EP0877250A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispensing instrument for fluid monitoring sensors
Assignee: Bayer AG
•
Filing: 1998-04-14
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A sensor dispensing instrument houses a sensor pack having a plurality of fluid sensors and is used to eject one of the sensors from the sensor pack so that it can be placed in a testing position with the sensor projecting from the instrument. Data generated by the sensor when a testing end of the sensor is placed in a fluid to be tested is transferred to data processing circuitry on a printed circuit board disposed within the instrument. Information regarding tests conducted can be displayed on a display screen disposed in the instrument In addition, user actuated buttons disposed adjacent a data port connector permit the user of the instrument to input data to the electrical components on the printed circuit board or obtain information about the performed tests. The manually actuated buttons, the data port connector and the display screen are electrically coupled to the circuitry on the printed circuit board by an elastomeric connector. The connector has conductive filaments on three sides thereof and is sandwiched between the display screen and the printed circuit board with circuits on the display screen and printed circuit board in contact with two opposite sides of the elastomeric connector and the user actuated buttons and data port connector making contact on a third side of the elastomeric connector. The elastomeric connector consists of a generally silicone sponge rubber core with U-shaped metal filaments wrapped around the core.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell J. Micinski
- 👤 Robert C Whitson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/483; G01N33/487; G01N33/4875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A sensor dispensing instrument for
handling a plurality of fluid sensors retained in a
sensor pack, said sensors generating electrical data
during a fluid test, said instrument comprising: an outer housing; a display means in said housing for displaying
information; a circuit means disposed in said housing
adjacent said display means and having data processing
means thereon to receive said electrical data generated
by said sensors; data means accessible from externally of said
housing and being electrically coupled to said circuit
means; and a flexible connector means disposed between
said display means and said circuit means and adjacent
to said data means for coupling said display means and
said data means to said circuit means, said connector
means having conductors on at least first and second
opposed sides and a third side extending therebetween
with said display means electrically coupled to said
first side of said connector means, said circuit means
electrically coupled to said second side of said
connector means, and said data means being electrically
coupled to said third side of said connector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said connector means includes a
soft core and wherein said conductors on said connector
means includes a plurality of conductive filaments
extending about said first, second and third sides of
said core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 2 wherein said soft core is a soft
silicone rubber and said conductive filaments are
metallic, generally U-shaped conductors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said display means and said
circuit means lie in generally parallel planes and said
connector means is sandwiched between said display means
and said circuit means such that said connector means is
retained between and electrically couples said display
means and said circuit means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 4 wherein said data means includes
contacts extending therefrom in a direction that is
generally parallel to the planes of said display means
and said circuit means and wherein said third side of
said connector means is generally at a right angle with
respect to said first and second sides of said connector
means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 4 including an additional flexible
connector sandwiched between said display mean and said
circuit means and providing electrical coupling between
said display means and said circuit means, said
additional connector and said connector means being
disposed at opposite edges of said display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said display means is a liquid
crystal display.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said circuit means is a printed
circuit board having data processing means thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said data means is a plurality
of manually actuated buttons for inputting information
into said circuit means or obtaining information from
said circuit means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said data means includes an
electrical connector coupled to said circuit means
through said connector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
219 words
A sensor dispensing instrument for
handling a plurality of fluid sensors retained in a
sensor pack, said sensors generating electrical data
during a fluid test, said instrument comprising: an outer housing; a display means in said housing for displaying
information, said display means being generally flat and
lies in a first plane; a printed circuit board disposed in said
housing adjacent said display means and having data
processing means thereon to receive said electrical data
generated by said sensors, said printed circuit board
being generally flat and lies in a second plane that is
generally parallel to said first plane; data means accessible from externally of said
housing and being electrically coupled to said data
processing means on said printed circuit board; and an elastomeric connector disposed between said
display means and said printed circuit board and
adjacent to said data means for coupling said display
means and said data means to said data processing means
on said printed circuit board, said connector having
conductors on at least first and second opposed sides
and a third side extending therebetween with said
display means electrically coupled to said first side of
said connector, said data processing means electrically
coupled to said second side of said connector, and said
data means being electrically coupled to said third side
of said connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 11 wherein said elastomeric connector
includes a soft rubber core and wherein said conductors
on said connector includes a plurality of conductive
filaments extending about said first, second and third
sides of said core.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 11 wherein said elastomeric connector is
sandwiched between said display means and said printed
circuit board such that pressure is applied against said
connector by said display means and said printed circuit
board to thereby retain said connector between said
display means and said printed circuit board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sensor dispensing instrument as set
forth in claim 13 including an additional flexible
connector sandwiched between said display mean and said
circuit means and providing electrical coupling between
said display means and said circuit means, said
additional connector and said elastomeric connector
being disposed at opposite edges of said display means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.