Patent ID: 8292500

Claim:
An electronic thermometer comprising: a probe adapted to be heated by a subject for use in measuring a temperature of the subject; at least one temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the probe; an IR emitter for emitting an infrared signal from the probe; an IR detector for detecting the infrared signal emitted by the IR emitter, the detection of the IR signal by the IR detector indicating that the probe is received in a probe cover; and a processor operatively connected to the IR emitter and IR detector and programmed to monitor the infrared signal detected by the IR detector to determine a first condition wherein the infrared signal indicates that the probe is received in a probe cover and not inserted into the subject and a second condition wherein the infrared signal indicates that the probe is received in a probe cover and inserted into the subject; wherein the IR detector records a voltage proportional to the infrared signal detected by the IR detector, the processor identifying the first and second conditions by the voltage recorded by the IR detector.