Wearable Thermal Control Using Inferred User Proximity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable computing devices face limitations in managing thermal energy due to their compact size, often sacrificing performance through unnecessary thermal mitigation techniques triggered by touch temperature, which is not a significant factor when the device is not proximal to a user.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that uses sensors like heart rate monitors, accelerometers, and temperature sensors to determine user proximity, allowing for intelligent thermal management policies that adjust temperature thresholds based on the device's state of wear, thereby optimizing performance and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal mitigation techniques are applied based on touch temperature thresholds, then user experience is protected from excessive heat, but device performance is unnecessarily reduced when the device is not proximal to a user
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system dynamically adjusts temperature thresholds and mitigation strategies based on real-time proximity detection. When the device is detected to be away from the user, the system raises temperature thresholds or disables mitigation techniques, allowing higher performance operation. When proximity is detected, the system lowers thresholds and activates mitigation to protect user comfort, thus optimizing the balance between performance and thermal management based on actual usage conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature threshold parameter based on proximity state. Instead of using a fixed touch temperature threshold, the threshold is adjusted according to whether the device is near or away from the user. This parameter change allows the system to tolerate higher temperatures during non-wear periods, enabling better performance without compromising user experience during actual wear
2Productivity
If the device operates at higher power consumption levels, then quality of service is improved, but thermal energy generation increases causing excessive touch temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically couples power consumption levels with proximity detection. When the device detects it is away from the user, it allows higher power consumption modes and disables thermal mitigation, thereby improving quality of service. When proximity is detected, the system reduces power consumption or activates thermal mitigation to control touch temperature, thus dynamically balancing performance output with thermal management based on real-time usage context
3Object-affected harmful factors
If thermal mitigation techniques are continuously applied, then touch temperature is controlled, but device functionality is unnecessarily limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters of thermal mitigation techniques based on proximity state. When the device is detected to be away from the user, the system modifies or disables thermal mitigation techniques, allowing full device functionality and performance. When proximity is detected, the system activates or strengthens mitigation measures to control touch temperature, thus adapting device behavior and functionality based on whether the device is actually being worn
Data Source
AI summary
Because the touch temperature of a wearable computing device (“WCD”) may be an insignificant factor for user experience when the WCD is not being worn by a user, embodiments of the solution seek to modify thermal management policies based on an inferred user proximity state. Exemplary embodiments monitor one or more signals from readily available sensors in the WCD that have primary purposes other than measuring user proximity. Depending on embodiment, the sensors may be selected from a group consisting of a heart rate monitor, a pulse monitor, an O2 sensor, a bio-impedance sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor and a light sensor. Using the signals generated by such sensors, relative physical proximity of the WCD to a user may be inferred and, based on the user proximity state, thermal policies either relaxed or tightened.