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Intuitive thermal user interface

  • US 9,304,590 B2
  • Filed: 06/06/2015
  • Issued: 04/05/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electronic device, comprising:

  • a user-interface device having a surface that, during operation, receives a user selectable temperature setting to alter temperature of a temperature controlled environment based on tactile interaction with a user of the electronic device; and

    a thermal mechanism, thermally coupled to a portion of the user-interface device, which, during operation, establishes a single temperature gradient on the surface based on the temperature setting and a temperature of the temperature controlled environment that includes the electronic device,wherein, during operation, the thermal mechanism dynamically modifies the temperature gradient so that, as the temperature setting is adjusted by the user to exceed and then progressively increase relative to the temperature of the temperature controlled environment, the thermal mechanism increases the temperature gradient, and, as the temperature setting is adjusted by the user to drop below and then progressively decrease relative to the temperature of the temperature controlled environment, the thermal mechanism decreases the temperature gradient, as user temperature setting input feedback.

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