US5161892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Temperature measurement in R.F. locations
Assignee: Respiratory Support Products Inc
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Filing: 1991-08-30
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Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2011-08-30
Abstract
Abstract Temperature measurement with thermocouples is made more accurate, and the cost of disposable thermocouples is reduced by locating the cold junction close to the hot junction, utilizing a thermistor in thermal communication with the cold junction in developing a compensating voltage which varies with temperature as does the voltage produced by the cold junction, and applying the compensating voltage to cancel the cold junction voltage. The presence of radio frequency fields in the region of the thermocouple is detected and utilization of the thermocouple voltage is interrupted in intervals when the interference is greater than some preselected intensity. Further, the thermocouple voltage information is utilized to simulate the resistance a thermistor would have at the temperature represented by the thermistor voltage information and that simulated resistance is applied to instrumentation designed to measure temperature with a thermistor.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon Y. Shigezawa
- 👤 Anthony V. Beran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:13
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/02; G01K7/10; G01K7/12; G01K7/13; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00815; A61B2018/00821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of negating the effect of electromagnetic interference induced in the temperature sensing circuitry of a temperature measuring system further including a signal processor which receives temperature information from the sensing circuitry and transmits processed temperature information to a display, said electromagnetic interference having a magnitude associated therewith, which method comprises the steps of: a) developing signals indicative of the magnitude of said interference; and b) disabling transmission of processed temperature information to said display in intervals during which the magnitude of said interference exceeds some preselected value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
The method of negating the effect of electromagnetic interference induced in the temperature sensing circuitry of a temperature measuring system further including a signal processor which receives temperature information from the sensing circuitry and transmits processed temperature information to a display, said electromagnetic interference having a magnitude associated therewith, which method comprises the steps of: a) developing signals indicative of the magnitude of said interference; and b) disabling transmission of processed temperature information to said display in intervals during which the magnitude of said interference exceeds some preselected value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
102 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated electromagnetic field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; detection means for detecting said electromagnetic field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said electromagnetic field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated electromagnetic field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; detection means for detecting said electromagnetic field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said electromagnetic field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated radio frequency field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature at said site; signal processing means connected to said temperature sensing means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; radio frequency detection means for detecting said radio frequency field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said radio frequency field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated radio frequency field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature at said site; signal processing means connected to said temperature sensing means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; radio frequency detection means for detecting said radio frequency field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said radio frequency field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
257 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated electromagnetic field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; detection means for detecting said electromagnetic field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said electromagnetic field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication; said signal processing means comprising a means for developing digital information indicative of the potential produced at said hot junction, and wherein said disabling means further comprises means for storing said digital information and responsive to the presence or absence of said disabling signal to respectively utilize or not utilize said current digital information to provide said temperature indication; compensating means comprising a thermistor disposed in thermal proximity to said cold junction for generating a compensating potential corresponding, within a predetermined range of temperatures, to the potential developed at the cold junction; means for including the compensating potential in said thermocouple circuit means in opposition to the potential developed at the cold junction; said signal processing means being further responsive to the potential across the thermocouple circuit means for producing a simulated resistance whose value is indicative of that temperature; and indicating means responsive to the simulated resistance for providing indicating signals indicative of said temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
257 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated electromagnetic field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; detection means for detecting said electromagnetic field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said electromagnetic field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication; said signal processing means comprising a means for developing digital information indicative of the potential produced at said hot junction, and wherein said disabling means further comprises means for storing said digital information and responsive to the presence or absence of said disabling signal to respectively utilize or not utilize said current digital information to provide said temperature indication; compensating means comprising a thermistor disposed in thermal proximity to said cold junction for generating a compensating potential corresponding, within a predetermined range of temperatures, to the potential developed at the cold junction; means for including the compensating potential in said thermocouple circuit means in opposition to the potential developed at the cold junction; said signal processing means being further responsive to the potential across the thermocouple circuit means for producing a simulated resistance whose value is indicative of that temperature; and indicating means responsive to the simulated resistance for providing indicating signals indicative of said temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated radio frequency field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; radio frequency detection means for detecting said radio frequency field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said radio frequency field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
For measuring temperature at a selected site, said site having an associated radio frequency field intensity thereabout, the apparatus comprising: a thermocouple circuit means for sensing temperature at said site comprising a hot junction connected in series with a cold junction; signal processing means connected to said thermocouple circuit means for providing periodic indications of said temperature; radio frequency detection means for detecting said radio frequency field intensity and for providing a disabling signal when the magnitude of said radio frequency field intensity exceeds a selected magnitude; and disabling means responsive to said disabling signal for rendering the signal processing means ineffective to provide a temperature indication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention defined in claim 5 in which said signal processing means comprises a means for developing digital information indicative of the potential produced at said hot junction, and wherein said disabling means further comprises means for storing said digital information and responsive to the presence or absence of said disabling signal to respectively utilize or not utilize said digital information to provide said temperature indication.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein said cold junction develops a potential and which further comprises: compensating means comprising a thermistor disposed in thermal proximity to said cold junction for generating a compensating potential corresponding, within a predetermined range of temperatures, to the potential developed at the cold junction; and means for including the compensating potential in said thermocouple circuit means in opposition to the potential developed at the cold junction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention defined in claim 5 wherein a potential is developed across said thermocouple circuit means and which further comprises: signal processing means responsive to the potential across the thermocouple circuit means for producing a simulated resistance whose value is indicative of that temperature; and indicating means responsive to the simulated resistance for providing indicating signals indicative of said temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention defined in claim 8 wherein a potential is developed at said cold junction and which further comprises: compensating means comprising a thermistor disposed in thermal proximity to said cold junction for generating a compensating potential corresponding, within a predetermined range of temperatures, to the potential developed at the cold junction; and means for including the compensating potential in said thermocouple circuit means in opposition to the potential developed at the cold junction.
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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) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |