JPS61112933A - Electronic thermometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to prevent the erroneous operation of a probe switch due to electrical noise, by automatically controlling the sequence of measured temp. display operation in connection with operation for grasping and releasing a probe. CONSTITUTION:A temp. measuring part 26 converts the resistance value of a thermistor 44 to a temp. value to output the same as a digital signal. When both front and back surface pieces 10, 12 are separated to release a probe 42, a switch 38 is turned OFF and a timer begins to start, for example, for about 8sec. If this timer is not timed up and the switch 38 is under an OFF- state, temp. measured immediately before is displayed on a display device 34. When the next probe 42 is grasped by a grasping part 36 prior to the time-up of the timer, a whole is reset to the initial state and the next program is automatically started. When the timer is timed up while the switch 38 is turned OFF the supply of a current from a power source part 30 is stopped by the signal from a control part 28.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an electronic thermometer, and more particularly to an electronic thermometer intended for measuring body temperature using a disposable sheet-like probe.

<Prior art> As a conventional electronic thermometer of this type, there is a
The one shown in No. 422 is typical.

The sheet-like probe used is based on a paper material insulated with a plastic film.

A temperature sensing element such as a thermistor is placed at the tip. The wiring of this temperature sensing element is led to a terminal portion on the proximal end side of the paste paper material. The parts other than this terminal part are covered with the above plastic film.

The electronic thermometer is equipped with a probe holding means that sandwiches the terminal portion of the probe between two members that open and close, and electrically connects the terminal portion to an internal temperature measuring circuit means.

For example, in a hospital, probes are distributed to each of a number of patients. Each patient places the tip of the probe in their mouth and warms it. After sufficient time has elapsed for the patient to be sufficiently warmed, the staff member takes the temperature of each patient in turn with an electronic thermometer. With the tip of the probe held in your mouth, the proximal terminal of the probe is held between the holding means, and the measurement start switch is pressed.

Then, the temperature measuring circuit means starts operating, the temperature of the temperature sensing element is electrically calculated, and the value is digitally displayed on a display disposed on the thermometer.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As mentioned above, there are many devices in which the sequence of temperature measurement operations is started by operating the measurement start switch (at the same time, the display of the immediately preceding measurement value is reset). When measuring several patients one after another, there is a problem in that it is very cumbersome to operate the measurement start switch one by one. It often happens that you forget to press the switch after holding a new probe, which consumes extra time and sometimes results in reading the temperature of the previous probe.

As a means to solve the above problem, an electronic thermometer has been known which is configured so that a temperature measuring operation sequence is automatically started when a probe (resistor) is connected between the electrodes of the probe holding means. ing. However, with this body temperature needle, external noise affected the electrodes, and the temperature measurement operation was easily started due to the noise, which caused a malfunction.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to provide a highly reliable method that is not affected by external noise, and to eliminate the need for switch operations and automatically start the temperature measurement operation sequence. Our goal is to provide quality electronic thermometers.

<Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, in the present invention, a probe switch is provided that operates by directly or indirectly contacting the probe only when the probe is correctly held by the above-mentioned probe holding means, and this probe The system was configured to start a sequence of temperature measurement and display operations in response to the operation of the switch.

<Function> In the electronic thermometer of the present invention, the temperature measurement operation can be started simply by correctly holding the proximal terminal portion of the probe.
No need for troublesome switch operations, improving operability. Furthermore, since the probe switch operates by directly or indirectly contacting the clamped probe, it does not malfunction due to external electrical noise and is highly reliable.

<Example> 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention.

The external appearance of this electronic temperature needle is as shown in Figure 1.
It is composed of two members: 0 and a rear face 12. The front piece 1O and the back piece 12 have substantially symmetrical rectangular shapes, their symmetrical planes facing each other, and are hinged at one end in a bivalve shape. 14 in the figure indicates a hinge portion.

The front piece 10 and the back piece 12 are integrally molded plastic parts, and the hinge part 14 is a thin plastic hinge.

As shown in FIG. 1(D), both pieces 10 and 12 open and close in a bivalve shape around the hinge part 14. Both pieces 10,
A leaf spring 16 is attached between the opposing surfaces of 12,
Both pieces 10.degree. 12 are constantly urged in the opening direction by this leaf spring 16. Also, the lock claw 18 on the front piece 10 side
When engaged with the lock groove 20 on the back piece 12 side, both pieces 10° 12 can be fixed in the closed state as shown in FIG. 1(C). The lock claw 18 is interlocked with a lock button 22 provided on the surface of the front piece 10. When the lock button 22 is slid from closed to open, the lock pawl 18 moves into the lock groove 2.
0, and both pieces 10 and 12 are opened to an appropriate angle by the force of the leaf spring 16.

LSI circuit element 24 (temperature measuring section 26 shown in FIG. 4,
A control section 28 , a power supply section 30 , and a display section 32 ) are mounted inside the front piece 10 , and a liquid crystal display 34 included in the display section 32 is disposed on the surface of the front piece 10 .

A probe holding part 36 is formed at the ends of both pieces 10 and 12 on the opposite side from the hinge part 14. In relation to this probe holding part 36, the above-mentioned probe switch 38 and actuator 40 are built into the front bead IOK.

42 in FIG. 2 indicates a probe used for this temperature needle. As described above, the probe 42 is constructed in the form of a sheet based on a paper material covered with a plastic film. A chip-shaped thermistor 44 is installed at the tip.
is disposed, and a mineral terminal portion 46 is provided at the base end.

In the terminal portion 46iC, two electrodes 46a and 46b are exposed in parallel. Thermistor 44 itself and it and electrode 46a.

The wiring connecting 46b is covered with a plastic film.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the probe holding part 36 on the inner surface (joint surface with the back piece 12) of the front piece 1o is composed of four parts that position the proximal end of the probe 42, and the Two electrode pads 36a and 36b are arranged in parallel. Note that the probe holding portion 36 on the rear piece 12 side also has four symmetrical parts.

The terminal portion 46 of the probe 42 is attached to the clamping portion 3 of the front piece 1o.
6, and close both pieces io and 12. Then, the proximal end of the probe 42 is appropriately pressurized and held between the clamping parts 36 of both pieces 10° 12, and the electrodes 46a, 46b are attached to the electrode pads 36m, 36b.
are pressed against each other. Now, as shown in FIG. 4, the thermistor 44 is connected to the temperature measuring section 26.

Furthermore, as shown in detail in FIG.
8.50 is formed, and the tip portion 40a of the actuator 40 of the probe switch 38 faces this portion.

The actuator 40 is made of a filigree spring, and the front piece 1
The proximal end side thereof is attached to the pins 52 and 54 in 0, and the distal end portion 40a is located at a position corresponding to the slit 48. The spring force of the actuator 40 causes the tip portion 40a to pass through the slit 48.
It acts in the direction of protruding outward from the

As shown in FIG. 3(A), when both pieces 10 and 12 are closed without the probe 42, the actuator tip 40a protruding from the slit 48 enters the sling 50 on the rear piece 12 side. The position of the actuator 40 remains the same as when both pieces 10 and 12 are separated.

In this state, the actuator 40 is not pressurizing the button of the switch 38, and the switch 38 is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 3(B), when both pieces 10 and 12 are closed with the probe 42 correctly positioned in the holding part 36, the actuator tip 40a comes into contact with the probe 42 and is pushed into the slit 48. At this time, the actuator 4o is displaced and the button of the switch 38 is pressed. Tsut
b. When the probe 42 is correctly held by the holding part 36,
Probe switch 42 is turned on.

As shown in FIG. 4, the signal generated by the probe switch 42 is transmitted to the control unit 28 and the power supply unit 3°. The power supply section 30 starts supplying operating power to each section in response to the switch 42 being turned on. Temperature measuring section 26, control section 2
8. The display section 32 becomes active upon receiving power supply.

The control unit 28 performs the control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 by supplying power. First, in step 501, each part is reset to its initial state. Then, the state of the probe switch 42 is determined in step 503, and the temperature measurement display routine 502 is repeated while the switch 42 is on.

The temperature measuring section 26 converts the resistance value of the thermistor 44 into a temperature value and outputs it as a digital signal. Each time step 502 is executed, the control unit 28 reads the temperature value of the temperature measurement unit 26 and provides the highest value of the read values to the display unit 32. The display unit 32 digitally displays the temperature value on a liquid crystal display 34.

When the person in charge sees the displayed temperature and decides to finish the measurement, he separates both pieces 10 and 12 and releases the probe 42.

Then, the probe switch 38 is turned off, and step 503
The process then proceeds to step 504.

In step 504, a timer of about 8 seconds, for example, is activated. Step 5 Check whether this timer has timed up or not.
If the time is not up, the state of the probe switch 38 is checked in step 506, and if the switch 38 is off, the process returns to step 505. In this state, the temperature (peak value) measured immediately before remains displayed on the display 34.

Before the above timer times out, the next probe 42
When it is held between the holding parts 36, the switch 38 is turned on, and the process moves from step 506 to the first step 501. The entire knob is reset to the initial state (the display on the display 34 also disappears), the temperature measurement and display operation routine returns to the beginning, and the next measurement and display operation is automatically started.

If the timer times up while the switch 38 remains off, the process advances from step 505 to step 507. Here, the power supply from the power supply section 30 is stopped in response to a signal from the control section 28.

In the above manner, the probe 4 can be attached to the clamping portion 36 of both pieces 10 and 12 without any switch operation.
Measurements can be performed on a large number of probes 42 one after another by pinching and releasing the probes 2 .

6 to 8 show a second embodiment of the invention.

In addition to the probe switch 38 in the previous embodiment, in this embodiment a power switch 60 for manual operation is attached to the front surface side of the front piece 10 as shown in FIG.

The power supply section 30 in FIG. 7 is turned on and off by the power switch 60.
Turn off (power supply/stop). Further, a clock section 62 is provided which is constantly supplied with power regardless of whether the power supply section 30 is turned on or off. This clock section 62 creates a digital time signal based on crystal oscillation.

The flowchart in FIG. 8 shows the contents of processing by the control unit 28 in FIG.

When the power switch 60 is turned on, the control unit 28 becomes active and first performs initial processing (801), and then checks the state of the probe switch 38 (802).
). If the probe 42 is not clamped and the switch 38 is off, the control unit 28 performs steps 807 and 808.
, 809 are repeatedly executed.

The time output from the clock section 62 is given to the display section 32 and digitally displayed on the display 34 (807).

Further, the battery voltage of the power supply unit 30 is level-discriminated into multiple levels, and the results are symbolically displayed on the display 34 (
SOS). This operation is continued until it is detected in step 809 that the switch 38 is turned on.

When the probe 42 is correctly held in order to measure the temperature, the switch 38 is turned on and steps 809→801→8
02→803→804, and the temperature measurement display routine 803 is repeated until the switch 38 is turned off. When the peak value of the temperature value obtained by the temperature measuring section 26 is displayed on the display 3,
4 is updated and displayed.

Then, when the probe switch 38 is turned off, a timer is activated (805), and the temperature value remains displayed until the timer times out (806). When the timer times up, steps 807, 808, 809
is executed repeatedly.

When the knob and probe switch 38 are off, the clock and battery check mode is entered, and when the switch 38 is turned on, the operation sequence of the temperature measurement display mode is started.

Note that the period of the clock and battery check mode in the second embodiment may be changed to another operation mode. for example,
During this period, a guidance display such as "Measurement is possible, please hold the probe" may be displayed. Further, this period may be set as a standby mode with low power consumption.

Further, although both the first embodiment and the second embodiment have a configuration in which the power supply from the power supply section 30 to each section is turned on and off, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured as follows. Power supply section 30
A power supply voltage is always applied to each part from 1 to 3, and the supply of a reference clock for substantially activating each part is turned on and off. Each circuit does not operate when the reference clock is applied and therefore consumes little power.

In addition, there are probes in which the terminal portions of the probe are provided on both sides, and one electrode is provided on each side. In a temperature needle using such a probe, electrode pads are arranged on both sides of the probe holding part. Even in this case, the present invention can be implemented in the same manner as described above.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained in detail above, in the electronic thermometer according to the present invention, in conjunction with the operation of pinching and releasing the probe,
Since the sequence of temperature measurement display operation is automatically controlled,
Very easy to operate. Additionally, the probe switch does not malfunction due to electrical noise and is highly reliable.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an electronic thermometer according to the first embodiment, and FIG.
is a front view, Figure (B) is a plan view, Figure (C) is a side view in the closed state, Figure (D) is a side view in the open state, and Figure 2 is the details of the probe holding part and probe in the first embodiment. Figure, Figure 3 (A
) (B) is a partial sectional view showing the configuration around the probe switch, tJc4 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the first embodiment, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the first embodiment, and FIG. A front view of the electronic thermometer according to the second embodiment, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control operation of the second embodiment. 10... Front piece 12... Back piece 14... Hinge portion 16... Leaf spring 18... Lock claw 22... Lock button 24... Circuit element 34... Liquid crystal display 36 ... Probe holding part 38 ... Probe switch 40 ... Actuator 42 ... Probe 44 ... Thermistor (temperature sensing element) 46 ... Terminal part 36a, 36b ... Electrode pad 48. ··slit

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Using a probe with a temperature-sensitive element disposed on the distal end and a flat terminal portion formed on the proximal end, the temperature is electrically calculated based on the characteristics of the temperature-sensitive element. An electronic thermometer for displaying temperature, comprising a probe holding means for sandwiching the terminal part of the probe between two members that open and close and electrically connect the terminal part to an internal temperature measuring circuit means, and the probe. A probe switch that operates by contacting the probe directly or indirectly only when the probe is correctly held by the holding means, and a control that starts a sequence of temperature measurement and display operations in response to the operation of the probe switch. An electronic thermometer characterized by comprising means.