Battery Swell Detection

Abstract

A capacitance sensor may be positioned to detect size changes in objects. The sensor may be constructed with to use mutual capacitance or self-capacitance to detect the size changes.

1 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a first capacitance sensor;
 a controller programmed to detect a touch input and/or a proximity input measured from the first capacitance sensor; 
   a second capacitance sensor in communication with the controller; and   a battery assembly being adjacent to the second capacitance sensor;   wherein the second capacitance sensor is programmed to detect swelling of the battery assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacitance sensor is incorporated into a track pad. 
     
     
         3 . The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second capacitance sensor is located between the track pad and the battery assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second capacitance sensor is located between a structural feature of the portable electronic device and the battery assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second capacitance sensor is connected to an underside of the track pad. 
     
     
         6 . The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second capacitance sensor is in physical contact with at least one cell of the battery assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The portable electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the second capacitance sensor is in physical contact with each cell of the battery assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first capacitance sensor is a touch screen. 
     
     
         9 . The portable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second capacitance sensor includes:
 a first electrode; and   a compressible material between the first electrode and the battery assembly;   wherein the capacitance measured with the first electrode is based on size of the compressible material.   
     
     
         10 . The portable electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the second capacitance sensor include:
 a second electrode;   wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are located adjacent a first side of the compressible material.   
     
     
         11 . The portable electronic device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a floating coupler;   wherein the floating coupler is adjacent a second side of the compressible material that is opposite of the first side of the compressible material.   
     
     
         12 . The portable electronic device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second electrode;   wherein the compressible material is located between the first insulator and the second insulator;   wherein the capacitance measured with the first electrode is based on a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode.   
     
     
         13 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
 a controller programmed to:   detect a touch input and/or a proximity input measured from a track pad of the portable electronic device; and   detect swelling of an internal object incorporated into the portable electronic device from a capacitance sensor incorporated into the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         14 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitance sensor is located between the track pad and the internal object. 
     
     
         15 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitance sensor is located between a structural feature of the portable electronic device and the internal object. 
     
     
         16 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitance sensor is connected to the track pad. 
     
     
         17 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitance sensor is in physical contact with at least one cell of the internal object. 
     
     
         18 . The portable electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the capacitance sensor is in physical contact with each cell of the internal object. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-program product for use in a portable electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:
 detect a touch input and/or a proximity input measured from a track pad of the portable electronic device; and   detect swelling of a battery assembly incorporated into the portable electronic device from a capacitance sensor incorporated into the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-program product of  claim 19 , wherein the capacitance sensor is located between a structural feature of the portable electronic device and the battery assembly.