Patent ID: 8186876

Claim:
An IR thermometer apparatus having a tip assembly, said tip assembly comprising: a tip section defined by a heat sink having a cavity, a fluid path defined within said tip section, and at least one hydraulic port; an IR sensor disposed within said tip section and thermally coupled to said heat sink; a shroud overlaying at least said tip section; an electrical connector configured to provide electrical coupling to an electronic circuit disposed within said tip assembly, wherein a fluid having a fluid temperature is introduced into said fluid path via said at least one hydraulic port, and wherein said fluid causes said heat sink and said IR sensor to substantially reach one or more pre-determined temperatures by thermal conduction during calibration of said tip assembly and wherein said fluid is substantially removed after calibration; a cover detection mechanism to detect attachment of a calibration cover, said calibration cover comprising a reflective surface over a window of said IR sensor; and a heating element electrically configured to be heated to a predetermined temperature on detection of placement of said calibration cover on said tip assembly, and wherein the reflective surface over the window of the IR sensor reflects IR radiation from said heating element, said received IR radiation being used as a calibration check of said tip assembly.