MANAGEMENT OF EXTERIOR TEMPERATURES ENCOUNTERED BY USER OF A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING MULTIPLE HEAT-REJECTION ELEMENTS

摘要

Described embodiments include a portable electronic device. The device includes a shell and a heat-generating component. The device includes a first and a second exterior heat-rejection element. Each heat-rejection element is configured to reject heat received from the heat-generating component into an environment. The device includes a controllable thermal coupler configured to regulate heat transfer to the first and second heat-rejection elements. The device includes a first proximity sensor configured to determine if a user touch to the shell is within a first zone of possible heat discomfort. The device includes a thermal manager configured to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the first and second heat-rejection elements. The regulated heat transfer includes adjusting heat rejection away from the first heat-rejection element and toward the second heat-rejection element if the user touch is within the first zone.

主权项

1. A portable electronic device comprising:
a shell housing components of the portable electronic device; a heat-generating component; a first heat-rejection element located at a first exterior portion of the shell and a second heat-rejection element located at a second exterior portion of the shell, each heat-rejection element configured to reject heat received from the heat-generating component into an environment in thermal contact with the shell; a controllable thermal coupler configured to regulate heat transfer to the first heat-rejection element and to the second heat-rejection element; a first proximity sensor configured to determine if a user touch to the shell is within a first zone of possible heat discomfort defined for the first heat-rejection element; and a thermal manager configured to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the first heat-rejection element and to the second heat-rejection element, the regulated heat transfer includes adjusting heat rejection away from the first heat-rejection element and toward the second heat-rejection element if the user touch is determined to be within the first zone of possible heat discomfort.