Patent ID: 8971043
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: G06F,H05K

Abstract:
1. A portable electronic 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; an activity monitor configured to infer a user touch to the shell in response to a detected activity of the portable electronic device; and a thermal manager configured to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the heat-rejection element in response to the inferred user touch; wherein the thermal manager is configured to select from a library of at least two heat-rejection strategies a heat rejection strategy responsive to an aspect of the inferred user touch, and to regulate heat transfer by the controllable thermal coupler to the heat-rejection element in response to the selected heat reduction strategy.