ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDED WITH AUTOMATIC LEAK DETECTION MEANS

• US 20140230525A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: WILLEMIN, Michel, MARTIN, Jean-Claude, GERMIQUET, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,488,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/002 by using thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3272 for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers

Abstract

The electronic device is provided with an automatic leak detection means, notably for a gas leak, in the case of the device. The automatic leak detection means includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a calculation unit connected to the pressure sensor and to the temperature sensor. The calculation unit, which is a microcontroller, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor are arranged inside the case. In operation, the microcontroller checks, based on measurements performed by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, whether the variation in pressure in the case is within a defined margin proportional to the variation in temperature to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

Claims

1. An electronic device, which is provided with an automatic leak detection means of a case of the electronic device, wherein the automatic leak detection means includes a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a calculation unit connected to the pressure sensor and to the temperature sensor, the calculation unit, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor being arranged inside the case, and wherein the calculation unit is intended to check, based on measurements made by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, whether or not the variation in pressure inside the case is proportional to the variation in temperature to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is intended to calculate, at successive time intervals, ratios between a pressure value provided by the pressure sensor and a temperature value provided by the temperature sensor inside the case, and to check whether the ratio between the pressure and the temperature remains constant at each successive time interval to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is intended to define a standardised pressure at a reference temperature based on measurements made by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, and to calculate a difference in absolute value between the standardised pressure values, which are defined at two successive time intervals to check whether the difference is greater than or less than a pressure reference to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a watch or a mobile telephone.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is a microcontroller.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the microcontroller is powered by a voltage source disposed inside the case.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the voltage source is a battery or accumulator.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the microcontroller and the pressure sensor and temperature sensor are actuated at the moment of connection of the voltage source or after the actuation of a control unit.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, which is a watch or a mobile telephone, wherein the control unit is formed by one or more buttons or crowns or capacitive tactile keys disposed underneath a watch crystal or telephone glass screen or at the periphery of a watch crystal or telephone glass screen.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit controls a signalling unit of the electronic device so as to indicate an insufficient degree of sealing above a determined threshold.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, which is a watch or a mobile telephone, wherein the signalling unit is a display device or one or more hands for a watch, or a sound generator for generating a continuous or intermittent sound, or a vibrator.

12. An automatic leak detection method for an electronic device, which is provided with an automatic leak detection means of a case of the electronic device, the automatic leak detection means including a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a calculation unit connected to the pressure sensor and to the temperature sensor, the calculation unit together with the pressure sensor and temperature sensor being arranged inside the case, wherein the method includes the steps of:

actuating the calculation unit, the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor,

checking in the calculation unit, based on measurements performed by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, whether the pressure variation in the case is within a defined margin proportional to the variation in temperature, and

determining as a function of the variation in pressure relative to the variation in temperature over time, whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein to check the variation in pressure and the variation in temperature in the case, the calculation unit calculates, at successive time intervals, ratios between a pressure value provided by the pressure sensor and a temperature value provided by the temperature sensor and checks whether the ratio between the pressure and the temperature remains constant at each successive measurement time interval to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the calculation unit defines a standardised pressure at a reference temperature based on measurements made by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor over time, and calculates a difference in absolute value between the standardised pressure values, which are defined at two successive time intervals to check whether the difference is greater than or less than a pressure reference to determine whether or not the case has a sufficient degree of sealing.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein a warning is given if the degree of sealing of the electronic device is determined to be insufficient and beyond a determined threshold.