IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,635,942
Granted Patent B2
US 12,635,942 · App. 18/261,278 · Granted May 26, 2026

Hand temperature monitoring device for chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment

Inventor: Kam Chiu Lau (Rockville, MD)
Assignee: AP Infosense Limited
A61B5/4854A61B5/015A61B5/6825A61B5/7225A61B2562/046A61B2562/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,635,942
App. No.
18/261,278
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hand temperature monitoring device includes at least one sensing array composed of a flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ), temperature sensors ( 120 ), p-type metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) ( 130 ), polymer films ( 140 ) and carbon fiber boards ( 150 ). The temperature sensors ( 120 ) are disposed on a first side ( 112 ) of the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ). The p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) are disposed on a second side ( 114 ) of the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ) opposing to the temperature sensors ( 120 ), wherein each of the p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) is electrically connected to one of the temperature sensors ( 120 ). The polymer film ( 140 ) encapsulates each of the temperature sensors ( 120 ) and the p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) respectively. The carbon fiber board ( 150 ) is positioned over the polymer film and spaced apart from the polymer film ( 140 ).

Claims (58)

1 . A hand temperature monitoring device comprising at least one sensing array, wherein the at least one sensing array comprises:

a flexible printed circuit board ( 110 );

a plurality of temperature sensors ( 120 ) disposed on a first side ( 112 ) of the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 );

a plurality of p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) ( 130 ) disposed on a second side ( 114 ) of the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ) opposing to the temperature sensors ( 120 ), wherein each of the p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) is electrically connected to one of the temperature sensors ( 120 );

a polymer film ( 140 ) caping each of the temperature sensors ( 120 ) and the p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) respectively; and

a carbon fiber board ( 150 ) positioned over the polymer film ( 140 );

wherein the carbon fiber board ( 150 ) comprises a solid resin film layer on one side and a dry fabric layer on the opposite side;

wherein the solid resin film layer is disposed for making a full and intimate contact with a mould surface and the dry fabric layer is disposed for contacting with the polymer film ( 140 ) for further curing;

wherein the dry fabric layer facilitates an air removal during a vacuum bag lamination process;

wherein the mould is made based on a subject's palm and since the solid resin film layer is disposed for making a full and intimate contact with a mould surface during manufacturing, a personalized hand temperature monitoring device for the subject is provided;

wherein the carbon fiber board ( 150 ) has a flexibility that matches with the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 )'s flexibility so to function as a protector to the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ) against external force, excessive bending, blocking sweat and grease permeation to electronic components disposed on the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ); and

where the carbon fiber board ( 150 ) has a thermal conductivity higher than copper so to function as a passive heat dissipation means to the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ).

2 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein each of the temperature sensors ( 120 ) is electrically independent from each other and has a physically mirroring p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ) acting as an individual switch.

3 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensing array is flexible and bendable.

4 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor ( 260 ) having a control unit ( 262 ) and a data transmit unit ( 264 );

a plurality of decoders ( 230 ) connected between the control unit ( 262 ) and rows of the temperature sensors ( 120 );

a plurality of multiplexer ( 210 ) connected between the control unit ( 262 ) and columns of the temperature sensors ( 120 ); and

a computing device connected to the data transmit unit ( 264 ).

5 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 4 , wherein a state of an individual temperature sensor ( 120 ) is configured to change based on a switching signal generated by the control unit ( 262 ).

6 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein each of the p-type MOSFET ( 130 ) comprises a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, the gate electrode is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ), the source electrode is electrically connected to a power source ( 220 ), and the drain electrode is electrically connected to the temperature sensor ( 120 ).

7 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensors ( 120 ) are negative temperature coefficient thermistors having two solder plated electrodes; and wherein the temperature sensors ( 120 ) are doped with P-doping or Boron in a dopant range between 5.00000e14 cm −3 and 6.00000e14 cm −3 for increased temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensors ( 120 ).

8 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensors ( 120 ) are carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composite resistors; and wherein the temperature sensors ( 120 ) are doped with P-doping or Boron in a dopant range between 5.00000e14 cm −3 and 6.00000e14 cm −3 for increased temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensors ( 120 ).

9 . The hand temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal cured epoxy ( 160 ) disposed between the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ) and the temperature sensors ( 120 ) and between the flexible printed circuit board ( 110 ) and the p-type MOSFETs ( 130 ).

10 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature monitoring device causes no harm to a human subject.

11 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature monitoring device has a temperature measurement accuracy of approximately ±0.1° C.

12 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature monitoring device detects a temperature distribution across a plurality of regions of the subject's palm.

13 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensors ( 120 ) are arranged to have a center distance of 2 mm with an adjacent one so that a temperature change or difference between different parts of the subject's palm having at least a distance of 2 mm between them is detectable.

14 . A temperature monitoring device for medical diagnosis and treatment comprising at least one sensing array, wherein the at least one sensing array comprises:

a flexible printed circuit board;

a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on a first side of the flexible printed circuit board;

a plurality of p-type metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) disposed on a second side of the flexible printed circuit board opposing to the temperature sensors, wherein each of the p-type MOSFETs is electrically connected to one of the temperature sensors;

a polymer film caping each of the temperature sensors and the p-type MOSFETs respectively; and

a carbon fiber board positioned over the polymer film;

wherein the carbon fiber board comprises a solid resin film layer on one side and a dry fabric layer on the opposite side;

wherein the solid resin film layer is disposed for making a full and intimate contact with a mould surface and the dry fabric layer is disposed for contacting with the polymer film for further curing;

wherein the dry fabric layer facilitates an air removal during a vacuum bag lamination process;

wherein the mould is made based on a subject's palm and since the solid resin film layer is disposed for making a full and intimate contact with a mould surface during manufacturing, a personalized hand temperature monitoring device for the subject is provided;

wherein the carbon fiber board has a flexibility that matches with the flexible printed circuit board's flexibility so to function as a protector to the flexible printed circuit board against external force, excessive bending, blocking sweat and grease permeation to electronic components disposed on the flexible printed circuit board; and

where the carbon fiber board has a thermal conductivity higher than copper so to function as a passive heat dissipation means to the flexible printed circuit board.

15 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein each of the temperature sensors is electrically independent from each other and has a physically mirroring p-type MOSFETs acting as an individual switch.

16 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensing array is flexible and bendable.

17 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , further comprising:

a processor having a control unit and a data transmit unit;

a plurality of decoder connected between the control unit and rows of the temperature sensors;

a plurality of multiplexer connected between the control unit and columns of the temperature sensors; and

a computing device connected to the data transmit unit.

18 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 17 , wherein a state of an individual temperature sensor is configured to change based on a switching signal generated by the control unit.

19 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein each of the p-type MOSFET comprises a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, the gate electrode is electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board, the source electrode is electrically connected to a power source, and the drain electrode is electrically connected to the temperature sensor.

20 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature sensors are negative temperature coefficient thermistors having two solder plated electrodes; and wherein the temperature sensors are doped with P-doping or Boron in a dopant range between 5.00000e14 cm −3 and 6.00000e14 cm −3 for increased temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensors.

21 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature sensors are carbon fiber reinforced cement-based composite resistors; and wherein the temperature sensors are doped with P-doping or Boron in a dopant range between 5.00000e14 cm −3 and 6.00000e14 cm −3 for increased temperature sensitivity of the temperature sensors.

22 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , further comprising a thermal cured epoxy disposed between the flexible printed circuit board and the temperature sensors and between the flexible printed circuit board and the p-type MOSFETs.

23 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring device causes no harm to human subject.

24 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring device has a temperature measurement accuracy of approximately +0.1° C.

25 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring device is configured to detect a temperature distribution across a plurality of regions of the subject's palm.

26 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature sensors are arranged to have a center distance of 2 mm with an adjacent one so that a temperature change or difference between different parts of the subject's palm having at least a distance of 2 mm between them is detectable.

27 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , further comprising a temperature record database for recording temperature distributions across a plurality of regions of a palm of each of one or more subjects so to serve for disease diagnosis and health management functions.

28 . The temperature monitoring device of claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring device monitors a stroke recovery progress, a fertility diagnosis, a coma recovery progress, a health condition of a patient admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and an elder's health.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2023
From: LAU, KAM CHIU
To: AP INFOSENSE LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064252/0505 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 202122035194.7 · Aug 26, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240065624A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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