PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a distance detection device which enables a user to recognize the distance between a temperature sensor and the users eardrum to enhance safety of a thermometer which measures radiant heat of the eardrum.SOLUTION: The distance detection device includes: a detection unit that is inserted into the external auditory canal and includes a light emission unit that emits light upon the eardrum and a plurality of light receiving units that receive light emitted from the light emission unit and reflected with a light cone of the eardrum and a distance estimation unit that estimates the distance from the object inserted in the external auditory canal together with the detection unit to the eardrum on the basis of the intensity and distribution of light that is detected by each of the light receiving units.COPYRIGHT: (C)2013,JPO&INPIT【課題】鼓膜の放射熱を測定する温度計の安全性を高めるため、温度センサと鼓膜との距離をユーザが認識できる距離検出装置を提供する。【解決手段】本開示に係る距離検出装置は、外耳道内に挿入され、鼓膜に対して光を出射する発光部および鼓膜の光錐で反射された、発光部から出射された光を受光する複数の受光部からなる検出部と、各受光部により検出された光の強度および分布に基づいて、検出部とともに外耳道内に挿入されている対象物から鼓膜までの距離を推定する距離推定部と、を備える。【選択図】図19
