Patent US2751432A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3603150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Disposable body temperature sensor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-11-19
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A medically accurate disposable body temperature sensor employing a bar of high-purity crystalline germanium. The germanium bar is disposed within a plastic rod and ambipolar electrical contacts are made to opposed ends of the bar. Ambipolar contacts in conjunction with high-purity germanium assure accurate, reproducible thermometry. A digital readout into which the thermometer is to be selectively connected including a circuit for insuring a linearized reading over the temperature range of interest is also provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen L Kurtin
- 👤 Carver A Mead
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 17:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/16; G01K7/22; G01K7/24; G01K7/25; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49085; Y10T29/49101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
In a disposable human body temperature-measuring thermometer; a bar of crystalline germanium having a pair of spaced, ambipolar contacts, said bar of germanium being of a material selected from the group consisting of germanium of N-type conductivity in which the net donor concentration is 8 X 1012/cm.3 or less and germanium of P-type conductivity in which the net acceptor concentration is 5 X 1013/cm.3 or less.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a disposable human body temperature-measuring thermometer; a bar of crystalline germanium having a pair of spaced, ambipolar contacts, said bar of germanium being of a material selected from the group consisting of germanium of N-type conductivity in which the net donor concentration is 8 X 1012/cm.3 or less and germanium of P-type conductivity in which the net acceptor concentration is 5 X 1013/cm.3 or less.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
140 words
A disposable human body temperature-measuring thermometer adapted to be connected to an electronic readout device including resistance-measuring means for measuring the resistance between the contacts of a body temperature sensor element comprising: a. a bar of Crystalline germanium having a pair of spaced, ambipolar contacts, said bar of germanium being of a material selected from the group consisting of germanium of N-type conductivity in which the net donor concentration is 8 X 1012/cm.3 or less and germanium of P-type conductivity in which the net acceptor concentration is 5 X 1013/cm.3 or less; b. a nonconducting elongate rod suitable for use in body cavities, said rod defining a bar-receiving opening therein to receive said bar of germanium; c. said bar of germanium being disposed within said opening in said rod; and d. means for coupling said contacts to said resistance-measuring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
A disposable human body temperature-measuring thermometer adapted to be connected to an electronic readout device including resistance-measuring means for measuring the resistance between the contacts of a body temperature sensor element comprising: a. a bar of Crystalline germanium having a pair of spaced, ambipolar contacts, said bar of germanium being of a material selected from the group consisting of germanium of N-type conductivity in which the net donor concentration is 8 X 1012/cm.3 or less and germanium of P-type conductivity in which the net acceptor concentration is 5 X 1013/cm.3 or less; b. a nonconducting elongate rod suitable for use in body cavities, said rod defining a bar-receiving opening therein to receive said bar of germanium; c. said bar of germanium being disposed within said opening in said rod; and d. means for coupling said contacts to said resistance-measuring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A thermometer as defined in claim 2, wherein said opening in said elongate rod is located near one end thereof and wherein said rod carries a pair of separated electrical conductors connected one to each of said contacts on said bar, said conductors terminating near the opposite end of said rod and being adapted to be connected to an electronic circuit means for generating a signal representative of the temperature of said bar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermometer of claim 2, wherein said resistance-measuring means includes means for displaying the temperature of said semiconductor body digitally in appropriate temperature units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
In the thermometer defined in claim 2, wherein said rod includes a pair of spaced metallic conductors disposed upon the surface thereof to serve as said means for coupling said contacts to said resistance-measuring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the thermometer defined in claim 5, wherein contact is made between said conductors and said bar of germanium by the use of solder disposed near opposed ends of said bar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the thermometer defined in claim 6, wherein said solder includes indium as a major constituent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |