Patent Description:
A core body temperature means a temperature of an inside of human body, and a core body temperature measurement device for measuring the core body temperature has been developed variously and widely used.

Conventionally, in the core body temperature, as disclosed by <CIT>, the device is inserted into an ear to measure a temperature of drumhead. Here, a temperature difference between first and second sensors insulated with each other is used to obtain the core body temperature.

In addition, as disclosed by <CIT>, the device is inserted into the ear and the core body temperature is measured using an infrared ray.

However, in the conventional core body temperature device, a sensor is continuously exposed inside of an ear canal, and thus the user may feel uncomfortable or a foreign body. In addition, the exposed portion may be damaged or polluted to be malfunctioned.

Related prior arts are <CIT> and <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention is developed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related arts. The present invention provides a temperature measurement device having a thermistor-protruded structure, capable of increasing reliability of the results, being disinfected, and increasing convenience of user. The invention is as specified in the appended claims.

According to an example embodiment, core body temperature measurement device includes a body and an operation unit. The body is fixed to an ear canal of user. The operation unit is combined with a front side of the body, and is configured to be exposed to the ear canal or to be concealed inside, and has a sensor part. the sensor part measures a core body temperature of user when the operation unit is exposed to the ear canal.

In an example, the operation unit may include a cover frame configured to form an outer shape of the operation unit, a rotation part disposed inside of the cover frame and configured to receive a driving force to be rotated, and first and second moving parts combined with both sides of the rotation part respectively and configured to move along an inner side of the cover frame when the rotation part is rotated.

In an example, the sensor part may be fixed to the second moving part. The sensor part may be exposed outside of the cover frame to measure the core body temperature, or may be concealed inside of the cover frame, according to the movement of the second moving part.

In an example, the operation unit may further include a disinfection part configured to disinfect the sensor part, when the sensor part is concealed inside of the cover frame.

In an example, the sensor part may include an extending portion fixed to the second moving part and extending along a direction, and a sensor disposed at an end of the extending portion, to measure the core body temperature.

In an example, the operation unit may include a cover part fixed to the first moving part, and configured to open or close an opening portion of the cover frame through which the senor part is exposed.

In an example, the operation unit may further include a guide part. The guide part may be tightly attached with the cover part and a first end of the guide part may be combined with the rotation part, to open or close the opening portion of the cover frame with the cover part. The guide part may form a guide in which the sensor part moves with exposed or concealed.

According to the present example embodiments, the sensor part is selectively exposed to the ear canal or is concealed inside, and the core-temperature is measured when exposed, and thus the sensor may be prevented from being infected or the user may feel less inconvenience or less foreign body since the sensor part is not always disposed in the ear canal.

An operation structure or motion for exposing or concealing the sensor part, is merely performed by the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the rotation part, and thus the operation structure or motion is very simple, so that the sensor part may be easily driven in a relatively narrow space of the ear canal. Thus, usability and productivity may be increased.

Here, the first and second moving parts are combined with the rotation part via a gear combination, so that the operation may be stably controlled with a stable combination state.

The cover frame is closed or open by the cover part, and at the same time, the exposure of the sensor part through the opening portion is performed with the movement of the cover frame, so that the control and the driving may be more simplified.

In addition, the sensor part is guided by the guide part, so that the exposure and the concealment of the sensor part may be performed with more increased reliability.

In addition, the sensor part is disinfected by the disinfection part when the sensor part is concealed, so that the sensor part which is disposed at the ear canal to be easily infected is prevented from being infected. Further, during the disinfection, the noxious light or material is prevented from being exposed to the user by the cover frame, so that the sensor part may be maintained more cleanly and may measure the core body temperature more correctly.

The invention is described in the appended claims. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a core body temperature measurement device inserted into an ear canal according to an example embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the core body temperature measurement device of <FIG>. <FIG> is a plan view illustrating an operation unit of the core body temperature measurement device of <FIG>, and <FIG> and <FIG> are plan views illustrating examples of the operation of the core body temperature measurement device of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the core body temperature measurement device <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, is inserted into an ear canal <NUM> of an ear <NUM> and is fixed to the ear canal <NUM>, for measuring the core body temperature of a user. The core body temperature measurement device <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, a front part <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, a driving part <NUM> and a power <NUM>.

The body <NUM> has a shape similar to an ear-phone, and forms a body of the core body temperature measurement device <NUM>. The body <NUM> is inserted into and fixed to the ear canal <NUM>. The body <NUM> forms an inner space in which the driving part <NUM> and the power <NUM> are received.

Here, the driving part <NUM> or the power <NUM> may be received or disposed in the operation unit <NUM>, or in the front part <NUM> except for the inner space of the body <NUM>. Further, the driving part <NUM> or the power <NUM> may be disposed outside of the body, and the position or disposition thereof may be variously changed.

The driving part <NUM>, for example, may be a miniature motor, and the driving part <NUM> generates the rotational force to provide the rotational force to the operation unit <NUM>.

In addition, the power <NUM> may provide a power source to the driving part <NUM>.

The operation unit <NUM> is fixed to a front side of the body <NUM> and thus is inserted more into the ear canal <NUM>. The front part <NUM> is additionally fixed to the front side of the operation unit <NUM>, to fix or enclose the operation unit <NUM>.

The thickness of the operation unit <NUM> may be relatively small, and both sides of the operation unit <NUM> are enclosed by the body <NUM> and the front part <NUM>, so that elements inside of the operation unit <NUM> are blocked from outside.

Accordingly, the core body temperature measurement device <NUM> according to the present example embodiment, has the shape similar to the conventional shape of the ear-phone, and is inserted into and fixed to the ear canal <NUM>, and then measures the core body temperature.

More specifically, referring to <FIG>, the operation unit <NUM> includes a cover frame <NUM>, a rotation part <NUM>, a first moving part <NUM>, a cover part <NUM>, a second moving part <NUM>, a sensor part <NUM> and a disinfection part <NUM>.

The cover frame <NUM> has a ring shape or a circular frame shape forming an inside space, and as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover frame <NUM> may have a predetermined thickness 't'.

The rotation part <NUM>, the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM>, the sensor part <NUM> and the disinfection part <NUM> are received in the inside space formed by the cover frame <NUM>. An opening portion <NUM> is formed at a first side of the cover frame <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, and the opening portion <NUM> is selectively open or closed by the cover part <NUM>.

The rotation part <NUM> is connected to a driving axis of the driving part <NUM>, and receives the rotational force from the driving part <NUM>. Thus, the rotation part <NUM> is rotated with respect to a center of the rotation part <NUM>. Here, the rotation part <NUM> may rotate with a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction, and the cover frame <NUM> is fixed even though the rotation part <NUM> rotates.

Here, the rotation part <NUM> rotates with respect to the cover frame <NUM>, inside of the cover frame <NUM>.

Concave portions and convex portions are alternately formed like a gear on an outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM>.

The first moving part <NUM> is disposed inside of the cover frame <NUM>, and is combined with the rotation part <NUM>. Thus, the first moving part <NUM> moves due to the rotation of the rotation part <NUM>.

Here, the first moving part <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM>. The first surface <NUM> is combined with the outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM> by a gear combination. The second surface <NUM> faces the first surface <NUM>, makes contact with an inner surface of the cover frame <NUM> and slidably moves on the inner surface of the cover frame <NUM>.

The first surface <NUM> may include gear teeth combined with gear teeth formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM>, to be combined with the outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM>.

Thus, when the rotation part <NUM> rotates, the first moving part <NUM> rotates with the same direction of the rotation part <NUM>, and here, the second surface <NUM> slides on the inner surface of the cover frame along the rotational direction of the rotation part <NUM>.

The cover part <NUM> is integrally formed with the first moving part <NUM> at a first side of the first moving part <NUM>, and open or close the opening portion <NUM> which is formed through the cover frame <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover part <NUM> encloses the opening part <NUM> at an initial state. To enclose, a first end of the cover part <NUM> is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM>, and a second end of the cover part <NUM> has an area larger than that of the opening portion <NUM> to entirely enclose the opening portion <NUM>.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the cover part <NUM> moves with the first moving part <NUM> according to the rotation of the rotation part <NUM>, and thus the cover part <NUM> is open. Although not shown in detail in the figure, to open the opening portion <NUM> due to the movement of the cover part <NUM>, an additional space in which the cover part <NUM> is disposed may be formed in the cover frame <NUM>.

The second moving part <NUM> is disposed inside of the cover frame <NUM> like the first moving part <NUM>. The second moving part <NUM> is combined with the rotation part <NUM> and rotates due to the rotation of the rotation part <NUM>.

Here, the second moving part <NUM> is disposed at an opposite side of the first moving part, and thus the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM> face each other.

The second moving part <NUM> includes a first surface <NUM> and a second surface <NUM>. The first surface <NUM> is combined with the outer circumferential surface of the rotation part <NUM> by a gear combination. The second surface <NUM> faces the first surface <NUM>, makes contact with the inner surface of the cover frame <NUM> and slidably moves on the inner surface of the cover frame <NUM>.

Thus, when the rotation part <NUM> rotates, the second moving part <NUM> rotates with the same direction of the rotation part <NUM>, and here, the second surface <NUM> slides on the inner surface of the cover frame <NUM> along the rotational direction of the rotation part <NUM>.

Accordingly, the rotation part <NUM>, and the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM> are received inside of the cover frame <NUM>, and here, the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM> are spaced apart and do not make contact with each other. Thus, a first space <NUM> and a second space <NUM> are formed inside of the cover frame <NUM>.

As the rotation part <NUM> rotates, the first and second spaces <NUM> and <NUM> moves along the movements of the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM>.

The sensor part <NUM> is disposed in the second space <NUM> in which the opening portion <NUM> is formed. Here, the sensor part <NUM> includes an extending portion <NUM> and a sensor <NUM>.

A first end of the extending portion <NUM> is fixed to an end surface of the second moving part <NUM>, and the extending portion <NUM> extends toward the cover part <NUM> or the opening portion <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> is formed at a second end of the extending portion <NUM>, and for example, may be a thermistor measuring a body temperature.

Accordingly, as the senor part <NUM> is fixed to the second moving part <NUM>, and thus as the second moving part <NUM> moves, the sensor part <NUM> also moves.

The disinfection part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, is disposed at a center of the rotation part <NUM>, but alternatively, the disinfection part <NUM> may be disposed at any position inside of the cover frame <NUM>, capable of disinfecting the sensor part <NUM>.

The disinfection part <NUM> generates a light to disinfect the sensor part <NUM>, specifically the sensor <NUM>, and the light from the disinfection part <NUM> may be, for example, UV LED capable of sterilizing.

Although not shown in the figure, the disinfection part <NUM> may be connected to an additional power source and may be ON or OFF by the operation of the power source. Alternatively, the disinfection part <NUM> is linked with the rotation part <NUM>, and thus may be ON or OFF according to a rotational direction of the rotation part <NUM>.

Here, as the rotation part <NUM> starts to rotate along the counterclockwise direction, the disinfection part <NUM> may be OFF, and as the rotation part <NUM> starts to rotate along the clockwise direction, the disinfection part <NUM> may be ON.

The disinfection part <NUM> generates the light for the sterilization, and thus the light generated from the disinfection part <NUM> should be blocked from being provided to the ear canal <NUM> of the user by the cover frame <NUM>. Thus, the above ON and OFF control for the disinfection part <NUM> is necessary, since the opening portion <NUM> is operated with covered by the cover part <NUM>.

Alternatively, the disinfection part <NUM> may be manually controlled by the user, and here, the disinfection part <NUM> should be operated with the opening portion <NUM> closed or covered as mentioned above.

In the present example embodiment, an example in which the sensor part <NUM> is fixed to the second moving part <NUM>, which means that the single sensor part <NUM> is equipped, is explained, but alternatively, a pair of sensor parts <NUM> may be equipped.

That is, the sensor part <NUM> may be disposed both in the second space <NUM> and the first space <NUM>. Here, the opening portion <NUM> explained above may be also formed at an opposite side symmetrically, and the cover part <NUM> may be formed to enclose the opening portion at the symmetric position and the cover part <NUM> should be connected and fixed to the second moving part <NUM>. In addition, the additional sensor part may be connected to the first moving part <NUM> and may be disposed in the first space <NUM>.

Thus, as the rotation part <NUM> rotates along the counterclockwise direction or the clockwise direction, the pair of sensor parts may be respectively exposed through the opening portions formed at the opposite sides at the same time, and may be concealed inside of the opening portions at the same time.

Hereinafter, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the operation of the operation unit <NUM> is explained.

First, referring to <FIG>, at the initial state, the opening portion <NUM> of the cover frame <NUM> is enclosed by the cover part <NUM>, and the sensor part <NUM> fixed to the second moving part <NUM> is disposed in the second space <NUM>.

Then, referring to <FIG>, as the rotation part <NUM> rotates along the counterclockwise direction, the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM> combined with the gear teeth of the rotation part <NUM> also rotates along the counterclockwise direction.

Accordingly, the cover part <NUM> fixed to the first moving part <NUM> also moves along the counterclockwise direction, and thus the opening portion <NUM> is open.

Here, the sensor part <NUM> fixed to the second moving part <NUM> also moves along the counterclockwise direction, and the extending portion <NUM> is curved and the extending direction of the extending portion <NUM> is changed due to the cover part <NUM>. Then, the sensor <NUM> is protruded into the opening portion <NUM>.

Here, the extending portion <NUM> may include a flexible or elastic material, and thus the moving or extending direction of the extending portion <NUM> may be changed by the cover part <NUM>.

Accordingly, as the sensor <NUM> passes through the opening portion <NUM> to be protruded to outside, the sensor <NUM> makes contact with or becomes closer to a skin <NUM> of the ear canal <NUM> to measure the core body temperature of the user.

Then, referring to <FIG>, after the measurement for the core body temperature is completed, the rotation part <NUM> rotates along the clockwise direction, and thus the first and second moving parts <NUM> and <NUM> combined with the gear teeth of the rotation part <NUM> also move along the clockwise direction.

Then, the cover part <NUM> fixed to the first moving part <NUM> also moves along the clockwise direction, to enclose the opening portion <NUM>.

Here, the sensor part <NUM> fixed to the second moving part <NUM> also moves along the clockwise direction, and thus the sensor part <NUM> is positioned inside of the second space <NUM>.

Accordingly, as the sensor part <NUM> is positioned inside of the second space <NUM>, the disinfection part <NUM> is automatically or manually operated, to sterilize the sensor part <NUM>.

Then, if the measurement for the core body temperature is necessary again, the above-mentioned operations are repeated.

<FIG> are plan views illustrating an operation unit and an operation state of a core body temperature measurement device according to another example embodiment of the present invention.

The core body temperature measurement device according to the present example embodiment is substantially same as the core body temperature measurement device according to the previous example embodiment, except that an operation unit <NUM> further includes a guide part <NUM>, and thus same reference numerals are used for the same elements and any repetitive explanation will be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, in the present example embodiment, the operation unit <NUM> further includes the guide part <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM> may be combined with the cover part <NUM>, or may be integrally formed with the cover part <NUM>, to guide the movement of the sensor part <NUM>.

The guide part <NUM>, as illustrated in the figure, includes an inner guide <NUM> and an outer guide <NUM> integrally formed with each other. A first end of the inner guide <NUM> is combined with and fixed to the rotation part <NUM> via a gear combination, and a second end of the outer guide <NUM> is exposed to outside and selectively opens or closes the opening portion <NUM> with the cover part <NUM>.

Here, the guide part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, a curved portion is formed between the inner guide <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM>, and thus, the sensor <NUM> is disposed on the curved portion when the sensor part <NUM> is received in the second space <NUM>.

Thus, the sensor <NUM> is prevented from being impacted to the rotation part <NUM> or the cover frame <NUM> since the positon of the sensor <NUM> is fixed in the second space <NUM>, and thus the sensor <NUM> is prevented from being damaged.

In addition, when the sensor <NUM> of the sensor part <NUM> is exposed outside, the outer guide <NUM> forms a moving guide to control the protruded direction of the sensor <NUM>. The outer guide <NUM> includes an inclined surface, and thus the sensor <NUM> is exposed outside through the opening portion <NUM> along the inclined surface.

Accordingly, the guide part <NUM>, in the present example embodiment, solves the problem that the sensor <NUM> is exposed along an unintended direction and thus the sensor <NUM> is not exposed toward the skin <NUM> of the ear canal <NUM>, and thus the sensor <NUM> may be positioned at an optimized position for the core body temperature measurement.

Claim 1:
A core body temperature measurement device (<NUM>) comprising:
a body (<NUM>) configured to be fixed to an ear canal (<NUM>) of a user; and
an operation unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) combined with a front side of the body (<NUM>), and having a sensor part (<NUM>) configured to be exposed to the ear canal or to be concealed inside the operation unit (<NUM>, <NUM>);
the operation unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) further comprising:
a cover frame (<NUM>) configured to form an outer shape of the operation unit (<NUM>, <NUM>), and positioned to face a skin surface of the ear canal;
a rotation part (<NUM>) disposed inside of the cover frame (<NUM>), and configured to receive a driving force to be rotated;
first (<NUM>) and second (<NUM>) moving parts combined with opposing sides of the rotation part (<NUM>) respectively, and configured to move along an inner side of the cover frame (<NUM>) when the rotation part (<NUM>) is rotated; and
a cover part (<NUM>) fixed to the first moving part (<NUM>), and configured to open or close an opening portion (<NUM>) of the cover frame (<NUM>) through which the sensor part is exposed;
wherein the sensor part (<NUM>) is configured to measure a core body temperature of user when it is exposed to the ear canal (<NUM>);
wherein the sensor part (<NUM>) is fixed to the second moving part (<NUM>);
wherein the sensor part (<NUM>) is configured to be exposed outside of the cover frame (<NUM>) along a lateral direction toward the skin of the ear canal (<NUM>), to measure a core body temperature of the user as the second moving part (<NUM>) moves and the cover part (<NUM>) opens the opening portion (<NUM>);
wherein the sensor part (<NUM>) is configured to be concealed inside of the cover frame (<NUM>) along the lateral direction away from the skin of the ear canal (<NUM>), as the second moving part (<NUM>) moves and the cover part (<NUM>) closes the opening portion (<NUM>).