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Apple patents MEMS sensor with built-in heater for calibration

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

Apple has been granted a patent for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor that includes a small array of heating elements. These heaters are individually controlled to warm the sensor evenly, allowing the device to measure how temperature changes affect its readings and calibrate itself accordingly.

Why it mattersThis design helps ensure that tiny sensors in devices like phones or watches remain accurate even when the surrounding temperature changes.

In the filing’s own words

Aspects of the subject technology relate to an apparatus including a housing and a substrate. The apparatus further includes a sensor, an integrated circuit mounted on the substrate, and one or more heating elements configured to adjust a temperature of the sensor to facilitate measurement of temperature sensitivity and calibration of the sensor.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An apparatus comprising: a housing; a substrate attached to the housing; a sensor; an integrated circuit mounted on the substrate; and an array of heating elements configured to adjust a temperature of the sensor to facilitate measurement of temperature sensitivity and calibration of the sensor, wherein each heating element in the array of heating elements is controlled separately to provide uniform heat distribution to the sensor.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
Enhanced MEMS sensor embedded heater
Patent number
US12767524B2
Application number
17461866
Filed
Aug 30, 2021
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
3
Claims
20

Classified under

B81B 7/0087 Operations & transportH04M 1/026 Electricity & electronicsH05B 3/28 Electricity & electronicsB81B 2201/0214 Operations & transportB81B 2201/0264 Operations & transportB81B 2207/015 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.