Temperature measuring apparatus

A temperature measuring apparatus comprises a casing, an infrared sensor assembly, a probe, and a trigger device. The infrared sensor assembly is disposed in the casing. The trigger device is connected between the casing and the probe in such manner that when the probe moves toward the casing, the trigger device is activated by the probe to trigger the infrared sensor assembly to proceed sensing. The temperature measuring apparatus could be operated to measure without pressing any measuring button, so that the temperature measuring apparatus could have a stable operation in the measuring process. Hence, the error of the temperature measuring is reduced and the operation is more convenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a temperature measuring apparatus, and more particularly to an infrared temperature measuring apparatus.

2. Description of Related Arts

The conventional contact thermometer, such as the mercury-in-glass thermometer or the electrical resistance thermometer, should generally be contacted to the subject to be measured for a longer time for temperature measurement. However, due to the limitation of the contact area and the portion to be measured, the temperature measurement operation is relatively slow and inaccurate. Especially during the body temperature measurement of a baby, it is difficult to conduct a long time measuring. Such problems could be resolved if the infrared sensor would be adopted in the temperature measuring.

The subjects with different temperatures will respectively radiate infrared rays with different frequencies, so a device for receiving infrared rays could be used to detect the infrared rays in order to sense the temperature of a subject quickly. Conventionally, an infrared sensing device with a built-in infrared sensor, such as the infrared security device, the temperature sensor, the clinical thermometer, the forehead-temperature measuring gun, or the ear-temperature measuring gun, has already been used to detect the infrared ray of the subject for measuring the temperature of the subject.

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional infrared ear-temperature measuring gun is illustrated. When the ear-temperature of a human body is measured, firstly, a power supply button (not shown inFIG. 1) must press down to activate the measuring gun entering into a stand-by mode. Then, insert the probe11of the ear-temperature measuring gun1into the human auditory canal E to be measured, and, subsequently, press down a measuring button12disposed on the casing to switch the measuring gun into a measuring mode for measurement. After a period of time, the ear-temperature measuring gun finishes the temperature measurement that the detected infrared ray energy is converted and calculated to obtain the body temperature of the human body, which is shown on a display unit provided on the casing.

However, when the above mentioned ear-temperature measuring gun1is used to measure temperature, since the measuring button12for triggering the measuring is disposed on the casing, it is difficult for the user to control when should be the right time to press down the measuring button12. In addition, it is difficult for the user to operate and press down the measuring button12with his or her finger while aiming the ear-temperature measuring gun1at the auditory canal E, resulting in indirectly reducing the stability of the measuring procedure and adversely affecting the accuracy of the temperature measurement.

Hence, it is very important to provide an infrared temperature measuring apparatus with a maintainable stable operation, so as to reduce the error in the temperature measuring result and to render the operation more convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides an infrared temperature measuring apparatus which can be operated to measure temperature without utilizing any measuring button so as to maintain an operation stability of the apparatus, reduce the error of the temperature measuring result and render the temperature measuring operation being more convenient.

The present invention provides a temperature measuring apparatus, which comprises:

a casing;

a probe;

an infrared sensor disposed in the casing; and

a trigger device connecting the casing with the probe in such manner that when the probe moves toward the casing, the trigger device is activated to trigger the infrared sensor assembly to proceed sensing.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger device comprises a spring element or a push-button element.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the probe is arranged corresponding to the infrared sensor assembly or is connected to the infrared sensor assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature measuring apparatus further comprises a control circuit, which is disposed in the casing and electrically connected with the infrared sensor.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature measuring apparatus further comprises a information unit, which is electrically connected with the control circuit.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger device comprises a switch for transmitting a signal of the infrared sensor assembly to the control circuit when it is conducted by the movement of the trigger device.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger device comprises a switch for driving the control circuit to convert a signal of the infrared sensor assembly when it is conducted by the movement of the trigger device.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trigger device is moved to push the infrared sensor assembly to be electrically connected with the control circuit.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature measuring apparatus further comprises a display unit, which is provided on the casing and electrically connected with the control circuit to be controlled by the control circuit to display temperature data according to a signal of the infrared sensor assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the temperature measuring apparatus further comprises a mode switching component, which is provided on the casing and electrically connected with the control circuit for switching the control circuit to different measuring modes.

Accordingly, the trigger device of the temperature measuring apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is arranged corresponding with the probe thereof and the trigger device connects the casing with the probe. Therefore, when the probe moves toward the casing, the trigger device is activated to trigger the infrared sensor assembly to proceed sensing. Hence, the user can operate temperature sensing measurement simply by means of the triggering of the trigger device, resulting that the stability of the temperature measuring operation can be maintained without the need and operation of any measuring button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 2A,2B and2C,FIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bare sectional views of a temperature measuring apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2Cis a perspective view of the temperature measuring apparatus.FIG. 2Ais a sectional view illustrates the temperature measuring apparatus during an un-measuring mode, whileFIG. 2Billustrates the temperature measuring apparatus with the probe being pushed to a measuring mode.

The temperature measuring apparatus2comprises a casing21, an infrared sensor assembly22, a probe23and a trigger device24. The temperature measuring apparatus2is an infrared temperature measuring apparatus, which could be structurally designed for measuring temperatures of different portions with different structures and names, such as, but not limited to, ear-temperature measuring gun, forehead-temperature measuring gun or forehead and ear temperature measuring gun.

The infrared sensor assembly22is disposed in the casing21and the probe23is disposed correspondingly to the infrared sensor assembly22. In the present invention, the casing21is also functioned as a handle of the temperature measuring apparatus2. In the first preferred embodiment, the probe23has a through-hole231, which is disposed corresponding to the infrared sensor assembly22so as to permit the infrared ray to be sensed by the infrared sensor assembly22to enter into the through-hole231.

The trigger device24is connected between the casing21and the probe23. Alternatively, the casing21may be constructed by a plurality of sub-casings, wherein sub-casing to be handled by the user might be different from the sub-casing connected with the trigger device24. During operation, the head portion of the probe23contacts with a portion of the user to be measured, such as the ear. Then, when the user presses the probe23to force the probe to move toward the casing21, the probe23drives and activates the trigger device24to trigger the infrared sensor assembly22to proceed sensing. The trigger device24is connected to an inner portion of the probe23or connected to a side portion adjacent to the casing21of the probe23. According to the preferred embodiment, taking the structure that the trigger device24is connected to a side portion of the probe23as example, the trigger device24includes, but not limited to, an elastic element or a push-button unit. In this embodiment, the trigger device24comprises two push-button units241,242respectively connected with the casing21and the probe23.

Referring toFIG. 2B, an enlarged view of the push-button unit is illustrated. Each of the push-button units241,242has a spring SP and a switch S1with two electric conduction portions, wherein the two electric conduction portions are being not conducted electrically during the un-measuring mode, and that the spring SP has one end connected with the probe23and the other end connected with a conduction element C. Therefore, when the probe23is pressed against the measuring subject by the user to move the probe23toward the casing21that the probe23forces the springs SP of the push-button units241,242and the conduction elements C to move toward the casing21until the two conduction elements C are both contacted with the two electric conduction portions, the switch S1is electrically switched on. It is worth to mentioning that the switch S1could be designed to be switched on when one of the conduction elements C of the push-button units241,242is contacted with the respective electric conduction portion so as to increase the sensitivity of the measurement.

The temperature measuring apparatus2further comprises a control circuit25disposed in the casing21. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control circuit25is disposed in the casing21and a circuit board P1is provided in the casing21, wherein the infrared sensor assembly22is electrically connected with the control circuit25through a connecting terminal221.

The temperature measuring apparatus2further comprises a information unit26electrically connected with the control circuit25. The information unit26is disposed in the casing21and positioned on the circuit board P1of the control circuit25. The information unit26could be a sound generating unit, such as a buzzer, or an illuminating unit. Taking the buzzer as an example in the preferred embodiment, the prompt is used for reminding the user of the operating situation of the temperature measuring apparatus2. For example, when the main power supply of the temperature measuring apparatus2is turned on, the information unit26will send an informing message to inform the user that the main power supply is turned on. Alternatively, when the temperature measuring apparatus2starts the measuring, the information unit26will send another informing message to inform the user that the temperature measuring apparatus2begins to measure temperature. Alternatively, when the temperature measuring apparatus2finishes the measurement, the information unit26will send another informing message to inform the user that the measurement is completed. Accordingly, different informing messages can be designed to satisfy different operating requirements. It is obvious that the temperature measuring apparatus2could be designed to provide all the informing messages mentioned above. In this embodiment, it is preferred that when the temperature measuring apparatus2finishes the measurement, the information unit26will send a informing sound via the buzzer.

Furthermore, the temperature measuring apparatus2further comprises a display unit27disposed on the casing21and electrically connected to the control circuit25. The control circuit25converts and calculates the energy of the infrared ray to obtain a relative temperature, and then the control circuit25controls the display unit27to show this temperature.

Furthermore, the temperature measuring apparatus2further comprises a mode switching component28, such as a button. The mode switching component28is provided on the casing21and is electrically connected with the control circuit25. The control circuit25could be operated in different measuring modes by switching the control of the mode switching component28. For example, when the temperature measuring apparatus is in the ear-temperature measuring mode, if the user presses the mode switching component28, the mode will be switched into the forehead-temperature measuring mode. Additionally, the mode switching component28could be integrated with the trigger device24that when the trigger device24could be pressed for switching the measuring modes. For example, when the trigger device24is pressed twice, the measuring mode changes.

Referring toFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, the operation of the temperature measuring apparatus2is illustrated.

When the user turns on the main power supply and presses the probe23against a subject to be measured, such as the auditory canal of the human body, the probe23is pushed by the subject to be measured to move toward the casing21due to the reaction force from the subject, so as to electrically switch on the switch S1through the movement of the trigger device24(the push-button units241,242). When the switch S1is switched on, the infrared sensor assembly22receives the infrared ray and generates a signal which is transmitted to the control circuit25through the switch S1and converted by the control circuit25to calculate out a measured temperature and display on the display unit27. At the same time, the control circuit25also controls the information unit26to send out an informing message that the measurement is completed.

Alternatively, when the switch S1has not been switched on, the control circuit25has received the signal of the infrared sensor assembly22but not being converted and calculated yet. After the switch S1is switched on, the control circuit25does calculate and convert the received signal of the infrared sensor assembly22to display the measured temperature data on the display unit27. At the same time, the control circuit25also controls the information unit26to send out an informing message that the measurement is completed.

It is worth mentioning that, when the trigger device24is moved to switch on the switch S1, it drives the control circuit25to process calculation and conversion, and then the control circuit25controls the display unit27to display the measured temperature. Hence, the user can complete the operation of the temperature measuring apparatus2to measure the temperate without continuously applying pressure against the probe23. Of course, the temperature measuring apparatus2can has an alternative design, which requires to be equipped with another kind of control circuit, that the probe23needs to be continuously pressed until the measurement is completed, wherein, in addition, when the user stops the continuous pressing of the probe23, the spring SP will draw the probe23back to the un-measuring position to switch off the switch S1.

Referring toFIG. 3, an alternative mode of the temperature measuring apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment is illustrated.

The temperature measuring apparatus2aas shown inFIG. 3and the temperature measuring apparatus2are different in that the trigger device24ahas a push-button unit with a push rod T. In this embodiment, the push-button unit could be designed as a push-push type button, that is a button that can lock the connecting point simply by one single push. When the user pushes the probe23of the temperature measuring apparatus2ato force the probe23to move toward the casing21, the probe23directly drives the push rod T of the trigger device24ato move toward the casing21to further trigger the button switch S2disposed on the casing21or the circuit board P1to switch on the button switch S2. When the measurement is finished, simply by pushing the probe23to drive the push rod T once, the button switch S2is switched off for the next measurement.

Referring toFIG. 4, another alternative mode of the temperature measuring apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment is illustrated.

The temperature measuring apparatus2bas shown inFIG. 4and the temperature measuring apparatus2are different in that the infrared sensor assembly22bof the temperature measuring apparatus2bis connected with the probe23b, but not directly connected with the control circuit25b. Hence, when the probe23bmoves toward the casing21, the trigger device24bmoves to push the infrared sensor assembly22btoward the control circuit25bresulting that the connecting terminal221bof the infrared sensor assembly22bis electrically connected with control circuit25b. Thereby the control circuit25bis capable of receiving the signal of the infrared sensor assembly22b, and then converting the signal to calculate out a temperature for being displayed on the display unit27. At the same time, the control circuit25balso controls the information unit26to send out an informing message that the measurement is completed.

It is worth mentioning that, if the trigger device24bof the temperature measuring apparatus2bas shown inFIG. 4adopts a general push-button unit, the probe23bmust be continuously pressed to keep the signal of the infrared sensor assembly22bbeing continuously transmitted to the control circuit25buntil the informing message that the measurement is completed appears. If the trigger device24badopts the push-push type button of the temperature measuring apparatus2a, the trigger device24bis required to be pushed once and then to be pushed again after the informing message of the temperature measuring apparatus that the measurement is completed appears. Hence, it is unnecessary to continuously press the probe23b.

Furthermore, referring toFIG. 5, a temperature measuring apparatus3according to a second preferred embodiment is illustrated.

The temperature measuring apparatus3comprises a casing31, an infrared sensor assembly32, a probe33, and a trigger device34. The infrared sensor assembly32is disposed in the casing31. The probe33is arranged corresponding with the infrared sensor assembly32. The trigger device34is connected between the casing31and the probe33in such manner that when the probe33is moved toward the casing31, the trigger device34is activated by the probe22to trigger the infrared sensor assembly32to proceed sensing.

The temperature measuring apparatus3further comprises a control circuit35disposed in the casing31and electrically connected with the infrared sensor assembly32. The temperature measuring apparatus3further comprises an information unit36electrically connected with the control circuit35. The temperature measuring apparatus3further comprises a display unit37provided on the casing31and electrically connected with the control circuit35. The display unit37is controlled by the control circuit35to display temperature data according to the energy of the infrared ray received in the infrared sensor assembly32.

The temperature measuring apparatus3further comprises a mode switching component38provided on the casing31and electrically connected with the control circuit35for switching the control circuit35in different measuring modes.

In the second preferred embodiment, the trigger device34further comprises an elastic component343connecting the probe33with the casing31. Here, the elastic component343is arranged surrounding the outside of a through hole331and is connected with the casing31and the probe33respectively. The infrared sensor assembly32receives the infrared ray and generates a signal, then the elastic component343of the trigger device34moves to switch on the switch S3, so as to activate the control circuit35to convert the signal and to calculate out a temperature to be displayed on the display unit37. At the same time, the control circuit35also controls the information unit36to send out an informing message that the measurement is completed. When the user does not continuously press the probe33, the elastic component343will drive the probe33back to the un-measuring position and to switch off the switch S2.

Hence, according to the embodiments mentioned above, the trigger device could be designed to drive the temperature measuring apparatus to begin the measuring without pressing any measuring button.

In view of the temperature measuring apparatus of the present invention, the probe is arranged corresponding to the infrared sensor assembly, and the trigger device is connected between the casing and the probe in such manner that when the probe is moved toward the casing, the trigger device is activated by the probe to trigger the infrared sensor assembly to proceed sensing. Hence, the temperature measuring apparatus not only could have a stable operation in the measuring process, but also could proceed measuring without pressing any measuring button, so as to accurately control the trigger time and the finish time of the measurement.