Electronic system and method for thermal management therein taking into account solar thermal loading

A method for thermal management in a portable electronic device, the method comprising:

• determining a current location of the portable electronic device;
• determining an expected route of travel for the portable electronic device based on the current location and a destination location;
• determining a likelihood that the portable electronic device will be exposed to solar heating during operation based on at least one factor from the following factors:
• a current time of day, current day, or the location of the portable electronic device;
• and
• in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than an initial threshold:
• determining a solar thermal load profile for at least part of the expected route of travel;
• determining a temperature offset value based on the solar thermal load profile;
• determining a predicted future temperature for the portable electronic device based on the temperature offset value and a current temperature for the portable electronic device;
• comparing the predicted future temperature to at least one of a plurality of thresholds comprising at least a first threshold and a second threshold;
• and based on the comparison:
• if the predicted future temperature is equal to or exceeds the first threshold, then executing a first thermal mitigation procedure;
• if the predicted future temperature is between the first threshold and the second threshold, then executing a second thermal mitigation procedure;
• and
• if the predicted future temperature is equal to or less than the second threshold, then executing a third thermal mitigation procedure.

An electronic system comprising:

• at least one temperature sensor that produces at least one output representative of one or more sensed temperatures;
• and
• a processing subsystem operably coupled to the at least one temperature sensor and operable in accordance with stored operating instructions to:
• determine a location of the electronic system;
• determine a likelihood that the electronic system will be exposed to solar heating during operation based on at least one factor from the following factors:
• a current time of day, current day, or the location of the electronic system;
• and
• in response to determining that the likelihood is greater than an initial threshold:
• determine a solar thermal load value representing a solar thermal load expected to affect the location of the electronic system;
• determine a temperature offset value based on the solar thermal load value;
• receive the at least one output from the at least one temperature sensor;
• determine one or more temperatures based on the at least one output from the at least one temperature sensor to produce at least one sensed temperature;
• determine a predicted future temperature for the electronic system based on the temperature offset value and the at least one sensed temperature;
• compare the predicted future temperature to at least one of a plurality of thresholds comprising at least a first threshold and a second threshold;
• and based on the comparison:
• if the predicted future temperature is equal to or exceeds the first threshold, then execute a first thermal mitigation procedure;
• if the predicted future temperature is between the first threshold and the second threshold, then execute a second thermal mitigation procedure;
• and
• if the predicted future temperature is equal to or less than the second threshold, then execute a third thermal mitigation procedure.