Electronic Thermometer Dual-Sensor Contact Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic thermometers face challenges in accurately sensing contact between the temperature measuring unit and the measurement target portion, leading to sensing errors due to incorrect probe placement or contact failure, which affects the accuracy of body temperature measurement.
Innovation Solution
An electronic thermometer with a probe equipped with a first temperature sensor and a second contact sensor positioned near the thermometer body, a determining unit that assesses the contact state based on both sensors' outputs, and a notifying unit to inform the user of the contact status, reducing errors and improving accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor is used to detect contact state, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of contact state determination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact detection function is segmented into two independent sensors: a first sensor at the temperature measuring unit end and a second sensor at the thermometer body end. Each sensor independently monitors contact at its respective location, allowing the system to detect and distinguish between different contact failure modes (probe end not contacting vs. body not contacting) without requiring a single complex sensor to perform all detection functions
Solution Approach 2:
The determining unit acts as an intermediary that processes outputs from both sensors and synthesizes the contact state determination. It receives signals from the first sensor (monitoring probe end contact) and the second sensor (monitoring thermometer body contact), then logically combines these inputs to determine overall contact state, providing a bridge between the distributed sensors and the final control decision
2Device complexity
If conventional single-sensor sensing is used, then the device complexity is low, but sensing errors occur when objects other than human body contact the probe
Solution Approach 1:
Different sensors are placed at different locations with different detection functions: the first sensor at the probe end detects contact with the measurement target portion, while the second sensor at the thermometer body detects contact with the user's hand or body. This local differentiation allows the system to distinguish between legitimate human body contact (both sensors activated) and erroneous contact (only one sensor activated), thereby improving sensing reliability without adding complex identification logic
Solution Approach 2:
The notifying unit provides feedback to the user about the detected contact state. When the determining unit identifies incorrect contact (such as probe contact without proper thermometer body contact, or vice versa), the notifying unit alerts the user to correct the placement. This feedback loop prevents erroneous measurements by guiding users to achieve proper contact configuration, thereby improving overall sensing reliability
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
The dual-sensor system enhances the accuracy of contact state determination, reduces erroneous sensing, and provides user feedback to correct probe placement, ensuring accurate body temperature measurement.
Implementation Method 1
the first sensor is a sensor for measuring a temperature
Implementation Method 2
the second sensor is a sensor for sensing a contact of a human body with the probe
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic thermometer has a probe having a temperature measuring unit at its end, a temperature sensor arranged in the temperature measuring unit of the probe, a contact sensor arranged in a position shifter from the temperature measuring unit of the probe toward a thermometer body, a determining unit for determining whether a state of contact between the temperature measuring unit and a measurement target portion of a user is good or not, based on outputs of both the temperature sensor and the contact sensor, and a notifying unit for providing a notification according to a result of the determination by the determining unit.