Temperature Sensor Unit for Body Core Thermometer Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional deep part clinical thermometers require a sandwich structure with heat flux sensors sandwiched between two temperature sensors, leading to high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A temperature sensor unit with a plurality of temperature sensors, where only one thermal resistor is disposed at the measurement face of each pair of sensors, and the sensors are positioned to maintain equal temperatures on both sides of the resistor, allowing for reduced production costs by eliminating the need for a sandwich structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sandwich structure with heat flux sensors sandwiched between two temperature sensors is used, then accurate measurement of deep body temperature is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heat flux sensor from the sandwich structure, retaining only the necessary temperature sensors and thermal resistor components. This simplification maintains the core measurement function while removing the expensive heat flux sensor component, thereby reducing production cost while preserving measurement accuracy for deep body temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensors and thermal resistor in the patent are designed to perform multiple functions: measuring surface temperature, calculating thermal resistance of subcutaneous tissues, and determining deep body temperature. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heat flux sensors, reducing component count and production cost while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If a sandwich structure with heat flux sensors is used, then thermal resistance measurement is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heat flux sensor component from the sandwich structure, extracting only the essential elements (temperature sensors and thermal resistor) needed for thermal resistance measurement. This reduction in components simplifies the device structure while maintaining the capability to measure thermal resistance of subcutaneous tissues through the remaining temperature sensors and thermal resistor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of heat flux sensing and temperature measurement into a simplified structure using only temperature sensors and thermal resistor. By combining these functions into a single integrated measurement system, the device complexity is reduced while still enabling thermal resistance measurement through the coordinated operation of the remaining components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate measurement of deep body temperature while reducing production costs by using a simpler configuration that maintains thermal resistance values, allowing for precise calculation of subcutaneous tissue resistance and deep body temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a first thermal resistor (121) is disposed only at the measurement face side of the first temperature sensor (111)
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of temperature sensors (111-114) for measuring a temperature of the body surface
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a temperature sensor unit and a body core thermometer making it possible to produce in low costs. The temperature sensor unit (1) is used to measure a deep part body temperature Ti as a body core temperature of a testee. The temperature sensor unit (1) comprises at a measurement face side facing a body surface of the testee first-fourth temperature sensors (111-114) for measuring the body surface of the testee. Among the first and the second temperature sensors (111, 112), the first thermal resistor (121) is disposed only at the measurement face side of the first temperature sensor (111). Furthermore, the first temperature sensor (111) and the second temperature sensors (112) are disposed proximally such that a temperature Ti at the measurement face side of the first thermal resistor (121) becomes approximately equal to a temperature T2 measured by the second temperature sensor (112).