Electronic device and method for determining temperature in the electronic device

• US 10,365,168 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ban, Young-Kyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Megna Fuentes, Anthony W
• Application Number:
  US15/190,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150954 Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/20 Compensating for effects of temperature changes other than those to be measured, e.g. changes in ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

An electronic device detachable from and attachable to a user and a method of determining a temperature in the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a battery mounted in the housing, a coupling member connected to a part of the housing and configured to detachably couple the electronic device to a part of the user'"'"'s body, a conductive member disposed on one surface of the housing or on one surface of the coupling member and exposed externally, in electrical connection to the battery, a temperature sensor electrically connected to the conductive member, and a circuit electrically connected to the battery, the conductive member, and the temperature sensor, wherein the circuit is configured to monitor a value of a current or a voltage received through the conductive member, and to charge the battery using the current or operate the temperature sensor, based on at least a part of the monitored value.

Claims

1. An electronic device detachable from and attachable to a user, the electronic device comprising:

a battery;

a conductive member exposed to an external area of the electronic device;

a temperature sensor electrically connected to the conductive member; and

a circuit electrically connected to the battery, the conductive member; and

the temperature sensor, wherein the circuit comprises;

at least one processor;

a first part of the circuit electrically connected to the battery; and

a second part of the circuit electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the first part of the circuit, wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

when value of a current or a voltage received through the conductive member is less than a specified reference value, identify a skin temperature of a user in contact with the conductive member using the temperature sensor; and

when a value of a current or a voltage received through the conductive member is equal to or larger than the specified reference value, control the first part of the circuit to supply power received from an external device connected to the conductive member to the battery, and identify a temperature of the battery using the temperature sensor.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is disposed on a first surface of a circuit board including the circuit,

wherein the conductive member is disposed on a second surface of the circuit board, and

wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface and faces a direction in which the conductive member is exposed to the external area of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising another temperature sensor to sense an ambient temperature of the electronic device, wherein the circuit is further configured to correct the skin temperature sensed by the temperature sensor based on the ambient temperature of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the conductive member is an antenna radiator.