Hand-held instrument for measuring temperature
A hand-held instrument, in certain embodiments, is configured to detect and indicate the surface temperature of an object. The hand-held instrument may include a temperature transducer, electronics, and a power source in a single hand-held chassis or housing. Additionally, the hand-held instrument may include a temperature indicator configured to output an indication of the temperature in real-time. The hand-held instrument may also include memory for storing data and communications circuitry for transmitting and receiving data to and from a remote unit or work station.
1 . A hand-held instrument for measuring temperature, comprising:
a temperature transducer configured to measure a surface temperature up to at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit;
electronics coupled to the temperature transducer;
a temperature indicator coupled to the electronics; and
a power source coupled to the electronics, wherein the temperature transducer, the electronics, the temperature indicator, and the power source are all disposed in a single chassis of the hand-held instrument.
2 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer is exposed and is configured to be placed in direct contact with the surface.
3 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer and the electronics are configured to measure the surface temperature in a response time of less than 5 seconds.
4 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer and the electronics are configured to obtain a plurality of temperature measurements with a reset time of at less than 15 seconds prior to a successive measurement.
5 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the single chassis comprises a gun-shaped body.
6 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the single chassis comprises a stylus or pen-shaped body.
7 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the single chassis comprises a disc-shaped body.
8 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the single hand-held unit comprises a user mount, or a surface mount, or a combination thereof.
9 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer comprises a thermocouple.
10 . The hand-held instrument of claim 9 , wherein the thermocouple comprises a type-J thermocouple or a type-K thermocouple.
11 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer is configured to measure the surface temperature up to at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature transducer is configured to measure the surface temperature up to at least 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
13 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the temperature indicator comprises an audible temperature indicator, a visual temperature indicator, a vibration indicator, or a combination thereof.
14 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electronics comprise an internal clock configured to time stamp temperature data obtained from the temperature transducer.
15 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electronics comprise memory configured to store data including data representative of the surface temperature.
16 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electronics comprise communications circuitry configured to upload data, download data, or a combination thereof relative to an external device.
17 . The hand-held instrument of claim 16 , wherein the communications circuitry comprises wireless communications circuitry.
18 . The hand-held instrument of claim 16 , comprising a communications switch configured to start or stop data transmission between the hand-held instrument and the external device.
19 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , comprising a trigger configured to start or stop data acquisition via the temperature transducer and the electronics.
20 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , comprising a recall switch configured to access a data point in a data set acquired by the temperature transducer and the electronics.
21 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electronics comprise a controller, an analog-to-digital converter, and a signal amplifier.
22 . The hand-held instrument of claim 21 , wherein the electronics further comprise communications circuitry, a time keeping chip, and memory.
23 . The hand-held instrument of claim 1 , wherein the electronics comprises a power save mode.
24 . A hand-held instrument for measuring temperature, comprising:
an exposed thermocouple element configured to be placed in direct contact with a surface to be measured;
electronics coupled to the exposed thermocouple element; and
a power source configured to power the hand-held instrument, wherein the exposed thermocouple element, the electronics, and the power source are integrated into a single housing of the hand-held instrument.
25 . The hand-held instrument of claim 24 , wherein the exposed thermocouple element is configured to measure data indicative of temperature up to at least 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
26 . The hand-held instrument of claim 24 , wherein the exposed thermocouple element, the electronics, and a temperature indicator are configured to indicate the temperature in a response time of less than 5 seconds.
27 . The hand-held instrument of claim 24 , wherein the exposed thermocouple element, the electronics, and a temperature indicator are configured to indicate the temperature in a response time of less than 2 seconds.
28 . The hand-held instrument of claim 24 , wherein the electronics comprises communications circuitry configured to exchange data between the hand-held instrument and a remote device.
29 . The hand-held instrument of claim 28 , wherein the communications circuitry comprises wireless communications circuitry.
30 . The hand-held instrument of claim 24 , wherein the electronics comprises a memory configured to store temperature data.
31 . The hand-held instrument of claim 30 , wherein the temperature data comprises a target temperature, a maximum temperature, a minimum temperature, a temperature versus time profile, or a combination thereof.
32 . A hand-held instrument for measuring temperature, comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to provide data indicative of temperature in real-time; and
a wireless communication circuit configured to communication the data wirelessly to an external destination.
33 . The hand-held instrument of claim 32 , comprising a temperature indicator configured to output an indication of the temperature in real-time.
34 . A hand-held instrument for measuring temperature, comprising:
a temperature sensor;
a temperature indicator coupled to the temperature sensor; and
communication circuitry configured to upload data, download data, or a combination thereof, wherein the temperature sensor, the temperature indicator, and the communication circuitry are all disposed in a single chassis of the hand-held instrument.
35 . The hand-held instrument of claim 34 , wherein the data comprises an upper temperature limit, a lower temperature limit, one or more temperature targets, and/or a combination thereof.
36 . The hand-held instrument of claim 34 , wherein the data comprises a target temperature-versus-time profile having a plurality of temperatures and corresponding times.