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

Abstract

Abstract: Fever is a common symptom of many infections e.g. COVID-19 in the ongoing pandemic, keeping monitoring devices like thermometers in constant demand. Recent technological ad-vancements in thermometers have the infrared (IR) thermometers as the thermometer of choice for screening multiple individuals in a contactless manner. Yet, even so, the measurement accuracy of such thermometers is affected by many factors including the distance from the volunteer’s fore-head, impurities (such as sweat) and the location measured on the volunteer’s forehead. To overcome such 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 measure-ments.