Abstract: An electronic device may include an environmental sensor. In particular, the sensor may include a layer of metal and be operable as an anemometer, a thermometer, a bolometer, and/or a heat flux sensor. To operate as an anemometer or thermometer, circuitry may heat the layer of metal and calculate an air speed based on a decay of the metal temperature. To operate as a bolometer, a first portion of the metal may have a first optical absorption/insulation (e.g., be insulated), while a second portion may have a second optical absorption/insulation (e.g., be uncoated). Differences in heating/cooling of the first and second portions may be used to measure solar radiation. To operate as a heat flux sensor, different metals may be used, and Seebeck voltages between the different metals may be measured. The metal may be deposited on the housing or may be incorporated into a mesh on the device.

Abstract: An electronic device may include a housing and a display in the housing. The display may be used as an anemometer to measure the speed of ambient air in the device's environment. In particular, the display may be monitored by a temperature sensor until it reaches an equilibrium temperature, at which point it may be heated by increasing the brightness of the display or using a separate heater. After heating, a cooling response of the display may be measured, and the ambient air speed may be calculated based on the cooling response of the display. Instead of measuring the air speed using the display, other components, such as a pressure sensor, may be used to measure the air speed by heating the components and measuring a cooling response of the components. Multiple temperature sensors may be incorporated into the device to determine a wind direction in addition to air speed.

Abstract: Systems and methods employing beds of bagged and caged absorbent and adsorbent materials are disclosed. These inventions are useful in the area of solid phase extraction.