Electronic thermometer

Claim 2

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measuring means including an electrical bridge network having a detector responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network to tend to rebalance said bridge network; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said altering means including means for deliberately unbalancing said bridge network to alter the state of said detector.

Claim 3

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensing means is a temperature responsive transducer.

Claim 4

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said transducer is a thermistor.

Claim 5

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said measuring means includes a counter.

Claim 6

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said counter is a digital counter and display.

Claim 7

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measuring means including a counter; means responsive to said measuring means for providing pulses dependent on the sensed parameter; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said rate of change being measured by the pulse rate of said pulses.

Claim 8

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measuring means including a counter; means responsive to said measuring means for providing pulses dependent on the sensed parameter; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said rate of change being measured by the pulse rate of said pulses.

Claim 9

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for altering said measuring means only alters said measuring means at the beginning of a measurement cycle.

Claim 10

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for altering said measuring means only alters said measuring means at the end of a measurement cycle.

Claim 11

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measurement means including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm impedance selectively varied by a digital counter, said counter being responsive to pulses generated by an unbalanced state of said bridge network; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said altering means being-responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter to deliberately unbalance said bridge network and alter the count registered in said counter.

Claim 12

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measurement means including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm impedance selectively varied by a digital counter, said counter being responsive to pulses generated by an unbalanced state of said bridge network; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said altering means being-responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter to deliberately unbalance said bridge network and alter the count registered in said counter.

Claim 13

Electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 9, and further including: digital display means connected to said digital counter for displaying the count registered in said counter in eye readable form.

Claim 14

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored, said second means including a digital counter; third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; and fourth means responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 15

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored, said second means including a digital counter; third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; and fourth means responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 16

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fourth means only alters said output measurement at the beginning of a temperature measurement cycle.

Claim 17

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said fourth means only alters said output measurement at the end of a temperature measurement cycle.

Claim 18

Electronic thermometer apparatus, comprising: electrical bridge means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored, said bridge means including a balancing arm having a plurality of shunt resistors; a switching means for each of said resistors for selectively inserting and removing each of said resistors from said balancing arm; digital counter means for providing a digital electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored, each of said switching means being selectively controlled by the counT registered in said counter means for varying the net resistance of said balancing arm; pulse generating and control means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge means, for generating and directing pulses to said digital counter for varying said balancing arm impedance and restoring the balanced state of said bridge means; and counter altering means for changing the count in said digital counter means as a function of the rate of change of said temperature being monitored to provide an advance indication of the anticipated final value of said temperature.

Claim 19

Electronic thermometer apparatus, comprising: electrical bridge means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored, said bridge means including a balancing arm having a plurality of shunt resistors; a switching means for each of said resistors for selectively inserting and removing each of said resistors from said balancing arm; digital counter means for providing a digital electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored, each of said switching means being selectively controlled by the counT registered in said counter means for varying the net resistance of said balancing arm; pulse generating and control means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge means, for generating and directing pulses to said digital counter for varying said balancing arm impedance and restoring the balanced state of said bridge means; and counter altering means for changing the count in said digital counter means as a function of the rate of change of said temperature being monitored to provide an advance indication of the anticipated final value of said temperature.

Claim 20

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the size of the count change in said digital counter means is varied in accordance with the magnitude of the time period between pulses driving said digital counter means.

Claim 21

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said altering means is responsive to the time period between pulses from said pulse generating and control means driving said digital counter means.

Claim 22

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 16, and further including: disabling means for selectively disabling said altering means.

Claim 23

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said disabling means is responsive to the initial magnitude of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 24

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said altering means only changes the count in said digital counter means at the beginning of a temperature measurement cycle.

Claim 25

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said altering means only changes the count in said digital counter means at the end of a temperature measurement cycle.

Claim 26

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, and further including: digital display means connected to said digital counter means for displaying the count registered in said counter means in eye readable form.

Claim 27

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said altering means includes means for unbalancing said bridge means to alter the count registered in said counter means.

Claim 28

Electronic thermometer apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said altering means includes an additional resistance selectively shunting said balancing arm of said bridge means.

Claim 29

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means responsive to said measuring means for providing pulses dependent on the sensed parameter; means for measuring the rate of change of said electrical parameter by the time period between a pair of said pulses; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of said rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition.

Claim 30

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means responsive to said measuring means for providing pulses dependent on the sensed parameter; means for measuring the rate of change of said electrical parameter by the time period between a pair of said pulses; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of said rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition.

Claim 31

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means, including a digital counter, for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said altering means being responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter.

Claim 32

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means, including a digital counter, for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition, said altering means being responsive to the time period between pulses driving said digital counter.

Claim 33

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of The final state of said condition; and disabling means for selectively disabling said altering means without disabling said measuring means.

Claim 34

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of The final state of said condition; and disabling means for selectively disabling said altering means without disabling said measuring means.

Claim 35

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measuring means including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm controlled by a digital counter, said counter being responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter, said altering means including means for deliberately unbalancing said bridge network to alter the count registered in said counter and provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition.

Claim 36

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition, said measuring means including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm controlled by a digital counter, said counter being responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network; and means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter, said altering means including means for deliberately unbalancing said bridge network to alter the count registered in said counter and provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition.

Claim 37

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition; and disabling means, responsive to the initial state of said condition being monitored, for selectively disabling said altering means.

Claim 38

Electronic apparatus comprising: sensing means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a condition being monitored; measuring means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said condition; means for altering the state of said measuring means as a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter to provide an advance indication of the final state of said condition; and disabling means, responsive to the initial state of said condition being monitored, for selectively disabling said altering means.

Claim 39

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored; and disabling means for selectively disabling said fourth means without disabling said second means.

Claim 40

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored; and disabling means for selectively disabling said fourth means without disabling said second means.

Claim 41

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means, including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm, for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means, including a digital counter controlling said balancing arm, for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network, for varying the state of said counter; and fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored, said fourth means including means for deliberately unbalancing said bridge network to alter the count registered in said counter.

Claim 42

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means, including an electrical bridge network having a balancing arm, for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means, including a digital counter controlling said balancing arm, for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network, for varying the state of said counter; and fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored, said fourth means including means for deliberately unbalancing said bridge network to alter the count registered in said counter.

Claim 43

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means, including an electrical bridge network having a variable balancing arm impedance, for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means, including a digital counter for varying said balancing arm impedance for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network, for generating pulses to alter the state of said counter; and fourth means, responsive to the time period between pulses from said third means driving said counter, to deliberately unbalance said bridge network and alter the count registered in said counter, thereby providing an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 44

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means, including an electrical bridge network having a variable balancing arm impedance, for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means, including a digital counter for varying said balancing arm impedance for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to an unbalanced state of said bridge network, for generating pulses to alter the state of said counter; and fourth means, responsive to the time period between pulses from said third means driving said counter, to deliberately unbalance said bridge network and alter the count registered in said counter, thereby providing an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 45

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; Third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored; and disabling means, responsive to the initial magnitude of said temperature being monitored, for selectively disabling said fourth means.

Claim 46

Electronic thermometer apparatus comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; Third means, responsive to said first means, for altering the state of said second means; fourth means for altering said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored; and disabling means, responsive to the initial magnitude of said temperature being monitored, for selectively disabling said fourth means.

Claim 47

Electronic thermometer apparatus, comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said temperature; and means for altering the state of said measuring means during said measurement cycle by a single value representing a fixed temperature differential, the magnitude of said value being a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter, whereby an advance indication is provided of the anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 48

Electronic thermometer apparatus, comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for measuring said electrical parameter and thereby measuring said temperature; and means for altering the state of said measuring means during said measurement cycle by a single value representing a fixed temperature differential, the magnitude of said value being a function of the rate of change of said electrical parameter, whereby an advance indication is provided of the anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 49

Electronic Thermometer apparatus, comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to the rate of change of said electrical parameter, for altering the duration of said measurement cycle; and fourth means for adding a fixed increment to said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.

Claim 50

Electronic Thermometer apparatus, comprising: first means for varying an electrical parameter during a measurement cycle in accordance with a temperature being monitored; second means for providing an electrical output measurement of said temperature being monitored; third means, responsive to the rate of change of said electrical parameter, for altering the duration of said measurement cycle; and fourth means for adding a fixed increment to said electrical output measurement to provide an advance indication of an anticipated final value of said temperature being monitored.