Importance

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Abstract

An electronic device may include a housing and an ambient temperature sensor in the housing. The ambient temperature sensor may include a temperature sensor, a heat flux sensor, and a heat source. The heat source may heat the heat flux sensor, and an ambient temperature may be determined based on measurements from the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor. If additional temperature sensors and/or heat flux sensors are included in the ambient temperature sensor, the ambient temperature may be determined directly based on heat flux and temperature differences between the sensors. Alternatively, the heat flux sensor may measure a rise in heat flux, and control circuitry may fit a convection coefficient to the rise in the heat flux. The ambient temperature may then be determined based on the convection coefficient. Instead of heating the heat flux sensor, the heat flux sensor may be cooled to determine the ambient temperature.

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First Claim