JPH11316157A - Radiation clinical thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a highly precise measurement in the application to a person having a largely curved external acoustic meatus or a narrow external acoustic meatus by rotating an elliptic probe part within the ear hole. SOLUTION: This radiation clinical thermometer is provided with, for example, a probe part 2 having an elliptic sectional form, a rotating means for deriving the probe part 2, and a temperature measuring means 9 having a microcomputer 9a. When the probe part 2 is inserted to the ear hole, and a prescribed switch is pressed, a motor 13a constituting the rotating means 13 is driven to start the rotation within the ear hole. After the measurement of a prescribed time is ended, the operation of the rotating means 13 is stopped, and the body temperature is recognized by a display part 3. The maximum value within each prescribed time related to the rotating speed of the probe 2 is determined, so that the measurement is ended when the maximum value is not renewed. Otherwise, the maximum value during one rotation is stored, so that the measurement is ended when the difference with the previous measurement is within a prescribed value, or the rotation is stopped by the sense of touch of a user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a radiation thermometer capable of measuring the temperature of a human body without contact.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The eardrum is known as a suitable place for body temperature measurement which most reflects deep body temperature, because the hypothalamus for controlling body temperature is close. The measurement using the eardrum can stably measure the body temperature because it is isolated from the outside. In a conventional radiation thermometer, an infrared guide section called a lens barrel is arranged inside a probe inserted into an ear. The infrared rays emitted by the human body are transmitted to the infrared sensor while reflecting inside the lens barrel. The radiation thermometer is configured to display a temperature corresponding to the intensity of the infrared signal detected by the infrared sensor. The probe section is made of resin, and is provided with a hygienic protective cover when used. The size of the probe is determined according to the use such as medical use, children's use, and home use.

[0003]

The radiation thermometer of the above-mentioned conventional construction has a problem that it is not always possible to accurately measure the body temperature due to the fixed size of the probe.

[0004] That is, the shape of the ear canal into which the probe is inserted varies considerably from person to person. In the case of a person with a large ear canal and a small bend, the eardrum can be seen directly, so that infrared rays from the inside of the ear canal can be accurately guided to the infrared sensor, and thus the measurement accuracy of the body temperature is high, but the degree of bending On the other hand, a person who has a large ear or a thin ear canal cannot accurately guide infrared rays from the inside of the ear canal to the infrared sensor, and therefore, the measurement accuracy of the body temperature is low.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an elliptical probe is used by rotating it in an ear canal, so that even a person having a large bend in the ear canal or a person having a small ear canal can obtain a highly accurate body temperature. It is a radiation thermometer that can measure.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the elliptical probe is used by rotating the rotating means in the ear canal by driving the rotating means by the body temperature measuring means, so that the bending of the ear canal is large. It is a radiation thermometer that can measure body temperature with high accuracy even for people and people with small ear canal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means stores a signal from the infrared sensor and stops the rotating means if the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor is not updated within a predetermined time. In this way, the radiation thermometer is easy to use and can measure the body temperature with high accuracy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means stores the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor during one rotation of the probe unit, and stores the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor received this time and the previous value. When the difference from the maximum value of the received signal from the infrared sensor is within a predetermined value, the rotating means is stopped, so that the radiation thermometer is easy to use and can accurately measure the body temperature.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means stops the rotating means when the user presses the measurement start switch again after the probe section starts rotating, so that the user's body temperature is measured. Body temperature can be measured with good tactile sensation,
It is a radiation thermometer that can measure body temperature with high accuracy.

[0010]

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of this embodiment. The main body 1 is of a handy type that can be gripped with one hand, and a probe 2 to be inserted into an ear canal on the front.
And a display unit 3 for displaying body temperature and a power switch 4
The upper surface is provided with a measurement start switch 5 for instructing the user to start measurement. In addition, a measuring means for measuring the body temperature shown in FIG. 2 is provided inside. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical connection according to the embodiment.

The infrared light guided by the probe unit 2 is received by the infrared sensor 7 via the shielding plate 11. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shielding plate driving means for driving the shielding plate 11, which is constituted by a motor 12a. The infrared sensor 7 has a light receiving window 7a, and receives an infrared signal from the light receiving window 7a when the front surface of the light receiving window 7a is opened by the shielding plate 11. The infrared sensor 7 converts the infrared signal into an electric signal and transmits the electric signal to the body temperature measuring means 9. Reference numeral 14 denotes a sensor temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the infrared sensor 7 itself and transmitting the detected temperature to the body temperature measuring means 9 in the same manner.

The body temperature measuring means 9 has a microcomputer 9a. Upon receiving a signal from the measurement start switch 5 shown in FIG. 1, the respective parts are driven to start the measurement of the body temperature. The end of the measurement is determined by the program which is possessed, and the operation of each unit is stopped. That is, the body temperature is calculated based on the signals received from the infrared sensor 7 and the sensor temperature detecting means 14, and the calculation result is displayed on the display unit 3. Further, when receiving a signal from the measurement start switch 5, the rotation unit 13 for rotating the probe unit 2 and the shielding plate driving unit 12 for driving the shielding plate 11 are driven.
The rotating means 13 is constituted by a motor 13a, and the shielding plate driving means 12 is constituted by a motor 12a. Further, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the driving of the shield driving means 12, the notifying means 10 constituted by a buzzer is operated. The user can recognize the end of the measurement by checking the notification sound of the notification unit 10.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below. When the user presses the power switch 4, holds the main body 1, inserts the probe 2 into the ear canal, and presses the measurement start switch 5, the radiation thermometer of this embodiment starts operating. That is, the body temperature measuring means 9 recognizes that the measurement start switch 5 has been pressed, and the motor 13a constituting the rotating means 13
Then, the motor 12a constituting the shield driving means 12 is driven. Accordingly, at the same time as the probe section 2 starts rotating in the ear canal, the shielding plate 11 is driven, and infrared rays from the ear canal are received by the light receiving window 7 a of the infrared sensor 7. In this embodiment, the driving frequency of the shielding plate 11 is set to 10 Hz, and the shielding plate 11 is driven for 30 cycles. The body temperature measuring means 9 converts the signal from the infrared sensor 7 while the probe unit 2 is rotating into an A / D signal.
The converted data is stored in the microcomputer 9a. At this time, since the signal from the infrared sensor 7 includes a temperature rise of the infrared sensor 7 itself, the infrared sensor 7 detected by the sensor temperature detecting means 14 is detected.
Temperature rise is corrected. The corrected body temperature is displayed on the display unit 3 in this manner. In this embodiment,
As for the sampling at the time of A / D conversion, 256 samplings are executed per one driving cycle of the shield plate 11. Thus, when the body temperature measurement for a predetermined time is completed,
The notifying unit 10 is notified, and the operations of the shielding plate driving unit 12 and the rotating unit 13 are stopped. The user can use the notification means 10
By recognizing the notification sound, the end of the measurement is recognized, the probe section 2 is pulled out from the ear canal, and the display on the display section 3 is checked to recognize the body temperature.

At this time, in the present embodiment, the probe section 2 has a shape as shown in FIG. That is, the cross-sectional shape is not a perfect circle but an elliptical shape. Therefore, the motor 1 constituting the rotating means 13
When rotated by 3a, the inside of the user's ear canal expands. That is, in the present embodiment, the probe section 2 is formed into an elliptical shape, so that even if the person has a thin ear canal or a person with a large bend, the infrared ear from the eardrum can be reliably transmitted to the infrared sensor 7 by expanding the ear canal. It is something that can be guided.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the elliptical probe section 2 is used by rotating the inside of the ear canal by driving the rotating means 13 by the body temperature measuring means 9 so that the bending of the ear canal is reduced. This realizes a radiation thermometer capable of measuring a body temperature with high accuracy even for a large person or a person with a small ear canal.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the microcomputer 9a included in the body temperature measuring means 9 shown in FIG.
A storage function for storing a signal from the infrared sensor 7,
A comparison function is provided to compare the last measured value with the current measured value.

The operation of the embodiment will be described below. When the user presses the power switch 4, holds the main body 1, inserts the probe 2 into the ear canal, and presses the measurement start switch 5, the radiation thermometer of this embodiment starts operating. In this embodiment, as described above, the microcomputer 9a of the body temperature measuring means 9 compares the storage function of storing the signal from the infrared sensor 7 with the previous measurement value and the present measurement value. To have a comparison function. That is, the latest sampling value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 is compared with the previous sampling value, and when the latest sampling value is large, the stored information is changed to the latest one, and sampling is continued for a predetermined time. Is what you do. When the value sampled during this sampling period falls below the previous sampling value, that is, when the maximum sampling value is not updated, the rotation of the rotating means 13 is stopped at that time.

FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the operation of the body temperature measuring means 9 of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the rotation angle of the probe unit 2, and the vertical axis represents the output of the infrared sensor 7. After the probe section 2 starts rotating, the body temperature measuring means 9 recognizes the maximum value 1 of the output of the infrared sensor 7. From this moment, the microcomputer 9a starts counting a predetermined time t set in advance. In this embodiment, the predetermined time t is set to one second. The rotation speed of the rotation unit 13 is set to about 5 seconds when converted into the time required for one rotation of the probe unit 2 in the ear canal. Within this predetermined time t, the maximum value 2 larger than the maximum value 1
, The predetermined time t is counted again from this moment. In this way, if the maximum value 3 larger than the maximum value 2 is recognized within the predetermined time t, the predetermined time t
Start counting. If the maximum value 4 detected within the predetermined time t is smaller than the maximum value 3, the measurement is terminated here. That is, even before the rotation angle of the probe unit 2 reaches 360 degrees, the measurement is finished, the notification unit 10 is notified, and the rotation of the rotation unit 13 and the driving of the shielding plate driving unit 12 are stopped. . In this way, the user recognizes the end of the measurement by confirming the notification sound of the notification unit 10, pulls out the probe unit 2 from the ear canal, checks the display on the display unit 3, and recognizes the body temperature.

In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, A
The sampling at the time of the / D conversion is performed 256 times per one driving cycle of the shielding plate 11.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the body temperature measuring means 9 stores the signal from the infrared sensor 7 and the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor 7 is not updated,
By stopping the rotating means 13, it is possible to realize a radiation thermometer that is easy to use and that can measure the body temperature with high accuracy.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 shows the body temperature measuring means 9 of this embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a microcomputer 9a included in the microcomputer 9. The horizontal axis in FIG. 5 shows the elapsed time from the start of the measurement, and the vertical axis shows the output of the infrared sensor 7. That is, the output of the infrared sensor 7 is monitored while the probe unit 2 is rotated by the rotation unit 13. At this time, the microcomputer 9a has a storage function of storing the maximum value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 during one rotation of the probe unit 2 and the output of the infrared sensor 7 between the maximum value and the next one rotation. It has a comparison function to compare with the maximum value. By this comparison function, when the difference between the previous maximum value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 and the current maximum value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 is within a predetermined value, the measurement is terminated. In the example shown in FIG.
At the stage where the fourth rotation is completed, the difference between the maximum value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 within the fourth rotation and the maximum value of the output of the infrared sensor 7 within the third rotation is within a predetermined value. At this stage. In this embodiment, this predetermined value is set to 0.2 ° C. in terms of a temperature conversion value.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the body temperature measuring means 9 stores the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor 7 while the probe unit 2 makes one rotation, and receives the signal from the infrared sensor received this time. When the difference between the maximum value of the infrared sensor and the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor received last time is within a predetermined value, the rotation means 13 is stopped, and the radiation that can measure the body temperature with good usability and high accuracy is achieved. It realizes a thermometer.

(Embodiment 4) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the microcomputer 9a of the body temperature measuring means 9 stops the rotating means 13 when the user presses the measurement start switch 5 again after the probe section 2 starts rotating. It is what you are doing.

That is, the user inserts the probe 2 deep into the ear canal and presses the measurement start switch 5 to measure the body temperature. For example, at this time, the probe 2 is inserted into the ear canal. When the tactile sensation when the probe unit 2 is rotated is very good, the second operation of the measurement start switch 5 is performed following the operation of the first measurement start switch 5. When recognizing the second operation of the measurement start switch 5, the microcomputer 9a stops the rotation of the rotating means 13 at this stage and ends the measurement.

Conversely, if the tactile sensation when inserting and rotating the probe unit 2 into the ear canal is poor, for example, by adjusting the insertion position of the probe unit 2, the tactile sensation that the user can understand is acceptable. The measurement difference can be repeatedly performed until is obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the body temperature measuring means 9 stops the rotating means 13 when the user presses the measurement start switch 5 again after the probe section 2 starts rotating. Thus, a radiation thermometer capable of measuring the body temperature with a good tactile sensation of the user and capable of measuring the body temperature with high accuracy is realized.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays, a body temperature measuring means for calculating a body temperature from a signal of the infrared sensor, and a display unit for displaying the body temperature calculated by the body temperature measuring means. A main body having a measurement start switch for instructing the start of measurement, and a probe provided on the main body, for guiding infrared light from the ear canal to the infrared sensor, wherein the probe has an elliptical protrusion. The body temperature measuring means drives the rotating means for rotating the probe unit, thereby realizing a radiation thermometer capable of measuring body temperature with high accuracy even for a person with a large bending of the ear canal or a thin person of the ear canal. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means stores the signal from the infrared sensor and stops the rotating means if the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor is not updated within a predetermined time. As a configuration, the present invention realizes a radiation thermometer that is easy to use and capable of measuring body temperature with high accuracy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means stores the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor during one rotation of the probe unit, and stores the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor received this time and the previous value. When the difference from the maximum value of the received signal from the infrared sensor is within a predetermined value, as a configuration for stopping the rotating means, it is possible to realize a radiation thermometer that is easy to use and that can measure the temperature of the body with high accuracy. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the body temperature measuring means is configured to stop the rotating means when the user presses the measurement start switch again after the probe section starts rotating. It is intended to realize a radiation thermometer capable of measuring body temperature with a good tactile sensation and capable of measuring body temperature with high accuracy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a radiation thermometer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of the radiation thermometer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of the probe.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of a radiation thermometer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of a radiation thermometer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Probe part 3 Display part 4 Power switch 5 Measurement start switch 7 Infrared sensor 9 Body temperature measurement means 10 Notification means 13 Rotation means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hirofumi Inui 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An infrared sensor for detecting infrared rays, a body temperature measuring unit for calculating a body temperature from a signal of the infrared sensor, and a display unit for displaying the body temperature calculated by the body temperature measuring unit.
A main body having a measurement start switch for instructing the start of measurement, and a probe provided on the main body, for guiding infrared light from the ear canal to the infrared sensor, the probe having an elliptical protrusion, A radiation thermometer for driving the rotating means for rotating the probe unit; 2. The radiation according to claim 1, wherein the body temperature measuring means stores the signal from the infrared sensor, and stops the rotating means if the maximum value of the signal from the infrared sensor is not updated within a predetermined time. Thermometer. 3. The body temperature measuring means stores a maximum value of a signal from the infrared sensor during one rotation of the probe unit, and stores a maximum value of a signal from the infrared sensor received this time and a signal from the infrared sensor received last time. 2. The radiation thermometer according to claim 1, wherein when the difference from the maximum value is within a predetermined value, the rotating means is stopped. 4. The radiation thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the body temperature measurement means stops the rotation means when the user presses the measurement start switch again after the probe section starts rotating.