Accessory Cover Position Sensing for Display Sleep and Thermal Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in efficiently managing battery usage and thermal management when covered by accessory devices, leading to reduced performance and potential heat exposure risks.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a sensor system that detects the presence and orientation of accessory devices using multiple magnets, allowing the electronic device to adjust its operations based on the coverage and position of these devices, including deactivating displays when covered and enabling higher performance modes when partially uncovered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the accessory device covers the display and housing completely, then protective coverage is improved, but thermal management deteriorates due to heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory device is divided into multiple sections (first section covering display, second section covering housing) that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows the device to provide protective coverage while leaving gaps for thermal management, resolving the contradiction between complete protection and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory device includes movable sections that can be adjusted between different positions (covering display, covering housing, or neither). This dynamic positioning enables the system to adapt between protective mode and thermal management mode based on operational requirements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the sensor detects accessory device coverage, then battery efficiency is improved through optimization, but device complexity increases due to sensor and magnet integration
Solution Approach 1:
Magnets are introduced as intermediary elements between the accessory device and the sensor. These magnets enable the sensor to detect accessory device position and coverage status without direct physical contact or complex integration, reducing the complexity barrier while achieving the desired detection capability for battery optimization.
3Ease of operation
If the accessory device provides support at multiple angles, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulty in detecting exact position
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory device is segmented into multiple sections with magnets positioned at specific locations. By detecting which section magnets are present and their relative positions, the system can determine the accessory device's orientation and support angle, enabling multiple angle support while maintaining detectable position information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances battery efficiency and thermal management by allowing the device to optimize performance and reduce heat exposure, while supporting various angles and orientations for user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor that detects a magnetic field from multiple magnets located in different sections of an accessory device
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic device uses a sensor to determine whether an accessory device covers a housing or the housing and a display. When the electronic device determines, based on the sensor, the housing and display are covered by the accessory device, the electronic device may deactivate the display. Further, when the electronic device determines, based on the sensor, the housing is covered by multiple sections of the accessory device, the electronic device may permit a processor to run at a higher temperature limit, as opposed to a single section covering the housing. In this regard, the accessory device functions as a thermal buffer to absorb thermal energy from the processor(s) running at the higher temperature limit. Additionally, based on the position of the accessory device relative to the electronic device, the electronic device may further activate applications, animations, production information (e.g., regarding the accessory device), or a combination thereof.