ELECTRONIC DEVICE PROVIDED WITH AUTOMATIC LEAK DETECTION MEANS

• US 20140230526A1
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd
• Inventors: WILLEMIN, Michel, MARTIN, Jean-Claude, GERMIQUET, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 9,310,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/49.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/329 for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/02 Evacuated cases; Cases filled with gas or liquids; Cases containing substances for absorbing or binding moisture or dust
• CPC Class Codes: G04D 7/007 with regard to the sealing of the case
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature

Abstract

The electronic device (1) is provided with an automatic leak detection means, notably for a gas leak, in the case (2) of the device. The automatic leak detection means includes an internal pressure sensor (3), an external pressure sensor (4) and a calculation unit (5) connected to the internal pressure sensor and to the external pressure sensor. The calculation unit, which is a microcontroller, and the internal pressure sensor are arranged inside the case, whereas the external pressure sensor is arranged on an external surface of the case. The microcontroller (5) checks, based on measurements performed by the pressure sensors over time, whether the pressure variation inside the case is different from the pressure variation outside the case 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 an internal pressure sensor, an external pressure sensor and a calculation unit connected to the internal pressure sensor and to the external pressure sensor, the calculation unit and the internal pressure sensor being arranged inside the case, whereas the external pressure sensor is arranged on an external surface of the case, and wherein the calculation unit is intended to check, based on measurements made by the internal pressure sensor and the external pressure sensor over time, whether or not the variation in pressure inside the case is different from the variation in pressure outside the case to determine whether or not the case has a degree of sealing above or below a determined limit.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit is intended to calculate, at successive time intervals, a difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure so as to determine whether the case has a degree of sealing above a determined limit, if the difference is greater than a determined reference, or a degree of sealing below a determined limit, if the difference is less than the determined reference.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit is intended to continuously determine the internal pressure variation relative to the external pressure variation, and to calculate after each determined time interval, the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure.

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 internal pressure sensor and the external pressure 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 a degree of sealing below a determined limit.

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 an internal pressure sensor, an external pressure sensor and a calculation unit connected to the internal pressure sensor and to the external pressure sensor, the calculation unit and the internal pressure sensor being arranged inside the case, whereas the external pressure sensor is arranged on an external surface of the case, wherein the method includes the steps of:

actuating the calculation unit, the internal pressure sensor and the external pressure sensor,

checking in the calculation unit, based on measurements performed by the internal pressure sensor and the external pressure sensor over time, whether the pressure variation in the case is different from the pressure variation outside the case, and

determining as a function of the internal pressure variation and of the external pressure variation, whether the case has a degree of sealing above or below a determined limit.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, in order to check the internal pressure variation and the external pressure variation in the case, the calculation unit calculates, at successive time intervals, the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure so as to determine whether the case has a degree of sealing above a determined limit, if the difference is greater than a determined reference, or a degree of sealing below a determined limit, if the difference is less than the determined reference.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the calculation unit continuously determines the internal pressure variation relative to the external pressure variation, and after each determined time interval, calculates the difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a warning is provided by the electronic device when the degree of sealing of the electronic device is determined to be below a determined limit, if the difference is less than the determined reference.