MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH AIR INLET

• US 20100255385A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wolf, Mats
• Application Number:
  US12/417,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/403
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/30 Fuel cells in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0444 Concentration; Density H01M8/04492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04455 of cathode reactants at the inlet or inside the fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A mobile electronic device is provided comprising a power supply configured to generate power based on oxygen. The mobile device may comprise an air inlet to supply air and a shutter to close said air inlet in case a sensor detects at least one predetermined gas.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a power supply configured to generate power using oxygen,

an air inlet to supply air to said power supply,

a sensor configured to detect at least one predetermined gas in the air, and

a shutter mechanism configured to close said air inlet if said sensor detects said predetermined gas.

2. The device of claim 1,

further comprising a control unit, said control unit being coupled to said sensor to receive a signal indicating the presence of said at least one predetermined gas and coupled to said shutter mechanism to control said shutter mechanism to close said air inlet if a concentration of said gas exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said control unit is configured to query a user of the device if the air inlet is to be closed by said shutter mechanism in case said at least one predetermined gas is detected, and wherein said control unit is further configured to control said shutter mechanism to close said air inlet only when said user confirms that the air inlet is to be closed.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said power supply is selected from the group consisting of a fuel cell and a metal air cell.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 1, wherein said shutter mechanism comprises a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, said lid in said closed position covering said air inlet.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said shutter mechanism comprises a sealing surrounding said air inlet.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary power supply, said auxiliary power supply being configured to supply said device with power when said shutter mechanism closes said air inlet.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable gaming device, a personal digital assistant and a laptop computer.

9. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined gas comprises a gas selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and an organic gas.

10. A method for operating a mobile electronic device, comprising:

detecting at least one predetermined gas in air surrounding said mobile device, and

closing an air inlet of a power supply unit of said mobile electronic device if said at least one predetermined gas is detected.

11. The method of claim 10,

further comprising switching from said power supply to an auxiliary power supply to supply said mobile electronic device with power if said at least one predetermined gas is detected.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

querying a user of the mobile electronic device whether said air inlet is to be closed in case of detecting said at least one predetermined gas, and

performing said closing step only if said user confirms that the air inlet is to be closed.