, but in the present embodiment, it is a thermistor. Each temperature sensor is connected to the circuit board 17 (see FIG. 3) by a wiring (not shown) so that the temperature in each temperature sensor can be detected.

  What is important here is that, in a steady state, the heat flux passing through the first temperature sensor laminate 33 and the heat flux passing through the second temperature sensor laminate 34 are different. That is, the first temperature sensor laminate 33 and the second temperature sensor laminate 34 have different heat fluxes that pass through the temperature sensor laminate when the same temperature difference is given to both ends. Configured. As described above, various methods for differentiating the heat flux passing through the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 can be considered. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor stacked body is configured. By making the area of the flexible printed circuit board different between the temperature sensor laminates, the heat flux passing through each temperature sensor laminate is made different. In the example shown here, the area of the second flexible printed board 34c is larger than that of the first flexible printed board 33c. And the part which protruded to the side surface of the temperature sensor laminated body of a flexible printed circuit board functions as a radiation fin which dissipates the heat transmitted from a probe to air | atmosphere, but since the heat dissipation capability becomes so high that an area is large, the 1st flexible The amount of heat dissipated by the second flexible printed board 34c is larger than that of the printed board 33c. As a result, it is considered that the heat flux passing through the second temperature sensor laminate 34 is smaller than the heat flux passing through the first temperature sensor laminate 33.

  Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a, the first back surface temperature sensor 33b, the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a, and the second back surface temperature. The sensor 34b uses the thermistor having the same shape. The first flexible printed circuit board 33c and the second flexible printed circuit board 34c are different from each other in plan shape, but are the same in material and thickness. In this way, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of types of temperature sensors, and the first flexible printed board 33c and the second flexible printed board 34c can be obtained by cutting out the same sheet. It is advantageous. The material of the first flexible printed board 33c and the second flexible printed board 34c is not particularly limited, and may be polyimide or the like that is generally used.

  Here, the measurement principle of the internal temperature by the contact-type internal thermometer 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an equivalent thermal circuit of a measurement unit provided in the measurement head 2 of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 according to the present embodiment. To explain with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG, T _b inside the measured object temperature, T ₁₁ is the temperature at the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a, T ₁₂ is the temperature at the first rear-side temperature sensor 33b , _{T 21} is the temperature of the second measuring surface side temperature sensor _{34a, T 22} is the temperature in the second back surface side temperature sensor 34b. The thermal resistance _Rb is a thermal resistance when heat is transmitted from the measurement target to the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a and the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a through the first probe 30 and the second probe 31. It is. T _m1 is the temperature at the center in the thickness direction of the first flexible printed board 33c, T _m2 is the temperature at the center in the thickness direction of the second flexible printed board 34c, and R _m is the temperature of each temperature sensor and each flexible printed board. This is the thermal resistance between the center in the thickness direction. Is T _e is the outside air temperature, R _e is the thermal resistance between the first rear-side temperature sensor 33b and the second rear-side temperature sensor 34b and the ambient air. _{Then, T b> T 11> T} m1> T 12 _{and, T b> T 21> T} m2> T 22 is satisfied. q _b1 is the heat flux flowing from the inside of the measurement object to the first flexible printed circuit board 34c, q _m1 is the heat flux dissipated to the outside air by the function of the first flexible printed circuit board 33c as a heat radiating fin, q _e1 Respectively show the heat flux dissipated from the first flexible printed circuit board 33c to the outside air through the first back surface temperature sensor 33b. Further, q _b2 is a heat flux flowing from the inside of the measurement object to the second flexible printed board 34c, and q _m2 is a heat flux dissipated to the outside air by the second flexible printed board 34c functioning as a radiation fin. q _e2 indicates a heat flux dissipated from the second flexible printed board 34c to the outside air through the second back surface temperature sensor 34b.

  Assuming that the system shown in the figure is in a steady state, the following equation is established because the temperature balance of the first flexible printed circuit board 33c and the second flexible printed circuit board 34c is zero.

このとき、

At this time,

である。ただし、αは空気の熱伝達率、λはフレキシブルプリント基板の熱伝導率であり、図６に示すように、Ａ_１、Ａ_２、Ｓ_１、Ｓ_２、Ｌ_１及びＬ_２はそれぞれ第１のフレキシブルプリント基板３３ｃ及び第２のフレキシブルプリント基板３４ｃの放熱フィンの部分の断面積Ａ、周囲長Ｓ及びフレキシブルプリント基板のフィンとみなす部分の長さＬである。

It is. Where α is the heat transfer coefficient of air and λ is the heat conductivity of the flexible printed circuit board. As shown in FIG. 6, A ₁ , A ₂ , S ₁ , S ₂ , L ₁ and L ₂ are the first The sectional area A, the peripheral length S, and the length L of the portion of the flexible printed board 33c and the second flexible printed board 34c that are regarded as fins of the flexible printed board.

  Substituting Equation 2 into Equation 1,

とおくと、数１は次のように変形される。

In other words, Equation 1 is transformed as follows.

From number 4 to erase the _{R b,} and solving for _{T b,}

が得られる。

Is obtained.

  At this time,

より

Than

となる。また、定義より

It becomes. From the definition

（λ_Ｔ：温度センサの熱伝導率、Ｌ：フレキシブルプリント基板のフィンとみなす部分の長さ）
とおき、各温度センサの測定結果及び数７、数８を数５に代入することにより、内部温度Ｔ_ｂを算出することができる。

(Λ _T : thermal conductivity of temperature sensor, L: length of the portion regarded as a fin of the flexible printed circuit board)
Distant, measurement results and the number 7 of the temperature sensors, by substituting the number 8 to number 5, it is possible to calculate the internal temperature T _b.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view of the temperature sensor laminate as viewed in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. And in both the 1st temperature sensor laminated body 33 and the 2nd temperature sensor laminated body 34, the 1st flexible printed circuit board 33c and the 2nd flexible printed circuit board 34c are respectively the 1st back side temperature sensor 33b and the 1st backside temperature sensor 33b. The area in the plan view is larger than that of the back surface side temperature sensor 34b of No. 2, and has a shape that slightly protrudes from the outer periphery of each temperature sensor. Here, the first flexible printed circuit board 33c and the second flexible printed circuit board 34c are respectively formed into strip-shaped first connection parts 33d and second connection parts 34d that are elongated and first connection parts 33d and second connection parts. The first connecting portion 33e and the second connecting portion 34e are connected to one end of the first connecting portion 34d, have a width larger than that of the first connecting portion 33d and the second connecting portion 34d, and each temperature sensor is mounted thereon. Yes.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the area of the second mounting portion 34e is larger than the area of the first mounting portion 33e. As a result, the second mounting portion 34e has a larger heat dissipation capability.

  In the present embodiment, the planar shape of the first mounting portion 33e and the second mounting portion 34e is substantially rectangular. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape is not limited to this. Any shape such as a system may be used. In the second mounting portion, the first connection portion 33d and the second connection portion 34d in the first flexible printed board 33c and the second flexible printed board 34c are connected to the circuit board 17 (see FIG. 3), a wiring pattern for electrical connection is formed, but this is not essential and may be omitted. In that case, an appropriate cable for connecting each temperature sensor and the circuit board 17 may be connected to the first mounting portion 33e and the second mounting portion 34e.

  Furthermore, both surfaces of the second mounting portion 34e are covered with a conductive thin film, and a so-called solid pattern is formed. This is because, as described above, the base material of the second flexible printed board 34c is an insulating material such as polyimide, and its heat transfer coefficient is not high. Therefore, a conductive film having a high heat transfer coefficient is provided on the surface. This is to improve the heat dissipating ability of the second mounting portion 34e by smoothing in-plane heat transfer. This conductive thin film is preferably formed simultaneously with the formation of the wiring pattern of the second flexible printed board 34c. In addition, although it is preferable to provide this electroconductive thin film on both surfaces of the 2nd mounting part 34e, any one surface may be sufficient. The solid pattern of the conductive thin film may be connected to a wiring pattern for electrically connecting each temperature sensor to the circuit board 17 (see FIG. 3) or may be insulated. In addition, from the viewpoint of providing a large difference in the heat dissipating ability between the first mounting portion 33e and the second mounting portion 34e, it is better not to provide the solid pattern of the conductive thin film on the first mounting portion 33e. There is no particular problem.

  Next, a procedure for measuring the internal temperature using the contact-type internal thermometer 100 according to the present embodiment, that is, a procedure for the temperature measurement operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Procedure 1: The measurement surface 20 of the contact-type internal thermometer 100 is brought into contact with the measurement object.

  Procedure 2: A temperature measurement operation is started by the controller mounted on the circuit board 17. The temperature measurement operation may be automatically started by a rise in temperature measured by the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a or the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a. It may be performed by the user operating a switch such as. At this time, the controller notifies the user that the measurement is started by a beep sound by the buzzer 13. At the same time, the lamp 11 is lit in an arbitrary color, for example, red, and prompts the user to keep the measurement surface 20 in contact with the measurement object.

  Procedure 3: The controller calculates and displays the internal temperature of the measurement object after the first temperature sensor laminate 33 and the second temperature sensor laminate 34 reach a steady state. That is, the controller monitors the outputs of the first measurement surface side temperature sensor 33a, the first back surface temperature sensor 33b, the second measurement surface side temperature sensor 34a, and the second back surface temperature sensor 34b, and these temperatures. When it is detected that the temperature change of the sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the internal temperature is obtained from the above equation 5 using the output from these temperature sensors. Therefore, the controller measures the measurement object based on the measurement results of the first measurement surface temperature sensor 33a, the first back surface temperature sensor 33b, the second measurement surface temperature sensor 34a, and the second back surface temperature sensor 34b. The internal temperature of the object will be calculated.

  The controller displays the internal temperature thus calculated on the display unit 12 as shown in FIG. Further, the user is notified that the measurement is completed by generating a beep sound by the buzzer 13 and lighting the lamp 11 in an arbitrary color different from the previous color, for example, green. In the present embodiment, the calculated internal temperature is displayed on the display unit 12 to notify the user, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the calculated internal temperature is stored in a memory provided in the contact-type internal thermometer 100. Alternatively, it may be output to a device external to the contact-type internal thermometer 100 by wire or wirelessly. In this case, the display unit 12 is not necessarily an essential configuration.

  In the above description, various notifications of measurement start and measurement end to the user are all performed by a beep sound by the buzzer 13 and lighting of the lamp 11, but these notification methods are limited to those exemplified here. Not. In particular, the beep sound may be omitted, or may not be uttered according to user settings. It is preferable to perform various notifications to the user only by lighting the lamp 11 without using sound, for example, when the measurement target is a sleeping baby, measurement is possible without disturbing the infant's sleep, etc. There is a case. Of course, how the lamp 11 is turned on, for example, how to select the emission color is arbitrary. In addition, various notifications are made to the user by flashing the lamp 11, changing the intensity of the emitted light, or providing a plurality of lamps 11 and changing the number and positions of the lamps 11 regardless of the colored light. It may be. Further, as described above, various notifications may be given to the user by the display unit 12 instead of the lamp 11.

  Procedure 4: The controller operates the blower 7 to cool the measurement unit. In this operation, the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 are cooled to prepare for the next measurement. For example, when the internal temperature of a relatively high temperature measurement object is first measured and immediately after that the internal temperature of the relatively low temperature measurement object is measured, the first temperature sensor is measured at the time of the first measurement. The stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 may be hotter than required for the next measurement. At this time, in order for the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 to be in a steady state, it is necessary to wait for natural cooling due to heat dissipation of these members, and measurement may take time. possible. Therefore, the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34 are cooled to some extent for each measurement.

  In the present embodiment, the blower 7 generates an airflow that flows from the grip space 19a of FIG. 1 to the head space 19b. Therefore, the air flow induced by the blower 7 is sucked from the intake hole 16 as shown by an arrow in the figure, passes through the blower 7, and the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body. 34 passes through the vicinity of the exhaust hole 21 and is discharged from the exhaust hole 21. Therefore, the blower 7, the intake hole 16, and the exhaust hole 21 of the present embodiment cooperate to constitute a cooling mechanism that cools the first temperature sensor stacked body 33 and the second temperature sensor stacked body 34.

  The cooling mechanism may have any configuration, and the arrangement of the blower 7, the intake hole 16, and the exhaust hole 21 is arbitrary. Further, the direction of intake and exhaust may be reversed. The type of the blower 7 is not particularly limited, and may be a general fan or a micro blower using a piezoelectric element. Alternatively, if there is no practical problem in the measurement time for continuous measurement, the cooling mechanism itself may be omitted.

  The specific configurations shown in the embodiments described above are shown as examples, and the invention disclosed in this specification is not limited to the configurations of these specific examples. Those skilled in the art may appropriately modify various modifications to the disclosed embodiments, for example, the shape, number, arrangement, etc. of each member or part thereof, and the technical scope of the invention disclosed in this specification is It should be understood to include such modifications.

  1 Case, 2 Measuring Head, 5 Support Ring, 6 Battery, 7 Blower, 10 Back, 11 Lamp, 12 Display, 13 Buzzer, 14 Grip, 15 Battery Cover, 16 Air Intake Hole, 17 Circuit Board, 18 Bulkhead, 19a Grip Space, 19b head space, 20 measurement surface, 21 exhaust hole, 30 first probe, 31 second probe, 33 first temperature sensor stack, 33a first measurement surface side temperature sensor, 33b first back surface Side temperature sensor, 33c 1st flexible printed circuit board, 33d 1st connection part, 33e 1st mounting part, 34 2nd temperature sensor laminated body, 34a 2nd measurement surface side temperature sensor, 34b 2nd back surface Side temperature sensor, 34c 2nd flexible printed circuit board, 34d 2nd connection part, 34e 2nd mounting part, 100 contact type inside Degree meter.

Claims (4)

A measurement surface that is brought into contact with the measurement target surface of the measurement object to calculate the internal temperature of the measurement object;
A first temperature sensor laminate in which a first measurement surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the measurement surface side of the first flexible printed circuit board and a first back surface temperature sensor is disposed on the back surface;
At least a second temperature sensor laminate in which a second measurement surface side temperature sensor is disposed on the measurement surface side of the second flexible printed circuit board and a second back surface temperature sensor is disposed on the back surface side;
The internal temperature of the measurement object based on the measurement results of the first measurement surface side temperature sensor, the first back surface temperature sensor, the second measurement surface side temperature sensor, and the second back surface temperature sensor. A controller for calculating
Have
In the first flexible printed circuit board, the second flexible print is larger than the area of the first mounting portion on which the first measurement surface side temperature sensor and the first back surface temperature sensor are mounted. A contact-type internal thermometer having a larger area of a second mounting portion on which a second measurement surface side temperature sensor and a second back surface temperature sensor are mounted on a substrate. The first flexible printed circuit board has a strip-shaped first connection portion on which a wiring pattern for connecting the controller, the first measurement surface side temperature sensor, and the first back surface temperature sensor is formed,
The second flexible printed circuit board has a strip-shaped second connection portion on which a wiring pattern for connecting the controller, the second measurement surface side temperature sensor, and the second back surface temperature sensor is formed,
The first mounting portion is connected to one end of the first connection portion and has a width larger than that of the first connection portion.
2. The contact-type internal thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting portion is connected to one end of the second connection portion and has a width larger than that of the second connection portion.   The contact-type internal thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the second mounting portion has a solid pattern of a conductive thin film formed on at least one surface thereof.   4. The contact-type internal thermometer according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling mechanism that cools the first temperature sensor stacked body and the second temperature sensor stacked body after calculating the internal temperature by the controller. 5.

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