Electronic Device With Liquid Contact Sensors
First Claim
1. An electronic device, comprising:
- an electronic device housing;
a liquid contact sensor mounted in the electronic device housing, wherein the liquid contact sensor has electrodes; and
control circuitry in the electronic device housing that is coupled to the electrodes, wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor liquid exposure events with the liquid contact sensor in which moisture enters the electronic device housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may be accidentally exposed to liquid during operation. To detect liquid intrusion events, an electronic device may be provided with one or more electronic liquid contact sensors. The liquid contact sensors may have electrodes. Control circuitry may make measurements across the electrodes such as resistance and capacitance measurements to detect the presence of liquid. Liquid contact sensor data may be maintained in a log within storage in the electronic device. The liquid contact sensor data can be used to display information for a user of the electronic device or can be loaded onto external equipment for analysis. Liquid contact sensor electrodes may be formed from metal traces on substrates such as printed circuits, from contacts in a connector, from contacts on an integrated circuit, or from other conductive electrode structures.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electronic device, comprising:
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an electronic device housing; a liquid contact sensor mounted in the electronic device housing, wherein the liquid contact sensor has electrodes; and control circuitry in the electronic device housing that is coupled to the electrodes, wherein the control circuitry is configured to monitor liquid exposure events with the liquid contact sensor in which moisture enters the electronic device housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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gathering liquid contact sensor data with liquid contact sensor electrodes in a portable electronic device; and storing the gathered liquid contact sensor data in storage in the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a housing; a display in the housing; a plurality of electronic liquid contact sensors in the housing; and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of electronic liquid contact sensors, wherein the control circuitry and the electronic liquid contact sensors are configured to monitor for liquid intruding into the housing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification