Determining ambient temperature using transient device characteristics

A method for controlling a temperature of a device, comprising:

• determining an initial temperature of the device;
• applying a temperature stimulus to the device;
• determining when the temperature of the device reaches a first temperature threshold as a result of the temperature stimulus;
• causing the device to cool for a predetermined amount of time by removing the temperature stimulus;
• determining an amount of time to cool the device from the first temperature threshold to a second temperature threshold;
• determining an ambient temperature of an environment in which the device is operating based, at least in part, on a change in temperature of the device;
• and
• adjusting a maximum allowable temperature of the device based, at least in part, on the ambient temperature of the environment.

A device, comprising:

• a processing unit;
• a thermistor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processing unit, the memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processing unit, performs a method for controlling a temperature of a device, the method comprising:
• determining, using the thermistor, an initial temperature of the device;
• causing, using the processing unit, a temperature stimulus to be applied to the device;
• determining, using the thermistor, when the temperature of the device reaches a first temperature threshold as a result of the applied temperature stimulus;
• causing, using the processing unit, the temperature stimulus to be removed from the device, thereby causing the device to cool for a predetermined amount of time;
• determining, using the thermistor, a change in temperature of the device upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time;
• determining, using the processing unit, an ambient temperature of an environment in which the device is operating based, at least in part, on the change in temperature of the device;
• and
• adjusting a maximum allowable temperature of the device based, at least in part, on the ambient temperature of the environment.

A method for determining an ambient temperature of an environment in which a device is operating, comprising:

• determining an initial temperature of the device;
• determining when a temperature of the device reaches a first temperature threshold;
• causing the device to cool for a predetermined amount of time;
• and
• determining a change in temperature of the device upon expiration of the predetermined amount of time, wherein the change in temperature of the device is used to determine the ambient temperature of the environment in which the device is operating.