Patent ID: 9291399
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: F28D,G06F,H01L,H04M,H05K

Claim Text:
1. A portable electronic device comprising: a shell housing components of the portable electronic device; a heat-generating component; a heat-rejection element located at an exterior surface of the shell, the heat-rejection element configured to reject heat received from the heat-generating component into an environment in thermal contact with the heat-rejection element; a controllable thermal coupler configured to regulate heat transfer to the heat-rejection element; a proximity sensor configured to determine a location of a user touch to the shell relative to the location of the heat-rejection element; and 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, wherein the thermal manager includes a thermal manager configured to limit heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the heat-rejection element in response to a determination that the location of the user touch relative to the location of the heat-rejection element is within a zone of possible heat discomfort.