Patent Description:
Various electronic devices, such as a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (tablet PC), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop PC, and wearable devices such as a wristwatch, a head-mounted display (HMD), and the like, may include various components. As can be appreciated, the various components associated with these electronic devices generate a relatively large or excessive amount of heat during operation thereof, and as such, controlling the generated heat is of particular importance, so as to prevent performance deterioration or a low temperature burn while a user uses the electronic device.

To control this unwanted heat, electronic device can be configured to use temperature information provided by a thermistor that is included in the electronic device. However, since a difference between an internal temperature and a surface temperature of the electronic device is not constant, it is sometimes difficult to specify or determine an accurate point where the heat is generated and a point in time for controlling the generated heat, and as a result, the electronic device may not perform as intended, or may perform at less than an acceptable standard.

Reference is made here to <CIT>, which is considered to constitute the closest prior-art and from which the present invention may be distinguished by at least features specified in the characterising portions of the appended independent claims.

Moreover, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> are acknowledged here as constituting further prior-art bearing at least some relevance to the present invention.

The disclosure has been made to address at least the disadvantages described above and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure provides a method for predicting current consumption and/or a temperature of generated heat for each component of an electronic device to effectively control the temperature and operation of the electronic device.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a control method by an electronic device comprising the steps specified in the appended independent method claim.

Preferred embodiments of the control method by an electronic device are subject of the appended dependent claims.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic device exhibiting the features specified in the appended independent apparatus claim.

Preferred embodiments of an electronic device in accordance with the present invention are subject of the appended dependent apparatus claims.

An aspect of the disclosure provides a method for predicting current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component of an electronic device and for informing a user of the information so that the user can control operation of a corresponding component that is generating heat.

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals are used for similar elements.

The terms "have," "may have," "include," and "may include" as used herein indicate the presence of corresponding features (for example, elements such as numerical values, functions, operations, or parts), and do not preclude the presence of additional features.

The terms "A or B," "at least one of A or/and B," or "one or more of A or/and B" as used herein include all possible combinations of items enumerated with them. For example, "A or B," "at least one of A and B," or "at least one of A or B" means (<NUM>) including at least one A, (<NUM>) including at least one B, or (<NUM>) including both at least one A and at least one B.

The terms such as "first" and "second" as used herein may use corresponding components regardless of importance or an order and are used to distinguish a component from another without limiting the components. These terms may be used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element. For example, a first user device and a second user device may indicate different user devices regardless of the order or importance. For example, a first element may be referred to as a second element without departing from the scope the disclosure, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

It will be understood that, when an element (for example, a first element) is "(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to" or "connected to" another element (for example, a second element), the element may be directly coupled with/to another element, and there may be an intervening element (for example, a third element) between the element and another element. To the contrary, it will be understood that, when an element (for example, a first element) is "directly coupled with/to" or "directly connected to" another element (for example, a second element), there is no intervening element (for example, a third element) between the element and another element.

The expression "configured to (or set to)" as used herein may be used interchangeably with "suitable for," "having the capacity to," "designed to," " adapted to," "made to," or "capable of" according to a context. The term "configured to (set to)" does not necessarily mean "specifically designed to" in a hardware level. Instead, the expression "apparatus configured to<IMG>" may mean that the apparatus is "capable of<IMG>" along with other devices or parts in a certain context. For example, "a processor configured to (set to) perform A, B, and C" may mean a dedicated processor (e.g., an embedded processor) for performing a corresponding operation, or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) capable of performing a corresponding operation by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

The terms used in describing the various embodiments of the disclosure are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All of the terms used herein including technical or scientific terms have the same meanings as those generally understood by an ordinary skilled person in the related art unless they are defined otherwise. The terms defined in a generally used dictionary should be interpreted as having the same or similar meanings as the contextual meanings of the relevant technology and should not be interpreted as having ideal or exaggerated meanings unless they are clearly defined herein. According to circumstances, even the terms defined in this disclosure should not be interpreted as excluding the embodiments of the disclosure.

The term "module" as used herein may, for example, mean a unit including one of hardware, software, and firmware or a combination of two or more of them. The "module" may be interchangeably used with, for example, the term "unit", "logic", "logical block", "component", or "circuit". The "module" may be a minimum unit of an integrated component element or a part thereof. The "module" may be a minimum unit for performing one or more functions or a part thereof. The "module" may be mechanically or electronically implemented. For example, the "module" according to the disclosure may include at least one of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a programmable-logic device for performing operations which has been known or are to be developed hereinafter.

An electronic device according to the disclosure may include at least one of, for example, a smart phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a video phone, an electronic book reader (e-book reader), a desktop PC, a laptop PC, a netbook computer, a workstation, a server, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a MPEG-<NUM> audio layer-<NUM> (MP3) player, a mobile medical device, a camera, and a wearable device. The wearable device may include at least one of an accessory type (e.g., a watch, a ring, a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, a glasses, a contact lens, or a head-mounted device (HMD)), a fabric or clothing integrated type (e.g., an electronic clothing), a body-mounted type (e.g., a skin pad, or tattoo), and a bio-implantable type (e.g., an implantable circuit).

The electronic device may be a home appliance. The home appliance may include at least one of, for example, a television, a digital video disk (DVD) player, an audio, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, an oven, a microwave oven, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a set-top box, a home automation control panel, a security control panel, a TV box (e.g., Samsung HomeSync™, Apple TV™, or Google TV™), a game console (e.g., Xbox™ and PlayStation™), an electronic dictionary, an electronic key, a camcorder, and an electronic photo frame.

The electronic device may include at least one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medical measuring devices (a blood glucose monitoring device, a heart rate monitoring device, a blood pressure measuring device, a body temperature measuring device, etc.), a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a computed tomography (CT) machine, and an ultrasonic machine), a navigation device, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, an event data recorder (EDR), a flight data recorder (FDR), a vehicle infotainment device, an electronic device for a ship (e.g., a navigation device for a ship, and a gyro-compass), avionics, security devices, an automotive head unit, a robot for home or industry, an automatic teller machine (ATM) in banks, point of sales (POS) devices in a shop, or an Internet of things (IoT) device (e.g., a light bulb, various sensors, electric or gas meter, a sprinkler device, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a streetlamp, a toaster, a sporting goods, a hot water tank, a heater, a boiler, etc.).

The electronic device may include at least one of a part of furniture or a building/ structure, an electronic board, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, and various kinds of measuring instruments (e.g., a water meter, an electric meter, a gas meter, and a radio wave meter). The electronic device may be a combination of one or more of the aforementioned various devices. The electronic device may also be a flexible device. Further, the electronic device is not limited to the aforementioned devices, and may include an electronic device according to the development of new technology.

Hereinafter, an electronic device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the disclosure, the term "user" may indicate a person using an electronic device or a device (e.g., an artificial intelligence electronic device) using an electronic device.

<FIG> is a diagram of an electronic device <NUM> in a network environment <NUM>, accord to an embodiment. The electronic device <NUM> in the network environment <NUM> may communicate with an electronic device <NUM> via a first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range wireless communication network), or an electronic device <NUM> or a server <NUM> via a second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range wireless communication network). The electronic device <NUM> may also communicate with the electronic device <NUM> via the server <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a sound output device <NUM>, a display device <NUM>, an audio module <NUM>, a sensor module <NUM>, an interface <NUM>, a haptic module <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, a charging module <NUM>, a power management module <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, a subscriber identification module (SIM) <NUM>, an antenna module <NUM> or a radio frequency (RF) module <NUM>. At least one (e.g., the display device <NUM> or the camera module <NUM>) of the components may be omitted from the electronic device <NUM>, or one or more other components may be added in the electronic device <NUM>. Some of the components may be implemented as single integrated circuitry, or system on chip.

The processor <NUM> may execute software (e.g., a program <NUM>) to control at least one other component (e.g., a hardware or software component) of the electronic device <NUM> coupled with the processor <NUM>, and may perform various data processing or computation.

The auxiliary processor <NUM> (e.g., an image signal processor or a CP) may be implemented as part of another component (e.g., the camera module <NUM> or the communication module <NUM>) functionally related to the auxiliary processor <NUM>.

The various data may include software (e.g., the program <NUM>) and input data or output data for a command related thereto.

The program <NUM> may be stored in the memory <NUM> as software, and may include an operating system (OS) <NUM>, middleware <NUM>, or an application <NUM>.

The input device <NUM> may receive a command or data to be used by other components (e.g., the processor <NUM>) of the electronic device <NUM>, from the outside (e.g., a user) of the electronic device <NUM>. The input device <NUM> may include a microphone, a mouse, or a keyboard.

The sound output device <NUM> may include a speaker or a receiver. The receiver may be implemented as separate from, or as part of the speaker.

The display device <NUM> may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device <NUM>. The display device <NUM> may include a display, a hologram device, or a projector and control circuitry to control a corresponding one of the display, hologram device, and projector.

The audio module <NUM> may obtain the sound via the input device <NUM>, or output the sound via the sound output device <NUM> or a headphone of the electronic device <NUM> directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly coupled with the electronic device <NUM>.

The sensor module <NUM> may detect an operational state (e.g., power or temperature) of the electronic device <NUM> or an environmental state (e.g., a state of a user) external to the electronic device <NUM>, and generate an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. The sensor module <NUM> may include a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface <NUM> may support one or more specified protocols to be used for the electronic device <NUM> to be coupled with the electronic device <NUM> directly (e.g., wiredly) or wirelessly. The interface <NUM> may include a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, a secure digital (SD) card interface, or an audio interface.

A connecting terminal <NUM> may include a connector via which the electronic device <NUM> may be physically connected with the electronic device <NUM>. The connecting terminal <NUM> may include an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (e.g., a headphone connector).

The haptic module <NUM> may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electric stimulator.

The camera module <NUM> may capture a still image or moving images, and the camera module <NUM> may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The charging module <NUM> may be integrated into the power management module <NUM> and may be operated independently from the power management module <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may have a wired and / or wireless charging scheme.

The charging module <NUM> may charge the battery <NUM> using power supplied from an external power source for the electronic device <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may select a charging mode based on at least some of the type of external power source (e.g., power adapter, USB or wireless charging), the amount of power available from the external power source (e.g. about <NUM> watts or more), or the attributes of the battery <NUM> (e.g., normal charge or rapid charge). The charging module <NUM> may charge the battery <NUM> using the selected charging mode.

The external power source may be wired through a connection terminal <NUM> or wirelessly connected via an antenna module <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may generate a plurality of powers having different voltages or different current levels by adjusting the voltage level or the current level of the power supplied from the external power source or the battery <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may adjust the power of the external power supply or battery <NUM> to a voltage or current level suitable for each component of the components included in the electronic device <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> may be implemented in the form of a low dropout (LDO) regulator or a switching regulator.

The charging module <NUM> can measure the usage status information (e.g., the capacity of the battery, the number of charge/discharge cycles, the voltage, or the temperature) of the battery <NUM>.

The charging module <NUM> determines charging status information (e.g., battery lifetime, overvoltage, undervoltage, overcurrent, overcharge, overdischarge, overheat, short circuit, or swelling) associated with charging the battery <NUM> based at least in part on the measured usage status information. The charging module <NUM> may determine whether the battery <NUM> is in an abnormal state or a normal state based on at least a part of the determined charging state information, and may adjust the charging of the battery <NUM> when the battery state is determined to be abnormal.

The power management module <NUM> may be implemented as at least part of a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery <NUM> may include a primary cell which is not rechargeable, a secondary cell which is rechargeable, or a fuel cell.

The communication module <NUM> may support establishing a direct communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device <NUM> and the electronic device <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM>, or the server <NUM> and performing communication via the established communication channel. The communication module <NUM> may include one or more communication processors that are operable independently from the processor <NUM> (e.g., the AP) and supports a direct communication or a wireless communication. The communication module <NUM> may include a wireless communication module <NUM> (e.g., a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module <NUM> (e.g., a local area network (LAN) communication module or a power line communication (PLC) module). A corresponding one of these communication modules may communicate with the external electronic device via the first network <NUM> (e.g., a short-range communication network, such as Bluetooth (BT)™, wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct, or Infrared Data Association (IrDA)) or the second network <NUM> (e.g., a long-range communication network, such as a cellular network, the Internet, or a computer network (e.g., LAN or wide area network (WAN)). The wireless communication module <NUM> may identify and authenticate the electronic device <NUM> in a communication network, such as the first network <NUM> or the second network <NUM>, using subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)) stored in the SIM <NUM>.

The antenna module <NUM> may transmit or receive a signal or power to or from the outside (e.g., an external electronic device) of the electronic device <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> may include one or more antennas, and at least one of those antennas can be used for a communication scheme used in the communication network, such as the first network <NUM> or the second network <NUM>. An antenna of the one or more antennas may be selected by the communication module <NUM> (e.g., the wireless communication module <NUM>).

The RF module <NUM> may send and receive communication signals (e.g., RF signals). The RF module <NUM> may include a transceiver, a power amplifier module (PAM), a frequency filter, a low noise amplifier (LNA), or an antenna. At least one of the RF modules can transmit and receive RF signals via separate RF modules.

The antenna module <NUM> and the RF module <NUM> may be integrated on the electronic device <NUM>.

At least some of the above-described components may be coupled mutually and may communicate signals (e.g., commands or data) therebetween via an inter-peripheral communication scheme (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)).

For example, if the electronic device <NUM> should perform a function or a service automatically, or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device <NUM>, instead of, or in addition to, executing the function or the service, the electronic device <NUM> may request the one or more external electronic devices <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> to perform at least part of the function or the service. The one or more external electronic devices <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> receiving the request may perform the at least part of the function or the service requested, or an additional function or an additional service related to the request, and transfer an outcome of the performing to the electronic device <NUM>. To that end, a cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technology may be used.

The functions of the components of the electronic device <NUM> may be implemented as software (e.g., the program <NUM>) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory <NUM> or external memory <NUM>) that is readable by the electronic device <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM> may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor <NUM>, thereby allowing the electronic device <NUM> to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one instruction invoked. The term "non-transitory" can be defined as a storage medium that is a tangible device, and does not include a signal (e.g., an electromagnetic wave), but this term does not differentiate between where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium and where the data is temporarily stored in the storage medium.

The methods described herein may be included and provided in a computer program product.

Each component (e.g., a module or a program) of the above-described components may include a single entity or multiple entities. One or more of the above-described components may be omitted, or one or more other components may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components may be integrated into a single component. The integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the plurality of components in the same or similar manner as they are performed by a corresponding one of the plurality of components before the integration. Operations performed by the module, the program, or another component may be carried out sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

<FIG> is a diagram of an operation performed between the processor <NUM> and a component of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

As noted above, the electronic device <NUM> may include the processor <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the sound output device <NUM>, the communication module <NUM>, the RF module <NUM>, and the camera module <NUM>.

The display <NUM>, the sound output device <NUM>, the communication module <NUM>, the RF module <NUM>, and the camera module <NUM> may transmit information associated with current consumption to the processor <NUM>.

When the processor <NUM> receives the information associated with the current consumption, the processor <NUM> may predict a surface temperature based on the information associated with the current consumption, and may control an operation of a component where heat is generated.

According to various embodiments, when the processor <NUM> receives the information associated with the current consumption, the processor <NUM> may determine a surface temperature to be predicted based on the information associated with the current consumption, and may control an operation of a component where heat is generated.

For example, when the processor <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may limit operation of a clock of the processor <NUM>. The operation of limiting the clock of the processor <NUM> may be an operation of changing a high-speed clock to a low-speed clock, or other operation.

When the display <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may adjust a brightness of the display <NUM>.

When the sound output device <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may lower a volume of sound output from the sound output device <NUM>.

When the communication module <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may adjust a throughput of the communication module <NUM>.

When the RF module <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may adjust a transmit power of the RF module <NUM>.

When the camera module <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may adjust a frame rate of a camera module <NUM>.

When the charging module <NUM> is the component in which heat is being generated, the processor <NUM> may adjust a charging current of the charging module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of predicting and controlling a surface temperature by a component of the electronic device <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption for each component or, in an unclaimed embodiment, may monitor the temperature of a thermistor under the control of the processor <NUM>. Hereinafter, unless otherwise stated, it will be assumed that all steps of the methods are performed under the control of the processor <NUM>.

For example, the processor <NUM> may receive detected power information via the power management module <NUM>, and predict current consumption based on the power information.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may receive detected power information via the power management module <NUM>, and determine current consumption to be predicted based on the power information.

The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption may be an operation in which the display <NUM> calculates a brightness ratio by multiplying a current consumption coefficient for each color pixel (e.g., red, green, blue (RGB)) of the display <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or a display drive IC (DDI). Under the control of the processor <NUM> or the display drive IC (DDI), the display <NUM> may calculate information associated with power consumption for each frame according to the calculated brightness ratio of the display <NUM>. The display <NUM> may transmit the calculated information associated with power consumption to the processor <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or the display drive IC (DDI). When the calculated information associated with the power consumption is transmitted to the processor <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or the DDI, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate an average power consumption during a predetermined period of time, and may transmit the calculated information to the processor <NUM>. The DDI may be a device included in the display <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may predict current consumption of the display <NUM> based on the information associated with the calculated power consumption, which has been transmitted from the display <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may determine current consumption of the display <NUM> to be predicted based on the information associated with the calculated power consumption, which has been transmitted from the display <NUM>.

The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption may be an operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors the transmit power of the RF module <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM> (e.g., a CP). The electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the RF module <NUM> based on the transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM>. The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> predicts current consumption based on transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM> (may predict current consumption using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in a register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the RF module <NUM> to be predicted based on the transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM>. The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> determines current consumption to be predicted based on transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM> (may determine current consumption using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in a register of the processor <NUM>.

The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption may be, an operation of detecting a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>. Under the control of the processor <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the camera module <NUM> based on the mode of the camera module <NUM> or the intention to use the camera module <NUM>. According to various embodiments, under the control of the processor <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the camera module <NUM> to be predicted based on the mode of the camera module <NUM> or the intention to use the camera module <NUM>.

The operation in the which electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption may be an operation of calculating power consumption using a voltage-current (VI) sensing function included in an amplifier of the sound output device <NUM>. Under the control of the processor <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the sound output device <NUM> at regular intervals using the calculated power consumption, and may store information obtained via the VI sensing function at regular intervals. According to various embodiments, under the control of the processor <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the sound output device <NUM> to be predicted at regular intervals using the calculated power consumption, and may store information obtained via the VI sensing function at regular intervals.

The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors current consumption may be an operation of monitoring the data throughput of the communication module <NUM>.

The operation in which the electronic device <NUM> monitors the temperature of a thermistor may be an operation of monitoring the temperature of the charging module <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the communication module <NUM> based on the data throughput.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the communication module <NUM> to be predicted based on the data throughput.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine whether the monitored current consumption is greater than or equal to a predetermined current.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the monitored current consumption is less than or equal to the predetermined current in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> proceeds with step <NUM>.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the temperature of a thermistor is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> proceeds with step <NUM>.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the monitored current consumption is greater than or equal to the predetermined current in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> proceeds with step <NUM>.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the temperature of the thermistor is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> proceeds with step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> predicts a first surface temperature and detects a location where heat is generated. The first surface temperature that the electronic device <NUM> predicts in step <NUM> is a present surface temperature of the electronic device <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> determines a first surface temperature to be predicted and detects a location where heat is generated. The first predicted surface temperature that the electronic device <NUM> determines in step <NUM> is a present surface temperature of the electronic device <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> predicts the first surface temperature under the control of the processor <NUM> in step <NUM> based on current consumption monitored based on a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (e.g., an RC modeling) scheme for each component of the electronic device <NUM>. The thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeled for each component may be stored in the memory <NUM> or a register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> determines the first surface temperature to be predicted under the control of the processor <NUM> in step <NUM> based on current consumption monitored based on a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (e.g., an RC modeling) scheme for each component of the electronic device <NUM>. The thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeled for each component may be stored in the memory <NUM> or a register of the processor <NUM>.

The method of predicting the surface temperature for each component of the electronic device <NUM> may use Equation (<NUM>) below.

On the assumption that power consumption based on current consumption of a first component of the electronic device <NUM> is q1, power consumption based on current consumption of a second component is q2, the surface temperature of a first point is T1, and the surface temperature of a second point is T2, when T1 and T2 are predicted according to Equation <NUM>, θ11 is a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance from the first component to the first point, and θ12 is a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance from the second component to the first point. θ21 is a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance from the first component to the second point, and θ22 is a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance from the second component to the second point.

The first point may be a point that is in a vertical distance to the first component. The second point may be a point that is in a vertical distance to the second component.

When it is assumed that the temperature based on current consumption of the first component of the electronic device <NUM> is q1, the temperature based on current consumption of the second component is q2, the surface temperature of the first point is T1, and the surface temperature of the second point is T2, Equation (<NUM>) may be used. θ11 may be a thermal conductivity from the first component to the first point, and θ12 may be a thermal conductivity from the second component to the first point. θ21 may be a thermal conductivity from the first component to the second point, and θ22 may be a thermal conductivity from the second component to the second point.

When T1 which is the surface temperature at the first point and T2 which is the surface temperature at the second point are expressed using a thermal resistance and thermal capacitance, they may be expressed by Equation (<NUM>) and Equation (<NUM>) below. <MAT><MAT>.

The thermal resistance and thermal capacitance may be information (e.g., empirical information that is experimentally obtained) in association with the electronic device <NUM>. The information associated with thermal resistance and thermal capacitance based on the amount of current or power consumed for each component may be stored in the memory <NUM> of the electronic device <NUM>.

The information associated with thermal resistance (RC1) and thermal capacitance (RC2) based on the amount of current or power consumed for each component may be stored in the memory <NUM> in the form of a lookup table.

The thermal resistance (RC1) may be the surface temperature T1 at the first point. RC11 may be the temperature at the first point as the first component consumes current. R12 may be the temperature at the first point as the second component consumes current.

The thermal resistance (RC2) may be the surface temperature T2 at the second point. RC21 may be the temperature at the second point as the first component consumes current. R22 may be the temperature at the second point as the second component consumes current.

According to the thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling) scheme, heat generated in a component as current is consumed and interaction therebetween may be modeled using a surface temperature.

Equation (<NUM>) is in a <NUM>×<NUM> matrix based on the first component and the second component, the matrix may be changed based on the number of components. For example, when the number of components is <NUM>, the matrix may be provided in the 7X7 form.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict a second surface temperature by analyzing power consumption of a component corresponding to a location where heat is generated.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine a second surface temperature to be predicted by analyzing power consumption of a component corresponding to a location where heat is generated.

The second surface temperature may be a future surface temperature of a component corresponding to the location where heat is generated. A method of predicting the second surface temperature may be based on the above-described thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling) scheme.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> determines whether the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may proceed with step <NUM>.

When the electronic device <NUM> determines that the predicted second surface temperature is less than or equal to the predetermined temperature in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may proceed with step <NUM>.

The predetermined temperature may be set when the electronic device <NUM> is manufactured, and may be updated over the network <NUM>, or other server.

When it is determined that the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature, the electronic device <NUM> sets a controllable target temperature in operation <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> controls a control element so as to reduce power consumption in step <NUM>, and may proceed with step <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation of changing a clock of the processor <NUM> when a component where heat is generated is the processor <NUM>. The operation of limiting the clock of the processor <NUM> may include changing a present operating clock to a clock lower than the present operating clock (e.g., changing from a high-speed clock to a low-speed clock).

The operation in step <NUM> may be, an operation in which the processor <NUM> adjusts a brightness of the display <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the display <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation in which the processor <NUM> lowers a volume of sound output from the sound output device <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the sound output device <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation in which the processor <NUM> adjusts a throughput of the communication module <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the communication module <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation in which the processor <NUM> adjusts the transmit power of the RF module <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the RF module <NUM>, which may include adjusting a PAM so as to lower transmit power, adjusting a number of antennas, or the like.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation in which the processor <NUM> adjusts a frame rate of the camera module <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the camera module <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may be an operation in which the processor <NUM> adjusts a charging current of the charging module <NUM> when the component where heat is generated is the charging module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of monitoring current consumption of the display <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the display <NUM> may calculate a brightness ratio (color on pixel ratio (COPR)) by multiplying a current consumption coefficient for each color pixel (e.g., R, G, and B) of the display <NUM>, under the control of the processor <NUM> or a display drive IC (DDI).

The current consumption coefficient of a color pixel included in the display <NUM> may be different based on an organic matter included in the display <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the display <NUM> may transmit information associated with the calculated brightness ratio (COPR) of the display <NUM> to the processor <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or the DDI.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate power consumption of the panel of the display <NUM> using the information associated with the brightness ratio (COPR) calculated for each frame of an image and information associated with brightness, under the control of the processor <NUM> or DDI. The processor <NUM> may predict current consumption of the display <NUM> based on the information associated with the calculated power consumption of the display <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may calculate power consumption of the panel of the display <NUM> using the information associated with the brightness ratio (COPR) calculated for each frame of an image and information associated with brightness, under the control of the processor <NUM> or DDI. The processor <NUM> may determine current consumption of the display <NUM> to be predicted based on the information associated with the calculated power consumption of the display <NUM>.

The DDI may be a device included in the display <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of monitoring current consumption of the RF module <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

The electronic device <NUM> may monitor the transmit power of the RF module <NUM> under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM> in step <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict the current consumption of the RF module <NUM> based on the transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the current consumption of the RF module <NUM> to be predicted based on the transmit power, under the control of the processor <NUM> or the auxiliary processor <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may predict current consumption using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in the register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the operation in step <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in the register of the processor <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may predict current consumption using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in the memory <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the operation in step <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted using a table listing power based on transmit power, which is stored in the memory <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of monitoring current consumption of the camera module <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may detect a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict the mode of the camera module <NUM> or the intention to use the camera module <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may predict current consumption using a table listing power consumption based on a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>, which is stored in the register of the processor <NUM>.

The operation in step <NUM> may predict current consumption of the camera module <NUM> using a table listing power consumption based on a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>, which is stored in the memory <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the mode of the camera module <NUM> or the intention to use the camera module <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the operation in step <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted using a table listing power consumption based on a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>, which is stored in the register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the operation in step <NUM> may determine current consumption of the camera module <NUM> to be predicted using a table listing power consumption based on a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM>, which is stored in the memory <NUM>.

The table listing power consumption based on a mode of the camera module <NUM> or an intention to use the camera module <NUM> is as shown in Table <NUM> provided below.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of monitoring current consumption of the sound output device <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> calculates power consumption using a VI sensing function included in an amplifier of the sound output device <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the sound output device <NUM> at regular intervals using the calculated power consumption, and may store information obtained via the VI sensing function at regular intervals.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the sound output device <NUM> to be predicted at regular intervals using the calculated power consumption, and may store information obtained via the VI sensing function at regular intervals.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method of monitoring current consumption of the communication module <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> monitors the data throughput of the communication module <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption of the communication module <NUM> based on the data throughput. The processor <NUM> may predict current consumption based on data throughput, using a look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption of the communication module <NUM> to be predicted based on the data throughput. The processor <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted based on data throughput, using a look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart method of a control process based on current consumption of the communication module <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption and the surface temperature of the communication module <NUM> based on the data throughput. The electronic device <NUM> may predict current consumption based on the data throughput using the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict the surface temperature based on the current consumption associated with the data throughput.

When the electronic device <NUM> predicts the surface temperature, the above-described thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling) scheme may be used. The electronic device <NUM> may use the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM> via the processor <NUM> to predict the surface temperature associated with current consumption based on the thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling).

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted and the surface temperature of the communication module <NUM> to be predicted based on the data throughput. The electronic device <NUM> may determine current consumption to be predicted based on the data throughput using the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the surface temperature to be predicted based on the current consumption to be predicted associated with the data throughput.

According to various embodiments, when the electronic device <NUM> determines the surface temperature to be predicted, the above-described thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling) scheme may be used. The electronic device <NUM> may use the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM> via the processor <NUM> to determine the surface temperature to be predicted associated with current consumption based on the thermal resistance and thermal capacitance modeling (RC modeling).

The look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM> may be as shown in Table <NUM> below.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict the current consumption and the surface temperature based on the data throughput and a data processing duration. When the electronic device <NUM> predicts the current consumption and the surface temperature based on the data throughput and the data processing duration in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may predict the current consumption and the surface temperature using a look up table.

The electronic device <NUM> may use the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM> via the processor <NUM> to predict the current consumption and the surface temperature based on the data throughput and the data processing duration.

According to various embodiments, in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the current consumption to be predicted and the surface temperature to be predicted based on the data throughput and a data processing duration. When the electronic device <NUM> determines the current consumption to be predicted and the surface temperature to be predicted based on the data throughput and the data processing duration in step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may determine the current consumption to be predicted and the surface temperature to be predicted using a look up table.

According to various embodiments, the electronic device <NUM> may use the look up table stored in the memory <NUM> or the register of the processor <NUM> via the processor <NUM> to determine the current consumption to be predicted and the surface temperature to be predicted based on the data throughput and the data processing duration.

Table <NUM> relates to predicting current consumption and a surface temperature associated with data throughput, and Table <NUM> relates to predicting current consumption and a surface temperature associated with data throughput and a data processing duration. In Table <NUM>, a Wi-Fi module and a modem may be devices included in the communication module <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may control the communication module <NUM> based at least one of predicted current consumption and a predicted surface temperature.

The electronic device <NUM> in step <NUM> may compare the current consumption predicted based on monitored data throughput and predetermined current consumption or may compare a predicted surface temperature and a predetermined temperature, and may control a clock, a voltage, and the number of antennas to change an operation mode.

The electronic device <NUM> in step <NUM> may control an operating clock, an operating voltage, and the number of antennas to change the operation mode of the electronic device <NUM> to a low-power operation mode when the current consumption predicted based on monitored data throughput is greater than or equal to predetermined current consumption or when a predicted surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature. Changing to the low-power operation mode by controlling at least one of a clock, a voltage, and the number of antennas may correspond to changing a clock to a low-speed clock, changing a voltage to a low-voltage, and reducing the number of antennas.

The electronic device <NUM> in step <NUM> may enable the electronic device <NUM> to enter a low-power mode so as to reduce current consumption of the electronic device <NUM> when the current consumption predicted based on monitored data throughput is less than or equal to predetermined current consumption or when the predicted surface temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature.

A predetermined current and temperature for detecting a heat generation state and a predetermined current and temperature for changing the electronic device <NUM> to a low-power mode may be the same as, or different from, each other.

When the predicted current consumption is less than or equal to predetermined current consumption or when the predicted surface temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, an operating clock, an operating voltage, and the number of operating antennas may be controlled and the low-power operation mode may be changed. Changing the low-power operation mode by controlling a clock, a voltage, and the number of antennas may correspond to changing to a clock to a low-speed clock, changing to a voltage to a low-voltage, and reducing the number of antennas.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method for data transmission between the electronic device <NUM> and the server <NUM>, according to an embodiment.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device <NUM> may store, in the memory <NUM>, information collected by predicting current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component of the electronic device <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the electronic device may transmit the information, which is collected by predicting the current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component of the electronic device <NUM> and is stored in the memory <NUM>, to the server <NUM> via the communication module <NUM> at regular intervals.

In step <NUM>, the server <NUM> may receive, from the electronic device <NUM>, the information collected by predicting the current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component of the electronic device <NUM>, and may store the information in a memory.

In step <NUM>, the server <NUM> may analyze a cause of the heat generation or may analyze a user's use pattern, based on the information collected by predicting the current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component of the electronic device <NUM>.

The operation in which the server <NUM> analyzes the cause of the heat generation or analyzes the user's use pattern based on the information collected by predicting the current consumption and the temperature of generated heat for each component of the electronic device <NUM>, may include analyzing a component of which the predicted current consumption is high or a component of which the predicted temperature of generated heat is high as a component that the user frequently uses or as the cause of the heat generation.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams of user interfaces when a heat generation phenomenon occurs in the electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment.

When a surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the electronic device <NUM> may display, on the display <NUM>, a pop-up window <NUM> of <FIG> including a currently predicted surface temperature of a component where heat is generated, or the electronic device <NUM> may display a result <NUM> of <FIG> after controlling the component based on the predicted surface temperature.

As described herein, the electronic devices and control methods associated therewith, may predict and control a surface heat temperature for each component, whereby a processor is not unnecessarily controlled but a component is controlled. Accordingly, generated heat is effectively controlled.

As described herein, the electronic devices and control methods associated therewith, may control generated heat using information associated with a surface temperature that a user feels, as opposed to sensing the internal temperature of an electronic device using an internal thermistor of the electronic device, whereby generated heat may be controlled in the state in which the user feels the generated heat.

As described herein, the electronic devices and control methods associated therewith, may analyze a cause of heat generation and may analyze a user pattern using information obtained by predicting current consumption and/or the temperature of generated heat for each component.

Claim 1:
A control method performed by an electronic device (<NUM>), the method comprising
monitoring (<NUM>) current consumption for each of a plurality of components of the electronic device (<NUM>);
determining (<NUM>) a first surface temperature (T1, T2) to be predicted of the electronic device based on power consumption of the plurality of components corresponding to the monitored current consumption and detecting a location (P1, P2) where heat is generated;
determining (<NUM>) a second surface temperature to be predicted by analyzing power consumption of a component of said plurality of components corresponding to the location (P1, P2) where heat is generated;
determining (<NUM>) whether the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature;
when the predicted second surface temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature, setting (<NUM>) a target temperature and controlling (<NUM>) the component to reduce the power consumption;
wherein determining (<NUM>) the first surface temperature (T1, T2) and determining (<NUM>) the second surface temperature are based on a thermal resistance value and a thermal capacitance value for each of the plurality of components and the current consumption (q1, q2), and
wherein the first surface temperature (T1, T2) is related to a current surface temperature of the electronic device (<NUM>) and
the second surface temperature is related to a future surface temperature of the electronic device (<NUM>).