Abstract: A probe of an electronic thermometer, to which a temperature sensing element is attached, is conditioned with heat energy whereby the temperature of the probe is changed to approximately the temperature of the environment whose temperature is to be measured. A thermistor is thermally attached to the probe and provides a measurable electrical characteristic related in a predetermined manner to the temperature experienced by the thermistor. An auxiliary current source supplies a current to the thermistor of sufficient magnitude so that the thermistor acts as a heating element for raising the temperature of the probe. Heat energy is supplied to the probe for a predetermined time or until the temperature of the probe reaches a predetermined limit. The flow of auxiliary current is terminated and the temperature of the probe and its attached thermistor are allowed to equalize to the temperature of the environment.

Abstract: An electronic thermometer providing an improved means for controlling temperature readout. The thermometer incorporates analog-to-digital conversion utilizing a pulse width modulation technique. The temperature of a patient is taken for a given time interval and the last reading thereof is held for another given time interval. An adjustable oscillator provides clock pulses to a frequency divider one output of which triggers a saw tooth generator and other outputs of which are coupled to a decoder driving the display. The saw tooth generator provides an input to a reference comparator and a temperature measurement comparator the former of which receives a reference voltage and the latter of which receives a temperature sensitive voltage derived from circuitry which includes a thermistor.