Electronic thermometer with audible temperature rise indicator

Abstract

An electronic thermometer for measuring body temperature has a temperature sensor for detecting a sensed temperature and for producing an output indicative of the sensed temperature and a temperature rise detector for detecting whether the sensed temperature is rising. If the sensed temperature is rising, the temperature rise detector produces a temperature rise signal. The thermometer is provided with circuitry for generating an audible signal in response to the temperature rise signal. The device thus audibly indicates that the sensed temperature is rising and that the temperature measurement is proceeding normally. The temperature sensor includes a thermosensitive oscillator, the oscillating frequency of which changes depending on a change in its temperature, and a reference oscillator for generating a reference signal. A temperature counter counts an output signal from the thermosensitive oscillator on the basis of the reference signal. A data hold unit holds a maximum value of data on the measured signals in the temperature counter. A comparator compares data in the data hold unit and the new data in the temperature counter to thereby rewrite the data in the data hold unit with the new measured data in accordance with the result of the comparison by the comparator. The temperature rise detector detects whether the measured temperature is rising in accordance with the result of the comparison by the comparator. A temperature rise detection signal from the temperature rise detection device drives a sound generator to inform that the measured temperature is rising.