DRYER FOR PORTABLE ELECTRONICS
First Claim
1. A drying system for portable electronic devices, the system comprising:
- a pressurization subsystem configured, when the portable electronic device is in a chamber, to produce a negative pressure environment within the chamber sufficient to gasify liquid in the portable electronic device; and
a thermal conduction assembly configured, when the portable electronic device is in the negative pressure environment within the chamber, to substantially conform in three dimensions to an external shape of the portable electronic device and to conduct heat to the portable electronic device sufficient to at least overcome latent heat of evaporation resulting from the gasifying of the liquid in the portable electronic device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are described for conductively heated vacuum-based drying of portable electronic devices. For example, a portable electronic device that has been exposed to excessive liquid is placed inside a drying chamber. The drying chamber is closed and a drying routine commences. During the drying routine, the chamber is pressurized to a vacuum level sufficient to gasify liquids inside the device, and the device is conductively heated at least to replace latent heat of vaporization lost during the pressurization. Some embodiments include techniques relating to payment processing, monitoring and feedback control, decontamination, and/or other functionality.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A drying system for portable electronic devices, the system comprising:
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a pressurization subsystem configured, when the portable electronic device is in a chamber, to produce a negative pressure environment within the chamber sufficient to gasify liquid in the portable electronic device; and a thermal conduction assembly configured, when the portable electronic device is in the negative pressure environment within the chamber, to substantially conform in three dimensions to an external shape of the portable electronic device and to conduct heat to the portable electronic device sufficient to at least overcome latent heat of evaporation resulting from the gasifying of the liquid in the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for drying portable electronic devices, the method comprising:
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receiving a portable electronic device in a chamber in such a manner that causes a thermal conduction assembly to substantially conform in three dimensions around the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having an excessive amount of liquid; pressurizing the chamber when the portable electronic device is in the chamber, so as to produce a negative pressure environment within the chamber sufficient to gasify the liquid in the portable electronic device at least until the portable electronic device no longer has the excessive amount of liquid; and heating the portable electronic device in the chamber conductively via the thermal conduction assembly during the pressurizing, the heating being at least sufficient to replenish latent heat of vaporization lost from the gasifying of the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification