Apple Inc.

Shameek P Ganguly

Hung A Pham

Stephen P Jackson

Anh N Phan

An electronic device may include a motion sensor for detecting movement of the electronic device and a pressure sensor for detecting changes in elevation of the electronic device. Applications that run on the electronic device such as health and fitness applications may use motion sensor and pressure sensor data to track a user's physical activity. For example, processing circuitry in the electronic device may use the motion sensor to track a user's steps and the pressure sensor to track changes in the user's elevation. The processing circuitry may determine whether the user is climbing stairs based on the user's step rate and the user's changes in elevation. When the processing circuitry determines that the user is climbing stairs, the processing circuitry may use the pressure sensor and motion sensor to track and store the number of flights of stairs climbed by the user.

Electronic devices with pressure sensors for characterizing motion

A portable electronic device may include submersion detection circuitry for detecting when the electronic device is submerged in water or other liquids. The submersion detection circuitry may include a barometric pressure sensor that gathers air pressure information. Control circuitry in the electronic device may monitor the air pressure sensor for sharp changes in air pressure indicating that the electronic device has been dropped or submerged in water. Various actions may be taken in response to determining that the electronic device is in water. If the electronic device is not intended to operate underwater, a power management unit may automatically power down electrical components in the electronic device in response to determining that the electronic device is in water. If the electronic device is intended to operate underwater, control circuitry may determine and track a water depth level at which the electronic device is submerged based on the air pressure information.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Shameek P Ganguly