Temperature monitoring system

Abstract

A temperature monitoring system includes first and second sensors, a microcontroller, a transmission unit, and a remote monitoring unit. The first sensor measures a skin temperature of a patient. The second sensor measures an ambient temperature of the patient. The microcontroller generates an actual temperature value with reference to the temperatures measured by the first and second sensors, and generates a warning signal when the actual temperature value generated thereby is within a predetermined temperature range. The transmission unit transmits the actual temperature value and the warning signal. The remote monitoring unit receives the actual temperature value and the warning signal, and records the time the warning signal was received thereby and location of the transmission unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram of the preferred embodiment of a temperature monitoring system according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A temperature monitoring system, comprising: a first sensor adapted to measure a skin temperature of a patient;a second sensor adapted to measure an ambient temperature of the patient;a microcontroller coupled to said first and second sensors, and operable so as to generate an actual temperature value with reference to the temperatures measured by said first and second sensors and so as to generate a warning signal when the actual temperature value generated thereby is within a predetermined temperature range;a transmission unit coupled to and controlled by said microcontroller to transmit at least one of the actual temperature value and the warning signal generated by said microcontroller; anda remote monitoring unit operable so as to receive said at least one of the actual temperature value and the warning signal transmitted by said transmission unit, and so as to record the time the warning signal was received thereby and location of said transmission unit which transmitted the warning signal.

2. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a memory unit coupled to said microcontroller for storing object data pertinent to the patient whose temperature is to be monitored.

3. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory unit is built-in to said microcontroller.

4. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said memory unit is coupled removably to said microcontroller.

5. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remote monitoring unit is further operable so as to store the object data into said memory unit through said transmission unit.

6. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microcontroller further stores a temperature correcting factor therein, and generates the actual temperature value with reference to the temperatures measured by said first and second sensors and the temperature correcting factor.

7. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator unit coupled to and controlled by said microcontroller so as to provide an indication when said microcontroller generates the warning signal.

8. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said indicator unit includes at least one of a light-emitting device and a sound-generating device.

9. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sensors is a temperature sensor implemented in an integrated circuit.

10. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission unit includes a radio frequency transceiver.

11. The temperature monitoring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmission unit includes a bluetooth-compliant transceiver.