Electronic device and method of measuring body temperature using the same

A method of estimating body temperature, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a first temperature sensor, a first temperature of body skin;
• obtaining, by a second temperature sensor, a second temperature that is measured at a position spaced apart from the body skin;
• obtaining, by a third temperature sensor, a third temperature that is measured at a position farther away from the body skin than the position at which the second temperature is measured;
• estimating a body temperature based on the first temperature;
• estimating an ambient temperature based on a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature and based on at least one of a difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a difference between the second temperature and the third temperature;
• calculating a heat loss, which occurs from a reference body location to the body skin due to the ambient temperature, based on the estimated ambient temperature;
• and
• obtaining a final body temperature by correcting the body temperature based on the heat loss due to the estimated ambient temperature,
• wherein the method further comprises calculating a heat loss by radiation based on the first temperature and the ambient temperature, and obtaining the final body temperature by adding the estimated body temperature and the heat loss due to the ambient temperature and subtracting the heat loss by radiation, and
• wherein a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and a surface of the body skin is less than or equal to 5 mm, a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to 10 mm, and a vertical distance between the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor is in a range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

A wearable device comprising:

• a main body;
• a strap connected to the main body;
• a first temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature at a wrist when the main body is worn on the wrist;
• a second temperature sensor configured to measure a second temperature of the main body;
• a third temperature sensor disposed farther away from the first temperature sensor than the second temperature sensor and configured to measure a third temperature;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• estimate an ambient temperature of the wearable device based on a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature and based on at least one of a difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a difference between the second temperature and the third temperature;
• calculate a heat loss based on a difference between a skin temperature and the ambient temperature;
• and
• estimate a body temperature based on the skin temperature, the ambient temperature, and the heat loss,
• wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a heat loss by radiation based on the first temperature and the ambient temperature, and obtain the body temperature by adding the estimated body temperature and the heat loss due to the ambient temperature and subtracting the heat loss by radiation, and
• wherein a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and a surface of the body skin is less than or equal to 5 mm, a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to 10 mm, and a vertical distance between the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor is in a range of 10 mm to 50 mm.

An electronic device comprising:

• a memory for storing one or more instructions;
• a communication interface configured to receive a first temperature of body skin measured by a first temperature sensor, a second temperature at a position spaced apart from the body skin measured by a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature that is measured at a position farther away from the body skin than the position at which the second temperature is measured by a third temperature sensor;
• and
• a processor configured to estimate a body temperature of a user by executing the one or more instructions,
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• estimate the body temperature based on the first temperature;
• estimate an ambient temperature of a main body based on a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature and based on at least one of a difference between the first temperature and the third temperature and a difference between the second temperature and the third temperature;
• calculate a heat loss, which occurs from a reference body location to the body skin due to the ambient temperature of the main body, based on the estimated ambient temperature of the main body;
• and
• obtain a final body temperature by correcting the body temperature based on the heat loss due to the ambient temperature of the main body, and
• wherein the processor is further configured to calculate a heat loss by radiation based on the first temperature and the ambient temperature, and obtain the final body temperature by adding the estimated body temperature and the heat loss due to the ambient temperature and subtracting the heat loss by radiation, and
• wherein a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and a surface of the body skin is less than or equal to 5 mm, a vertical distance between the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to 10 mm, and a vertical distance between the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor is in a range of 10 mm to 50 mm.