WO2014049630A1

WO2014049630A1 - Electronic thermometer and control method for same

Info

Publication number: WO2014049630A1
Application number: PCT/JP2012/006070
Authority: WO
Inventors: 有紀園田; 聡子北村; 小澤　仁
Original assignee: テルモ株式会社
Priority date: 2012-09-25
Filing date: 2012-09-25
Publication date: 2014-04-03

Abstract

An electronic thermometer that detects the temperature of a measurement site so as to calculate body temperature, the thermometer including: a power source unit that changes the electronic thermometer a "power source on" state in response to the operation of a power source switch; a measuring unit that measures temperature using a temperature detected by a temperature sensor; and a notification unit that, when the measuring unit has completed temperature measurement, outputs a notification of said completion for a predetermined period. If a predetermined operation of the power source switch is detected during the notification by the notification unit, the notifying output is stopped even within the predetermined period.

Description

Electronic thermometer and its control method

The present invention relates to an electronic thermometer, and more particularly to an electronic thermometer having a notification function for notifying the end of measurement of body temperature.

Many of the electronic thermometers that are widely used now have a body temperature prediction function. The body temperature prediction function predicts body temperature in a shorter time than actual temperature measurement, for example, about 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and promptly provides the user with the predicted body temperature. In an electronic thermometer that performs such body temperature prediction, when the rate of temperature increase is below a predetermined value, it is determined that the temperature is in an equilibrium state, and a buzzer is turned on for a predetermined time to notify the user of the end of the prediction. It is made to sound (patent document 1).

In an electronic thermometer represented by Patent Document 1, a sound having a single frequency is used as a buzzer sound, and the frequency of a generally used buzzer sound is relatively high, for example, about 4 kHz. This is because humans are more likely to be alerted to high-frequency sounds, but it becomes difficult to hear high-frequency sounds as they age. Therefore, it is difficult for elderly users to hear the buzzer sound of a conventional electronic thermometer, and in extreme cases, the end of temperature measurement may not be noticed.

Therefore, in order to be able to hear the buzzer sound more reliably regardless of whether it is an elderly person, sound is output to a plurality of frequencies, for example, two frequencies of 2 kHz and 4 kHz, in a predetermined pattern, for example, alternately. Is proposed in Patent Document 2. Furthermore, there are electronic thermometers that use a melody as a notification sound so that the elderly can be recognized more reliably.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-55583 JP 2007-024594 A

にしても A certain amount of volume and time length are required no matter what kind of notification sound is generated, such as a buzzer sound of a single frequency, a buzzer sound of a plurality of types of frequencies, or a melody. However, if the notification time is increased in order to make the user notice the end of temperature measurement more reliably, the notification sound may continue to sound for a long time after the notification is noticed. In such a case, the user feels annoyed with the notification sound that continues to ring.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and enables the user to stop the temperature measurement completion notification output halfway, so that the user does not feel annoyed even if the notification time is extended. The purpose is to.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic thermometer according to an aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
An electronic thermometer that detects the temperature of the measurement site, calculates the body temperature, and presents it,
Power supply means for turning on the electronic thermometer in response to an operation to a power switch;
A temperature measuring means for measuring temperature using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor;
When temperature measurement by the temperature measurement means is completed, notification means for notifying that effect over a predetermined period;
Stop means for stopping the notification by the notification means even within the predetermined period in response to detection of a predetermined operation to the power switch while the notification by the notification means is being performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic thermometer that allows a user to stop reporting a temperature measurement notification halfway.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The accompanying drawings are included in the specification, constitute a part thereof, show an embodiment of the present invention, and are used to explain the principle of the present invention together with the description.
It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the electronic thermometer by embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control structure of the electronic thermometer by embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic thermometer by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the electronic thermometer by 2nd Embodiment.

Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment]
<Appearance of electronic thermometer>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic thermometer 100 according to the present embodiment. The electronic thermometer 100 of the present embodiment detects the armpit temperature as a measurement site, calculates the body temperature, and presents it. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a main body case in which an electronic circuit such as an arithmetic control unit 20 described later with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 103 denotes a stainless steel metal cap that houses a temperature measuring unit including a thermistor 13 (see FIG. 2) as a temperature sensor necessary for body temperature measurement, which is fixed with an adhesive. The main body case 101 and the metal cap 103 are fixed in a liquid-tight manner through an adhesive.

The main body case 101 is formed of a styrene resin (high impact polystyrene, ABS resin), a polyolefin resin (polypropylene, polyethylene) or the like containing approximately 1 to 2.5% by weight of a silver phosphate silver compound. The transparent window portion 102 to be covered is preferably formed by two-color molding. The window portion 102 is made of transparent resin such as polystyrene and butadiene / styrene copolymer; styrene resin such as poly-2-methylpentene and polypropylene; acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate; cellulose It is formed from cellulose ester such as acetate; polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate. A power switch 105 is provided at the end of the main body case 101 opposite to the metal cap 103 to instruct the user to turn the electronic thermometer 100 on and off.

<Circuit configuration of electronic thermometer>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for performing body temperature measurement in the electronic thermometer 100 of the present embodiment.

The electronic thermometer 100 measures the temperature of the armpit that is the measurement site and outputs it as a digital value, and the calculation control unit 20 that calculates the predicted temperature from the measured temperature and controls the electronic thermometer. And a display unit 30 including a liquid crystal panel 104 and a backlight (LED 31) for displaying the measurement result, a notification unit 40, and a power supply unit 50. As the notification unit 40, a speaker that outputs a melody or a buzzer sound, a buzzer that simply outputs a buzzer sound, a vibrator that generates vibration, a display that outputs a notification using light, or a combination thereof is used. Can do. In this embodiment, the notification unit 40 reproduces and outputs melody data stored in the EEPROM 24 by a speaker.

The temperature measuring unit 10 includes a thermistor 13 installed in the temperature sensing unit, a capacitor 14 and a resistor 15 electrically connected in parallel with the thermistor 13, and a temperature measuring CR oscillation circuit 11. In the temperature measuring unit 10, the oscillation frequency of the temperature measuring CR oscillation circuit 11 changes corresponding to the temperature of the thermistor 13, so that the arithmetic control unit 20 can calculate the temperature using the count amount of the counter 25.

The arithmetic control unit 20 includes an EEPROM 24 that stores parameters necessary for body temperature measurement, a RAM 23 for storing measured temperatures in time series, a ROM 22 that stores programs such as temperature prediction formulas, and display control for controlling the display unit 30. 26, a counter 25 that counts the oscillation signal of the temperature measuring CR oscillation circuit 11, and an arithmetic processing unit 21 that performs an operation under the conditions stored in the EEPROM 24 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 22.

The notification unit 40 reproduces and outputs melody data stored in the EEPROM 24 to notify the user of the end of temperature measurement, for example, at the end of temperature measurement. The power supply unit 50 supplies power to each unit of the electronic thermometer 100. An operation input signal to the power switch 105 (in this embodiment, a signal indicating that the power switch 105 is pressed) is input to the arithmetic processing unit 21. Based on the operation input signal from the power switch 105, the arithmetic processing unit 21 turns on / off the power source in the electronic thermometer 100 and stops the notification output by the notification unit 40.

In addition, the structure of the electronic thermometer 100 shown in the figure is an example, and is not limited to this. For example, although the block configuration of the predictive electronic thermometer is shown in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the presence or absence of the prediction calculation, and is an electronic thermometer having a notification unit 40 that determines completion of temperature measurement and notifies the end of temperature measurement. If present, the present invention is applicable.

<Control of melody output>
Next, melody output control for notification at the end of temperature measurement will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining melody output control by the notification unit 40 at the end of temperature measurement. Note that the control subject in the flowchart is the arithmetic processing unit 21 unless otherwise specified.

When the electronic thermometer 100 is turned on by operating the power switch 105, the arithmetic processing unit 21 waits for the start of body temperature measurement in step S101.

When the start of body temperature measurement is detected based on the temperature value detected by the temperature measurement unit 10 or its change, the process proceeds from step S101 to step S102 in order to execute the body temperature measurement operation. In step S102, the arithmetic processing unit 21 performs a body temperature measurement operation by a prediction method, for example. That is, the arithmetic processing unit 21 monitors the temporal change of the initial temperature, classifies the temperature rising tendency according to the state of the change, and determines the predicted value of the body temperature by the prediction calculation formula corresponding to the determined group. It should be noted that a change over time in a predetermined period after grouping may be monitored, and if the change is large, the grouping once determined may be changed. As described above, the body temperature measurement is not limited to the prediction method, and may be another method such as an actual measurement method.

In step S103, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not the measurement is finished depending on whether or not the temperature being measured has reached the equilibrium temperature. If the equilibrium temperature has not been reached, the body temperature measurement operation is continued, and the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, if the temperature being measured has reached the equilibrium temperature, it is determined that the measurement has been completed, and the process proceeds from step S103 to step S104. In step S <b> 104, the arithmetic processing unit 21 causes the notification unit 40 to output a melody. That is, the melody data preset in the EEPROM 24 is reproduced by the notification unit 40.

The notification unit 40 continuously reproduces and outputs the melody for a predetermined period so that the elderly can fully recognize it. Here, the predetermined time for which the notification unit 40 maintains the notification output is, for example, 10 seconds. In step S105, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not it is the end timing of the melody output started in step S104. For example, when 10 seconds have elapsed since the start of melody output by the notification unit 40, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines that it is the end timing of melody output.

If it is determined in step S105 that the melody output end timing is reached, the process proceeds to step S107, and the arithmetic processing unit 21 stops the melody output by the notification unit 40. If it is determined in step S105 that it is not the end timing of melody output, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S <b> 106, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not a predetermined operation has occurred on the power switch 105. If a predetermined operation has not occurred for the power switch 105, the process returns to step S105. If it is determined that a predetermined operation has occurred, the process proceeds to step S107, and the arithmetic processing unit 21 immediately stops the notification output (melody output) by the notification unit 40. Thus, when a predetermined operation on the power switch 105 is detected during the notification output, the notification output is stopped even within the predetermined period. Thereafter, the process returns to step S101.

Here, there are various predetermined operations that can be applied to step S105.
When the power switch 105 is turned on (pressed) or turned off (released) within a predetermined time (for example, within 1 second) shorter than the long press time of the power switch 105 for power off (the power switch 105 Click operation) is a predetermined operation. In this case, the melody output stops when the power switch 105 is released.
A case where a signal for pressing the power switch 105 is detected is set as a predetermined operation. In this case, when the power switch 105 is pressed during melody output, the melody output stops immediately.

If the arithmetic processing unit 21 detects a long press operation on the power switch 105 (in this embodiment, a continuous press operation for 2 seconds) while waiting for the body temperature measurement to start, the process proceeds from step S111 to step S111. Proceed to S112. In step S112, the arithmetic processing unit 21 sets the electronic thermometer 100 to a power-off state. In FIG. 3, the detection of the long press operation of the power switch 105 is shown to be performed during the standby time when the body temperature measurement is not performed. When pressing is detected, the power may be turned off immediately.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the notification unit 40 outputs a melody as a notification output and further performs a notification output longer than a general notification output, the recognition rate by an elderly person or the like is improved. Further, by operating the power switch 105, the user can stop the temperature measurement completion notification output from the notification unit 40 at an arbitrary timing. As a result, it is possible to reduce the annoyance felt by the user by extending the time of the notification output. Further, since the power switch provided in the electronic thermometer 100 can be used for the operation of stopping the notification output, it is not necessary to add a new operation switch to the electronic thermometer, and it can be manufactured at low cost. Also, the power switch operation method is obviously different, such as long press for 2 seconds or more for power-off operation by power switch and click operation for 1 second or less for stop operation of notification output. Absent.

In this embodiment, a case where a push button type switch is used as the power switch 105 is described. Therefore, the operation state of the power switch 105 is a state where the power switch 105 is pressed, and the maintenance of the operation state is that the state where the power switch 105 is pressed is maintained. Of course, other types of power switches (e.g., slide type, etc.) may be used.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, an electronic thermometer that can change the notification mode by the notification unit 40 using the power switch 105 will be described. In this specification, the notification form of the notification unit 40 is used as a general term for volume, notification time, type of music, buzzer sound, vibration, light (display), and the like. The appearance, control configuration, and main processing (such as body temperature measurement and notification of completion thereof) of the electronic thermometer of the second embodiment are the same as those of the electronic thermometer 100 described in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). FIG. 3). In 2nd Embodiment, after operating the power switch 105 and turning on the electronic thermometer 100, when the operation state to the power switch 105 is maintained, the alerting | reporting form by the alerting | reporting part 40 is changed. Hereinafter, as an example of changing the notification mode by this operation, changing the volume level of the melody output will be described as an example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing when the electronic thermometer 100 according to the second embodiment is turned on. In the present embodiment, a case where a push button type switch is used as the power switch 105 will be described. In this case, the operation state is a state where the power switch 105 is pressed, and the maintenance of the operation state is a state where the power switch 105 is pressed. Of course, other types of power switches (e.g., slide type, etc.) may be used.

When the electronic thermometer 100 is turned on in response to the operation on the power switch 105, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not the operation state on the power switch 105 is released in step S201. In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the pressed state of the power switch 105 is maintained. If it is determined in step S201 that the operation state for the power switch 105 has been released (the power switch 105 is not in the pressed state), the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the operation state of the power switch 105 is maintained, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not the operation state of the power switch 105 has continued for a predetermined time (in this embodiment, 5 seconds). If the predetermined time has not yet elapsed in step S202, the process returns to step S201.

When the operation state of the power switch 105 is maintained for a predetermined time (5 seconds), the process proceeds from step S202 to step S203. In step S <b> 203, the arithmetic processing unit 21 changes the notification form of the notification output by the notification unit 40. For example, if the notification unit 40 is configured to change the volume in two stages, the volume level that is not the currently set volume level is set.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S204, and the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not the power switch 105 has been released. If it is determined that the power switch is released in this state, the process proceeds to step S101 in FIG. 3, and as a result, the volume level is changed. If it is determined in step S204 that the operation state of the power switch 105 is maintained, the process proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, the arithmetic processing unit 21 determines whether or not the operation state of the power switch 105 is further maintained for 2 seconds or more (that is, 7 seconds or more in total). Return to S204. If it is determined in step S205 that 2 seconds or more have elapsed, the process returns to step S203 to change the notification form. For example, if the notification unit 40 is configured to be able to set two volume levels, a volume level different from the currently set volume level is set. As a result, the setting content returns to the original volume level. Thus, every time 2 seconds elapse, the process returns to step S203, and the volume level is switched.

By the processing as described above, the user can switch the volume level by maintaining the operation state of the power switch 105 for turning on the power for 5 seconds. If the operation state is further maintained after 5 seconds, the volume level is switched every 2 seconds, and the power switch 105 is released at a desired stage to set the volume level at that time.

Therefore, even if the notification unit 40 has three or more notification forms, a desired notification form can be set. For example, in the case of the notification unit 40 that can switch the sound volume level in three steps of large, medium, and small, the above processing causes the sound volume level to be “large” → “medium” → “small” → “large” → “medium” → You can switch as follows. If the current setting state is “large”, the setting state is first set to “medium” by maintaining the operation state of the power switch 105 for 5 seconds or more when the power is turned on. After that, every 2 seconds, the setting state is changed as “small” → “large” → “medium” → “small” →... And the power switch 105 is released when it becomes “small”. Then, the volume level of the notification unit 40 is determined to be “small”.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where only the sound volume level is set as an example of a settable notification form is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the content of notification output such as a melody, buzzer sound, and vibration may be selected as a notification form. Alternatively, the notification time may be selected such as 10 seconds, 5 seconds, 3 seconds, and the like. Further, it may be changed by a combination of two or more items, for example, it may be changed by adding a volume to a melody and a buzzer sound. That is, it may be possible to change a combination of a plurality of types of notifications, such as “volume is high by melody” → “volume is low by melody” → “volume is high by buzzer sound” → “volume is low by buzzer sound”. .

In addition, when the notification form is changed in step S203, a display indicating the setting state of the notification form may be performed on the liquid crystal panel 104 so that the change state can be understood. Further, when the change of the setting is confirmed, that is, when the process branches to YES in step S204, the notification unit 40 may execute part or all of the notification output according to the setting.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the notification mode setting of the notification unit 40 can be changed using the existing power switch 105. Further, the operation of the power switch 105 for changing the notification form uses maintenance of the operation state of the power switch 105 from the power-off state of the electronic thermometer 100. An electronic thermometer that is clearly distinguishable and easy to use can be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, in order to make the scope of the present invention public, the following claims are attached.

Claims

An electronic thermometer that detects the temperature of the measurement site, calculates the body temperature, and presents it,
Power supply means for turning on the electronic thermometer in response to an operation to a power switch;
A temperature measuring means for measuring temperature using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor;
When temperature measurement by the temperature measurement means is completed, notification means for notifying that effect over a predetermined period;
Stop means for stopping the notification by the notification means even within the predetermined period in response to detection of a predetermined operation to the power switch while the notification by the notification means is being performed. An electronic thermometer.
The electronic thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the stop means stops the notification when detecting that the power switch is turned off again within a predetermined time after the power switch is turned on.
The electronic thermometer according to claim 1, wherein the stop means stops the notification when detecting that the power switch is turned on.
3. The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the power source is configured to turn off the power source of the electronic thermometer when a long press is detected in which the power switch is on for a predetermined time. Electronic thermometer.
The notification means can be set to a plurality of types of notification,
The electronic thermometer further includes a changing unit that changes a setting of the notification form when a state in which the power switch is turned on is maintained and a predetermined period is exceeded. Item 4. The electronic thermometer according to any one of Items 1 to 3.
6. The electronic thermometer according to claim 5, wherein the setting of the notification form changed by the changing means is a volume setting.
The electronic thermometer according to claim 5, wherein the setting of the notification form changed by the changing means is a setting of a content of a notification sound.
It is a control method of an electronic thermometer that detects the temperature of a measurement site, calculates the body temperature, and presents it,
A power supply step of turning on the electronic thermometer in response to an operation on a power switch;
A temperature measuring process for measuring temperature using the temperature detected by the temperature sensor;
When the temperature measurement by the temperature measurement step is completed, a notification step for notifying that effect over a predetermined period;
A stop step of stopping the notification by the notification step even within the predetermined period in response to detection of a predetermined operation to the power switch while the notification by the notification step is being performed. Control method of electronic thermometer.