Water detecting system and related method of portable electric device

• US 20060208914A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BenQ Corporation (Qisda Corporation)
• Inventors: Liu, Feng-Chi, Weng, Jung-Tsan
• Granted Patent: US 7,205,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/620
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/048 for determining moisture content of the material
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A water detecting system of a portable electric device comprises a housing, an electronic circuitry board, a battery electrically connected to the electronic circuitry board for providing electrical power to the electronic circuitry board, and at least one pair of electric terminals, the pair of electric terminals comprising one positive terminal and one negative terminal located in close proximity to the positive terminal. When the pair of electric terminals are electrically conducted, a current runs through the pair of electric terminals. The water detecting system also comprises a current detector electrically connected to the pair of electric terminals for detecting if the current running through the pair of electric terminals exceeds a threshold level, and a switch connected to the current detector and the battery for disconnecting the battery from the electronic circuitry board when the current exceeds the threshold level.

Claims

1. A water detecting system of a portable electric device, comprising:

a housing;

an electronic circuitry board of the portable electric device disposed inside the housing;

a battery electrically connected to the electronic circuitry board for providing electrical power to the electronic circuitry board;

at least one pair of electric terminals, the pair of electric terminals comprising one positive terminal and one negative terminal located in close proximity to the positive terminal, wherein when the pair of electric terminals are electrically conducted, a current runs through the pair of electric terminals;

a current detector electrically connected to the pair of electric terminals for detecting if the current running through the pair of electric terminals exceeds a threshold level; and

a switch connected to the current detector and the battery for disconnecting the battery from the electronic circuitry board when the current exceeds the threshold level.

2. The water detecting system of claim 1, wherein when water contacts the pair of electric terminals, the positive terminal electrically connects to the negative terminal, thereby inducing the current to run through the pair of electric terminals.

3. The water detecting system of claim 1, further comprising water-absorbing material disposed inside of the housing for absorbing water entering through openings in the housing.

4. The water detecting system of claim 3, wherein the water-absorbing material is a sponge.

5. The water detecting system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of pairs of electric terminals contact with the water-absorbing material, wherein the current detector detects if the current running through any of the pairs of electric terminals exceeds the threshold level.

6. The water detecting system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pairs of electric terminals, wherein the current detector detects if the current running through any of the pairs of electric terminals exceeds the threshold level.

7. The water detecting system of claim 6, wherein the pairs of electric terminals are disposed inside of the housing near openings in the housing.

8. A method of detecting water entering a portable electric device, the method comprising:

providing at least one pair of electric terminals, the pair of electric terminals comprising one positive terminal and one negative terminal located in close proximity to the positive terminal, wherein when the pair of electric terminals are electrically conducted, a current runs through the pair of electric terminals;

supplying electrical power to an electronic circuitry board of the portable electric device;

detecting if the current running through the pair of electric terminals exceeds a threshold level; and

disconnecting the supply of electrical power to the electronic circuitry board when the current exceeds the threshold level.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when water contacts the pair of electric terminals, the positive terminal electrically connects to the negative terminal, thereby inducing an electric current to run through the pair of electric terminals.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising disposing water-absorbing material inside of the portable electric device for absorbing water entering the portable electric device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the water-absorbing material is a sponge.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein a plurality of pairs of electric terminals are disposed in the water-absorbing material, and the method comprises detecting when the current running through any of the pairs of electric terminals exceeds the threshold level.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing a plurality of pairs of electric terminals, and the method comprises detecting when the current running through any of the pairs of electric terminals exceeds the threshold level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of pairs of electric terminals are disposed inside a housing of the portable electric device near openings in the housing.