Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20020138275?dq=7,517,222
Timestamp: 2014-07-10 20:28:37
Document Index: 260373061

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 24', 'art 21', 'art 25', 'art 7', 'art 27', 'art 27', 'art 32', 'art 36', 'art 36', 'art 36', 'art 40', 'art 27', 'art 27', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 42', 'art 29', 'art 30', 'art 24', 'art 44', 'art 27', 'art 40', 'art 40', 'art 27', 'art 40', 'art 36', 'art 36', 'art 32', 'art 42', 'art 35', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 36', 'art 36', 'art 21', 'art 44', 'art 32', 'art 35', 'art 30', 'art 27', 'art 27']

Patent US20020138275 - Measuring system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA measuring system according to the present invention comprises a biosensor 2, a measuring device 1 being capable of assaying a specified component in a biological sample applied to the sensor 2 as dotted with high accuracy, and an optional device 22 which notifies a measuring procedure or a measurement...http://www.google.com/patents/US20020138275?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20020138275 - Measuring systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20020138275 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 09/958,990PCT numberPCT/JP2001/001150Publication dateSep 26, 2002Filing dateFeb 19, 2001Priority dateFeb 18, 2000Also published asCN1164946C, CN1363039A, EP1172651A1, EP1172651A4, US7024367, WO2001061340A1Publication number09958990, 958990, PCT/2001/1150, PCT/JP/1/001150, PCT/JP/1/01150, PCT/JP/2001/001150, PCT/JP/2001/01150, PCT/JP1/001150, PCT/JP1/01150, PCT/JP1001150, PCT/JP101150, PCT/JP2001/001150, PCT/JP2001/01150, PCT/JP2001001150, PCT/JP200101150, US 2002/0138275 A1, US 2002/138275 A1, US 20020138275 A1, US 20020138275A1, US 2002138275 A1, US 2002138275A1, US-A1-20020138275, US-A1-2002138275, US2002/0138275A1, US2002/138275A1, US20020138275 A1, US20020138275A1, US2002138275 A1, US2002138275A1InventorsYoshinori Amano, Yoshinobu Tokuno, Yoshihiro Kataoka, Yoshiharu Sato, Shoji KawanakaOriginal AssigneeYoshinori Amano, Yoshinobu Tokuno, Yoshihiro Kataoka, Yoshiharu Sato, Shoji KawanakaExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (1), Classifications (7), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMeasuring systemUS 20020138275 A1Abstract A measuring system according to the present invention comprises a biosensor 2, a measuring device 1 being capable of assaying a specified component in a biological sample applied to the sensor 2 as dotted with high accuracy, and an optional device 22 which notifies a measuring procedure or a measurement result in the measuring device 1 by voice or the like by being combined with the measuring device 1. According to the so-constructed measuring system, even a weak-sighted person or those unfamiliar with handling of the device can perform measurement accurately and recognize a measurement result. Further, even when plural users require a voice function, only the measuring device which manages measurement data has to be held by each person, and the optional device can be shared, thereby reducing user's economical burden. When a voice output part has a breakdown, only the optional device has to be repaired and exchanged, and the measuring device can be used continuously, thereby enhancing convenience for a user. Images(8) Claims(27)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0036]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a measuring device and an optional device constituting a measuring system according to the present invention. [0037]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the measuring system according to the present invention. [0038]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the measuring device and the optional device constituting the measuring system according to the present invention, as seen from the base direction. [0039]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the optional device according to the present invention. [0040]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a battery storage part of the measuring device or the optional device according to the present invention. [0041]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional measuring device. [0042]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the reverse face of the conventional measuring device. [0043]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a biosensor. [0044]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional measuring device provided with a voice output function.
BEST MODE TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION [0045] Hereinafter, a measuring system according to the present invention will be specifically described based on figures. [0046] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the measuring system according to the present invention. In the figures, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 denote the same or corresponding parts. [0047] As shown in FIG. 1, a measuring device 1 is provided with a function of enabling measurement by itself, and a biosensor 2 is inserted in a sensor insertion slot 3 and a prescribed operation is performed, thereby displaying information such as a measurement result on a display means 5. An optional device 22 can be combined with the measuring device 1, and can receive information such as a measurement result from the measuring device 1 or perform guidance of a measuring operation in a state of being combined with the measuring device 1 as shown in FIG. 2. [0048] An opening 23 in which the measuring device 1 is inserted is provided in the front of the optional device 22, and the opening 23 has a slope part 24 which is formed so that the height H at the rear part is higher than the height h at the front part. An electronic circuit which generates a result obtained by communication with a communication part (both of them not shown) of the measuring device 1 or guidance of a measuring operation as a voice is provided inside the optional device 22, and the output is performed through a voice output part 21 on the top surface of the optional device 22. The top surface of the optional device 22 is shaped so that the display means 5 of the measuring device 1 can be seen even after integration, and an operating part 25 is provided on the side of the optional device 22. [0049] A concave portion 26, a battery storage part 7, and a connector part 27 for making electrical contact with the optional device 22 are provided on the reverse face of the measuring device 1 as shown in FIG. 3. [0050] Inside the measuring device 1, there are provided a measuring part comprising a converting means for converting an electrical resistance value of liquid to be examined, which liquid is obtained by the biosensor 2, to a characteristic value of the liquid to be examined, a storage means of the characteristic value, and a calculating means for performing various arithmetical operations such as an average value calculation based on a value stored in the storage means or the characteristic value obtained by measurement, a control means of the display means 5, a main printed board (not shown) provided with an electronic circuit such as a communicating means for communicating with the optional device 22, and an electrode part (not shown). The connector part 27 is formed at a portion of the main printed board unitedly, and a pattern 28 a for a ground connection is constructed to be longer than the other patterns. [0051] A battery 33 is stored in a battery storage part 32 on the reverse face of the optional device 22. A change-over switch 43 for switching a language of a voice to be outputted is provided at a part which is covered with a back cover 30. [0052]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the optional device 22 as seen from the opening 23 side. Inside the optional device 22, a lock lever 36 is provided in a state of being held with a supporting point 36 a as a center, and a lock part 36 b is usually energized in the direction of D due to an action of a spring 37. A flat part 36 c is provided on the opposite side of the lock part 36 b with the supporting point 36 a therebetween to be located inside the concave portion 38 at the bottom of the optional device 22. A reception part 40 for receiving the connector part 27 of the measuring device 1 is provided in the inner part of the opening 23. A communicating means (not shown) for communicating with the measuring device 1 is provided inside the optional device 22, and communication is performed through the connector part 27 and the reception part 40. A distance regulation rib 45 for regulating the distance between the measuring device 1 and the reception part 40 side is provided on the internal top surface of the opening 23. [0053] When the back cover 30 is attached to the measuring device 1, it is fixed to the measuring device 1 due to the action of a lock claw 30 a as shown in FIG. 5. While the battery 6 is pressed against the contact point 9 by a linear part 42 a of a rib 42 at this time, contact pressure between the contact point 9 and the battery 6 is appropriately kept by that the projection part 29 provided in the lower part of the contact point 9 makes contact with the contact point 9. [0054] An operation of the measuring system having the above-described construction according to the present invention will be described. [0055] When the measuring device 1 is integrated with the optional device 22, a flat part 30 b of the back cover 30 is pressed from an opening 31 of the measuring device 1 so that a lock is released, the back cover 30 and the battery 6 are removed from the measuring device 1, and the measuring device 1 is inserted from the opening 23 of the optional device 22. At this time, the measuring device 1 is led into the inside of the optional device 22 by a slope part 24 of the optional device 22. When the measuring device 1 is pushed further, a groove part 44 having the groove width W in the measuring device 1 and a guide rib 39 having the width W′ equal to the above-mentioned width W in the optional device 22 are combined, so that the connector part 27 of the measuring device 1 is led to the reception part 40 of the optional device 22, the pattern 28 a first makes contact with an electrode of the reception part 40 to establish a ground connection, and thereafter the rest patterns 28 are connected with the electrode. [0056] After the connection between the connector part 27 and the reception part 40 is completed, a lock part 36 b of the lock lever 36 of the optional device 22 and the concave portion 26 on the base of the measuring device 1 are engaged with each other, thereby fixing the measuring device 1 to the optional device 22. [0057] In a state where the measuring device 1 is locked in the optional device 22, the flat part 36C of the lock lever 36 is made not to protrude from the base of the optional device 22 in the concave portion 38 on the base of the optional device 22, so that the lock lever 36 is not released improperly. [0058] The back cover 30 removed from the measuring device 1 is attached to the optional device 22 as a cover for the battery storage part 32 of the optional device 22, and at this time the battery 33 is held by a curved part 42 b of the rib 42 on the back cover 30. The battery 6 removed from the measuring device 1 is stored in a storage part 35 provided in the optional device 22 at the same time. [0059] When being integrated, the measuring device 1 and the optional device 22 are driven by the battery 33 on the optional device 22 side. [0060] In a state where the measuring device 1 and the optional device 22 are combined, the biosensor 2 is attached in the sensor insertion slot 3 of the measuring device 1 to measure a sample, and at this time voice guidance for a measuring operation or a measurement result is outputted by voice from the voice output part 21. When measurement is not started while the measuring device 1 is on standby for measurement, the optional device 22 promotes measurement start by voice or the like. The remaining time until a measurement result is outputted is notified by voice or the like from the voice output means 21 of the optional device 22 during measurement, whereby a measurement operator can be easily informed of the elapsed time of the operation, and cutoff of power is informed when measurement is finished, whereby the elapsed time since a start of the measurement or the like is also notified from the voice output part 21 of the optional device 22. [0061] By operating the operating part 25 of the optional device 22, various setting operations such as volume setting of a voice to be outputted or setting of output repetition can be performed. Further, by operating the change-over switch 43, a language of a voice to be outputted can be switched. [0062] The initial setting of the measuring device 1 such as clock setting can be performed arbitrarily by rotation and push operations of the operating part 25 on the optional device 22 side, thereby correctly storing an acquisition date of a measurement value of measurement data or the like, while, when the initial setting of the measuring device 1 such as clock setting is not performed when the optional device 22 and the measuring device 1 are connected with each other, a need of the initial setting is notified from the voice output means 21, thereby avoiding that an operator who needs the optional device 22 improperly performs measurement without performing time setting. [0063] When an integration of the optional device 22 and the measuring device 1 is released, the flat part 36 c of the lock lever 36 in the optional device 22 is pressed, so that the lock lever 36 is rotated in the direction of an arrow E with the supporting point 36 a as a center, whereby the lock part 36 b and the concave portion 26 of the measuring device 1 are disengaged, and the measuring device 1 can be removed. [0064] As described above, the measuring system according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a measuring device 1 which takes a substance to be measured and analyzes components of the substance to be measured and an optional device 22 which can generate voice or the like by being combined with the measuring device, and is able to announce a measuring procedure or a measurement result in the measuring device 1 by voice by the optional device 22, whereby even a weak-sighted person or those unfamiliar with handling of the device can measure accurately and recognize a measurement result. [0065] The measuring device 1 and the optional device 22 having a voice function can be integrated and separated, whereby, even when plural users require the voice function, only the measuring device 1 which manages measurement data has to be held by each person, and the optional device 22 can be shared, resulting in reduction of user's burden. Further, when the voice output part 21 has a breakdown, only the optional device 22 has to be repaired and exchanged, and the measuring device 1 can be used continuously, thereby reducing inconvenience for a user. [0066] The groove part 44 is provided in the measuring device 1, and the guide rib 39 is provided on the optional device 22 side, whereby, when a conventional measuring device or other models, for example, are to be combined with the optional device 22, the guide rib 39 serves as a stopper, and thus a wrong insertion of the measuring device 1 can be prevented. [0067] When the back cover 30 is not removed from the measuring device 1 at the integration of the measuring device 1 and the optional device 22, the guide rib 39 abuts against the back cover 30, thereby preventing an irregular insertion of the measuring device 1. The same effect can be obtained also when the battery 6 is not removed from the measuring device 1, when the direction of the measuring device 1 is irregular, or when a measuring device which is not provided with the groove 44 is to be inserted. [0068] The back cover 30 of the measuring device 1 is removed to be attached to the battery storage part 32 of the optional device 22 when the measuring device 1 and the optional device 22 are integrated, thereby preventing loss of the back cover 30. At this time, the battery 6 removed from the measuring device 1 is stored in the battery storage part 35 of the optional device 22, thereby preventing loss of the battery and an accident due to its scatter. [0069] The flat part 30 b of the back cover 30 is pressed from the opening 31 of the measuring device 1 so that a lock is released when the back cover 30 is removed from the measuring device, whereby the back cover is not accidentally removed, resulting in prevention of an accident due to scatter of the battery. [0070] The pattern for a ground connection is constructed to be longer than the other patterns in the connector part 27 of the measuring device 1, whereby, when the measuring device 1 and the optional device 22 are combined, the ground connection is initially established and connections of the rest of the patterns are completed thereafter, resulting in an electrically stable and reliable connection. [0071] The connector part 27 is formed at a portion of a main substrate of the measuring device 1 unitedly, thereby realizing simplification of assembly processes due to reduction in parts count, assembly man-hour, and the like. [0072] Applicability in Industry [0073] As described above, according to a measuring system of the present invention, even when plural users require a voice function, only a measuring device which manages measurement data has to be held by each person, and an optional device can be shared, thereby reducing user's economical burden. Further, when a voice output part has a breakdown, only the optional device has to be repaired and exchanged, and the measuring device can be used continuously, thereby enhancing convenience for a user. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8700090 *Feb 15, 2008Apr 15, 2014Blackberry LimitedRadio accessory for a mobile device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification704/270International ClassificationG01D7/12Cooperative ClassificationG06Q50/24, G01D7/12, G01N33/48European ClassificationG06Q50/24, G01D7/12Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 12, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PANASONIC CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:032420/0956Effective date: 20131127Feb 25, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:032332/0155Effective date: 20081001Sep 4, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 2, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Dec 12, 2001ASAssignmentOwner name: ARKRAY, INC., JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:AMANO, YOSHINORI;TOKUNO, YOSHINOBU;KATAOKA, YOSHIHIRO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:012501/0474;SIGNING DATES FROM 20011105 TO 20011115Owner name: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., JAPANRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google