Probe for use in an infrared thermometer
US6637931B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J5/16
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention discloses a probe assembly for used in an infrared ear thermometer. Given that the exchanged thermal radiation and the infrared detector's temperature are known, the subject temperature can be calculated according to Stefan-Boltzman's law. To make the Stefan-Boltzman's law applicable in a dynamic environment where temperature may vary greatly, the contact temperature sensor (thermistor) must acuurately and fast track the temperature of the infrared detector (thermopile sensor). By using the heat transfer theorem, the disclosed assembly makes the thermistor accurately track the cold junction temperature of the thermopile chip without being in an isothermal condition. Not only minimizes the measurement error in a dynamic environment, the design of the disclosed probe assembly also makes a samll and compact infrared thermometer possible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.