APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING POWER TO ELECTRONIC DEVICES
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for detecting when an electronic device has been exposed to moisture that could damage the electronic device, and inhibiting the flow of electrical power to the electronic device when the moisture level is too high are disclosed. Embodiments sample air within the electronic device, measure the moisture in the sampled air, inhibit the connection of electrical power to the electronic device if the moisture exceeds a threshold, and permit the connection of electrical power to the electronic device if the moisture level is below a threshold. Some embodiments measure the moisture in the ambient air to improve effectiveness. Other embodiments allow resetting of a tripped condition. Other embodiments include constant sampling of air from within the electronic device to assist drying, and inhibiting application of power to the electronic device until the electronic device is sufficiently dry. Still other embodiments interrupt power from the electronic device'"'"'s battery.
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Citations
135 Claims
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1-33. -33. (canceled)
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34. A method, comprising the acts of:
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sampling air from within an electronic device; measuring the amount of moisture in the sampled device air; and maintaining a disconnection between the source of electrical power and the electronic device when the amount of moisture within the sampled device air exceeds a first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 38, 39, 41, 42, 48, 52)
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37. (canceled)
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40. (canceled)
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43-47. -47. (canceled)
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49-51. -51. (canceled)
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53-97. -97. (canceled)
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98. An apparatus, comprising:
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a moisture detector configured and adapted to obtain gas from an electronic device and detect a moisture level within a gas sample; and a switch connected to the moisture detector, the switch configured and adapted to connect to a source of electrical power and to the power input circuitry of an electronic device, the switch including a disconnected state, wherein the switch is configured and adapted to electrically isolate a source of electrical power to which the switch is connected from the power input circuitry of an electronic device to which the switch is connected when the moisture detector detects the moisture within the electronic device to which the switch is connected is at or above a first predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (99, 100, 102, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 116)
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101. (canceled)
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103-106. -106. (canceled)
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110-111. -111. (canceled)
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114-115. -115. (canceled)
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117. An apparatus, comprising:
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a moisture detector; means for moving air from within the electronic device to the moisture detector means for controlling a flow of electrical energy from a power source to which the moisture detector is connected to an electronic device to which the moisture detector is connected in response to the moisture detected by the moisture detector. - View Dependent Claims (118, 122, 125, 129, 132, 133, 135)
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119-121. -121. (canceled)
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123-124. -124. (canceled)
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126-128. -128. (canceled)
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130-131. -131. (canceled)
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134. (canceled)
Specification