JP2632125B2 - Radiation thermometer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermometer, and more particularly, to a thermometer.
The present invention relates to a radiation thermometer that detects infrared rays generated from a measurement object such as an eardrum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a radiation thermometer of this type, for example,
JP-A-4-10928, U.S. Pat.
No. 35, U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,533, U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,605 and U.S. Pat.
No. 02642, for example. This type of radiation thermometer measures the body temperature by detecting infrared rays generated from a measurement object such as a tympanic membrane, so that it can measure the body temperature very accurately in principle.

[0003]

However, in this type of radiation thermometer, unless the infrared sensor is installed at a correct position with respect to the eardrum as a measurement object,
Correct measurement is not performed. None of the conventional radiation thermometers described above has a means for confirming whether or not the infrared sensor is installed at a correct position with respect to a measurement object such as an eardrum. Therefore, in conventional radiation thermometers, it is difficult to determine the direction when inserting the probe into the ear canal, it is difficult to determine whether the infrared sensor is looking at the eardrum correctly, and the infrared sensor is not accurately installed on the eardrum. Measurement was often performed, and a measurement error often occurred.

An object of the present invention is to provide a radiation thermometer capable of solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a radiation thermometer for detecting infrared rays generated from a measurement object such as a tympanic membrane. A propagation path defining means for determining a predetermined path for transmitting infrared rays generated from the measurement object to the measurement object; and a propagation path defining means which is installed at a position facing the other end of the predetermined path during body temperature measurement and propagates from the measurement object through a predetermined path. An infrared sensor for receiving a received infrared ray and generating a signal for instructing a body temperature, and determining whether or not the one end of the predetermined path has been installed at a correct position with respect to the measurement object as a preparation stage of the body temperature measurement. Finder means for allowing visual confirmation from the other end side, and the infrared sensor outside the field of view of the finder means in a preparation stage of the body temperature measurement. Although it allowed to location, during the temperature measurement, characterized in that it comprises a sensor moving means for moving to a position opposite the infrared sensor to the other end of the predetermined path.

[0006]

According to the configuration of the radiation thermometer of the present invention, the probe providing the propagation path defining means is inserted by the finder means while observing the ear canal, for example, and the infrared sensor can accurately detect the eardrum. After visually checking whether or not the probe has been installed, the infrared sensor can be moved to a position facing the eardrum to perform accurate body temperature measurement.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front view of a radiation thermometer as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view thereof. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the radiation thermometer of FIGS. 1 and 2 in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the radiation thermometer of this embodiment has a probe on one side of an upper part of a main body case 2 formed of a split member molded of a material such as plastic. 20 is attached and this probe 2
At 0, a probe cap 1 is attached.

On the other side of the main body case 2, a finder window 3 constituting a part of the finder means is provided. A liquid crystal display (LCD) 4 and a power switch 6 are provided at a substantially central portion on the front side of the main body case 2.
Is provided. A lever switch 5 is provided below the finder window 3 on the side surface of the main body case 2, and a switch operating member 5 </ b> A is provided on the lever switch 5 so as to be interlocked. A hand strap metal fitting 8 is provided at the lower end of the side surface of the main body case 2. On the side of the main body case 2 where the probe 20 is provided, a cap discharge knob 9 is provided immediately below the probe 20.
Is provided.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the finder window 3 extends through the probe 20 and the inside of the main body case 2.
, And a gold-plated copper pipe 10 constituting a propagation path defining means is provided. A heat sink 11 is attached to an end of the copper pipe 10 opposite to the probe 20 so as to surround the end. A slide groove 12 for a shutter is formed on the inner wall of the main body case 2 located immediately behind the end of the copper pipe 10 on which the heat sink 11 is attached, and the sensor is moved at a predetermined interval behind the shutter slide groove 12. Slide groove for plate 1
3 are formed, and furthermore, these grooves 12 and 1
3, a sensor slide groove 14 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the main body case 2, a lever switch 5 is connected, and as the lever switch 5 moves, a slide groove 1 for the sensor moving plate is formed.
A sensor vertical moving plate 15 adapted to be moved along 3 is arranged. A locking protrusion 15A formed by, for example, stamping is provided on the upper front surface of the sensor vertical moving plate 15, and the upper end of the sensor vertical moving plate 15 above the locking protrusion 15A is provided. The U-shaped portion and the locking projection 15A can hold the infrared sensor 16 movable along the sensor slide groove 14. . The front surface of the U-shaped portion of the sensor vertical moving plate 15 forms a shutter 17. The infrared sensor 16 has a sensor light receiving window 22 and a room temperature sensor 26. The shutter 17 shields the sensor light receiving window 22 of the infrared sensor 16 when the infrared sensor 16 is held by the U-shaped portion of the sensor vertical moving plate 15.

As shown in FIG. 3, between the probe 20 and the copper pipe 10, a transparent acrylic resin tube having a substantially truncated conical cross section black-coated on both sides so as to surround the copper pipe 10. A body 19 is provided. An illumination light-emitting diode (LED) 18 is arranged near an end of the transparent acrylic resin cylinder 19 inside the main body case 2. The transparent acrylic resin cylinder 19 and the light emitting diode 18 for illumination together form illumination means. Here, the reason why the light emitting diode is used as the illuminating means is that the emitted light has a wavelength shorter than the body temperature wavelength radiated from the eardrum or the like and does not heat the eardrum or the like.

A printed circuit board (PCB) 21 is disposed in the main body case 2. The infrared sensor 16 and the room temperature sensor 26 are electrically connected to the printed circuit board 21 to emit light for illumination. Diode 18
Are mounted and connected, and a light emitting diode switch 23 for illumination, an infrared sensor fixed position switch 24, and a shutter open switch 25 are mounted and connected to perform functions as described below. Further, on the printed circuit board 21, a microcomputer (not shown) constituting a CPU 30 (see FIG. 9) for performing control and various arithmetic processes as described later is mounted.

Next, the overall operation of the radiation thermometer having the above-described configuration will be described with particular reference to FIGS.

When the body temperature is to be measured using this radiation thermometer, the power switch 6 is pressed, and after the display "READY" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 4 (see FIG. 1), the lever switch 5 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6, the probe 20 covered with the probe cap 1 is inserted into the external auditory canal 27 as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. In this state, the infrared sensor 16 held by the U-shaped portion of the sensor vertical moving plate 15 is out of the position of the other end of the copper pipe 10, and the light from the external auditory canal 27 is, for example, a transparent material made of polyethylene. After passing through the tip of the probe cap 1 and traveling through the copper pipe 10, it can be viewed directly from the finder window 3.

However, actually, the probe cap 1
Is inserted, the external auditory canal 27 is dark, and it is considered that the external auditory canal 27 is not well understood even when the finder window 3 is viewed. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the transparent acrylic resin cylindrical body 19 having both surfaces painted black is provided, and the light emitting diode 18 for illumination is arranged at the end thereof, and the probe cap 1 is inserted into the ear canal 27. After that, by pressing the lever switch 5, the light emitting diode switch 23 is closed by the switch operating member 5A, and the light emitting diode 18 for lighting is turned on. Light emitting diode 1
8 is transmitted while reflecting inside the transparent acrylic resin cylindrical body 19, and from the tip of the probe portion, to the ear canal 2
7, the position of the eardrum 28 can be clearly seen from the finder window 3. An example of a state in which the eardrum 28 can be seen from the finder window 3 is schematically shown in FIG. Thus, the main body case 2 is fixed so that the eardrum 28 is located at the center of the view of the finder window 3.

Next, by pushing up the lever switch 5, the sensor vertical moving plate 15 is integrally moved while holding the infrared sensor 16, and first, the shutter 17 And the infrared sensor 16 is prevented from moving at the upper end of the sensor slide groove 14. At this point, the infrared sensor 1
The sensor light receiving window 22 of No. 6 is located on an extension of the copper pipe 10. When this position is attained, the infrared sensor fixed position switch 24 is turned on by the switch operating member 5A of the lever switch 5, and this ON signal causes a buzzer B. A buzzer sound is generated by Z (see FIG. 9), and it is informed that the infrared sensor 16 has reached the correct position with respect to the eardrum 28 as the measurement object via the copper pipe 10 as the propagation path defining means. FIG. 4 shows this state.
In this state, the lever switch 5 is stopped, and a signal is received from the infrared sensor 16 in a state where the shutter 17 is closed. When these operations are completed, a buzzer sound is emitted again, and the end of preparation for opening the shutter is notified.

Next, the lever switch 5 is pushed up to the uppermost position. The switch-up member 5A turns on the shutter open switch 25 by the switch operating member 5A, and the buzzer sounds again. By this operation, the infrared sensor 16 is prevented from moving further at the upper end of the sensor slide groove 14, so that only the shutter 17 (sensor vertical movement plate 15) is moved by the shutter slide groove 12 and the sensor movement plate. Up along the slide groove 13. At this time, the locking projection 15A of the sensor vertical moving plate 15 is
6, and the holding of the infrared sensor 16 is released. Thus, the shutter 17 opens the sensor light receiving window 22 of the infrared sensor 16, and the infrared sensor 16 receives infrared light from the eardrum 28 transmitted through the copper pipe 10. This state is shown in FIG.
Is shown in

The infrared sensor 16 outputs different electric signals when the shutter 17 is covered by the shutter 17 (the state shown in FIG. 4) and when the shutter 17 is opened and the infrared ray is received (the state shown in FIG. 5). Therefore, based on these signals, the CPU 30 mounted on the printed circuit board 21
Calculates the eardrum temperature according to a calculation principle known per se, and displays the temperature on the liquid crystal display 4 as the body temperature. In this calculation, a signal from the room temperature sensor 26 disposed in the infrared sensor 16 is also used to compensate for a change in room temperature in calculating the body temperature. Such a method of calculating the body temperature may be a known method, and will not be described in further detail.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a probe part of a radiation thermometer as another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, in the radiation thermometer of this embodiment, an insertion sensor 29 is arranged between the copper pipe 10 and the transparent acrylic resin cylinder 19 in the probe 20. The overall configuration and operation of the radiation thermometer of this embodiment is substantially the same as the radiation thermometer of the embodiment as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, and thus those points will not be described repeatedly and differ. Only the portions will be described below.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7,
The light emitting diode 18 is turned on by turning on and off the light emitting diode switch 23 by the switch operating member 5A of the lever switch 5, but in the embodiment of FIG. When the covered probe 20 is inserted into the ear canal, the light emitting diode 18 for lighting is automatically turned on so that the ear canal is illuminated.

For example, if a sensor that outputs a signal corresponding to a change in capacitance is used as the insertion sensor 29,
When the portion of the probe 2 is inserted into the ear canal, a capacitance change is caused, and a signal indicating the change is given to the sensor 2.
9, and the signal is automatically turned on by the light emitting diode 18 for illumination. In this way, the manually actuated light emitting diode switch 23 as required in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 is not required and the lever switch 5 must be depressed for its operation. No operation is required.

FIG. 9 shows a battery connector 31 for connecting a battery as a power supply provided in the main body case 2 of the radiation thermometer of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, an infrared sensor 16 and a room temperature sensor 26 provided in the main body case 2. , Insertion sensor 29,
Buzzer B. Z, liquid crystal display 4, lighting LED 18, power switch 6, infrared sensor fixed position switch 24, shutter open switch 25, etc., CPU 30, mounted on printed circuit board 21 arranged in main body case 2, analog FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a connection relationship with a power supply control unit 32, an analog circuit unit 33, and the like.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the radiation thermometer of the embodiment shown in FIG. (A) of FIG.
Indicates the timing at which the power switch 6 is turned on and off. FIG. 10B shows the timing at which the illumination light emitting diode is automatically turned on when the probe is inserted into the ear canal. FIG. 10C shows the timing at which the ear canal is illuminated. FIG. 10D shows the timing of the operation for searching for the eardrum position. FIG. 10E shows the timing at which the lever switch is moved. FIG. 10 (F) shows the relationship between the movement of the lever switch and the timing of urging the buzzer. FIG. 10G shows the timing of displaying the body temperature based on the eardrum temperature.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operations and operations common to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 and another embodiment described with reference to FIGS.

[0026]

According to the structure of the radiation thermometer of the present invention, the position of the infrared sensor facing the eardrum can be visually confirmed, so that the eardrum temperature can be accurately measured, the body temperature can be accurately measured, and the measurement error can be reduced. There is no danger.

Further, when the probe is inserted into the ear canal, the ear canal can be automatically illuminated. In this case, the ear canal can be easily viewed, and the infrared sensor is correctly set to the eardrum. Location can be easily found.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a radiation thermometer as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the radiation thermometer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing in detail an internal configuration of the radiation thermometer of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing an operation state of the radiation thermometer of FIGS. 1 and 2 different from that of FIG. 3;

5 is a partial sectional view showing still another operation state of the radiation thermometer of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a state where a probe part of the radiation thermometer of FIG. 1 is inserted into an ear canal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the position of the eardrum can be seen in the field of view of the finder window of the radiation thermometer in the state of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged schematic sectional view of a probe part of a radiation thermometer as another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram showing a connection relation of each component of the radiation thermometer of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation sequence of the radiation thermometer of the embodiment shown in FIG.

11 is common to the embodiment described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 7 and another embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows those operations and operations.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe cap 2 Main body case 3 Finder window 4 Liquid crystal display 5A Switch operating member 5 Lever switch 6 Power switch 7 Battery lid 8 Had strap metal fitting 9 Cap ejection knob 10 Copper pipe 11 Heat sink 12 Slide groove for shutter 13 Slide for sensor moving plate Groove 14 Slide groove for sensor 15 Sensor vertical moving plate 15A Locking protrusion 16 Infrared sensor 17 Shutter 18 Light emitting diode for illumination 19 Transparent acrylic resin cylinder 20 Probe 21 Printed circuit board 22 Sensor light receiving window 23 Light emitting diode switch 24 Infrared sensor constant Position switch 25 Shutter open switch 26 Room temperature sensor 27 Ear canal 28 Tympanic membrane 29 Insertion sensor 30 CPU

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Hiroji Sato, Inventor 5-5-23 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Masaken Koshino 5-5-23-Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References Patent 2537033 (JP, B2)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A radiation thermometer for detecting infrared rays generated from a measurement object such as an eardrum, wherein when one end is placed at a correct position with respect to the measurement object, the infrared rays generated from the measurement object move to the other end. A propagation path defining means for determining a predetermined path for propagating light, and an infrared ray that is installed at a position facing the other end of the predetermined path during body temperature measurement and receives infrared light propagating through the predetermined path from the measurement object to indicate the body temperature. An infrared sensor for generating a signal for performing
A finder means for visually confirming from the other end side whether or not the one end of the predetermined path is set at a correct position with respect to the measurement object as a preparation step for the body temperature measurement, and While the infrared sensor is located outside the field of view of the finder means, at the time of measuring the body temperature, a sensor moving means for moving the infrared sensor to a position facing the other end of the predetermined path. A radiation thermometer, comprising: 2. The radiation thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said finder means includes illumination means for illuminating said measurement object. 3. The radiation thermometer according to claim 2, wherein said lighting means is a light emitting diode. 4. The radiation thermometer according to claim 2, wherein said lighting means is turned on and off in conjunction with movement of said sensor moving means. 5. The radiation thermometer according to claim 2, wherein the illumination unit is turned on / off by a signal of a sensor that senses that the propagation path defining unit is opposed to the measurement object.