17930041. TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS simplified abstract (Apple Inc.)

TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS

Organization Name

Apple Inc.

Inventor(s)

Wegene H. Tadele of San Francisco CA (US)

Habib S. Karaki of Sunnyvale CA (US)

James C. Clements of Campbell CA (US)

Chin S. Han of San Jose CA (US)

Craig C. D'souza of Pacifica CA (US)

Daniel W. Labove of San Francisco CA (US)

Esther Chen of Fremont CA (US)

Joseph R. Lee of Millbrae CA (US)

Kuo Jen Huang of San Jose CA (US)

Wanfeng Huang of Fremont CA (US)

Fred Y. Chou of Cupertino CA (US)

Hongling Cheng of San Jose CA (US)

Ali M. Amin of Sunnyvale CA (US)

Chia-Hsien Lin of San Jose CA (US)

TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17930041 titled 'TEMPERATURE SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING MULTIPLE TEMPERATURE SENSORS

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a method for accurately estimating temperatures inside and outside a device using absolute temperature sensors and thermopile heat flux sensors. The thermopile temperature sensing system measures temperature gradients within the device to estimate absolute temperatures in hard-to-reach locations.

• Absolute temperature sensors and thermopile heat flux sensors are used to robustly estimate temperatures inside and outside a device.
• Thermopile temperature sensing system measures temperature gradients to estimate absolute temperatures in impractical locations.
• The system can estimate temperatures of objects in contact with the outer surface of the device, such as a user's skin temperature.
• The system can also estimate ambient air temperature.
• Temperature measurements from the thermopile sensors can be used to compensate for variations in sensor accuracy or reliability due to temperature changes.

Potential Applications

• Temperature monitoring and control in electronic devices.
• Thermal management in medical devices.
• Environmental monitoring systems.
• Industrial process control.

Problems Solved

• Accurate temperature estimation in hard-to-reach locations.
• Compensation for variations in sensor accuracy or reliability due to temperature changes.

Benefits

• Robust estimation of temperatures inside and outside a device.
• Accurate temperature estimation in impractical locations.
• Improved sensor accuracy and reliability through temperature compensation.

Original Abstract Submitted

Robust estimation of temperatures inside and outside a device can be achieved using one or more absolute temperature sensors optionally in conjunction with thermopile heat flux sensors. Thermopile temperature sensing systems can measure a temperature gradient across two locations within the device, to estimate absolute temperature at locations that are impractical to measure using absolute temperature sensors. Using heat flux models associated with the device, the thermopile temperature sensing system can be used to estimate temperature associated with objects that contact an outer surface of the device, such as a user's skin temperature. Additionally, the thermopile temperature sensing system can be used to estimate ambient air temperature. Within a device, temperature measurements from the thermopile temperature sensors can be used to compensate sensor measurements, such as when the accuracy or reliability of a sensor varies with temperature.