Patent ID: 9092060
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An electronic device, comprising: a user-interface device having a surface configured to receive a user selectable temperature setting to alter temperature of a temperature controlled environment, based on tactile interaction with a user of the electronic device; and a thermal mechanism, thermally coupled to a portion of the user-interface device, configured to establish a single temperature gradient on the surface based on the temperature setting and a temperature of the temperature controlled environment that includes the electronic device, wherein the thermal mechanism is configured to dynamically modify the temperature gradient so that, as the temperature setting is adjusted by the user to exceed and then progressively increase relative to the temperature of the temperature controlled environment, the thermal mechanism increases the temperature gradient, and, as the temperature setting is adjusted by the user to drop below and then progressively decrease relative to the temperature of the temperature controlled environment, the thermal mechanism decreases the temperature gradient, as user temperature setting input feedback.