Apple applies for a patent for a new ultrasonic temperature sensor that can measure the surrounding temperature in real time

On January 25, the first generation of temperature sensors on Apple Watch were mainly used to track women's ovulation cycles. According to PatentlyApple, today, the U.S. Patent Office published a patent application from Apple that involves a new type of ultrasonic temperature sensor that can measure the temperature of the surrounding air or other environmental media, such as water, other liquids, or materials outside electronic devices such as glass.

Apple pointed out in the patent document that electronic devices often accompany users in daily activities, such as walking, commuting, working, exercising, etc. In some cases, users may need to know the temperature of the surrounding air or other ambient media.

Although electronic devices can obtain ambient temperature and weather information from various network resources, this information may not accurately reflect the actual temperature at the user's exact location, such as in shady areas (under a tree or on a shady path) or surfaces that affect the ambient temperature (grass or asphalt). Therefore, embedding temperature sensors directly into electronic devices can more accurately measure ambient temperature.

Apple's new patent aims to directly measure ambient temperature using ultrasonic technology. Ultrasonic temperature sensors calculate temperature by measuring the speed of sound propagation in air or other media, thereby obtaining more accurate real-time data. Such sensors can be placed in grooves or openings in the housing of electronic devices and covered with a grid or grille as needed. The sensor can include any number of transmitters and receivers (such as a PMUT array), or it can use separate ultrasonic transmitters and receivers, or use PMUTs with both transmitting and receiving capabilities.

IT Home noted that from the pictures attached to the patent document, the temperature sensor can be installed on devices such as Apple Watch and iPhone. The patent diagram also shows a schematic diagram of the sensor's working principle, a temperature and sound speed relationship diagram, a relationship diagram between air density/atmospheric pressure and altitude, and a schematic diagram of a piezoelectric micromechanical ultrasonic transducer array.

Apple's new ultrasonic temperature sensor patent is expected to enhance the ability of electronic devices to perceive the environment and provide users with more accurate and practical temperature information.