Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for thermally managing electronic devices using dynamic optical components

• US 9,235,022 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2015
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cameron, Gordon, Garrone, Ryan Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Doak, Jennifer L.
• Application Number:
  US14/702,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20150234144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• Field of Search: 359/512, 219/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/008 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20427 having radiation enhancing surface treatment, e.g. black coating

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for thermally managing electronic devices using dynamic optical components are provided. At least one of the reflectance and the transmittance of incident electromagnetic radiation of a dynamic optical component on an electronic device may be adjusted based on a detected variable device characteristic of the device, such as a temperature of a device component. By adjusting the reflectance and/or the transmittance of the dynamic optical component, different portions of the incident electromagnetic radiation may be directed from the dynamic optical component for changing the variable device characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hand-held electronic device according to an amount of electromagnetic radiation that is incident upon the hand-held electronic device, the method comprising:

by the hand-held electronic device;

determining that a dynamic optical component of the hand-held electronic device is operating at a peak reflectance to reflect electromagnetic radiation incident upon the hand-held electronic device; and

limiting a load of the hand-held electronic device when an output of the load is above a threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

varying, based on a temperature of at least a portion of the hand-held electronic device, a reflectance of the dynamic optical component to increase or decrease an amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the hand-held electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the load is a power supply connected to the hand-held electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the output of the load falls below the threshold value, withdrawing a limit applied to the load.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the output of the load falls below the threshold value, decreasing a reflectance of the dynamic optical component.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the output of the load is a thermal output.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

monitoring a temperature reading of a temperature sensor of the hand-held electronic device to determine the thermal output of the load.

8. A hand-held computing device, comprising:

a dynamic optical component configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation incident upon the hand-held electronic device; and

a processor configured to limit a load of the hand-held electronic device when an output of the load is above a threshold value.

9. The hand-held computing device of claim 8, wherein the dynamic optical component is further configured to vary in reflectance based on a temperature of at least a portion of the hand-held electronic device.

10. The hand-held computing device of claim 8, wherein the load is a power supply connected to the hand-held electronic device.

11. The hand-held computing device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configure to withdraw a restriction applied to the load when the output of the load falls below the threshold value.

12. The hand-held computing device of claim 8, wherein the dynamic optical component is configured to decrease in reflectance when the output of the load falls below the threshold value.

13. The hand-held computing device of claim 8, wherein the output of the load is a thermal output.

14. The hand-held computing device of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to monitor a temperature reading of a temperature sensor of the hand-held electronic device to determine the thermal output of the load.

15. A method for operating a hand-held electronic device according to an amount of electromagnetic radiation that is incident upon the hand-held electronic device, the method comprising:

by the hand-held electronic device;

increasing a load of the hand-held electronic device when an output of the load falls below a predetermined threshold; and

decreasing a reflectance of a dynamic optical component to reduce an amount of electromagnetic radiation that is reflected from the hand-held electronic device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the load is a power supply connected to the hand-held electronic device and the output of the load is a thermal output.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

increasing the reflectance of the dynamic optical component when the output of the load rises above the predetermined threshold value.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

monitoring a sensor of the hand-held electronic device to determine the output of the load.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein increasing the load comprises increasing an amount of charge provided to or from the load.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein decreasing a reflectance of the dynamic optical component comprises reflecting less electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined spectrum band.