Temperature sensor unit and body core thermometer
Inventors
Igawa, Norio • KODERA, Yuya • Sato, Koichiro • ICHINOKURA, Hiro • Anzai, Takeshi
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11573132-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
To provide a temperature sensor unit and a body core thermometer making it possible to produce in low costs. The temperature sensor unit (1) is used to measure a deep part body temperature Ti as a body core temperature of a testee. The temperature sensor unit (1) comprises at a measurement face side facing a body surface of the testee first-fourth temperature sensors (111-114) for measuring the body surface of the testee. Among the first and the second temperature sensors (111, 112), the first thermal resistor (121) is disposed only at the measurement face side of the first temperature sensor (111). Furthermore, the first temperature sensor (111) and the second temperature sensors (112) are disposed proximally such that a temperature Ti at the measurement face side of the first thermal resistor (121) becomes approximately equal to a temperature T2 measured by the second temperature sensor (112).
Core Innovation
The invention provides a body core thermometer and a temperature sensor unit for measuring a body core temperature of an object to be measured. A temperature sensor unit includes a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on a measurement face side facing a body surface of the object to be measured, for measuring temperatures of the body surface.
The temperature sensor unit and body core thermometer use thermal resistors disposed only at selected measurement-face sides of selected temperature sensors among the plurality. First and second thermal resistors are arranged so that the temperature at each thermal-resistor measurement face side becomes approximately equal to a temperature measured by an adjacent sensor when the relevant temperature sensors are disposed at a distance of 1.5 mm or less. The thermal resistors are formed by adhering an insulator member or thermal insulator member to the measurement face side of the corresponding sensor, and the appearance of the second thermal resistor differs from the first thermal resistor for providing a different thermal resistance value.
A body core temperature measurement part measures the body core temperature based on the temperature measured with the plurality of temperature sensors using a thermal model. In an alternative form, thermal resistors are replaced by a conductive pattern formed at the measurement face side, with ends arranged so that temperatures at corresponding positions become approximately equal, and the relevant conductive-pattern end and temperature sensor are covered with a thermal conductive material.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims that cover a temperature sensor unit using selectively disposed thermal resistors on specific sensors, a temperature sensor unit using a conductive pattern at the measurement face as an alternative to thermal resistors, and a body core thermometer that performs body core temperature measurement using the same thermal-resistor sensor arrangement.
Temperature sensor unit with selectively disposed thermal resistors and approximately equal adjacent measurement-face temperatures
A temperature sensor unit for measuring a body core temperature of an object to be measured, including a plurality of temperature sensors on a measurement face side facing a body surface; a first thermal resistor disposed only at a measurement face side of a first temperature sensor among first and second temperature sensors; the first and second temperature sensors disposed at a distance of 1.5 mm or less so that the temperature at the measurement face side of the first thermal resistor becomes approximately equal to a temperature measured by the second temperature sensor; the first thermal resistor formed by adhering an insulator member at the measurement face side of the first temperature sensor; a second thermal resistor disposed only at a measurement face side of a third temperature sensor among third and fourth temperature sensors; the third and fourth temperature sensors disposed at a distance of 1.5 mm or less so that a temperature of the measurement face side of the second thermal resistor becomes approximately equal to a temperature measured by the fourth temperature sensor; and the second thermal resistor formed by adhering a thermal insulator member to the measurement face side of the third temperature sensor in an appearance different from the first thermal resistor for providing a thermal resistance value different from the first thermal resistor.
Temperature sensor unit with conductive pattern replacing thermal resistors and approximately equal conductive-end and adjacent-sensor temperatures
A temperature sensor unit for measuring a body core temperature of an object to be measured, including a plurality of temperature sensors on a measurement face side facing a body surface; a conductive pattern formed at the measurement face side such that one end is connected to a first temperature sensor among first and second temperature sensors and the other end is disposed at a distance of 1.5 mm or less so the temperature of the other end and the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor become approximately equal; and the second temperature sensor and the other end of the conductive pattern are covered with a thermal conductive material at the measurement face side.
Body core thermometer with thermal-resistor temperature sensors and body core temperature measurement based on plurality sensor readings
A body core thermometer including a plurality of temperature sensors disposed at a measurement face side facing a body surface of an object to be measured for measuring a temperature of the body surface; and a body core temperature measurement part based on the temperature measured with the plurality of temperature sensors for measuring the body core temperature of the object to be measured; a first thermal resistor disposed only at the measurement face side of a first temperature sensor among first and second temperature sensors; the first and second temperature sensors disposed at a distance of 1.5 mm or less so a temperature at the measurement face side of the first thermal resistor becomes approximately equal to a temperature measured by the second temperature sensor; and a second thermal resistor disposed only at a measurement face side of a third temperature sensor among third and fourth temperature sensors, with the second thermal resistor formed by adhering a thermal insulator member to the measurement face side of the third temperature sensor in an appearance different from the first thermal resistor for providing a thermal resistance value different from the first thermal resistor.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive structure is selectively disposed thermal resistors, or a conductive pattern alternative, at the measurement face side with adjacent temperature-sensing locations separated by 1.5 mm or less so that corresponding measurement-face temperatures become approximately equal, combined with body core temperature measurement based on the readings from the plurality of temperature sensors.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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