US5017019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radiation detector for differential biological temperature readings
Assignee: Exergen Corp
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Filing: 1989-04-14
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Granted: 1991-05-21
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Expires: 2009-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A radiation detector provides differential temperature readings of surface tissue. The differential readings are normalized to room temperature ambient. Green and yellow LEDs indicate a normalized temperature of less than 2° C. and red LEDs indicate a normalized temperature differential of greater than 2° C.
Inventors
- 👤 Francesco Pompei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/10; G01J5/12; G01J5/14; G01J5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A radiation detector comprising: thermopile means mounted to view target surfaces for sensing the heat flux from said target surfaces and to determine the temperature of said target surfaces; a temperature sensor for sensing ambient temperature; an electronic circuit coupled to the thermopile means and temperature sensor and responsive to the voltage across the thermopile means and the temperature sensed by the sensor to provide a difference between temperatures of target surfaces viewed by the thermopile means, the difference being adjusted to provide a normalized temperature differential compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and a display for providing an indication of the normalized temperature differential.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A radiation detector comprising: thermopile means mounted to view target surfaces for sensing the heat flux from said target surfaces and to determine the temperature of said target surfaces; a temperature sensor for sensing ambient temperature; an electronic circuit coupled to the thermopile means and temperature sensor and responsive to the voltage across the thermopile means and the temperature sensed by the sensor to provide a difference between temperatures of target surfaces viewed by the thermopile means, the difference being adjusted to provide a normalized temperature differential compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and a display for providing an indication of the normalized temperature differential.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronics compensates for the difference between the actual ambient temperature and predetermined ambient temperature by a factor of about minus seven percent per degree centigrade.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 2 wherein the predetermined ambient temperature is about 20° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 1 which further compensates for the temperature coefficient of the thermopile means with changes in ambient temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display includes a principal change in indication at about 2° C. normalized to about 20° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the display further includes a principal change in indication at about 3° C. normalized to 20° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the display provides changes in indications at 2°, 3° and 4° C. normalized to about 20° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A radiation detector as claimed in claim 5 wherein the display comprises a green indication for normalized differential temperatures between zero and 2° C., a yellow indication for normalized temperature differentials between 2° C. and 3° C., and a red indication for normalized temperature differentials above 3° C.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of providing a differential thermal reading representing the difference in temperatures of surface areas of an animal comprising: sensing heat flux from first and second surface areas of the animal to determine the temperature of said first and second surfaces areas; sensing ambient temperature; providing a normalized temperature differential representing the difference in temperatures of the first and second surface areas compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and providing a display of the normalized temperature differential.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of providing a differential thermal reading representing the difference in temperatures of surface areas of an animal comprising: sensing heat flux from first and second surface areas of the animal to determine the temperature of said first and second surfaces areas; sensing ambient temperature; providing a normalized temperature differential representing the difference in temperatures of the first and second surface areas compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and providing a display of the normalized temperature differential.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the compensation is by a factor of about -7%/° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the predetermined temperature is about 20° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the heat flux is sensed by a thermopile, and further comprising the step of compensating for the temperature coefficient of the thermopile with changes in ambient temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 including providing a principal change in the display at about 2° C. normalized to 20° C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising providing a principal change in the display at about 3° C. normalized to 20° C.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 further comprising providing principal changes in the display at 2° C., 3° C. and 4° C. normalized to about 20° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 comprising displaying a green indication for normalized differential temperatures between zero degree and 2° C., a yellow indication for normalized temperature differentials between 2° C. and 3° C., and a red indication for normalized temperature differentials above 3° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the animal is a horse.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of providing a differential thermal reading representing the difference in temperatures of surface areas comprising: sensing heat flux from first and second surface areas to determine the temperature of said first and second surfaces areas; sensing ambient temperature; providing a normalized temperature differential representing the difference in temperatures of the first and second surface areas compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and providing a display of the normalized temperature differential.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of providing a differential thermal reading representing the difference in temperatures of surface areas comprising: sensing heat flux from first and second surface areas to determine the temperature of said first and second surfaces areas; sensing ambient temperature; providing a normalized temperature differential representing the difference in temperatures of the first and second surface areas compensated for difference in surface temperature which results from a deviation of actual ambient temperature to which the surface is exposed from a predetermined ambient temperature; and providing a display of the normalized temperature differential.
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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) | 1994-05-20 | 1994-11-19 | 1995-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-20 | 1998-11-19 | 1999-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-20 | 2002-11-19 | 2003-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |