Compensated Temperature Sensing in Portable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, face challenges in accurately measuring temperature due to self-heating components that perturb the temperature sensor readings, making it difficult to determine real temperatures at specific locations within the device or in its environment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a compensation model that uses power consumption data from major heat sources, such as processors and displays, along with thermal conductivity and capacitance information, to calculate a compensated temperature that reflects the real temperature, accounting for heat propagation and storage within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensor is placed near heat generating components (processor, display), then temperature sensing capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to self-heating effects
Solution Approach 1:
A compensation model acts as an intermediary between the temperature sensor and the final temperature reading. The model receives the raw temperature measurement and power consumption data, processes these inputs through thermal equations, and outputs a compensated temperature that eliminates self-heating effects. This mediator approach allows the sensor to remain in a convenient location while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being measured from the raw temperature at the sensor location to the compensated temperature that represents the actual ambient temperature. By transforming the temperature reading through mathematical models that account for heat generation and thermal conductivity, the system eliminates the distortion caused by self-heating while maintaining the physical proximity of the sensor to heat sources.
2Measurement precision
If compensation model is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex physical thermal modeling with mathematical computations based on power consumption data and thermal equations. Instead of using complex hardware thermal management systems or multiple sensors, the solution uses software-based compensation that processes electrical parameters (power consumption) and applies thermal models to calculate accurate temperatures, thereby reducing hardware complexity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation model serves multiple functions: it corrects temperature readings, accounts for self-heating effects, and provides accurate ambient temperature measurements. By implementing a single multi-functional compensation system that handles various temperature measurement scenarios, the patent avoids the need for multiple separate systems or complex hardware configurations.
3Measurement precision
If thermal coupling between sensor and environment is increased, then temperature sensing accuracy is improved, but harmful thermal interference from heat sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful self-heating effect into a beneficial measurement parameter. Instead of trying to eliminate or isolate from the heat generation, the system uses the power consumption data (which quantifies the heat generation) to mathematically compensate for the thermal interference. The harmful self-heating effect is transformed into a correctable parameter that improves the overall measurement accuracy by allowing the system to account for and eliminate the distortion.
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
The solution provides a more accurate temperature measurement by correcting for self-heating effects, ensuring that the sensed temperature better represents the actual temperature at the location of interest, even during periods of interruption and reactivation, thereby improving the reliability of temperature sensing.
Implementation Method 1
the portable electronic device comprises a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature
Implementation Method 2
the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor may be impacted in view of heat migrating from such component to the temperature sensor
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In a portable electronic device components (2) consuming electrical power during operation may generate heat. A temperature sensor (1) for sensing an ambient temperature (TS) of the portable electronic device may as a consequence not supply the correct temperature value. It is suggested to provide a compensator (4) for determining a compensated ambient temperature (TA) dependent on at least the sensed ambient temperature (TS) and information (Pi) related to the electrical power consumed by at least one of the components (2). After a power down and a reactivation of the portable electronic device, actual internal states (x(b)) of the compensation model are estimated dependent on last internal states (x(a)) stored at the power down, dependent on an estimated course of the sensed temperature (T*s) between the interruption and the reactivation, and dependent on an estimated course of the information (P*i) related to the electrical power consumed by the at least one heat source (2) between the interruption and the reactivation.