ELECTRONIC DEVICE, STORAGE MEDIUM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING THE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130151870A1
• Filed: 04/28/2012
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: CHUANG, YUEH-CHENG
• Granted Patent: US 8,886,971 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/083 responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance moisture alarm G08B21/20
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

In a method for protecting an electronic device, a voltage threshold value is set for indicating that water has entered the electronic device. A voltage value is detected from each water sensor included in the electronic device at a predetermined time interval. The method determines whether water has entered the electronic device according to the detected voltage value of water sensor and the voltage threshold value. When water has entered the electronic device, the method further prompts a user of the electronic device using a predetermined prompt mode, and controls the electronic device to be powered-off.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

a storage system;

at least one processor; and

one or more programs that are stored in the storage system and executed by the at least one processor, the one or more programs comprising;

a setting module that sets a voltage threshold value and stores the voltage threshold value into the storage system;

a detection module that detects a voltage value sensed from each of the sensors at a predetermined time interval;

a determination module that determines whether water has entered the electronic according to the voltage value of each of the sensors and the voltage threshold value;

a control module that prompts a user of the electronic device using a predetermined prompt mode and controls the electronic device to be powered-off when water has entered the electronic device.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the sensors is located at an area of the electronic device where water enters easily.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the sensors comprises:

a first copper sheet having a first node that connects a low potential node of the electronic device and a second node that is floating;

a second copper sheet having a third node that connects a power supply node of the electronic device through a resistor and a fourth node that is floating.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second node connects to the fourth node by the water when water has entered the electronic device, and the voltage value of a test point between the third node and the resistor is changed to a low potential of the low potential node.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination module determines that water has entered the electronic device if at least one voltage value of the sensors is equal to the voltage threshold value, and determines that water has not entered the electronic device if the voltage value of each of the sensors is not equal to the voltage threshold value.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prompt mode is a phone ring mode or a voice message mode of the electronic device.

7. A computer-implemented method for protecting an electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a voltage threshold value and storing the voltage threshold value into a storage system of the electronic device;

detecting a voltage value sensed from each sensor of the electronic device at a predetermined time interval;

determining whether water has entered the electronic device according to the voltage value of each of the sensors and the voltage threshold value; and

prompting a user of the electronic device using a predetermined prompt mode and controlling the electronic device to be powered-off when water has entered the electronic device.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the sensors is located at an area of the electronic device where water enters easily.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the sensors comprises:

a first copper sheet having a first node that connects a low potential node of the electronic device and a second node that is floating; and

a second copper sheet having a third node that connects a power supply node of the electronic device through a resistor and a fourth node that is floating.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second node connects to the fourth node by the water when water has entered the electronic device, and the voltage value of a test point between the third node and the resistor is changed to a low potential of the low potential node.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the determining step comprises:

determining that water has entered the electronic device if at least one voltage value of each of the sensors is equal to the voltage threshold value; and

determining that water has not entered the electronic device if the voltage value of each of the sensors is not equal to the voltage threshold value.

12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the prompt mode is a phone ring mode or a voice message mode of the electronic device.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a set of instructions, when executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, cause the at least one processor to perform a method of protecting the electronic device, the method comprising:

setting a voltage threshold value and storing the voltage threshold value into a storage system of the electronic device;

detecting a voltage value sensed from each sensor of the electronic device at a predetermined time interval;

determining whether water has entered the electronic device according to the voltage value of each of the sensors and the voltage threshold value; and

prompting a user of the electronic device using a predetermined prompt mode and controlling the electronic device to be powered-off when water has entered the electronic device.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the sensors is located at an area of the electronic device where water enters easily.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the sensors comprises:

a first copper sheet having a first node that connects a low potential node of the electronic device and a second node that is floating; and

a second copper sheet having a third node that connects a power supply node of the electronic device through a resistor and a fourth node that is floating.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the determining step comprises:

determining that water has entered the electronic device if at least one voltage value of each of the sensors is equal to the voltage threshold value; and

determining that water has not entered the electronic device if the voltage value of each of the sensors is not equal to the voltage threshold value.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second node connects to the fourth node by the water when water has entered the electronic device, and the voltage value of a test point between the third node and the resistor is changed to a low potential of the low potential node.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the prompt mode is a phone ring mode or a voice message mode of the electronic device.