US5066141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic clinical thermometer
Assignee: Terumo Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-04
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2010-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An electronic clinical thermometer of the present invention can maintain a high precision of prediction in a wider range of changes in temperature by storing a plurality of prediction methods and setting a prediction method for the equilibrium temperature in accordance with changes in detected temperature with the passage of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Makoto Ikeda
- 👤 Makoto Toriumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/42; G01K13/00; G01K13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An electronic clinical thermometer, comprising: temperature detection means for detecting temperature in a region to be measured; classifying means for classifying states of changes in temperature into a plurality of predetermined groups in dependence upon a change in temperature during a predetermined period prior to a prediction operation; memory means for previously storing a plurality of sets corresponding to the predetermined groups of said classifying means, each set including at least one of an operational expression and a prediction realization condition of equilibrium temperature; prediction method setting means for selecting one of the sets stored in said memory means in accordance with changes in the temperature detected over a passage of time; and predictive operation means for predictively calculating an equilibrium temperature by a prediction method using the set selected by said prediction method setting means and the temperature detected by said temperature detection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An electronic clinical thermometer, comprising: temperature detection means for detecting temperature in a region to be measured; classifying means for classifying states of changes in temperature into a plurality of predetermined groups in dependence upon a change in temperature during a predetermined period prior to a prediction operation; memory means for previously storing a plurality of sets corresponding to the predetermined groups of said classifying means, each set including at least one of an operational expression and a prediction realization condition of equilibrium temperature; prediction method setting means for selecting one of the sets stored in said memory means in accordance with changes in the temperature detected over a passage of time; and predictive operation means for predictively calculating an equilibrium temperature by a prediction method using the set selected by said prediction method setting means and the temperature detected by said temperature detection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said prediction method setting means sets the prediction method before and during the prediction operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 2, wherein said prediction method setting means repeatedly sets the prediction method during the prediction operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 3, wherein said prediction method setting means irregularly sets the prediction method.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein said prediction method setting means cyclically sets the prediction method.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic clinical thermometer according to claim 1, wherein each of the sets stored in said memory means includes at least one prediction realization condition of equilibrium temperature and a corresponding operational expression.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for detecting an equilibrium temperature, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting temperature in a region to be measured; (b) classifying states of changes in temperature into a plurality of predetermined groups in dependence upon a change in temperature during a predetermined period prior to a prediction operation; (c) storing a plurality of sets prior to performing the prediction operation, each set corresponding to one of the predetermined groups used for classifying in step (b) and including at least one of an operational expression and a prediction realization condition of equilibrium temperature; (d) selecting one of the sets stored in step (c) in accordance with changes in the temperature detected in step (a) over a passage of time; and (e) predictively calculating the equilibrium temperature by a prediction method using the set selected in step (d) and the temperature detected in step (a).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for detecting an equilibrium temperature, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting temperature in a region to be measured; (b) classifying states of changes in temperature into a plurality of predetermined groups in dependence upon a change in temperature during a predetermined period prior to a prediction operation; (c) storing a plurality of sets prior to performing the prediction operation, each set corresponding to one of the predetermined groups used for classifying in step (b) and including at least one of an operational expression and a prediction realization condition of equilibrium temperature; (d) selecting one of the sets stored in step (c) in accordance with changes in the temperature detected in step (a) over a passage of time; and (e) predictively calculating the equilibrium temperature by a prediction method using the set selected in step (d) and the temperature detected in step (a).
Claim 10
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of measuring temperature using an electronic thermometer, comprising the steps of: (a) sampling temperature to produce temperature samples corresponding to different points in time; (b) selecting one set from among a plurality of sets in dependence upon change in the temperatures samples over time, each set including a prediction method and a prediction realization condition for determining when to use the prediction method; and (c) predicting equilibrium temperature using the prediction method in the set selected in step (b) when the prediction realization condition in the set selected in step (b) is met.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of measuring temperature using an electronic thermometer, comprising the steps of: (a) sampling temperature to produce temperature samples corresponding to different points in time; (b) selecting one set from among a plurality of sets in dependence upon change in the temperatures samples over time, each set including a prediction method and a prediction realization condition for determining when to use the prediction method; and (c) predicting equilibrium temperature using the prediction method in the set selected in step (b) when the prediction realization condition in the set selected in step (b) is met.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting in step (b) is performed in dependence upon a first differential between a first pair of temperature samples having a time interval therebetween of four to 20 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the time interval between the first pair of temperature samples is approximately six seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said selecting in step (b) is further performed in dependence upon the first differential divided by a second differential between a second pair of temperature samples obtained in step (a) after the first pair of temperature samples, the second pair of temperature samples having a time interval therebetween of four to twenty seconds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said selecting in step (b) is performed in dependence upon the following ratio ##EQU7## where T represents one of the temperature samples and 6, 12, 24 and 30 represent an approximate number of seconds which have passed since initiation of said sampling in step (a).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of (d) storing the plurality of sets prior to said sampling, selecting and predicting in steps (a)-(c).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the prediction method and the realization condition in each of the sets form a unique set.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the prediction method in each of the sets is of the form: ##EQU8##
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |