Mobile device with backside capacitive sensor for thermal management of an exterior housing
First Claim
1. A mobile device, comprising:
- an exterior housing configured to provide a backside of the mobile device;
a display coupled to the exterior housing to provide a front side of the mobile device opposite the backside;
a capacitive sensor coupled to exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a metal plate providing a first storage conductor of a capacitor and wherein the capacitive sensor is configured such that a user touching the backside of the mobile device provides a second storage conductor of the capacitor separated from the first storage conductor by at least an insulating material;
a temperature sensor coupled to one or more components of the mobile device;
a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor and to the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to;
detect a presence of a case installed on the exterior housing based on an output of the capacitive sensor;
adjust a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing; and
adjust one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control a temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the output of the capacitive sensor and one or more readings of the temperature sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile device includes an exterior housing, a display, a capacitive sensor, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The capacitive sensor is coupled to the exterior housing at a backside of the mobile device and the temperature sensor is coupled to one or more components of the mobile device. The controller is coupled to the capacitive sensor and to the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to adjust a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of a case installed on the exterior housing. The controller is also configured to adjust one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control a temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the output of the capacitive sensor and one or more readings of the temperature sensor.
12 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A mobile device, comprising:
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an exterior housing configured to provide a backside of the mobile device; a display coupled to the exterior housing to provide a front side of the mobile device opposite the backside; a capacitive sensor coupled to exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a metal plate providing a first storage conductor of a capacitor and wherein the capacitive sensor is configured such that a user touching the backside of the mobile device provides a second storage conductor of the capacitor separated from the first storage conductor by at least an insulating material; a temperature sensor coupled to one or more components of the mobile device; a controller coupled to the capacitive sensor and to the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to; detect a presence of a case installed on the exterior housing based on an output of the capacitive sensor; adjust a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing; and adjust one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control a temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the output of the capacitive sensor and one or more readings of the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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receiving one or more temperature readings representative of a temperature of an exterior housing at a backside of a mobile device; receiving an output of a capacitive sensor coupled to the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a metal plate providing a first storage conductor of a capacitor and wherein the capacitive sensor is configured such that a user touching the backside of the mobile device provides a second storage conductor of the capacitor separated from the first storage conductor by at least an insulating material; detecting a presence of a case installed on the exterior housing based on the output of the capacitive sensor; adjusting a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing; and adjusting one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control the temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the output of the capacitive sensor and the one or more temperature readings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mobile device, comprising:
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an exterior housing configured to provide a backside of the mobile device; a display coupled to the exterior housing to provide a front side of the mobile device opposite the backside; means for sensing a capacitance of the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device; means for detecting a temperature of the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device; means for detecting a presence of a case installed on the exterior housing based on the capacitance of the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device; means for adjusting a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing, wherein the means for adjusting the temperature threshold comprises; means for adjusting the temperature threshold to a first value in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing; and means for adjusting the temperature threshold to a second value in response to detecting an absence of the case installed on the exterior housing, wherein the first value is greater than the second value to allow the temperature of the exterior housing to be greater when the case is installed than when the case is not installed on the exterior housing; and means for adjusting one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control the temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the capacitance and the temperature of the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon for use in a mobile device, the program code comprising instructions to direct the mobile device to:
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receive one or more temperature readings representative of a temperature of an exterior housing at a backside of the mobile device; receive an output of a capacitive sensor coupled to the exterior housing at the backside of the mobile device, wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a metal plate providing a first storage conductor of a capacitor and wherein the capacitive sensor is configured such that a user touching the backside of the mobile device provides a second storage conductor of the capacitor separated from the first storage conductor by at least an insulating material; detect a presence of a case installed on the exterior housing based on the output of the capacitive sensor; adjust a temperature threshold of the mobile device in response to detecting the presence of the case installed on the exterior housing; and adjust one or more operating parameters of the mobile device to control the temperature of the exterior housing to below the temperature threshold based on the output of the capacitive sensor and one or more temperature readings. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification