Electronic device with temperature sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device with a temperature sensor. More specifically, an electronic device is disclosed that may include a housing and an ambient temperature sensor in the housing. The ambient temperature sensor may include a temperature sensor, a heat flux sensor, and a heat source. The heat source may heat the heat flux sensor, and an ambient temperature may be determined based on measurements from the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor. If the ambient temperature sensor includes an additional temperature sensor and / or heat flux sensor, the ambient temperature may be determined directly based on heat flux and a temperature difference between the sensors. Alternatively, the heat flux sensor may measure a rise in heat flux, and a control circuit may fit a convection coefficient to the rise in heat flux. The ambient temperature may then be determined based on the convection coefficient. Instead of heating the heat flux sensor, the heat flux sensor may be cooled to determine the ambient temperature.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 628,146 filed on April 5, 2024, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 512,829 filed on July 10, 2023, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electronic devices having temperature sensors. Background Art

[0003] Electronic devices such as laptop computers, cell phones, and other equipment are sometimes provided with environmental sensors such as ambient light sensors, image sensors, and microphones. Summary of the invention

[0004] An electronic device such as a wristwatch device or other wearable electronic device may include a housing and a display in the housing. The electronic device may also include an ambient temperature sensor in the housing.

[0005] The ambient temperature sensor may include a temperature sensor, a heat flux sensor, and a heat source. The heat source may heat the heat flux sensor and may determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor.

[0006] If the ambient temperature sensor comprises additional temperature sensors and / or heat flux sensors, the ambient temperature may be determined directly based on the heat flux measured by the heat flux sensors and the temperature difference between the sensors.

[0007] Alternatively, the heat flux sensor may measure the rise of the heat flux, and the control circuit may fit the convection coefficient to the rise of the heat flux. Specifically, a convection coefficient calibration curve may be used to fit the convection coefficient to the rise of the heat flux. The ambient temperature may then be determined based on the convection coefficient.

[0008] Instead of heating the heat flux sensor, the heat flux sensor may be cooled to determine the ambient temperature, such as by using a Peltier device. Specifically, the heat flux sensor may be cooled to have 0 heat flux, and the temperature to which the heat flux sensor is cooled will be equal to the ambient temperature. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a diagram of an illustrative wearable electronic device according to some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 2 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 3is a side view of an illustrative device with an ambient temperature sensor according to some embodiments.

[0012] Figure 4 is a top view of an illustrative ambient temperature sensor including a plurality of heat flux sensors and / or temperature sensors according to some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 5 is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be used to determine ambient temperature by heating a heat flux sensor, according to some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 6 is a graph of an exemplary rise in heat flux according to some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 7 is a graph of an exemplary convection coefficient calibration curve according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 8 is a flow chart of illustrative steps that may be used to determine ambient temperature by cooling a heat flux sensor, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Electronic devices are often carried by users as they conduct daily activities. For example, a user may carry an electronic device with them throughout the day while walking, commuting, working, exercising, etc. In some cases, a user may desire to know the ambient temperature in the environment of the device. For example, the ambient temperature may be used in conjunction with fitness applications (e.g., when calculating a user's power output at different ambient temperatures), weather sensing and / or forecasting, and / or other desired functions.

[0018] To derive an ambient temperature measurement, the electronic device may include an ambient temperature sensor including four temperature sensors or two heat flux sensors and two temperature sensors. The temperature sensors and / or heat flux sensors may be exposed to the same ambient temperature but may be heated / cooled to different temperatures. For example, a heater may be provided to change the temperature of one or more of the temperature sensors and / or heat flux sensors. The sensors may have the same or related resistances, and the ambient temperature may be calculated based on measurements from the sensors. Alternatively, the rise in heat flux of a heated temperature sensor may be measured, and the convection coefficient may be determined from a calibration curve. Based on the heat flux, the convection coefficient, and the temperature of the other temperature sensor, the ambient temperature may be determined.

[0019] Generally speaking, any suitable electronic device may include an ambient temperature sensor. Figure 1As shown, the wearable electronic device 10, which may be a wristwatch device, may have a housing 12, a display 14, and a strap 16. Specifically, the display 14 may be on the front of the wearable device 10. The wristwatch may be attached to the user's wrist via the strap 16. When worn on the user's wrist, the back of the wearable device 10 (i.e., the back surface of the housing 12) may contact the user's wrist or be oriented toward the user's wrist. In some embodiments, the device 10 may include various sensors that contact the user's wrist, and the sensors may collect health or activity data (e.g., heart rate data or blood oxygen data) from the user.

[0020] although Figure 1 An electronic device 10 is shown as a wristwatch device, but this is merely illustrative. In general, the electronic device 10 can be any desired device, such as a media player or other handheld or portable electronic device, a cellular telephone device (e.g., a smart phone), a wristband device, a pendant device, a headset, a speaker, a smart speaker, an earbud or a handset device, a head-mounted device such as glasses, goggles, a helmet, or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or miniature device, a navigation device or other accessory, and / or equipment that implements the functionality of two or more of these devices. Exemplary configurations in which the electronic device 10 is a portable electronic device (such as a cellular telephone, a head-mounted device, earbuds, a wristwatch, or a portable computer) may sometimes be described herein as an example. Regardless of the form factor of the device 10, in Figure 2 An illustrative schematic diagram of the device 10 is shown in FIG.

[0021] like Figure 2 As shown, an electronic device such as electronic device 10 may have a control circuit 112. Control circuit 112 may include storage and processing circuits for controlling the operation of device 10. Circuit 112 may include storage devices, such as hard disk drive storage devices, non-volatile memory (e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamic random access memory), etc. The processing circuits in control circuit 112 may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audio chips, graphics processing units, application-specific integrated circuits, and other integrated circuits. Software code may be stored on a storage device in circuit 112 and run on processing circuits in circuit 112 to implement control operations for device 10 (e.g., data acquisition operations, operations involving the use of control signals to adjust components of device 10, etc.).

[0022] Electronic device 10 may include communication circuitry 114, which may include wired and / or wireless communication circuitry. For example, electronic device 10 may include radio frequency transceiver circuitry, such as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, wireless local area network transceiver circuitry (e.g., circuits), short-range RF transceiver circuits that use ultra-high frequency radio waves to communicate over short distances (e.g., circuits or other short-range transceiver circuits), millimeter wave transceiver circuits, and / or other wireless communication circuits.

[0023] Device 10 may include input-output devices 116. Input-output devices 116 may be used to allow a user to provide user input to device 10. Input-output devices 116 may also be used to gather information about the environment in which device 10 operates. Output components in device 116 may allow device 10 to provide output to a user, and may be used to communicate with external electrical equipment.

[0024] Input-output devices 116 may include one or more optional displays, such as display 14. Display 14 may be an organic light emitting diode display or other display having light emitting diodes, a liquid crystal display, a micro-LED display, or other display. Display 14 may be touch sensitive (e.g., display 14 may include a two-dimensional touch sensor for capturing touch input from a user) and / or display 14 may not be touch sensitive.

[0025] The input-output devices 116 may include sensors 118. The sensors 118 may include, for example, temperature sensors (e.g., thermistors or thermocouples), three-dimensional sensors (e.g., three-dimensional image sensors such as structured light sensors that emit a light beam and use a two-dimensional digital image sensor to collect image data for a three-dimensional image from light points generated when a target is illuminated by the light beam, a binocular three-dimensional image sensor that uses two or more cameras in a binocular imaging arrangement to collect a three-dimensional image, a three-dimensional lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor, a three-dimensional radio frequency sensor, or other sensors that collect three-dimensional image data), cameras (e.g., infrared and / or visible light digital image sensors), gaze tracking sensors (e.g., gaze tracking systems based on image sensors and, if necessary, also based on light sources that emit one or more light beams that are reflected from the user's eyes using an image sensor). tracking), touch sensors, capacitive proximity sensors, light-based (optical) proximity sensors, other proximity sensors, force sensors, sensors such as switch-based contact sensors, gas sensors, pressure sensors, humidity sensors, magnetic sensors (e.g., magnetometers), audio sensors (microphones), ambient light sensors, microphones for collecting voice commands and other audio inputs, sensors configured to collect information about motion, position and / or orientation (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, compasses, and / or inertial measurement units including all of these sensors or a subset of one or both of these sensors), health sensors that measure various biometric information (e.g., heart rate sensors such as photoplethysmography sensors, electrocardiogram sensors, and perspiration sensors), and / or other sensors.

[0026] Sensors 118 may also include one or more temperature sensors 120. Temperature sensors 120 may be incorporated into device 10 and may measure ambient temperature by heating one or more heat flux sensors or temperature sensors in ambient temperature sensors 120 and determine the ambient temperature based at least on the measured heat flux and the measured temperature. Temperature sensors 120 may also be referred to herein as ambient temperature sensors and / or external temperature sensors.

[0027] If desired, input-output devices 116 may include other devices 124, such as tactile output devices (e.g., vibrating components), light emitting diodes and other light sources, speakers such as ear speakers for producing audio output, circuits for receiving wireless power, circuits for wirelessly transmitting power to other devices, batteries and other energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors), joysticks, buttons, and / or other components.

[0028] An illustrative example of a device having an ambient temperature sensor is shown in Figure 3 As shown in Figure 3As shown, the device 10 may include an ambient temperature sensor 120 in the housing 12. The ambient temperature sensor 120 may include a temperature sensor T 1a and T 1b 20, and temperature sensor T 2a and T 2b 22. As examples, the temperature sensors 20 and 22 may be thermocouples or thermistors.

[0029] Known thermal resistance R 1,2 Thermal resistance 28 may exist between temperature sensors 20 and 22. Thermal resistance 28 may exist in the circuit between temperature sensors 20 and 22 and / or may be provided by components or structures between temperature sensors 20 and 22.

[0030] It may be desirable to determine the ambient temperature T based on the measurements of temperature sensors 20 and 22. 环境 18. Specifically, T 环境 18 can be determined using Formula 1,

[0031]

[0032] where T1 and T2 correspond to the temperatures at sensors 20 and 22, respectively, and R 1-2 is the difference in thermal resistance between temperature sensors 20 and 22. However, T corresponding to the ambient thermal resistance 环境 and R amb are unknown. Therefore, R amb .

[0033] Although equation 1 describes the use of sensors 20 and 22 to determine ambient temperature 18, this is merely exemplary. In some embodiments, sensors 20 and 22 may be used to determine the external / ambient temperature T of the user's wrist 17. 手腕 24. When measuring the temperature 24, the thermal resistance R 手腕 30 will also be a determinable unknown quantity.

[0034] Regardless of the external / ambient temperature measured using the temperature sensors 20 and 22, the thermal resistance (e.g., thermal resistance R amb or R 手腕 ) can be determined by measuring the air velocity of particles in the air outside the device 10. To measure the air velocity of the particles, a Doppler particle detection device can be used. Specifically, the Doppler particle detection device can emit a laser or other light (e.g., infrared light) into the ambient air, and the emitted light can be scattered by particles in the air. By measuring this scattered light (e.g., scattered light reflected back to the device 10), the velocity of the particles and therefore the air velocity can be determined, and the thermal resistance (e.g., thermal resistance R amb or R 手腕). Therefore, according to Formula 1, the ambient temperature can be determined.

[0035] Alternatively, the thermal resistance (eg, thermal resistance R amb or R 手腕 ) can be determined by measuring the heat flux at sensors 20 and 22. For example, four temperature sensors can be used to determine the heat flux.

[0036] exist Figure 3 In an illustrative example, the temperature sensor 20 may include a temperature sensor T 1a and temperature sensor T 1b , and the temperature sensor 22 may include a temperature sensor T 2a and temperature sensor T 2b By including four temperature sensors, the heat flux between the two sets of temperature sensors can be determined. Specifically, the temperature sensor T 1a and temperature sensor T 2a The first heat flux between the two and the temperature sensor T can be determined 1b and temperature sensor T 2b The formulas for determining the first heat flux and the second heat flux can be given by Formula 2 and Formula 3, respectively,

[0037]

[0038] Where Q a is the temperature sensor T 1a and T 2a The heat flux between b is the temperature sensor T 1b and T 2b , each T corresponds to the temperature at each respective temperature sensor, and each R corresponds to the thermal resistance between the temperature sensors. In this way, the heat flux between the temperature sensors can be determined using the temperature at each temperature sensor and the resistance between the temperature sensors. In other words, the temperature sensor 20 and / or the temperature sensor 22 can form a heat flux sensor that can determine the heat flux between the temperature sensors.

[0039] Once the heat flux has been determined using Equations 2 and 3, the ambient resistance 26 can be calculated using Equation 4,

[0040]

[0041] And the ambient temperature 18 can be calculated using Formula 5,

[0042] t 环境 =T 1b +Q b R amb(5)

[0043] Use the heat flux and ambient thermal resistance determined in Equation 2 to Equation 4.

[0044] By using four temperature sensors, two heat fluxes can be calculated, allowing determination of both the ambient resistance 26 and the ambient temperature 18. In this way, the ambient temperature can be measured using the temperature sensors 20 and 22.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature sensor T 1a It can be a first temperature sensor, the temperature sensor T 2a It can be a second temperature sensor, the temperature sensor T 1b may be a third temperature sensor, and T 2b It may be a fourth temperature sensor. The heat flux between the temperature sensors may be determined using Equation 2 and Equation 3, and then the ambient temperature may be calculated using Equation 4 and Equation 5.

[0046] Although equations 2 to 5 describe the use of sensors 20 and 22 to determine ambient temperature 18, this is merely exemplary. In some embodiments, sensors 20 and 22 may be used to determine the external / ambient temperature T of the user's wrist 17. 手腕 24. In this scenario, the resistance R 手腕 30 will also be the heat flux Q used a and Q b Determined unknown quantity. In general, any ambient temperature may be determined using sensors 20 and 22. As used herein, ambient temperature may refer to any temperature external to an electronic device, such as the temperature of the environment or the temperature of an object external to the electronic device.

[0047] Generally speaking, in order to determine the ambient temperature using Equations 1 to 5, the temperature sensors must be at different temperatures. In other words, one heat flux must be different from the other heat flux (e.g., the heat flux given by Equations 2 and 3). In order to create a temperature difference between the temperature sensors, a heater may be used. An illustrative example of an ambient temperature sensor with a heater is shown in Figure 4 Shown in.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, the ambient temperature sensor 120 may include a heater 38. The heater 38 may be used to heat the temperature sensor 20, while the temperature sensor 22 may be unheated. In this manner, the heater 38 may change the heat flux through the temperature sensor 22 relative to the heat flux through the temperature sensor 20. The ambient temperature may then be determined using the temperature sensors 20 and 22 according to Equations 1 to 5.

[0049] As an alternative to using four temperature sensors 20 and 22, a heat flux sensor may be used in conjunction with two temperature sensors. Figure 4 As shown, heat flux sensors 32 and 34 may be used in temperature sensor 120. Heat flux sensors 32 and 34 may directly measure heat fluxes q1 and q2 (which may correspond to heat fluxes Q that may be calculated using equations 2 and 3, respectively). a and Q b ). The heat flux sensors 32 and 34 may be, for example, transducers that generate signals proportional to the amount of heat incident on the sensors 32 and 34 .

[0050] Heater 38 may apply heat to heat flux sensor 34, while heat flux sensor 32 may remain unheated. In other words, heater 38 may heat sensor 34 to a greater extent than it heats sensor 32. In this way, heater 38 may generate a difference between heat fluxes q1 and q2.

[0051] If heat flux sensors 32 and 34 are used, temperature sensors 20 and 22 may be omitted. Instead, temperature sensor T1 35 and temperature sensor T2 37 may be used in conjunction with heat flux sensors 32 and 34 to determine the ambient temperature (e.g., Figure 3 The temperature in 18). First, the convective heat transfer coefficient h can be calculated using Equation 6,

[0052]

[0053] Where T is the temperature at each of the temperature sensors 35 and 37. The ambient temperature can be calculated using Equation 7,

[0054]

[0055] The heat transfer coefficient h from Equation 6 and the temperature and heat flux measured by the temperature sensor 35 and the heat flux sensor 32, respectively, are used.

[0056] In an exemplary embodiment, heat flux sensor 32 may be a first heat flux sensor (or first sensor), temperature sensor 35 may be a first temperature sensor (or second sensor), heat flux sensor 34 may be a second heat flux sensor (or third sensor), and temperature sensor 37 may be a second temperature sensor (or fourth sensor). The ambient temperature may be determined using measurements from the first and second heat flux sensors and the first and second temperature sensors (or first, second, third, and fourth sensors).

[0057] In this manner, the ambient temperature may be determined using two heat flux sensors ( 32 and 34 ) that measure the heat flux across the temperature sensor 120 and two temperature sensors ( 35 and 37 ) that measure the temperature at each of the heat flux sensors 32 and 34 .

[0058] Although heater 38 has been described as a separate heating component for heating sensor 34, this is merely exemplary. If desired, any component in device 10 that generates heat (such as a display, battery, or other circuit) can be used as heater 38 to heat sensor 34 (or temperature sensor 20 if used instead of sensor 34).

[0059] Equations 6 and 7 are simplified by considering convection heating and not radiation. However, this is merely illustrative. In some embodiments, both convection and radiation may be considered. Specifically, a similar heat balance may be used to calculate the ambient temperature and to account for radiation using two heat flux sensors 32 and 34 and two temperature sensors 35 and 37.

[0060] As an alternative to using two heat fluxes to determine the ambient temperature, as described above in conjunction with Figure 3 and Figure 4 As described above, a single heat flux sensor and a temperature sensor or two temperature sensors may be used to determine the ambient temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, Figure 4 The temperature sensor 35 may be a first temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor 22 may be a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor. A heat flux may be determined between the second and third temperature sensors 22. The ambient temperature may be determined using the heat flux and temperature at the first temperature sensor. In another exemplary embodiment, the ambient temperature may be determined using Figure 4 The temperature sensor 35 and the heat flux sensor 34 are used to determine the ambient temperature. However, these embodiments are merely exemplary. In general, the ambient temperature can be determined using Figure 4 The ambient temperature can be determined by any suitable combination of temperature sensors and / or heat flux sensors.

[0061] An illustrative example of steps that may be used to determine ambient temperature using a single heat flux sensor and a temperature sensor or two temperature sensors is provided in Figure 5 Shown in.

[0062] like Figure 5 As shown, the flowchart 40 may include that at step 42, the first sensor may be heated. Specifically, a heater (such as Figure 4 A heater 38) may be used to heat the first sensor. As an example, the first sensor may be a temperature sensor (e.g., temperature sensor 35), such as a thermistor or a thermocouple. Alternatively, the first sensor may be a heat flux sensor, and the heat flux sensor may correspond to, for example Figure 4 A heat flux sensor 34 is provided.

[0063] At step 44, the first sensor may measure the rise in heat flux (ΔQ) due to heat from the heater. If the first sensor is a temperature sensor, the rise in heat flux may be based on the temperature sensor (e.g., Figure 4 The temperature sensor 22, which may be a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor used with the first temperature sensor 35, as examples, is determined by a change in temperature (T1) at the temperature sensor, a known thermal resistance of the temperature sensor, and / or a certain amount of heat applied by the heater. Alternatively, if the first sensor is a heat flux sensor, the rise in heat flux may be measured directly. An illustrative example of heat flux measurement is shown in Figure 6 Shown in.

[0064] like Figure 6 As shown, curve 52 is the heat flux q (W / m 2 ) versus time (s). Curve 52 may have a sharp rise 53 in heat flux at time t, which may correspond to the time when the heater applies heat to the heat flux sensor. The rise 53 in heat flux is equal to ΔQ.

[0065] Return to Figure 5 At step 46, the convection coefficient h may be fitted to the measured ΔQ. Specifically, a calibration curve for the convection coefficient h may be used to determine the convection coefficient h based on the rise ΔQ of the heat flux. An illustrative example of a calibration curve for the convection coefficient h is shown in Figure 7 Shown in.

[0066] like Figure 7 As shown, the exemplary calibration curve 54 can give the heat flux q (W / m 2 ) and convection coefficient h(W / m 2 The exemplary relationship given by calibration curve 54 may correspond to the geometry of device 10 and may be generated under different convective conditions, such as when a fan is turned on, when the device is subjected to external heat (such as ambient heat), or when measuring the response of an ambient temperature sensor (e.g., a heat flux sensor or a temperature sensor in the ambient temperature sensor) under other suitable convective conditions.

[0067] By generating a convection coefficient calibration curve 54, the convection coefficient h can be fitted to Figure 6 The heat flux curve 52 is shown in FIG. 5. For example, the convection coefficient curve can be fitted to Figure 6 Alternatively, since the calibration curve 54 gives a direct relationship between the convection coefficient h and the heat flux q, the calibration curve 54 can be used to calculate the convection coefficient h according to Figure 6The convection coefficient h can be determined from the corresponding measured heat flux in . In this way, the rise in heat flux ΔQ 53 ( Figure 6 ) and the convection coefficient calibration curve 54 ( Figure 7 ) to determine the convection coefficient h.

[0068] return Figure 5 In addition to measuring heat flux, a second sensor may be used to measure temperature (T2) at step 48. As an example, the second sensor may be a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple or a thermistor.

[0069] At step 50, the ambient temperature may be calculated. Specifically, because the heat flux Q, the convection coefficient h, and the temperature T2 have been determined, the ambient temperature may be determined using equation 7 (substituting T2 for T1). In this way, two sensors may be used to determine the ambient temperature.

[0070] although Figures 3 to 7 The examples of have described determining the ambient temperature by heating the temperature sensor or the heat flux sensor, but these examples are merely illustrative. In some embodiments, the ambient temperature may be determined by cooling the temperature sensor or the heat flux sensor. An exemplary flow chart of steps that may be used to determine the ambient temperature by cooling the sensor is shown in Figure 8 Shown in.

[0071] like Figure 8 As shown, the exemplary flow chart 60 may include, at step 62, using a Peltier device to cool a local temperature of a device, such as a local location of a sensor in the device 10. For example, Figure 4 The same arrangement as shown, but a Peltier device may be used instead of heater 38 to cool the heat flux sensor (or temperature sensor).

[0072] At step 64, the ambient temperature may be determined when there is zero heat flux (e.g., when the temperature of the heat flux sensor is equal to the ambient temperature). In other words, when there is zero heat flux sensor measurement or equal temperature sensor measurement on either side of a material having a known thermal resistance (see Figure 4 ) When the heat flux is determined to be 0, the ambient temperature can be known.

[0073] Specifically, as shown in Equation 4, when the heat flux across the heat flux sensor is 0, R amb can be 0 (e.g., the temperature on either side of the heat flux sensor is the same). Therefore, using Equation 1, when R amb When the ambient temperature is 0, 环境 may be equal to the temperature T1 at the heat flux sensor. In this way, the ambient temperature may be determined by cooling the heat flux sensor.

[0074] As mentioned above, one aspect of the present technology is to collect and use information, such as information from input-output devices. The disclosure contemplates that, in some cases, data including personal information data may be collected that uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specific person. Such personal information data may include demographic data, location-based data, phone numbers, email addresses, twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records related to the user's health or fitness level (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, user name, password, biometric information, or any other identification or personal information.

[0075] The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information in the present technology can be used to benefit users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver targeted content that users are more interested in. Therefore, the use of such personal information data enables users to have planned control over the delivered content. In addition, the present disclosure also anticipates other uses of personal information data that benefit users. For example, health and fitness data can be used to provide insights into the user's overall health status, or can be used as positive feedback to individuals who use technology to pursue health goals.

[0076] The present disclosure envisions that entities responsible for collecting, analyzing, disclosing, transmitting, storing or otherwise using such personal information data will comply with established privacy policies and / or privacy practices. Specifically, such entities should implement and adhere to privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining the privacy and security of personal information data. Such policies should be easily accessible to users and should be updated as the collection and / or use of data changes. Personal information from users should be collected for the legal and reasonable purposes of the entity and not shared or sold outside these legal uses. In addition, such collection / sharing should be performed after receiving the user's informed consent. In addition, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to protect and safeguard access to such personal information data and ensure that other entities with access to personal information data comply with their privacy policies and procedures. In addition, such entities may subject themselves to third-party assessments to demonstrate their compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should be adjusted to specific types of personal information data collected and / or accessed, and to applicable laws and standards including specific considerations of jurisdiction. For example, in the United States, the collection or access of certain health data may be governed by federal and / or state laws such as the Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), while health data in other countries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be handled accordingly. Therefore, different privacy practices should be maintained in each country for different types of personal data.

[0077] Regardless of the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplates implementation schemes in which users selectively block the use or access of personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplates that hardware elements and / or software elements may be provided to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the technology of the present invention may be configured to allow a user to choose to "opt in" or "opt out" of collecting personal information data at any time during or after registration for a service. For another example, a user may choose not to provide certain types of user data. For another example, a user may choose to limit the length of time that user-specific data is retained. In addition to providing "opt-in" and "opt-out" options, the present disclosure also contemplates providing notifications related to access or use of personal information. For example, a user may be notified that their personal information data will be accessed when downloading an application ("app"), and then be reminded again before the personal information data is accessed by the app.

[0078] Furthermore, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personal information data should be managed and processed in a manner that minimizes the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Once the data is no longer needed, the risk can be minimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting the data. In addition, and when applicable, including in certain health-related applications, data de-identification can be used to protect the privacy of users. Where appropriate, de-identification can be facilitated by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth, etc.), controlling the amount or characteristics of stored data (e.g., collecting location data at a city level rather than an address level), controlling how the data is stored (e.g., aggregating data across users), and / or other methods.

[0079] Thus, while the present disclosure broadly encompasses the use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure also contemplates that various embodiments may be implemented without requiring access to personal information data. That is, various embodiments of the present technology will not fail to function properly due to the lack of all or a portion of such personal information data.

[0080] According to an embodiment, an electronic device is provided, which includes a housing and an ambient temperature sensor in the housing, the ambient temperature sensor including a temperature sensor, a heat flux sensor and a heat source; the heat source is configured to heat the heat flux sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor.

[0081] According to another embodiment, the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor includes a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor.

[0082] According to another embodiment, the heat flux sensor is configured to derive a heat flux measurement based on temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on the heat flux measurement and the measurement from the first temperature sensor.

[0083] According to another embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor includes a fourth temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, and the fourth temperature sensor.

[0084] According to another embodiment, the temperature sensor is a second temperature sensor, the heat flux sensor is a second heat flux sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor includes a first temperature sensor and a first heat flux sensor; the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and the first heat flux sensor and the second heat flux sensor.

[0085] According to another embodiment, the heat source is configured to heat the second heat flux sensor to a greater extent than the first heat flux sensor.

[0086] According to another embodiment, the electronic device includes a control circuit configured to determine the ambient temperature based on a rise in heat flux measured by the heat flux sensor and a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

[0087] According to another embodiment, the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature by fitting a convection coefficient to the measured rise in the heat flux.

[0088] According to an embodiment, a method for operating an electronic device having an ambient temperature sensor is provided, the method comprising heating a first sensor in the ambient temperature sensor, measuring a rise in heat flux using the first sensor, measuring a temperature using a second sensor in the ambient temperature sensor, and determining the ambient temperature based on the rise in heat flux and the temperature.

[0089] According to another embodiment, measuring the rise in the heat flux includes measuring the rise in the heat flux using a heat flux sensor.

[0090] According to another embodiment, the method includes determining a convection coefficient based on the rise in the heat flux.

[0091] According to another embodiment, determining the convection coefficient includes fitting the convection coefficient to the rise in the heat flux based on a convection coefficient calibration curve.

[0092] According to another embodiment, the method includes measuring an additional heat flux using a third sensor, and measuring an additional temperature using a fourth sensor; determining the ambient temperature includes determining the ambient temperature based on the rise in the heat flux, the temperature, the additional heat flux, and the additional temperature.

[0093] According to another embodiment, determining the ambient temperature includes determining a convection coefficient based on the rise in the heat flux, the temperature, the additional heat flux, and the additional temperature, and determining the ambient temperature based on the convection coefficient.

[0094] According to another embodiment, measuring the increase in the heat flux includes measuring a temperature difference using two temperature sensors.

[0095] According to an embodiment, a wearable electronic device is provided, which includes a housing, an ambient temperature sensor in the housing, a heater coupled to the ambient temperature sensor, and a control circuit; the ambient temperature sensor includes a heat flux sensor, the heater is configured to heat the ambient temperature sensor, and the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on a rise in heat flux measured by the heat flux sensor.

[0096] According to another embodiment, the ambient temperature sensor includes a temperature sensor, and the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on the rise in the heat flux and a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

[0097] According to another embodiment, the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature by fitting a convection coefficient to the rise in the heat flux.

[0098] According to another embodiment, the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor, the heat flux sensor includes a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor includes a fourth temperature sensor; the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, and the fourth temperature sensor.

[0099] According to another embodiment, the wearable electronic device includes a strap configured to be coupled to the housing, and the housing is a wristwatch housing configured to contact a wrist.

[0100] According to another embodiment, the ambient temperature comprises ambient temperature.

[0101] According to another embodiment, the ambient temperature includes the temperature of the wrist.

[0102] The foregoing is exemplary and various modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising: shell; and An ambient temperature sensor in the housing, wherein the ambient temperature sensor comprises: Temperature sensor, heat flux sensor, and A heat source is provided, wherein the heat source is configured to heat the heat flux sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine an ambient temperature based on measurements from the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor. 2 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor, and the heat flux sensor comprises a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the heat flux sensor is configured to derive a heat flux measurement based on temperature measurements from the second temperature sensor and the third temperature sensor, and wherein the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on the heat flux measurement and the measurement from the first temperature sensor.

4. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the ambient temperature sensor further comprises: A fourth temperature sensor, wherein the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, and the fourth temperature sensor.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a second temperature sensor, the heat flux sensor is a second heat flux sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor further comprises: a first temperature sensor; and A first heat flux sensor, wherein the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first and second temperature sensors and the first and second heat flux sensors. 6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the heat source is configured to heat the second heat flux sensor to a greater extent than the first heat flux sensor.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: A control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on a rise in heat flux measured by the heat flux sensor and a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. 8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature by fitting a convection coefficient to the measured rise in the heat flux.

9. A method of operating an electronic device having an ambient temperature sensor, the method comprising: heating a first sensor of the ambient temperature sensors; measuring a rise in heat flux using the first sensor; Measuring temperature using a second sensor in the ambient temperature sensor; as well as An ambient temperature is determined based on the rise in the heat flux and the temperature. 10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein measuring the rise in the heat flux comprises measuring the rise in the heat flux using a heat flux sensor.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: A convection coefficient is determined based on the rise in the heat flux, wherein determining the convection coefficient comprises fitting the convection coefficient to the rise in the heat flux based on a convection coefficient calibration curve.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: measuring an additional heat flux using a third sensor; as well as measuring an additional temperature using a fourth sensor, wherein determining the ambient temperature comprises determining the ambient temperature based on the rise in the heat flux, the temperature, the additional heat flux, and the additional temperature, and wherein determining the ambient temperature further comprises: determining a convection coefficient based on the rise in the heat flux, the temperature, the additional heat flux, and the additional temperature; as well as The ambient temperature is determined based on the convection coefficient.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein measuring the rise in the heat flux comprises measuring a temperature difference using two temperature sensors.

14. A wearable electronic device comprising: shell; an ambient temperature sensor in the housing, wherein the ambient temperature sensor comprises a heat flux sensor; a heater coupled to the ambient temperature sensor, wherein the heater is configured to heat the ambient temperature sensor; and A control circuit is configured to determine an ambient temperature based on a rise in heat flux measured by the heat flux sensor.

15. The wearable electronic device according to claim 14, wherein the ambient temperature sensor further comprises: A temperature sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on the rise in the heat flux and a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the ambient temperature by fitting a convection coefficient to the rise in the heat flux.

17. A wearable electronic device according to claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor, the heat flux sensor includes a second temperature sensor and a third temperature sensor, and the ambient temperature sensor also includes a fourth temperature sensor, wherein the ambient temperature sensor is configured to determine the ambient temperature based on measurements from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the third temperature sensor, and the fourth temperature sensor.

18. The wearable electronic device according to claim 14, further comprising: A watch band is configured to be coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is a wristwatch housing configured to contact a wrist.

19. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the ambient temperature comprises an ambient temperature.

20. The wearable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the ambient temperature comprises a temperature of the wrist.

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