MOBILE DEVICE WITH TEMPERATURE SENSING CAPABILITY AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME
First Claim
1. An electronic device comprising:
- a first temperature sensing device that is positioned at a first location at or proximate to an exterior surface of the electronic device and that provides a first signal indicative of a first temperature experienced by the first temperature sensing device;
a second temperature sensing device that is positioned at a second location at or proximate to the exterior surface of the electronic device and that provides a second signal indicative of a second temperature experienced by the second temperature device;
at least one processing device that (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensing devices respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to electronic devices such as mobile devices, and methods of operating such devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic device includes first and second temperature sensors positioned at different respective locations on the electronic device and at least one processing device. The first and second temperature sensors respectively output first and second signals indicative of the respective temperatures experienced at those respective sensors. The at least one processing device (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensors respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference. In an additional embodiment, other sensor information from one or more other sensors is taken into account in determining the operational context.
89 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electronic device comprising:
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a first temperature sensing device that is positioned at a first location at or proximate to an exterior surface of the electronic device and that provides a first signal indicative of a first temperature experienced by the first temperature sensing device; a second temperature sensing device that is positioned at a second location at or proximate to the exterior surface of the electronic device and that provides a second signal indicative of a second temperature experienced by the second temperature device; at least one processing device that (i) receives the first and second signals respectively from the first and second temperature sensing devices respectively and generates based thereon an indication of a difference or a relationship between the first and second temperatures, and (ii) determines an operational context of the electronic device based at least in part upon the difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of determining an operational context of an electronic device, the method comprising:
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generating a first signal indicative of a first temperature at a first temperature sensing device positioned proximate an exterior surface of the electronic device; generating a second signal indicative of a second temperature at a second temperature sensing device positioned proximate the exterior surface of the electronic device; determining a temperature, difference based upon the first and second signals; and predicting the operational context of the electronic device at least in part based upon the determined temperature difference. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:
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determining an expected thermal profile value based at least in part upon an operational mode of the electronic device by consulting data stored on the electronic device; generating at least one signal indicative of an actual thermal profile value experienced between first and second temperature sensing devices positioned at first and second locations, respectively, proximate an exterior surface of the electronic device; obtaining at least one additional signal indicative of one or more of touching of a touch sensor, physical positioning of the electronic device, vibration experienced by the electronic device, darkness level about the electronic device, image information received at the electronic device, or electrical isolation of the electronic device; predicting an operational context of the electronic device based upon the expected thermal profile value, the actual thermal profile, and the at least one additional signal; and taking at least one action upon the predicting of the operational context. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification