KR100955559B1 - Device for monitoring a body temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a body temperature monitoring apparatus, comprising: a temperature sensor detecting a temperature change in contact with a user's body, a body temperature measured according to the sensed temperature change, and comparing the measured body temperature with a preset body temperature as a result In accordance with the body temperature measurement module for generating an alarm, the body temperature measurement module is coupled to and detachably coupled to the user's body portion, by including a fastening member disposed in a predetermined area so that the temperature sensor is in contact with the user's body Small size, accurate temperature measurement is possible, easy to install on the user's body, the temperature sensor can be easily in close contact with the user's body even while the user is active.

Temperature sensor, alarm, temperature measurement, body temperature monitoring

Description

Temperature monitoring device {DEVICE FOR MONITORING A BODY TEMPERATURE}

The present invention relates to a temperature monitoring apparatus, and more particularly, to a body temperature monitoring apparatus which is easily detachable to a part of a user's body and is integrated with a temperature measuring module and an alarm generating unit.

In general, thermometers are used for various purposes in real life, and the current thermometers are classified according to the measuring principle as follows.

First, there is a thermometer using thermal expansion, which includes a gas thermometer, a liquid thermometer, a bimetal thermometer.

Among them, the liquid thermometer displays the temperature using mercury or kerosene. In the past, most of the thermometers with red liquid liquor used alcohol (alcohol with red paint), but condensation occurred in the upper space of the liquid liquor. Kerosene has been used for about 30 years since it could easily cause errors in the indications, such as household thermometers and thermometers.

In addition, the bimetal thermometer uses a bimetal in which two sheets of metal having different expansion coefficients, that is, two sheets of copper and nickel are in close contact. In such a bimetal thermometer, the bimetal is nickel at a high temperature because the expansion coefficient of copper is larger than that of nickel. The temperature is displayed using the principle of bending towards the plate and at low temperatures towards the copper plate.

Next, there is a thermal resistance thermometer using a temperature change of the electrical resistance, which includes a resistance thermometer, a thermocouple thermometer.

Among them, the resistance thermometer is a thermometer using the fact that the electrical resistance value of the metal or semiconductor has temperature dependency.

In addition, thermocouple thermometers make loop-shaped circuits through which two ends of different metals or alloy wires are in contact with each other, and if a temperature difference is given to the two ends, the thermoelectric power is generated at both ends. An electric current flows, which is called the Peltier effect (thermoelectric effect), and a thermocouple thermometer is applied.

This is used as a potentiometer or a millivolt system with large internal resistance to measure the generated thermoelectric power, and is most widely used on the thermometer side in temperature-thermal electromotive force correction. The reason for this is that the volume of the metal joint, which is a moisture sensitive part, is very small, so that the error according to the heat capacity is small and the response to heat is excellent. At this time, the thermocouple used includes a platinum wire, a platinum rhodium alloy wire, a copper wire or a constantan wire.

In addition, there is a color thermometer according to light, which includes an optical pyrometer, an optical thermometer, a radiation thermometer, and the like.

Among these, the advertisement thermometer can measure up to about 700 to 2500 ° C. by measuring the color temperature of the subject under test by comparing it with the standard color temperature.

In addition, the pyrometer collects the heat energy radiated from the object under a lens or concave mirror and places a thermistor (a resistor sensitive to the ambient temperature) at the focal point and measures the temperature based on the change in resistance value according to the temperature rise of the thermistor. .

At this time, one type of thermopyrometer is a thermography thermometer using a semiconductor thermosensitive element for infrared rays, which is used to investigate the surface temperature distribution of the earth or the skin temperature distribution of the human body in the satellite.

As described above, there are various kinds of thermometers according to the measuring principle. Among them, the thermal resistance temperature measuring method uses the fact that the electrical resistance of the conductor changes with the change of temperature. If you know, you can measure the temperature with only the resistance that changes.

Here, the resistance variation rate with respect to the unit temperature is called the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR), and when the resistance increases with increasing temperature, it is called a positive temperature coefficient, and when the resistance decreases, it is called a negative temperature coefficient.

In this case, a metal material mainly used for temperature measurement is a metal material having a positive temperature coefficient, and platinum, nickel, or copper is mainly used. As the material is pure, the temperature coefficient becomes larger and its value becomes constant.

As a result, the resistance value of all metals is temperature dependent, and the change in resistance value results in a change in output voltage, and thus temperature measurement is possible. This feature has led to the creation of a heat resistant thermometer. Body temperature monitoring devices have been proposed that can automatically measure the temperature of the body through a resistance thermometer and indicate whether the body is abnormal.

However, the conventional thermal resistance thermometer has a problem that the error rate is very high because the signal change of the output voltage due to the change in resistance value is small when the temperature is measured and displayed, as well as a low noise circuit and high performance for removing the DC offset prior to the ADC conversion. There is a problem such as requiring an amplifier.

Accordingly, in order to solve this problem, a digital temperature measuring device using a digital temperature sensor has been developed that can display the measured temperature digitally without using an ADC circuit and can reduce power consumption compared to the conventional method. It became.

However, the conventional body temperature monitoring apparatus is mostly composed of a measuring unit for measuring the body temperature by a temperature sensor, a modulator for modulating the result, a transmitter for transmitting wirelessly, a demodulator for demodulating it again, and a display unit for displaying information. There is a problem in that it is difficult to be commercialized because the bulky, large cost burden in the production and purchase.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to integrate the body temperature measurement module and the alarm generating unit to measure the temperature accurately compared to the conventional thermal resistance thermometer, less power consumption, size It is to provide a small temperature monitoring device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body temperature monitoring device that can be easily mounted on the user's body, the temperature sensor can be easily in close contact with the user's body even while the user is active.

One aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature change in contact with the user's body; A body temperature measuring module for measuring a body temperature according to the sensed temperature change, comparing the measured body temperature with a preset body temperature, and generating an alarm according to the result; And it is coupled to the body temperature measurement module and is detachably coupled to a portion of the user's body, it is to provide a body temperature monitoring device including a fastening member disposed in a predetermined area so that the temperature sensor is in contact with the user's body.

The body temperature measuring module may include a reference signal generator formed of at least one resistance element; A temperature sensing unit formed of a plurality of discrete resistance elements connected in parallel to each other; A multiplexer for multiplexing the plurality of discrete resistance elements so as to distribute a power supply voltage sequentially with the reference resistance element of the reference signal generator; A comparison unit comparing the reference resistance element of the reference signal generator with each voltage distributed by the discrete resistance element selected by the multiplexer; A counter for counting sequential switching of the multiplexer; A memory in which temperature conversion information for each discrete resistance element is recorded according to a resolution within a measurement temperature range for each of the discrete resistance elements; A control unit which obtains body temperature information corresponding to the discrete resistance element according to the counter coefficient value at the time when the output of the comparator changes from the memory, and compares it with preset body temperature information and outputs a control signal according to the result; Preferably, the alarm generating unit for generating an alarm in accordance with the control signal of the control unit.

Preferably, the body temperature measurement module may be further provided with a setting key to enable the user to change the preset body temperature.

Preferably, the body temperature measurement module may further include a display unit for displaying the measured body temperature in a digital form.

Preferably, the control unit may output a control signal when the measured body temperature is higher than the preset body temperature.

Preferably, the alarm generating unit may generate an alarm visually or audibly.

Preferably, the fastening member may be mounted to a part of the user's body in the form of a belt or elastic band.

Preferably, male and female Velcro tapes may be provided at both ends of the fastening member.

Preferably, the fastening member may be in the form of any one of a necklace, bracelet, anklets or bags.

Preferably, the temperature sensor may be continuously disposed along at least one surface of the fastening member along the length direction.

Preferably, the temperature sensor may be disposed in the form of a spiral wound continuously in the longitudinal direction of the fastening member.

According to the body temperature monitoring apparatus of the present invention as described above, by integrating the body temperature measurement module and the alarm generating unit, accurate temperature measurement is possible, power consumption is small, and the size of the body temperature monitoring apparatus has an advantage of miniaturization. .

In addition, according to the present invention, it is easy to mount on the user's body, there is an advantage that the temperature sensor can be easily in close contact with the user's body even while the user is active.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following embodiments of the present invention may be modified into various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to enable those skilled in the art to more fully understand the present invention.

1 is a perspective view for explaining a body temperature monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a temperature measuring module applied to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 specifically illustrates the configuration of a reference signal generator and a temperature sensing unit of the temperature measuring module applied to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a circuit diagram for showing.

1 to 3, a body temperature monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a temperature sensor 100, a body temperature measuring module 200, and a fastening member 300.

Here, the temperature sensor 100 is coupled to the body temperature measurement module 200 to be in close contact with the body of the user, for example, infants, infants or the elderly who are difficult to express their own health state, and senses the change in body temperature.

The temperature sensor 100 is preferably disposed in a predetermined region of the fastening member 300 so that the fastening member 300 is mounted on the user's body and can be in close contact with the user's body.

The body temperature measurement module 200 measures body temperature according to the body temperature change detected by the temperature sensor 100, and compares the measured body temperature with a preset body temperature to generate an alarm according to the result.

The body temperature measurement module 200 includes a main body 205 constituting the entire body, a reference signal generator 210, a temperature sensing unit 215, and a multiplexer 220 mounted inside / outside the body 205. And a comparator 225, a counter 230, a memory 235, an alarm generator 240, a display 245, and a controller 250.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the reference signal generator 210 may have resistance values such as the first and second reference resistance elements Rref ₁ and Rref ₂ and the two reference resistance elements that divide the power supply voltage. And a third reference resistance element Rref ₃ connected in parallel. These reference resistance elements are the resistance of the center resistance element among the total discrete resistance elements corresponding to R ₁ to R _N formed in the temperature sensing unit 215 at Tc, that is, the intermediate temperature of the measurement temperature range (Tmax + Tmin) / 2. It has a resistance value corresponding to the value.

In addition, the reference resistance elements are made of the same material as the discrete resistance elements and form a thermal shield to minimize the change in the resistance value of the reference resistance element according to the change of the external temperature, thereby reducing the temperature measurement according to the present invention. It is possible to make it possible, and it is made of a material whose resistance coefficient of resistance (TCR) is very small compared to the discrete resistance elements without forming a thermal shield. It is also possible to.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the temperature sensing unit 215 is formed of a plurality of discrete resistance elements R ₁ to R _N connected in parallel with each other. Each of the discrete resistance elements is formed to be connected in series with a third reference resistance element of the reference signal generator 210. ) Is made of large material. At this time, the number N of discrete resistance elements is determined according to the measurement temperature range and resolution.

The multiplexer 220 sequentially divides the power supply voltage VDD together with the third reference resistance element of the reference signal generator 210 by multiplexing one end of the plurality of discrete resistance elements.

That is, according to the sequential multiplexing of the discrete resistance elements of the multiplexer 220 according to the temperature change, the third reference resistance element and each of the discrete resistance elements sequentially form a closed circuit, and the closed circuit includes the third reference resistance element. The voltage distribution of the power supply voltage is performed by the discrete resistance element.

The comparator 225 is provided with the first and second reference resistance elements of the reference signal generator 210 which are unaffected or insensitive to temperature change at any temperature within the measured temperature range through the voltage distributed by the multiplexer 220. Compares the reference voltage and the sensing voltage of the third reference resistance of the reference signal generator 210 with the discrete resistance element sensitive to temperature change.

As a result of the sequential comparison, when the voltage according to the resistance value of the discrete resistance element becomes larger than the reference voltage, the output signal is from low level to high level or high level according to the arrangement order of the discrete resistance elements and the operation method of the comparing unit 225. Transition to low level.

The counter 230 counts the sequential switching of the multiplexer 220 for discrete resistance elements. At this time, the count information provides information about the order of the discrete resistance elements according to the signal transition time of the comparator 225, and as a result, the order information is the temperature of the discrete resistance element according to the output transition time of the comparator 225. It is equivalent to providing translation information. Then, according to the temperature conversion information, it is possible to provide temperature information corresponding to each of the discrete resistance elements stored in the memory 235 in advance.

The memory 235 records temperature conversion information for each discrete resistance element according to resolution within a measurement temperature range.

The alarm generator 240 performs a function of generating an alarm according to the control signal of the controller 250.

That is, when the user's body temperature obtained through the control unit 250 is compared with a reference temperature which is information on the normal body temperature of the user preset, and a difference occurs in the comparison result, for example, the body temperature obtained through the control unit 250. When the temperature is higher than the reference temperature, a predetermined control signal is output to the alarm generator 240 to generate an alarm.

Through this alert, the user can easily inform the outside of his or her physical condition. In this case, the alarm generator 240 may generate various types of alarms such as an audio alarm through a speaker or a visual alarm through a lamp.

The display unit 245 performs a function of displaying the digital temperature to the outside according to a predetermined control signal output from the controller 250.

The controller 250 receives the count information of the output level transition time of the comparator 225 to obtain temperature information according to the temperature conversion information from the sequence information of the discrete resistance elements according to the count information.

That is, among the discrete resistance elements having different resistance values, there is a discrete resistance element having a discrete resistance value having the same resistance value as the reference resistance value at a specific temperature T ° C within the measurement temperature range, and at this time, the temperature increases by ΔT. If so, each of the discrete resistance elements is increased in resistance so that the resistance value of the discrete resistance element adjacent to the discrete resistance element having the same resistance value as the reference resistance value at the preceding temperature T ° C is equal to the reference resistance value. The temperature change can be measured by changing the resistance values of the elements.

In other words, the minimum temperature can be known from the temperature conversion information corresponding to the first resistance element among the discrete resistance elements within the measured temperature range, and when the temperature rises, the discrete resistance in the order of changing the level for the first time by the comparator 225. The temperature conversion information corresponding to the element may be searched in the memory 235 to measure the corresponding temperature.

Accordingly, the control unit 250 receives the temperature information obtained from the memory 235 and controls the display unit 245 to be displayed to the outside through the display unit 245, and compares the preset body temperature information with the alarm generator 240 according to the result. ) To generate a control signal and to generate an alarm.

In addition, the main body 205 may further include a setting key 255. The user may arbitrarily change the reference temperature for the user through the setting key 255. For example, when the user's actual body temperature is lower than the reference temperature, it is possible to check the difference between the reference temperature and set the reference temperature as low as the setting key 255.

And, the fastening member 300 is coupled to the body portion 205 of the body temperature measurement module 200 in a predetermined region, it has a form that can be easily worn on a user's body part.

That is, the body portion 205 of the body temperature measurement module 200 is fixed to a predetermined area of the fastening member 300 or is coupled to be movable, the shape of the fastening member 300 is a part of the user's body, for example, As a form that can be easily worn on the neck, wrist, ankle or waist, for example, it can be produced in the form of a belt or a band using a synthetic resin having elastic restoring power, and as long as it can be worn on a part of the user's body. It is possible to be produced in various forms.

In addition, both ends of the fastening member 300, for example, a male / female Velcro tape or the like may be formed so that the user can be easily detached.

On the other hand, when the fastening member 300 has a shape such as a belt or a band, for example, the temperature sensor 100 is disposed on both sides of the fastening member 300 in the longitudinal direction, or arranged in a spiral wound form It can be in close contact with the user's body more easily.

For example, when the user is sleeping, any part of the temperature sensor 100 is in close contact with the user's body even if a flow occurs such that the fastening member 300 is twisted or a predetermined part is separated from the body as the body moves. It is possible to do

Of course, in addition to this form, if the temperature sensor 100 can be easily in close contact with the user's body, it is possible to be disposed on the binding member 300 in more various forms.

As described above, the apparatus for monitoring the temperature according to an embodiment of the present invention may help the health management of infants and young children who cannot express their own health abnormalities and the normal social activities of the children the next day. .

For example, a sudden increase in body temperature due to a cold is often experienced in deep nights, but if you do not pay close attention to the condition of a child sleeping in the next room, you will notice a rapid increase in body temperature in deep nights. It is not easy to set up. In addition, parents may notice too late that the child's body temperature has soared, causing serious sequelae in the child's body.

However, even if the child's body temperature is slightly higher than usual, it is not easy for the parents to stay up all night and nursing at night or to wake up at night to check the child's condition or to measure the child's temperature.

In addition, when one family and one child are mostly parents who do not have parenting experience, and the reality is that there are many working families, the temperature monitoring device according to the present invention can contribute to creating a healthy society.

On the other hand, the body temperature monitoring device according to the present invention is a structure that is worn on the neck, wrist, ankle of a child with a low fever due to a cold, etc., continuously measuring the body temperature from the time of wearing the alarm function at the moment when the body temperature exceeds normal body temperature It allows parents to see their child's condition in real time, protecting them from the dangers of high fever.

In addition, a child may have a high temperature due to a disease such as a cold or a slight fever is detected for no reason, so that the child's body temperature may rise sharply at night, helping parents who cannot sleep deeply. It allows for normal social activities the next day.

On the other hand, since the body temperature monitoring device of the present invention uses digital temperature measurement, the digital display of the measured temperature is possible without the ADC, so that the circuit for reading the temperature can be simplified, and the sensor and the device can easily measure the temperature under low power.

In addition, the body temperature monitoring apparatus of the present invention is made of a necklace, bracelet, anklets, bags, etc. so that there is no burden on wearing, the material is preferably made of a material harmless to the body.

Although a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for monitoring a temperature according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are made within the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. It is possible and this also belongs to the present invention.

1 is a perspective view for explaining a body temperature monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a body temperature measurement module applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a circuit diagram showing in detail the configuration of the reference signal generator and the temperature sensing unit of the body temperature measurement module applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (11)

delete A temperature sensor 100 that detects a temperature change in contact with a user's body; A body temperature measurement module 200 for measuring a body temperature according to the sensed temperature change, comparing the measured body temperature with a preset body temperature and generating an alarm according to the result; And The body temperature measuring module 200 is coupled to and detachably coupled to a part of the user's body, and includes a fastening member 300 in which the temperature sensor is disposed in a predetermined area to be in contact with the user's body. The body temperature measurement module 200, A reference signal generator 210 formed of at least one resistance element; A temperature sensing unit 215 formed of a plurality of discrete resistance elements connected in parallel with each other; A multiplexer (220) multiplexing the plurality of discrete resistor elements to sequentially distribute a power supply voltage together with the reference resistance element of the reference signal generator (210); A comparator 225 for comparing each voltage divided by the reference resistance element of the reference signal generator with the discrete resistance element selected by the multiplexer; A counter 230 for counting sequential switching of the multiplexer; A memory 235 in which temperature conversion information for each discrete resistance element is recorded according to a resolution within a measurement temperature range for each of the discrete resistance elements; After obtaining the body temperature information corresponding to the discrete resistance element according to the counter count value at the time when the output of the comparator 225 is changed from the memory 235, and compares the body temperature information with the preset body temperature information according to the control signal according to the result. A control unit 250 for outputting; And An alarm generator 240 for generating an alarm according to a control signal output to the controller 250; Body temperature monitoring device comprising a. The method of claim 2, The body temperature measurement module 200 is a body temperature monitoring device, characterized in that further provided with a setting key (255) to be able to change the preset body temperature by the user. The method of claim 2, The body temperature measuring module 200 further includes a display unit 245 for displaying the measured body temperature in a digital form. The method of claim 2, The control unit 250 outputs a control signal when the measured body temperature is higher than the preset body temperature. The method of claim 2, The alarm generator 240 is a body temperature monitoring device, characterized in that for generating an alarm visually or audio. The method of claim 2, The fastening member 300 is a body temperature monitoring apparatus, characterized in that mounted in the form of a belt or elastic band to the user's body part. The method of claim 2, Body temperature monitoring device characterized in that the male and female Velcro tapes are provided at both ends of the fastening member (300). The method of claim 2, The fastening member 300 is a body temperature monitoring device, characterized in that formed of any one of a necklace, bracelet, anklets or bags. The method of claim 2, The temperature sensor (100) is a body temperature monitoring device, characterized in that arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction on at least one surface of the fastening member (300). The method of claim 2, The temperature sensor 100 is a body temperature monitoring device, characterized in that arranged in the form of a spiral wound continuously in the longitudinal direction of the fastening member (300).

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