KR20230141150A - Portable body temperature measuring device of hanging type for ear - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device which may measure body temperature by detecting the temperature in an ear while being placed on the ear, and may measure body temperature periodically or temporarily according to a setting mode and provide measurement results by linking with a smartphone, and may have a compact shape and secure functionality and usability by improving wearing comfort. According to the present invention, the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device is provided as a body temperature measuring device for measuring body temperature, characterized by comprising: a device body formed to be mounted on an ear of a human body; a body temperature measuring module provided in the device body and configured to detect body temperature; a communication module provided in the device body and communicating the body temperature detected by the body temperature measuring module with an external terminal having a body temperature management application installed; and a control module which controls the body temperature measuring module and the communication module.

Description

Ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device {PORTABLE BODY TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE OF HANGING TYPE FOR EAR}

The present invention relates to an ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device. More specifically, the body temperature can be measured by detecting the temperature inside the ear while placed on the ear, and the body temperature is measured periodically or temporarily depending on the setting mode to measure body temperature through a smartphone. It relates to an ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device that can provide measurement results in conjunction with a device, has a compact shape, and can secure functionality and usability by improving fit.

In general, it is common for the person or the practitioner to measure the body temperature using a thermometer to check whether the person is healthy.

Existing thermometers are classified into contact thermometers, which detect body temperature by touching the device to the armpit or oral cavity, and non-contact thermometers, which measure body temperature by placing a sensor within a short distance and detecting waves emitted from the eardrum. do.

Contact thermometers measure a person's body temperature using, for example, alcohol and mercury. For example, since the body temperature is measured by inserting and contacting the person's mouth or anus, patients feel uncomfortable. Currently, non-contact body temperature measurement devices are widely used.

Contact thermometers are relatively cheaper than non-contact thermometers, but have a long response time and a high risk of error in the temperature measurement range.

In addition, non-contact thermometers are less affected by ambient temperature than contact thermometers, so the temperature measurement is accurate, and since they do not come into contact with the body, they are hygienic and have a short response time, but the cost of the sensor is high.

However, conventionally, when it is necessary to check whether health is present, the body temperature must be measured and confirmed using a thermometer placed in a certain place, which not only causes the inconvenience of measuring body temperature, but also requires emergency prescriptions from medical staff due to an increase in body temperature, and the presence or absence of a viral infection. Emergency response to symptoms is insufficient, and it is difficult to measure body temperature using a regular thermometer, especially when face-to-face contact is not possible due to the spread of the virus.

Additionally, a conventional thermometer is held in the hand and inserted into one area of the body for a specific period of time to obtain temperature information. Therefore, it consists of a device that is not mounted on the body.

Body temperature rises when you wake up, reaches its peak in the afternoon, and then falls again at night. Basal body temperature refers to the lowest body temperature in the most stable state, and recording basal body temperature every day can provide useful information about a woman's menstrual/ovulatory cycle. In order to measure this basal body temperature, the body temperature must be measured when the person is in the most stable state after sleeping for at least 3 to 4 hours. Most thermometers cannot measure during sleep, so body temperature must be measured while waking up with minimal movement. However, when the thermometer is placed in contact with the body part, a lot of movement already occurs and the direction or location of the thermometer is different. There was a problem with many errors occurring in the measurement of basal body temperature.

Additionally, due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, medical staff must contact patients several times a day in emergency rooms and wards to measure the fever of infected patients.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0122491 (published on October 30, 2019) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-1658724 (announced on September 21, 2016) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2188911 (announced on December 9, 2020)

Therefore, the present invention to solve the above-described conventional problems is capable of measuring body temperature by detecting the temperature in the ear while placed on the ear regardless of gender or age, and has a compact shape, improving functionality by improving fit. The purpose is to provide an ear-mounted, portable body temperature measuring device that can ensure usability.

In addition, the present invention can measure body temperature periodically or temporarily depending on the setting mode and provide measurement results by linking with a smartphone. In particular, the body temperature measured in real time can be checked directly or remotely, enabling rapid body temperature measurement. Another purpose is to provide an ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device that can respond to the results.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above objects and other features of the present invention, there is a body temperature measuring device for measuring body temperature, comprising: a device body formed to be mounted on a human ear; a body temperature measurement module provided in the device main body and configured to detect body temperature; a communication module provided in the device main body and communicating the body temperature detected by the body temperature measurement module with an external terminal device on which a body temperature management application is installed; and a control module that controls the body temperature measurement module and the communication module. An ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device is provided.

In the present invention, one end is connected to the device main body and may further include a mounting member configured to be mounted on the ear.

In the present invention, the device main body includes a main body portion provided with the body temperature measurement module, a communication module, and a control module; and a cap made of rubber or silicone, which is replaceably provided at one end of the main body and has an open central portion.

In the present invention, the body temperature measurement module consists of at least one of a non-contact temperature sensor of an IR temperature sensor (Infrared Thermometer) and a contact temperature sensor of NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) or PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) type. , the communication module may be configured as a short-distance communication module.

In the present invention, the control module includes an operation button that is operated to select on/off of the device, a constant measurement mode and a single measurement mode, and a measurement cycle; an external device interlocking unit configured to interoperate with the external device; and a setting mode control unit that controls the operation of the constant measurement mode and single measurement mode of the body temperature measurement module.

In the present invention, the control module includes an operation button that operates to turn on/off the device; an external device linkage unit that receives control signals from the external device and controls the operation of the body temperature measurement module; and a setting mode control unit that controls the operation of a constant measurement mode that allows the body temperature measurement module to measure the body temperature at a predetermined period and a single measurement mode that allows the body temperature measurement module to measure the body temperature once.

In the present invention, the control module may include an alarm control unit that controls an external device to generate an alarm when the body temperature measured by the body temperature measurement module is greater than or equal to a preset value.

In the present invention, the device further includes a light-emitting module provided in the main body, and the control module may include a light-emitting control unit that controls the light-emitting module to emit light-emitting signals of different colors according to the measurement result of the body temperature measurement module. You can.

In the present invention, the device further includes a drop-out detection module provided in the device main body and configured to detect the drop-out detection module from the ear, wherein the control module transmits a drop-out detection signal from the drop-out detection module to an external device. It may include a signal control unit.

In the present invention, the control module may include a dropout determination unit configured to determine whether the device main body has fallen off based on the body temperature value measured by the body temperature measurement module and transmit a determination signal to an external device.

The ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention provides the following effects.

First, the present invention has the effect of easily measuring body temperature by detecting the temperature of the eardrum in the ear while the device is placed on the ear.

Second, the present invention has a compact shape, making it easy to store, and can be stably mounted on the outer ear, thereby improving wearing comfort.

Third, the present invention can collect non-contact body temperature information by collecting real-time body temperature information without face-to-face contact for several hours to several days in one go, and has the effect of lowering the possibility of infection of medical personnel, especially in the case of infectious disease patients.

Fourth, the present invention has the effect of enabling monitoring of body temperature changes even during sleeping hours.

Fifth, the present invention has the effect of enabling rapid response by notifying infants and young children through an alarm when they have a fever.

Sixth, the present invention has the effect of enabling intuitive judgment because the results of temperature measurement can be confirmed with the naked eye (LED).

The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing the body temperature measurement body included in the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control module included in the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the use of the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of use of the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Prior to a detailed description of the present invention, it should be noted that the present invention is capable of various modifications and may have various embodiments, and the examples described below and shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments. No, it should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

When a component is said to be "connected" or "connected" to another component, it is understood that it may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, but that other components may exist in between. It should be. On the other hand, when it is mentioned that a component is “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

The terms used in this specification are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, “comprises.” Or “to have.” Terms such as are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or a combination thereof described in the specification, but are intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or It should be understood that the existence or addition possibility of combinations of these is not excluded in advance.

In addition, terms such as “….unit”, “….unit”, and “….module” used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which refers to hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. It can be implemented as:

In addition, when describing with reference to the accompanying drawings, identical components will be assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted. When describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

Hereinafter, an ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a diagram schematically showing the body temperature measurement body included in the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the body temperature measurement body included in the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control module of the body temperature measurement body included in the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the use of the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention, and Figure 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the use of the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention.

The ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention is a body temperature measurement device for measuring body temperature through the eardrum of the human body, and largely includes a device body 100, a mounting member 200, a body temperature measurement module 300, It includes a communication module 400 and a control module 500, and may further include a light emitting module 600 and/or a dropout detection module.

Specifically, the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention is a body temperature measurement device for measuring body temperature through the eardrum of the human body, and includes a device body 100 inserted into the human ear; A mounting member 200, one end of which is connected to the device body 100 and configured to be mounted on the human ear; A body temperature measurement module 300 provided in the device main body 100 and configured to detect body temperature; a communication module 400 provided in the device main body 100 and configured to transmit body temperature data detected by the body temperature measurement module 300 to the outside; and a control module 500 that controls the body temperature measurement module 300 and the communication module 400. In addition, the present invention includes a light emitting module 600 provided in the device body 100 and configured to emit a light emitting signal under the control of the control module 500 according to the measurement result of the body temperature measurement module 300; And it may further include a drop-out detection module (not shown) provided in the device main body 100 and configured to detect drop-out from the human ear.

The device main body 100 includes components (body temperature measurement module 300, communication module 400, control module 500, light emitting module 600, and dropout detection module (not shown)) that will be described in detail below. It is compact enough to be inserted into the human ear.

For example, the device body 100 is provided with a kernel-type body portion 110 and one end of the body portion 110, is seated at the ear entrance, and is made of rubber or silicone with an open central portion. Includes a cap 120.

The cap 120 is composed of several sets depending on the size, and is coupled to the canal-type body portion 110 so that it can be replaced to suit the user (wearer).

In addition, a battery 130 is provided on one inner side of the device main body 100 to supply necessary power to the control module 500.

Continuing, the mounting member 200 is a component whose one end is connected to the device body 100 and is configured to be mounted on the human ear.

For example, as shown in the drawing, the mounting member 200 is configured to surround the rear side of the helix of the ear and be stably mounted on the ear.

In addition, the mounting member 200 may be composed of several sets depending on the size, and may be configured to be detachable from the main body 110 of the device main body 100 so that it can be replaced and mounted in a size suitable for the user. there is.

Here, when the device body 100 itself is configured in the same form as a typical canal-type earphone, the mounting member 200 may be omitted.

Next, the body temperature measurement module 300 is provided in the device main body 100 and is a component configured to detect the temperature of the human ear, preferably the temperature of the eardrum inside the ear.

The body temperature measurement module 300 may be configured as a non-contact temperature sensor or a contact temperature sensor.

The non-contact temperature sensor may be an IR temperature sensor (Infrared Thermometer), and the non-contact temperature sensor may be an NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) or PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) type temperature sensor. It is not limited to this.

Next, the communication module 400 is a component provided in the device main body 100 and configured to transmit body temperature data detected by the body temperature measurement module 300 to the outside.

The communication module 400 may be configured as a short-range communication module, for example, a Bluetooth module, that can communicate by pairing with a terminal device such as a smartphone. A body temperature management application that manages body temperature results (measurement data) received through the communication module 400 is installed on a terminal device such as a smartphone (hereinafter collectively referred to as a smartphone).

This smartphone body temperature management application can display measurement results, set a measurement cycle, and generate an alarm on the smartphone when the body temperature exceeds the set value. Of course, as will be explained below, the body temperature cycle is set according to the selection of the body temperature measurement mode in the device body 100 through the mode setting unit provided in the device body 100 and a component of the control module 500, and the set It can be configured to automatically transmit the body temperature value (body temperature data) detected every cycle to the smartphone, or to transmit the body temperature value (body temperature data) once to the smartphone through single measurement mode and operation of the operation button.

Next, the control module 500 is configured to control the body temperature measurement module 300, the communication module 400, the light emitting module 600 and the dropout detection module, which will be described below.

Specifically, the control module 500 communicates with an operation button 510 provided on one side of the device main body 100 and an external terminal device (smart phone) to measure the body temperature detected by the body temperature measurement module 300. An external device linkage unit 520 that transmits to an external device (smartphone) through the communication module 400 and operates by receiving a control signal from the smartphone, and a measurement mode of the body temperature measurement module 300 It includes a setting mode control unit 530 that controls.

The operation button unit 510 includes a device on/off button and may optionally include a measurement control button.

The measurement control button selects the constant measurement mode and single measurement mode, and when the constant measurement mode is selected, the body temperature measurement interval and measurement body temperature transmission cycle can be set according to the pressing time or number of times the button is pressed. In this case, you can measure body temperature by pressing a button.

The setting mode control unit 530 is configured to control the set mode through manipulation of the measurement control button.

Here, the optional inclusion of the measurement control button can be omitted because the operation of the device can be controlled through a body temperature management application on a smartphone, and it is preferable to omit it considering the compactness of the device, manufacturability, and economic feasibility. do.

Meanwhile, the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device according to the present invention is provided in the device body 100 and is configured to emit a luminescent signal under the control of the control module 500 according to the measurement result of the body temperature measurement module 300. It may further include a light emitting module 600.

The light emitting module 600 is composed of LEDs that emit different colors according to a preset temperature range based on the measurement results of the body temperature measurement module 300.

The light emitting module 600 may be configured in the device body 100 and/or the mounting member 200, and the drawing shows the case where it is provided in both the device body 100 and the mounting member 200.

Here, the control module 500 further includes a light emission control unit 540 that receives the measured value of the body temperature measurement module 300 and controls the light emission module 600 with a color according to the preset temperature.

In addition, the control module 500 may further include an alarm control unit 550 that controls the smartphone to generate an alarm when the body temperature measured by the body temperature measurement module 300 is greater than or equal to a preset value.

When the body temperature measuring device of the present invention is worn and used on children and infants, the alarm control unit 550 generates an alarm on the guardian's smartphone when the measured body temperature is high above 39°C to 40°C, allowing the guardian to take immediate action. You can take it.

In addition, the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention may further include a dropout detection module (not shown) provided in the device main body 100 and configured to detect dropout from the human ear.

In one embodiment, the dropout detection module may be composed of a gyro sensor provided on one side of the device main body 100.

When the portable, ear-mounted body temperature measurement device of the present invention falls off or leaves the ear, the gyro sensor detects a sudden change in position, and based on this, determines that the body temperature measurement device has fallen from the ear.

Here, the control module 500 includes a drop-off signal control unit 560 that receives the detection signal from the gyro sensor and transmits a drop-off signal of the device to the smartphone through the communication module 400.

When the smartphone receives a drop-out signal from the drop-out signal control unit 560, an alarm is generated, and the user or guardian can check whether the body temperature measurement device has fallen off.

In addition, the drop-out detection module is not configured as a separate device, and may be configured to determine whether the drop-out detection module has been dropped based on the measured value of the body temperature measurement module 300.

That is, since the body temperature measuring device of the present invention is worn on the ear, the body temperature measurement module 300 measures the temperature that can generate heat in the human body. If a temperature outside this human body fever temperature range is detected, that is, the body temperature measurement module 300 measures the temperature that is outside the human body fever temperature range. If it drops or exceeds significantly, it is determined that the body temperature measuring device of the present invention has fallen from the ear.

In other words, the control module 500 determines that the device has fallen off when the measurement value measured by the body temperature measurement module 300 is below or exceeds a certain value, and the fallout determination unit 570 transmits a fallout signal to the smartphone. ) may further be included.

When the smartphone receives a dropout signal from the dropout determination unit 570, an alarm is generated, and the user or guardian can check whether the body temperature measurement device has been dropped.

As described below, according to the ear-mounted portable body temperature measuring device according to the present invention, body temperature can be easily measured by detecting the temperature of the eardrum in the ear while held in the ear without being held by hand, and is compact. Its shape makes it easy to store, and it has the advantage of improving wearing comfort as it can be mounted stably on the outer ear.

In addition, according to the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device of the present invention, real-time body temperature information can be collected without face-to-face contact for several hours to several days with a single placement, making it possible to obtain non-contact body temperature information. In particular, in the case of infectious disease patients, there is a possibility of infection of medical personnel. It can lower the body temperature and monitor changes in body temperature even during sleeping hours. In the case of infants and young children, they can be notified through an alarm when they develop a fever, so they can respond quickly. The results of the temperature measurement can be checked with the naked eye (LED), making intuitive decisions. There are benefits to doing this.

In addition, according to the ear-mounted portable body temperature measurement device of the present invention, the measurement results of the body temperature detected in real time are transmitted to the body temperature management application of the smartphone, and the body temperature management application of the smartphone is connected to a monitoring server such as a remote doctor (FIG. 5 (Reference), it has the advantage of being able to manage it in various ways by being able to check the real-time body temperature of the person whose body temperature is being measured even from a remote location.

The embodiments described in this specification and the accompanying drawings merely illustratively illustrate some of the technical ideas included in the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but rather to explain it, and therefore, it is obvious that the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. All modifications and specific embodiments that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the technical idea included in the specification and drawings of the present invention should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: device body
110: Kernel-type body part
120: cap
130: battery
200: Mounting member
300: Body temperature measurement module
400: Communication module
500: Control module
510: Operation button unit
520: External device linkage unit
530: Setting mode control unit
540: Light emission control unit
550: Alarm control unit
560: Elimination signal control unit
570: Elimination judgment unit
600: Light-emitting module

Claims (10)

A body temperature measuring device for measuring body temperature, comprising:
A device body configured to be mounted on the human ear;
a body temperature measurement module provided in the device main body and configured to detect body temperature;
a communication module provided in the device main body and communicating the body temperature detected by the body temperature measurement module with an external terminal device on which a body temperature management application is installed; and
Characterized in that it includes a control module that controls the body temperature measurement module and the communication module.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to paragraph 1,
One end is connected to the device body and further includes a mounting member configured to be mounted on the ear.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to paragraph 1,
The device body is,
a main body provided with the body temperature measurement module, communication module, and control module; and
A cap made of rubber or silicone that is replaceable at one end of the main body and has an open central portion.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to paragraph 1,
The body temperature measurement module consists of at least one of a non-contact temperature sensor of an IR temperature sensor (Infrared Thermometer) and a contact temperature sensor of NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) or PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) type,
The communication module is characterized in that it consists of a short-distance communication module.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to paragraph 1,
The control module is,
An operation button operated to select on/off of the device, continuous measurement mode, single measurement mode, and measurement cycle;
an external device interlocking unit configured to interoperate with the external device; and
Characterized in that it includes a setting mode control unit that controls the operation of the constant measurement mode and single measurement mode of the body temperature measurement module.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to paragraph 1,
The control module is,
An operation button unit that is operated to turn the device on/off;
an external device linkage unit that receives control signals from the external device and controls the operation of the body temperature measurement module; and
A setting mode control unit that controls the operation of a continuous measurement mode that allows the body temperature measurement module to measure the body temperature at a predetermined period and a single measurement mode that allows the body temperature measurement module to measure the body temperature once.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to claim 1 or 6,
The control module is,
Characterized by comprising an alarm control unit that controls an alarm to be generated in an external device when the body temperature measured by the body temperature measurement module is greater than a preset value.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device. According to claim 1 or 6,
It further includes a light emitting module provided in the device body,
The control module is characterized in that it includes a light emission control unit that controls the light emission module to emit light emission signals of different colors according to the measurement result of the body temperature measurement module.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to claim 1 or 6,
It further includes a drop-out detection module provided in the device main body and configured to detect drop-out of the device main body from the ear,
The control module is characterized in that it includes a drop-out signal control unit that transmits the drop-out detection signal of the drop-out detection module to an external device.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.
According to claim 1 or 6,
The control module is,
Characterized by comprising a dropout determination unit configured to determine whether the device main body has fallen off based on the body temperature value measured by the body temperature measurement module and transmit a decision signal to an external device.
Ear-mounted, portable body temperature measurement device.

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