Electronic device with temperature sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device with a temperature sensor. In particular, the electronic device may include one or more active temperature sensors to measure a temperature of an external object. The active temperature sensors may each include at least one light emitter, such as an infrared emitter, and at least one light detector, such as an infrared detector. The infrared emitter may emit infrared light that is reflected from an external object to form reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector may detect the reflected emitted light, naturally emitted light from the external object, and / or reflected ambient light to determine the temperature of the external object. The temperature sensor may also determine the distance to the external object based on a time of flight of the emitted light. Alternatively or additionally, multiple emitters and multiple detectors and / or an infrared camera may be used to account for or determine the distance to the external object and / or the tilt of the external object.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 19 / 201,678, filed May 7, 2025, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 691,860, filed September 6, 2024, the filing dates of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to electronic devices, including electronic devices with environmental sensors. BACKGROUND

[0003] Electronic devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and other equipment are sometimes provided with environmental sensors such as ambient light sensors, image sensors, and microphones. However, it can be difficult to incorporate some environmental sensors into electronic devices that have limited space. SUMMARY

[0004] An electronic device can be provided with a housing and one or more temperature sensors located in the housing. The temperature sensors can include one or more active temperature sensors that measure the temperature of an external object.

[0005] The active temperature sensors can each include at least one light emitter, such as an infrared emitter, and at least one light detector, such as an infrared detector. The infrared emitter can emit infrared light that reflects off of the external object to form reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector can detect the reflected emitted light, naturally emitted light from the external object, and / or reflected ambient light to determine the temperature of the external object. For example, a control circuit can use the detected reflected emitted light, the detected reflected ambient light, and an ambient temperature to determine the temperature of the external object.

[0006] The temperature sensors can also determine a distance between the electronic device and the external object based on a measured time of flight of the emitted light, or the distance can be determined using a separate sensor. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of emitters, a plurality of detectors, and / or an infrared camera can be used to consider and / or determine a distance to the external object and / or a tilt of the external object. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a diagram of an illustrative wearable electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

[0008] Figure 2 is a diagram of an illustrative portable device in accordance with some embodiments.

[0009] Figure 3 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 4This is a side view of an exemplary electronic device with an active temperature sensor according to some implementation schemes.

[0011] Figure 5A This is a side view of an exemplary electronic device with an active temperature sensor according to some embodiments, the active temperature sensor having multiple light emitters.

[0012] Figure 5B This is an illustrative diagram illustrating how temperature can be determined using a temperature sensor with multiple light emitters, based on some implementation schemes.

[0013] Figure 5C This is a top view of an exemplary active temperature sensor with multiple light emitters surrounding a photodetector, according to some implementation schemes.

[0014] Figure 6A This is a side view of an exemplary electronic device with an active temperature sensor according to some embodiments, the active temperature sensor having multiple light emitters and multiple light detectors.

[0015] Figure 6B This is a top view of an exemplary active temperature sensor having multiple light emitters and multiple photodetectors formed in an array, according to some implementation schemes.

[0016] Figure 7 It is a side view of an exemplary electronic device according to some embodiments, having an active temperature sensor and an additional sensor for measuring the distance and / or tilt of an external object.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a side view of an exemplary electronic device with an active temperature sensor, including a camera, according to some embodiments.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a side view of an exemplary electronic device with an active temperature sensor according to some embodiments, the active temperature sensor including multiple pairs of light emitters and photodetectors operating at different wavelengths. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Electronic devices are typically carried by users during their daily activities. For example, users may carry electronic devices with them throughout the day while walking, commuting, working, exercising, etc. In some cases, users may want to know the surface temperature of external objects. Therefore, one or more temperature sensors can be integrated into the electronic device to measure the temperature of external objects in the environment.

[0020] Although temperature sensors can measure ambient light reflected from external objects to estimate the object's temperature, the amount of reflected light depends on the object's emissivity. Therefore, electronic devices can include active temperature sensors that combine a light emitter and a light sensor. The light emitter emits light towards the external object. The light sensor measures the emitted light reflected from the external object (reflected emitted light), the naturally emitted light from the external object (e.g., thermal radiation from the object), and the ambient light reflected from the external object (reflected ambient light). Based on the reflected emitted light, the naturally emitted light, and the reflected ambient light, the temperature of the external object can be determined, and the determined temperature takes into account the object's emissivity.

[0021] Generally speaking, any suitable electronic device can include a temperature sensor. For example... Figure 1 As shown, a wearable electronic device 10, which may be a wristwatch, can have a housing 12, a display 14, and a strap 16. The wristwatch can be attached to a user's wrist via the strap 16. One or more temperature sensors can be incorporated into the housing 12. For example, the housing 12 may have an opening or cavity 13. The temperature sensor can be formed within the opening or cavity 13. Specifically, the opening or cavity 13 may allow the temperature sensor to emit and receive light, which can be used to determine the temperature of an external object. In some embodiments, the opening or cavity 13 may be covered by a transparent structure (e.g., a structure transparent to the wavelength of light emitted and / or detected by the temperature sensor) and / or other covering that allows light to pass through unobstructed.

[0022] exist Figure 2 Another exemplary device is shown, which may include one or more temperature sensors. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the portable device 10, which may be a cellular phone, tablet, or other portable device, has a housing 12 and a display 14. One or more temperature sensors may be integrated into the housing 12, located within an opening or cavity 13.

[0023] Although the opening or cavity 13 is in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The display 14 is shown on the side wall of housing 12 (e.g., between the front of housing 12 with display 14 and the opposite back of housing 12), but this is merely illustrative. In general, the temperature sensor can be formed anywhere in the device, such as on the front of device 10 (with display 14) and / or on the back of device 10 (opposite to display 14).

[0024] although Figure 1 and Figure 2Electronic device 10 is shown as a wristwatch device and / or a cellular phone device, but these examples are merely illustrative. In general, electronic device 10 can be any desired device, such as a media player or other handheld or portable electronic device, wristband device, pendant device, headset, speaker, smart speaker, earbud or handset device, head-mounted device such as glasses, goggles, helmet, or other equipment worn on a user's head, or other wearable or micro-devices, portable computers (e.g., laptops or tablets), desktop computers, navigation devices, or other accessories, and / or equipment that performs the functions of two or more of these devices. Illustrative configurations of electronic device 10 as portable electronic devices (such as cellular phones, wristwatches, or portable computers) may sometimes be described herein as examples. Regardless of the form factor of device 10, in Figure 3 An illustrative schematic diagram of device 10 is shown in the figure.

[0025] like Figure 3 As shown, an electronic device such as electronic device 10 may have control circuitry 112. Control circuitry 112 may include storage devices and processing circuitry for controlling the operation of device 10. Circuitry 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 circuitry in control circuitry 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 (ASICs), and other integrated circuits. Software code may be stored on the storage devices in circuitry 112 and run on the processing circuitry in circuitry 112 to implement control operations for device 10 (e.g., data acquisition operations, operations involving adjusting components of device 10 using control signals, etc.).

[0026] 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., (Circuit) Short-range radio frequency transceiver circuits that use ultra-high frequency wireless waves for short-range communication (e.g., operating at 2.4 GHz). Circuits or other short-range transceiver circuits), millimeter-wave transceiver circuits and / or other wireless communication circuits.

[0027] Device 10 may include input-output device 116. Input-output device 116 may be used to allow a user to provide user input to device 10. Input-output device 116 may also be used to acquire 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.

[0028] Input-output device 116 may include one or more optional displays, such as display 14. Display 14 may be an organic light-emitting diode display or other displays with light-emitting diodes, a liquid crystal display, a micro LED display, or other displays. Display 14 may be touch-sensitive (e.g., display 14 may include a two-dimensional touch sensor for capturing touch input from a user), or display 14 may be touch-insensitive.

[0029] Input-output device 116 may include one or more sensors 118. Sensors 118 may include, for example, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., three-dimensional image sensors such as structured light sensors that emit a light beam and acquire image data for a three-dimensional image from a light spot generated when a target is illuminated by the light beam, binocular three-dimensional image sensors that acquire three-dimensional images using two or more cameras in a binocular imaging arrangement, three-dimensional lidar (light detection and ranging) sensors, three-dimensional radio frequency sensors, or other sensors that acquire three-dimensional image data), cameras (e.g., infrared and / or visible light digital image sensors), eye-tracking sensors (e.g., eye-tracking systems based on image sensors and, if necessary, on light sources that emit one or more light beams that are tracked by an image sensor after reflection from the user's eye), touch sensors, etc. 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 acquiring voice commands and other audio inputs, sensors configured to acquire information about motion, position, and / or orientation (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, compasses, and / or inertial measurement units that include all of these sensors or subgroups of one or both of these sensors), health sensors that measure various biometric information (e.g., heart rate sensors, such as photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors, electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors, and perspiration sensors), and / or other sensors.

[0030] Sensor 118 may also include one or more temperature sensors 120. Temperature sensor 120 may be, for example, an active temperature sensor that includes a light emitter and a photodetector to detect the temperature of an external object. The light emitter may emit light toward the external object. The photodetector may measure reflected light from the external object (reflected emitted light), naturally emitted light from the external object (e.g., thermal radiation from the object), and ambient light reflected from the external object (reflected ambient light). Control circuitry in device 10 (such as control circuitry 112) may determine the temperature of the external object based on the reflected emitted light, naturally emitted light, and reflected ambient light.

[0031] Additionally, the temperature sensor 120 may include an ambient temperature sensor. Specifically, the ambient temperature sensor can measure the ambient temperature in the environment of the device 10.

[0032] If needed, the input-output device 116 may include other devices 124, such as haptic output devices (e.g., vibration components), light-emitting diodes and other light sources, speakers such as earphones for generating audio output, circuitry for receiving wireless power, circuitry for wirelessly transmitting power to other devices, batteries and other energy storage devices (e.g., capacitors), joysticks, buttons and / or other components.

[0033] Temperature sensor 120 may be formed in housing 12 of device 10. Figure 1 to Figure 2 The light source may include one or more light emitters and one or more light detectors that detect emitted light reflected from external objects, naturally emitted light from external objects, and ambient light reflected from external objects. Figure 4 An illustrative example is shown in the figure.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, device 10 may include a temperature sensor 120 that determines the temperature of an external object, such as external object 26. Temperature sensor 120 may include a light emitter 20 and a light detector 22. The light emitter 20 may be a light-emitting diode or other suitable light emitter and may emit light 23. For example, light emitter 20 may emit light at infrared wavelengths (e.g., one or more wavelengths between 700 nm and 1 mm) or other suitable wavelengths. Light detector 22 may be a photodiode, an image sensor, or other suitable light detector sensitive to one or more wavelengths of light emitted by light emitter 20 and / or any other desired wavelength. In some embodiments, light emitter 20 may emit infrared light at one or more wavelengths and is therefore referred to as infrared emitter 20, and light detector 22 may detect infrared light at one or more wavelengths and is therefore referred to as infrared detector 22.

[0035] The light emitter 20 and the light detector 22 may be formed within the housing 12 inside the interior 17 of the device 10. To determine the temperature of an external object, the light emitter 20 and the light detector 22 may operate via the housing wall 25 of the housing 12 (e.g., emitting and receiving light via the housing wall 25). As an example, the housing wall 25 may form the back of the device 10, the front of the device 10, or a side wall of the device 10.

[0036] The light emitter 20 can emit light 23 through a portion 24 of the housing wall 25. The portion 24 can be transparent to the wavelength of light 23. For example, the portion 24 can be a coated (e.g., coated with one or more filters that allow light 23 to pass through while blocking other wavelengths) or uncoated window of the housing wall 25, or the entire housing wall 25 can be transparent to the wavelength of light 23. Generally, the portion 24 can correspond to a portion of the housing wall 25 that is transparent to the wavelength of light 23.

[0037] Light 23 can pass through the housing wall 25 to reach the exterior 15 of the device 10. Light 23 can be reflected from an external object 26 to form reflected emitted light 28. The reflected emitted light 28 can pass through a portion 30 of the housing wall 25. The portion 30 can be transparent to the wavelength of the reflected emitted light 28. For example, the portion 30 can be a coated (e.g., coated with one or more filters that allow light 28 to pass through while blocking other wavelengths) or uncoated window of the housing wall 25, or the entire housing wall 25 can be transparent to the wavelength of light 28. Generally, the portion 30 can correspond to a portion of the housing wall 25 that is transparent to the wavelength of light 28.

[0038] After the reflected emitted light 28 has entered the interior 17 of the device 10, the reflected emitted light 28 can be detected by the photodetector 22. In other words, the photodetector 22 can generate a charge or other signal in response to the reflected emitted light 28 incident on the photodetector 22.

[0039] In addition to detecting the reflected emitted light 28, the photodetector 22 can also detect ambient light (reflected ambient light) that has been reflected from the external object 26. Figure 4 As illustrated in the example, ambient light 32 can be reflected from external object 26 to form reflected ambient light 34. The reflected ambient light 34 can pass through a portion 30 of the housing wall 25 and can be detected by the photodetector 22. In other words, the photodetector 22 can generate additional charge or other signals in response to the reflected ambient light 34 incident on the photodetector 22.

[0040] In addition to detecting reflected emitted light 28 and reflected ambient light 34, the photodetector 22 can also detect naturally emitted light 21 from an external object 26. Naturally emitted light 21 may be due to thermal radiation from the external object 26. Therefore, naturally emitted light 21 may also be referred to herein as object thermal radiation 21.

[0041] After the photodetector 22 has measured the reflected emitted light 28, the reflected ambient light 34, and the naturally emitted light 21, the control circuit in device 10 (e.g., Figure 3 The control circuit 112) can calculate the temperature of the external object 26 based on the reflected emitted light 28, the reflected ambient light 34, and the naturally emitted light 21.

[0042] Specifically, the infrared light detected by the photodetector 22 when the infrared emitter 20 is off (e.g., not emitting light 23) is given by Equation 1.

[0043] IR OFF ≈∈ object f(T object )+(1-∈ object )g(T ambient (1) where ∈ object The emissivity of an external object, for example, external object 26), f(T) object ) is a function of the temperature of the external object, and g(t) ambient The light emitted is a function of ambient temperature (e.g., at the exterior 15 of device 10). When the infrared emitter 20 is off, the light detected by the photodetector 22 will include measurements of reflected ambient light 34 and naturally emitted light 21.

[0044] Similarly, the infrared light detected by the photodetector 22 when the infrared emitter 20 is turned on (e.g., emitting light 23) is given by Equation 2.

[0045] IR ON ≈∈ object f(T object )+(1-∈ object )g(T ambient )+hR object (2) Where R object is the reflectivity of the external object 26, and h is a constant determined by measuring the reflected emitted light 28 using an external object (e.g., a diffuser, such as a gold-plated diffuser) with a known reflectivity close to 1 when the infrared emitter 20 is on and when the infrared emitter 20 is off. The reflectivity (R0) of the external object 26 物体 The constant h can be determined as the ratio of the emitted light 28 reflected from the external object 26 (as measured by the infrared detector 22) to the emitted light 28 reflected from the external object with a known reflectivity close to 1 (as measured by the infrared detector 22). The constant h can be determined during the calibration procedure when the device 10 is manufactured, used for the first time, or used continuously. When the infrared emitter 20 is off, the light detected by the light detector 22 will include measurements of the reflected emitted light 28, the reflected ambient light 34, and the naturally emitted light 21.

[0046] According to equations 1 and 2, control circuit 112 can calculate the emissivity of external object 26. Specifically, control circuit 112 can calculate the emissivity using equations 3 to 5 derived from equations 1 and 2, as well as the known physical relationship between infrared light and temperature. First, the difference in infrared light detected by photodetector 22 when infrared emitter 20 is on versus when it is off is given by equation 3.

[0047] ΔIR = IR ON -IR OFF =IR object (3)

[0048] Reflectivity (R) of external object 26 object The result is given by equation 4.

[0049]

[0050] Where ΔIR′ is the difference between the measured reflected emitted light 28 detected by infrared detector 22 when infrared emitter 20 is on and when infrared emitter 20 is off for an external object with a known emissivity close to 1 (e.g., a diffuser, such as a gold-plated diffuser), and is equivalent to h. In other words, Equation 4 is derived directly from Equation 3.

[0051] Finally, Equation 5 can be used to determine the emissivity of the external object 26 (e.g., if the external object 26 has low transparency, such as being an opaque object).

[0052] ∈ object =1-R object (5)

[0053] After calculating the emissivity of the external object 26 using equations 3 to 5 and the measurements from the infrared detector 22, the control circuit 112 can use equations 1 and 2 to determine the temperature (T) of the external object 26. object Because the control circuit 112 will require ambient temperature (T). ambient The calculation is performed using an ambient temperature sensor in device 10, and / or can be provided via user input. Thus, control circuit 112 can determine the temperature of external object 26 based on measurements of reflected emitted light 28, reflected ambient light 34, and naturally emitted light 21.

[0054] In some implementations, it may be desirable to determine the distance d between the housing 12 of device 10 and the external object 26. For example, the distance d can be used to correct the calculation of the temperature of the external object 26 (e.g., the amount of infrared light detected by the photodetector 22 may vary based on the temperature of the external object 26, the ambient temperature, the emissivity of the external object 26, and the distance d).

[0055] To determine the distance d, the infrared emitter 20 and the infrared detector 22 can be operated as time-of-flight (ToF) sensors. Specifically, the infrared emitter 20 can be pulsed (e.g., it can emit light 23 in a pulsed manner), and the control circuit 112 can determine the time (Δt) between the emission of light 23 by the infrared emitter 20 and the detection of the reflected emitted light 28 by the photodetector 22. The distance d can then be determined using Equation 6.

[0056]

[0057] Where c is the speed of light. Thus, in addition to the temperature of the external object 26, the infrared emitter 20 and infrared detector 22 of the temperature sensor 120 can also be used to determine the distance d between the device 10 (or housing 12) and the external object 26.

[0058] although Figure 4 A temperature sensor 120 with a single light emitter 20 and a single light detector 22 is shown, but this is merely illustrative. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may have multiple light emitters and / or multiple light detectors. Figure 5A An illustrative example of an electronic device with a temperature sensor having multiple light emitters is shown.

[0059] like Figure 5A As shown, temperature sensor 121 (e.g., Figure 3 The temperature sensor 120 may include light emitters 20A and 20B, and a photodetector 42. The light emitters 20A and 20B may be coupled with... Figure 4 The light emitter 20 corresponds to the light detector 42. The light detector 42 may be a photodiode, an image sensor, or other sensor with a wide field of view (FOV) (such as an FOV of at least 50°, at least 55°, at least 60°, or other suitable FOV). The light detector 42 may be sensitive to the wavelength of the light emitted by the light emitters 20A and 20B (e.g., infrared light), and is therefore sometimes referred to herein as the infrared detector 42.

[0060] In operation, infrared detector 42 can detect reflected emitted light 28, which is formed by reflecting light 23 generated by infrared emitter 20A. Similarly, infrared detector 42 can detect additional reflected emitted light 40, which is formed by reflecting light 38 generated by infrared emitter 20B. By combining multiple light emitters 20A and 20B, more accurate temperature measurements can be made on external objects with different light scattering properties. Specifically, temperature sensor 121 can be used to measure the temperature of external objects with specular reflection and / or diffuse light scattering properties. Generally, control circuits (such as...) Figure 3The control circuit 112) can use equations 1 to 5 to determine the temperature of the external object 26 using the temperature sensor 121. Furthermore, based on information obtained through multiple infrared emitters 20, the object reflectivity (Rreflectance) can be calculated more accurately for external objects with different light scattering properties. object ). Exemplary examples in Figure 5B As shown in the image.

[0061] like Figure 5B As shown, calculation 37 may include calibration 39 and infrared difference calculation 41. Calibration 39 may include measuring the emitted light reflected from a known external object with a reflectivity close to 1 (e.g., a diffuser, such as a gold-plated diffuser) at different angles (as shown in graph 43), thus giving a straight line 47. Additionally, the known external object may have a flat diffuse bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) due to its matte-like properties. Vertical line 45 may correspond to the light emitted by the infrared emitter in the temperature sensor.

[0062] The energy transfer function 49 can provide an exemplary relationship between the emitter output and the sensor response for a known object (e.g., a diffuser, such as a gold-plated diffuser). Specifically, the curve of the energy transfer function 49 can be generated by multiplying 1) the emission of the infrared emitter 20 at different emission angles with 2) the sensor response of the infrared detector 42 at different incident angles.

[0063] The reflected light at different angles (on curve 43) can be multiplied by the energy transfer function 49. The result is shown by the exemplary calibration sensor output 51. In general, the sensor can collect the calibration sensor output 51 and integrate it across all angles to give (ΔIR′ is equivalent to h).

[0064] After temperature sensor 121 has been calibrated 39, an external object (e.g., external object 26) having an arbitrary bidirectional reflectance distribution function (as illustrated by illustrative curve 55 in graph 53) can be illuminated by infrared emitter 20 and sampled by temperature sensor 121 to provide infrared light measurements at different angles. In the illustrative example of curve 55, the external object exhibits a non-horizontal and non-vertical response, indicating that the external object is not perfectly diffuse or specularly reflective.

[0065] The reflected light at different angles (on curve 53) can be multiplied by the energy transfer function 49. The result is shown by the exemplary sensor output 57. The sensor output 57 can then be integrated to give ΔIR (equivalent to the difference between the infrared measurements when the light emitters 20 are on and when they are off).

[0066] Using ΔIR and ΔIR′, Equation 4 can be used to calculate the reflectance of an object (R). objectIn this way, multiple infrared emitters 20 can be used to more accurately determine the temperature of external objects with various scattering properties.

[0067] although Figure 5A Two light emitters, 20A and 20B, are shown, but this is merely illustrative. Generally, temperature sensors with multiple light emitters (such as temperature sensor 121) can include any suitable number of light emitters, such as at least two, at least four, at least six, or at least ten, etc. For example, by including a large number of light emitters (e.g., at least four, six, or ten emitters), temperature sensor 121 can have a wide emission distribution at different angles, which can be used to achieve a wide energy transfer function (e.g., energy transfer function 49). Figure 5C In an exemplary example, temperature sensor 121 includes eight light emitters (infrared emitters) 20A to 20H surrounding infrared detector 42. Generally, any suitable number of light emitters can be incorporated into temperature sensor 121, and temperature sensor 121 can detect the temperature of external objects with various scattering properties.

[0068] exist Figure 5A to Figure 5C In the example, temperature sensor 121 includes multiple light emitters and a single light detector. In some embodiments, in addition to or instead of multiple light emitters, temperature sensors (such as temperature sensor 120) Figure 4 The ( ) and / or temperature sensor 121) may include multiple photodetectors. Figure 6A to Figure 6B An illustrative example of a temperature sensor with multiple light emitters and light detectors is shown.

[0069] like Figure 6A As shown, temperature sensor 123 (e.g., Figure 3 The temperature sensor 120 may include light emitters 20A, 20B, and 20C, and photodetectors 22A and 22B. The light emitters 20A to 20C may be used with… Figure 4 Corresponding to the light emitter 20. Photodetectors 22A and 22B can be used with... Figure 4 The corresponding photodetector 22.

[0070] In operation, infrared detector 22A can detect reflected emitted light 28, which is formed by reflecting light 23 generated by infrared emitter 20A, and infrared detector 22B can detect reflected emitted light 48, which is formed by reflecting light 46 generated by infrared emitter 20A. Although Figure 6ANot shown, but infrared detectors 22A and 22B can also detect reflected emitted light originating from infrared emitter 20B and reflected emitted light originating from infrared emitter 20C. Generally, each infrared detector 22 can detect reflected emitted light originating from each infrared emitter 20. By combining multiple light emitters and light detectors, the distance d between device 10 and external object 26 and / or the tilt of object 26 relative to plane 27 (e.g., a plane parallel to the plane of housing 12), given by angle 59, can be calculated and / or taken into account in temperature measurements.

[0071] For example, when calculating the reflectance (R) of object 26, each infrared detector will give a different value. Figure 6A In an exemplary example, infrared detector 22A will measure the reflectance given by Equation 7.

[0072]

[0073] Where ΔIR 1→1 It is the difference in reflectivity measured by infrared detector 22A when transmitter 20A is turned on and off.

[0074] Similarly, infrared detector 22B will measure the reflectance given by Equation 8.

[0075]

[0076] Where ΔIR 1→2 It is the difference in reflectivity measured by infrared detector 22B when transmitter 20A is turned on and off.

[0077] The reflectance value of each infrared detector 22 can be calculated relative to each infrared emitter of the temperature sensor 123. By using multiple infrared emitters and infrared detectors to determine the reflectance, distance d and angle 59 can be taken into account in the temperature measurement of the external object 26 (e.g., because the distance and / or angle between each infrared emitter 20 and infrared detector 22 and the external object 26 is different, the difference will be averaged / eliminated when calculating the temperature of the external object 26 using equations 1 to 7).

[0078] Alternatively or additionally, measurements from infrared detector 22 can be used to directly determine angle 59 and / or distance d (e.g., by combining...). Figure 4 The time-of-flight measurement discussed, and the angle 59 and / or distance d can be used to modify the calculated temperature of the external object 26.

[0079] although Figure 6AThree light emitters 20A to 20C and two light detectors 22A and 22B are shown, but this is merely illustrative. In general, a temperature sensor (such as temperature sensor 123) with multiple light emitters and light detectors can include any suitable number of light emitters, such as at least two, at least four, at least six, or at least ten, and at least two, at least four, at least six, or at least ten, light detectors. Figure 6B In an exemplary example, temperature sensor 123 includes 13 light emitters 20, which form an array with 12 photodetectors 22. However, in general, any suitable number of light emitters and photodetectors can be combined into temperature sensor 123 in any suitable arrangement, and temperature sensor 123 can detect the temperature of external objects at various distances and / or angles relative to device 10.

[0080] Instead of using multiple light emitters and light detectors to consider and / or calculate distance d and / or angle 59, or otherwise, a single sensor in device 10 can be used to determine distance d and / or angle 59. Figure 7 An illustrative example is shown in the figure.

[0081] like Figure 7 As shown, the temperature sensor 120 may include a light emitter 20 and a photodetector 22, and may be combined with... Figure 4 It operates in the same manner as described. Additionally, device 10 may include sensor 54 (e.g., Figure 3 (One of the sensors in sensor 118). For example, sensor 54 can be a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, a 3D camera and / or another suitable sensor.

[0082] Sensor 54 may include an emitter 56 and a detector 58. The emitter 56 may be, for example, a light-emitting diode or other suitable light emitter that emits light at one or more wavelengths (such as infrared wavelengths). The detector 58 may be a photodiode, a camera, or other suitable light detector that detects one or more wavelengths and / or other suitable wavelengths of light emitted by the emitter 56.

[0083] In operation, emitter 56 can emit light 60 (infrared light or light of another suitable wavelength), which can be reflected from external object 26 as emitted light 62 reflected by an additional sensor. Detector 58 can measure light 62 and control circuitry (e.g., Figure 3The control circuit 112 can determine the distance d and / or angle 59 based on measurements of the light 62 (such as the flight time of the light emitted by the emitter 56 and / or the angle at which the light is incident on the detector 58). The control circuit 112 can then modify the temperature of the object 26 based on the distance d and / or angle 59 (e.g., calculated using equations 1 to 5).

[0084] However, the inclusion of a transmitter 56 and a detector 58 in sensor 54 is merely exemplary. In some embodiments, sensor 54 may include only a photodetector to detect ambient light reflected from object 26, thereby determining distance d and / or angle 59.

[0085] In some implementations, the temperature sensor may include a camera (e.g., an infrared camera) to measure infrared light reflected from an external object, thereby measuring the temperature of the external object. By incorporating a camera into the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor can take into account various light scattering properties (similar to using multiple light emitters and / or multiple light detectors as shown in Figures 5 and 6). Figure 8 An illustrative example is shown in the figure.

[0086] like Figure 8 As shown, temperature sensor 125 (e.g., Figure 3 The temperature sensor 120 may include a light emitter 20 and a camera 50. Although Figure 8 A temperature sensor 125 is shown, comprising a single light emitter 20 and a single camera 50, but the temperature sensor 125 may include any suitable number of light emitters and / or cameras.

[0087] Camera 50 may be, for example, an infrared camera sensitive to the wavelength of light emitted by light emitter 20. For instance, camera 50 may include an image sensor having a pixel array (e.g., at least several hundred pixels, several thousand pixels, or several million pixels (megapixels)) sensitive to the wavelength of light emitted by light emitter 20. Camera 50 may have a wide field of view (FOV) as indicated by FOV 52. FOV 52 may be at least 50°, at least 55°, at least 60°, or another suitable FOV. If desired, temperature sensor 125 may include multiple cameras 50 to increase the FOV.

[0088] In operation, camera 50 can detect reflected emitted light 28 formed by the reflection of light 23 generated by light emitter 20, reflected ambient light 34 formed by the reflection of ambient light 32, and naturally emitted light 21 from external object 26. Because camera 50 has a pixel array, each pixel can receive a different amount of infrared light, thereby generating an infrared image in response to light 28 and light 34. These images can be used to calculate the integral reflectance (R) of object 26 using Equation 9.

[0089]

[0090] Specifically, a sample image is determined by subtracting an image of the external object 26 obtained by camera 50 when the light emitter 20 is off from an image obtained by camera 50 in response to light reflected from the external object 26 (when the light emitter 20 is on). Similarly, a calibration image is determined by subtracting an image of the object obtained by camera 50 when the light emitter 20 is off from an image obtained by camera 50 in response to light reflected from an object with a known emissivity close to 1 (e.g., a diffuse reflector, such as a gold-plated diffuse reflector) when the light emitter 20 is on. In this way, the integral reflectivity (R) of object 26 can be calculated regardless of the scattering properties of object 26 (e.g., whether object 26 is diffuse or specular in terms of reflectivity), and the calculated integral reflectivity (R) can be used to calculate the temperature of object 26 using Equations 1 to 5.

[0091] In some implementations, the temperature sensor may include multiple pairs of light emitters and photodetectors that operate at different wavelengths. Figure 9 An illustrative example is shown in the figure.

[0092] like Figure 9 As shown, temperature sensor 127 (e.g., Figure 3 A temperature sensor (one of the temperature sensors) in temperature sensor 120 may include a first pair 64-1 of a first light emitter 20-1 and a first photodetector 22-1, and a second pair 64-2 of a second light emitter 20-2 and a second photodetector 22-2. The first light emitter 20-1 and the first photodetector 22-1 may be coupled with... Figure 4 The light emitter 20 and the light detector 22 correspond to each other, and the first light detector 22-1 can detect the reflected emitted light 28 formed by the reflection of the light 23 generated by the first light emitter 20-1.

[0093] The second optical emitter 20-2 can operate at a different wavelength than the first optical emitter 20-1. For example, if the first optical emitter 20-1 operates at an infrared wavelength of 970 nm, then the second optical emitter 20-2 can operate at an infrared wavelength of 840 nm. However, these examples are merely illustrative. In general, the first and second optical emitters 20 can operate at any two different infrared wavelengths.

[0094] The second photodetector 22-2 is sensitive to light of a wavelength (e.g., 840 nm) emitted by the second light emitter 20-2. Therefore, the second photodetector 22-2 can detect the second reflected emitted light 68, which is formed by the reflection of the second light 66 generated by the second light emitter 20-2.

[0095] Because the first pair 64-1 and the second pair 64-2 operate at different wavelengths, the first infrared radiation emitted by the first infrared emitter 20-1 to the first infrared detector 22-1 can be different from the second infrared radiation emitted by the second infrared emitter 20-2 to the second infrared detector 22-2. Therefore, different reflectivities (R) can be determined at each pair (using the first and second reflectivities calculated using Equation 4). The ratio of the first and second reflectivities can be compared with a known emissivity database to determine the emissivity of the external object 26 (and the material of the external object 26, if needed). The emissivity (∈) of the external object 26 can then be used to determine the temperature of the external object 26 using Equations 1 to 5.

[0096] In some implementations, temperature sensor 127 and / or another sensor in device 10 may be used to determine the distance and tilt of object 26, which may also be used to determine the emissivity and / or material of object 26.

[0097] although Figure 9 Two pairs of infrared emitters and infrared detectors are shown, but this is merely illustrative. In general, the temperature sensor 127 may include any suitable number of pairs of infrared emitters and infrared detectors, such as at least two pairs, at least three pairs, or at least four pairs, etc.

[0098] although Figure 4 to Figure 9 Temperature sensors that operate through the housing wall of an electronic device and are formed inside the device have been shown and described, but these are merely illustrative. In some embodiments, the temperature sensor may be formed inside the electronic device, and the housing may have one or more openings (such as...). Figure 1 to Figure 2 (Cavity 13), through which the temperature sensor operates. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may be formed on the exterior of the electronic device, such as on a housing.

[0099] Generally speaking, Figure 4 to Figure 9 Any of the implementation schemes can be implemented individually in an electronic device or can be used in any combination.

[0100] As described above, one aspect of this technology involves collecting and using information, such as information from input-output devices. This disclosure contemplates that, in some cases, data including personal information data may be collected, which uniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate specific individuals. Such personal information data may include demographic data, location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, Twitter IDs, home addresses, data or records related to a user's health or fitness level (e.g., vital sign measurements, medication information, exercise information), date of birth, usernames, passwords, biometric information, or any other identifying or personal information.

[0101] This disclosure recognizes that the use of such personal information in the present invention can be used to benefit users. For example, the personal information data can be used to deliver targeted content that is of interest to the user. Therefore, the use of such personal information data enables users to have planned control over the content delivered. Furthermore, this disclosure also anticipates other uses of personal information data that are beneficial to users. For example, health and fitness data can be used to provide insights into a user's overall health status or can be used as positive feedback for individuals using technology to pursue health goals.

[0102] This disclosure anticipates that entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transmission, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with robust privacy policies and / or privacy measures. Specifically, such entities should implement and adhere to privacy policies and measures that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental 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 legitimate and reasonable entity purposes and should not be shared or sold outside of these legitimate purposes. Furthermore, such collection / sharing should be conducted only after receiving informed consent from the user. Additionally, such entities should consider taking any necessary steps to protect and safeguard the right to access such personal information data and ensure that other entities with access to personal information data comply with the privacy policies and procedures of those other entities. Furthermore, such entities may be subject to third-party assessments to demonstrate their compliance with widely accepted privacy policies and privacy practices. Additionally, policies and practices should be adapted to the specific types of personal information data collected and / or accessed, and to applicable laws and standards, including considerations of specific jurisdictions. For example, in the United States, the collection or access to certain health data may be governed by federal and / or state laws such as the Health Insurance and Accountability Act (HIPAA), while in other countries health data may be subject to other regulations and policies and should be processed accordingly. Therefore, different privacy measures should be advocated for different types of personal data in each country.

[0103] Regardless of the foregoing, this disclosure also contemplates implementation schemes for users to selectively block the use or access to personal information data. That is, this disclosure contemplates hardware and / or software components to prevent or block access to such personal information data. For example, the inventive technology can be configured to allow a user to opt-in or opt-out at any time during or after registering for the service, choosing to participate in the collection of personal information data. In another example, a user may choose not to provide certain types of user data. In yet another example, a user may choose to limit the length of time specific user data is retained. In addition to providing opt-in and opt-out options, this disclosure also contemplates providing notifications related to access to or use of personal information. For example, a user may be notified when downloading an application (“app”) that their personal information data will be accessed, and subsequently reminded again before the personal information data is accessed by the app.

[0104] Furthermore, the intent of this disclosure is that personal information data should be managed and processed in a manner that minimizes the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Once data is no longer needed, this risk can be minimized by restricting data collection and deleting data. Additionally, and where applicable, including in certain health-related applications, data deidentification can be used to protect user privacy. Where appropriate, deidentification 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 the city level rather than address level), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data among users), and / or other methods.

[0105] Therefore, while this disclosure broadly covers the use of information that may include personal information data to implement one or more of the various disclosed embodiments, it is also contemplated that various embodiments can be implemented without accessing personal information data. That is, various embodiments of the present invention will not become inoperable due to the absence of all or part of such personal information data.

[0106] According to one embodiment, an electronic device configured to measure the temperature of an external object includes: a housing and a temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the temperature sensor includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, the infrared emitter being configured to emit infrared light that is reflected from the external object to form reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector being configured to measure the reflected emitted light to determine the temperature of the external object and the distance between the housing and the external object.

[0107] According to another embodiment, the infrared detector is optionally further configured to measure ambient light reflected from an external object, i.e., reflected ambient light and naturally emitted light from the external object, and the electronic device optionally also includes a control circuit configured to determine the temperature based on the reflected emitted light, the reflected ambient light, and the naturally emitted light.

[0108] According to another implementation, the control circuit may optionally be further configured to detect the distance between the housing and an external object based on reflected emitted light.

[0109] According to another embodiment, the infrared emitter is a first infrared emitter, and the temperature sensor optionally also includes a second infrared emitter configured to emit additional infrared light that is reflected from an external object as additional reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector is further configured to measure the additional reflected emitted light to determine the temperature of the external object.

[0110] According to another embodiment, the temperature sensor may optionally include at least four infrared emitters, and the infrared detector has a field of view of at least 60°.

[0111] According to another implementation, at least four infrared emitters may optionally surround the infrared detector.

[0112] According to another embodiment, the infrared detector is a first infrared detector, and the temperature sensor may optionally include a second infrared detector configured to measure reflected emitted light and additional reflected emitted light.

[0113] According to another embodiment, the control circuit may optionally be further configured to determine the tilt of the external object and the distance between the external object and the housing based on the reflected emitted light and additional reflected emitted light.

[0114] According to another embodiment, the temperature sensor may optionally include an array of at least four photodetectors and at least four light emitters.

[0115] According to another embodiment, the infrared detector may optionally include an infrared camera.

[0116] According to another embodiment, the electronic device may optionally also include an additional sensor located in the housing, the additional sensor being configured to determine the tilt of the external object and the distance between the housing and the external object.

[0117] According to another embodiment, the electronic device may optionally also include a control circuit configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on the reflected emitted light, the tilt of the external object, and the distance between the housing and the external object.

[0118] According to another implementation, the additional sensor may optionally include a 3D camera.

[0119] According to another implementation, the additional sensors may optionally include light detection and ranging sensors.

[0120] According to another embodiment, the infrared emitter is a first infrared emitter configured to emit infrared light of a first wavelength, the infrared detector is configured to detect reflected emitted light of the first wavelength, and the temperature sensor optionally includes a second infrared emitter and a second infrared detector, wherein the second infrared emitter is configured to emit additional infrared light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the additional infrared light being reflected from an external object as additional reflected emitted light, and the second infrared detector is configured to detect the additional reflected emitted light of the second wavelength. The electronic device also includes a control circuit configured to determine the emissivity of the external object by comparing the reflected emitted light and the additional reflected emitted light.

[0121] According to one embodiment, an electronic device configured to measure the temperature of an external object includes: a housing; an active temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the active temperature sensor includes a light emitter and a photodetector; the light emitter is configured to emit light that is reflected from the external object to form reflected emitted light; and the photodetector is configured to measure the reflected emitted light, reflected ambient light, and naturally emitted light from the external object. The electronic device also includes control circuitry configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on the measured reflected emitted light, the measured reflected ambient light, and the measured naturally emitted light.

[0122] According to another embodiment, the control circuit is optionally configured to determine the emissivity of an external object based on measured reflected emitted light, measured reflected ambient light, and measured naturally emitted light, and the control circuit is optionally configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on the emissivity of the external object and the ambient temperature.

[0123] According to another embodiment, the electronic device may optionally also include an ambient temperature sensor configured to measure ambient temperature.

[0124] According to one embodiment, an electronic device configured to determine the temperature of an external object includes: a housing; an active temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the active temperature sensor includes an infrared emitter configured to emit light toward the external object and an infrared detector configured to measure reflected emitted light; and control circuitry located within the housing, the control circuitry being configured to determine the emissivity of the external object based on the measured reflected emitted light, and to determine the temperature of the external object based on the emissivity of the external object.

[0125] According to another embodiment, the active temperature sensor may optionally include at least four infrared emitters configured to emit infrared light toward an external object.

[0126] The foregoing is illustrative and various modifications can be made to the described implementation scheme. The foregoing implementation scheme can be implemented individually or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to measure the temperature of an external object, the electronic device comprising: shell; and A temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the temperature sensor includes an infrared emitter and an infrared detector, wherein the infrared emitter is configured to emit infrared light, the infrared light being reflected from the external object to form reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector is configured to measure the reflected emitted light to determine the temperature of the external object and the distance between the housing and the external object.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the infrared detector is further configured to measure ambient light reflected from the external object as reflected ambient light and to measure light naturally emitted from the external object, the electronic device further comprising: A control circuit configured to determine the temperature based on the reflected emitted light, the reflected ambient light, and the naturally emitted light.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to detect the distance between the housing and the external object based on the reflected emitted light.

4. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the infrared emitter is a first infrared emitter, the temperature sensor further includes a second infrared emitter configured to emit additional infrared light, the additional infrared light being reflected from the external object as additional reflected emitted light, and the infrared detector is further configured to measure the additional reflected emitted light to determine the temperature of the external object.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor comprises at least four infrared emitters and the infrared detector has a field of view of at least 60°.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the at least four infrared emitters surround the infrared detector.

7. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the infrared detector is a first infrared detector, and the temperature sensor further comprises a second infrared detector configured to measure the reflected emitted light and the additional reflected emitted light.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the tilt of the external object and the distance between the external object and the housing based on the reflected emitted light and the additional reflected emitted light.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an array of at least four photodetectors and at least four light emitters.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the infrared detector comprises an infrared camera.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising: An additional sensor located within the housing is configured to determine the tilt of the external object and the distance between the housing and the external object.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising: A control circuit configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on the reflected emitted light, the tilt of the external object, and the distance between the outer casing and the external object.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the additional sensor comprises a three-dimensional camera.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the additional sensor comprises a light detection and ranging sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the infrared emitter is a first infrared emitter configured to emit infrared light of a first wavelength, the infrared detector is configured to detect the reflected emitted light of the first wavelength, and the temperature sensor comprises: A second infrared emitter and a second infrared detector, wherein the second infrared emitter is configured to emit additional infrared light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the additional infrared light being reflected from the external object as additional reflected emitted light, and the second infrared detector is configured to detect the additional reflected emitted light of the second wavelength, the electronic device further comprising: A control circuit configured to determine the emissivity of the external object by comparing the reflected emitted light with the additional reflected emitted light.

16. An electronic device configured to measure the temperature of an external object, the electronic device comprising: shell; An active temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the active temperature sensor includes a light emitter and a light detector, the light emitter being configured to emit light that is reflected from the external object to form reflected emitted light, and the light detector being configured to measure the reflected emitted light, reflected ambient light, and naturally emitted light from the external object; and A control circuit configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on measured reflected emitted light, measured reflected ambient light, and measured naturally emitted light.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the emissivity of the external object based on measured reflected emitted light, measured reflected ambient light, and measured naturally emitted light, and the control circuit is configured to determine the temperature of the external object based on the emissivity of the external object and the ambient temperature.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, further comprising: An ambient temperature sensor, configured to measure the ambient temperature.

19. An electronic device configured to determine the temperature of an external object, the electronic device comprising: shell; An active temperature sensor located in the housing, wherein the active temperature sensor includes an infrared emitter configured to emit light toward the external object and an infrared detector configured to measure the reflected emitted light; and A control circuit located within the housing is configured to determine the emissivity of the external object based on measured reflected emitted light, and to determine the temperature of the external object based on the emissivity of the external object.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the active temperature sensor comprises at least four infrared emitters configured to emit infrared light toward the external object.

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