Multi-Sensor Assembly for Accurate Ambient Temperature Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature sensors in devices like smartphones often provide inaccurate ambient temperature readings due to the influence of heat sources such as processors, making it difficult to isolate and measure true ambient temperature effectively.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensor assembly with temperature sensors of different thermal profiles and heat capacities is used, placed along thermal paths from heat sources to the ambient environment, allowing for the isolation of heat sources and accurate measurement of ambient temperature through differential thermal resistance and heat capacity differences, with local processing to extract ambient temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple temperature sensors are distributed throughout the device to capture thermal information, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple temperature sensors and their processing circuits into a single integrated multi-sensor assembly. This integration maintains the capability to capture thermal information from multiple locations while reducing the overall system complexity by consolidating components into one unit that can be placed at a single location within the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-sensor assembly internally segments thermal measurement functions by incorporating multiple temperature sensors with different thermal profiles and heat capacities. This segmentation allows the assembly to differentiate between ambient temperature and heat source influences through differential measurements, achieving high measurement precision without requiring distributed sensors throughout the device.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If temperature sensors are placed close to heat sources to measure thermal influence, then the ability to detect and measure heat source impact improves, but measurement precision of ambient temperature deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal isolation structures as intermediaries between the temperature sensors and heat sources. These isolation mechanisms allow the sensors to detect thermal influences from heat sources indirectly, enabling the measurement of heat source impact while preventing the sensors from being directly heated, thus maintaining ambient temperature measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temperature sensors with different thermal profiles and heat capacities as parameters to differentiate between ambient temperature and heat source influence. By selecting sensors with varying thermal characteristics, the system can detect heat source impacts while maintaining accurate ambient temperature readings through differential analysis.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensors are integrated into the device with other components, then ease of manufacture improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to thermal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts temperature sensors from direct contact with heat-generating components by implementing thermal isolation structures. This extraction allows sensors to be manufactured and integrated with other device components while maintaining measurement precision by preventing thermal interference from adjacent heat sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-sensor assembly uses composite structures combining different materials with varying thermal properties. These composite materials provide thermal isolation while allowing mechanical integration with device components, enabling easy manufacture without sacrificing measurement accuracy.
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 the accuracy of ambient temperature estimation by isolating the influence of heat sources, reduces power consumption, and simplifies the system by containing all necessary information within a single device, providing repeatable and precise temperature readings.
Implementation Method 1
The sensors are placed along at least one thermal path from a set of heat sources to an ambient environment
Implementation Method 2
thermal paths from heat sources to the ambient environment
Implementation Method 3
temperature sensors of different thermal profiles and heat capacities
Implementation Method 4
remove the influence of these other heat sources and estimate the ambient temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
One example discloses a multi-sensor assembly, comprising: a first temperature sensor, having a first thermal profile; a second temperature sensor, having a second thermal profile different from the first thermal profile; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are mounted on a set of lead-frames; wherein the first and second temperature sensors include a first heat path input coupled to an ambient environment, and a second heat path input coupled to at least one of the lead-frames; and wherein the first and second sensors and set of lead-frames are included in a single multi-sensor assembly. Another example discloses a method of manufacture for the multi-sensor assembly.