System and method for thermal management of a wearable computing device based on proximity to a user
US11042174B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 3, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jun 22, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 3, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.