Electronic device for determining external temperature

摘要

An electronic device that determines an external temperature is described. During operation, the electronic device uses a sensor mechanism (such as an integrated temperature sensor) to determine an internal temperature of the electronic device. Then, a thermoelectric device (which may be based on the Peltier effect and/or the Seeback effect) determines the relative temperature difference between the internal temperature and the external temperature. Next, the external temperature may be determined based on the internal temperature and the temperature difference. For example, the external temperature may be determined relative to a threshold value. Furthermore, an electrical signal (such as a voltage or a current) output by the thermoelectric device may be used to recharge a battery and, more generally, a power source in the electronic device.

主权项

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is thermally coupled to the outer surface, which has an external temperature; and an integrated circuit, thermally coupled to the inner surface, including a sensor mechanism configured to measure a parameter associated with an internal temperature of the integrated circuit; and a thermoelectric device having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is thermally coupled to the inner surface and the second end is thermally coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the thermoelectric device is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, and wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to output an electrical signal corresponding to a temperature difference between the external temperature and the internal temperature; and wherein the integrated circuit is configured to determine the external temperature based on the electrical signal and the measured parameter.