Design and Development of a Low Cost, Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer with Range Compensation

Abstract

Fever is a common symptom of many infections, e.g., in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, keeping monitoring devices such as thermometers in constant demand. Recent technological advancements have made infrared (IR) thermometers the choice for contactless screening of multiple individuals. Yet, even so, the measurement accuracy of such thermometers is affected by many factors including the distance from the volunteers’ forehead, impurities (such as sweat), and the location measured on the volunteers’ forehead. To overcome these factors, we describe the assembly of an Arduino-based digital IR thermometer with distance correction using the MLX90614 IR thermometer and HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors. Coupled with some analysis of these factors, we also found ways to programme compensation methods for the final assembled digital IR thermometer to provide more accurate readings and measurements.

Forehead, Temple and Wrist Temperature Assessment of Ethnic Groups using Infrared Technology

“…At a distance of 3 cm, the thermal variability presented by the research by Goh and collaborators [34] , regarding the discrepancy between the measured temperatures, was shown to be even more evident, denoted in three assessed in the sample, with measurements below 33.0°C.…”

“…These variables suggest that they are intervening factors in the reproducibility of the sensor evaluative tests proposed by the authors Goh et al, 2021 [34] . Likewise, they were not explained in the description in the manuscript, as the distances were standardized (screen for delimiting the test distances), to analyze the range of the thermometer and the evaluated volunteers.…”

“…Regarding the measurements of body distances for tracking febrile states, the authors Goh et al, 2021 [34] , with the study of the development of a low-cost thermometer, using an arduino, with adjustments for sensor range compensation, it was verified that the authors suggest the center of the forehead for initial screening pattern for thermal changes, suggestive of contamination by COVID-19. However, the distances tested were 2 to 4 cm, one centimeter above the minimum focal length limit allowed by portable infrared sensors for commercial use.…”

“…The temperature values from 32°C to 34 °, found by the authors Goh et al, 2021 [34] on the surface of the facial skin, express highlighted thermal values for the lower limbs, according to the thermal profile data developed by the authors Morasiewicz et al, 2008 [36] composite by 175 healthy volunteers.…”

Smart Face Mask with an Integrated Heat Flux Sensor for Fast and Remote People’s Healthcare Monitoring

“…All of them are unfeasible for measuring temperature on a large scale or outside of a healthcare environment [25]. Infrared thermometers have been the only method capable of handling the pandemic situation due to a quick and non-intrusive way of measuring body temperature, but their accuracy and reliability have been questioned in practice [26][27][28][29].…”