Management of exterior temperatures encountered by user of a portable electronic device

Abstract

Described embodiments include a portable electronic device. The device includes a shell housing components of the portable electronic device having a heat-generating component. The device includes a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell. The heat-rejection element is configured to reject heat received from the heat-generating component into an environment in thermal contact with the heat-rejection element. The device includes a controllable thermal coupler configured to regulate heat transfer to the heat-rejection element. The device includes a proximity sensor configured to determine a location of a user touch to the shell relative to the location of the heat-rejection element. The device includes a thermal manager configured to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the heat-rejection element in response to the determined location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . A method of limiting exterior temperatures encountered by a user of a portable electronic device housed by a shell, the method comprising:
 determining a location of a user touch to the shell relative to a location of a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell, the heat-rejection element configured to reject heat received from a heat-generating component of the electronic device into an environment in thermal contact with the heat-rejection element;   selecting a heat rejection strategy responsive to the determined location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element; and   regulating heat transfer from the heat-generating component to the heat-rejection element in accordance with the selected heat-rejection strategy.   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the determining includes determining a location and duration of a user touch to the shell relative to a location of a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a heat rejection strategy responsive to the determined location and duration of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the determining includes determining if a location of a user touch to the shell relative to a location of a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell is within a zone of possible heat discomfort. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a heat rejection strategy decreasing heat rejection by the heat-rejection element if the determined location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is within a zone of possible heat discomfort. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the zone of possible heat discomfort relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is less than about 25 mm. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the zone of possible heat discomfort relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is less than about 15 mm. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the zone of possible heat discomfort is in contact with the heat-rejection element. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a heat rejection strategy increasing heat rejection by the heat-rejection element if the determined location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is not within a zone of possible heat discomfort. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the selecting includes selecting a heat rejection strategy limiting a surface temperature of the heat-rejection element to a predetermined temperature if the determined location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is within a zone of possible heat discomfort. 
     
     
         87 . A system for limiting exterior temperatures encountered by a user of a portable electronic device, the system comprising:
 means for determining if a location of a user touch to a shell of the portable electronic device relative to a location of a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell is within a zone of possible heat discomfort, the heat-rejection element configured to reject heat received from a heat-generating component of the portable electronic device into an environment in thermal contact with the heat-rejection element;   means for selecting a heat rejection strategy responsive to the determined location of the user touch within a zone of possible heat discomfort; and   means for limiting a heat transfer from the heat-generating component of the portable electronic device to the heat-rejection element in accordance with the selected heat-rejection strategy.