Apple Inc.

Michael J Glickman

Gregory B Arndt

Aspects of the subject technology relate to electronic devices with pressure sensors. Pressure sensor occlusion may be mitigated by ejecting occluding liquid with pulsed liquid heating. Processing circuit of the electronic device can obtain pressure sensor data from the pressure sensor and determine that the opening is occluded based at least in part on a change in pressure within a cavity adjacent the opening. The processing circuitry applies a first power pulse to a heating element during a first phase to cause the heating element to form a gas pocket around the heating element by heating at least a portion of a water volume inside the cavity and applies a second power pulse to the heating element during a second phase following the first phase to cause the heating element to expand the gas pocket around the heating element by further heating the water volume inside the cavity.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Michael J Glickman