METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DRYING ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20180292132A1
• Filed: 05/14/2018
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revive Electronics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Revive Electronics, LLC
• Inventors: Zielinski, Reuben, Trusty, Joel, Douberteen, David, Earle, Mark, Arain, Imran, Shrake, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,240,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 23/04 using electric heating F26B23/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/22 Controlling the drying process in dependence on liquid content of solid materials or objects
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/02 by convection, i.e. heat being conveyed from a heat source to the materials or objects to be dried by a gas or vapour, e.g. air F26B3/283 and F26B3/343 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/20 the heat source being a heated surface , e.g. a moving belt or conveyorF26B3/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/04 by evaporation or sublimation of moisture under reduced pressure, e.g. in a vacuum F26B11/049 and F26B17/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/06 in stationary drums or chambers

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices are disclosed. Embodiments include methods and apparatuses that heat and decrease pressure within the electronic device. Some embodiments increase and decrease pressure while adding heat energy, such as by using a heated platen in contact with the electronic device or by supplying a gas (e.g., air), which may be heated, into the interior of the electronic device.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a low-pressure chamber, wherein the low-pressure chamber comprises an interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior;

connecting an evacuation pump to the low-pressure chamber;

connecting the low-pressure chamber to a heater;

connecting at least one control system to the evacuation pump and to the heater; and

controlling, using the at least one control system, removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to provide heat to the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising executing, by a computing device, located either in the apparatus or located external to the apparatus, instructions for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting data associated with at least one of the apparatus, the electronic device, or a user of the electronic device or the apparatus.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising searching, in a database, for a record associated with the at least one of the apparatus, the electronic device, or a user of the electronic device or the apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising in response to finding the record in the database, generating a token, or receiving or extracting the token from a computing device or the database.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a location associated with the electronic device or the apparatus is an approved location for executing a drying operation for the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising transmitting information associated with the drying operation to a database comprising records associated with electronic devices, users of the electronic devices or the apparatus, or the apparatus.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising heating the electronic device via one or more contoured surfaces at least partially contacting the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising heating the electronic device via one or more contoured surfaces at least partially contacting the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the interior is shaped by the one or more contoured surfaces for fitting the electronic device in the interior.

11. A method comprising:

executing, by a computing device, located either in an apparatus or located external to the apparatus, instructions for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting data associated with at least one of the apparatus, an electronic device, or a user associated with the electronic device or the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises;

a low-pressure chamber comprising an interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior,

an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber,

a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber, and

at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and the heater, wherein the at least one control system controls removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to provide heat to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising executing, by the computing device, an electronic device drying application or an electronic device drying registration application.

13. A computing device configured for executing instructions for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting data associated with at least one of an apparatus, an electronic device, or a user of the electronic device or the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a low-pressure chamber comprising an interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior,

an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber,

a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber, and

at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and the heater, wherein the at least one control system controls removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to provide heat to the electronic device.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the computing device is configured for executing an electronic device drying application or an electronic device drying registration application.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a low-pressure chamber comprising an interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior;

an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber;

a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; and

at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and the heater, wherein the at least one control system controls removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to provide heat to the electronic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a location-determining system for determining network location information or physical location information associated with at least one of the apparatus or the electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the location-determining system comprises a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based system.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of:

the location-determining system is connected to a back-up power source connected to the location-determining system such that the location-determining system is operational when the apparatus is not connected to an external power source, the location-determining system enables determination of whether software or firmware installed or associated with the apparatus corresponds with the network location information or the physical location information associated with the at least one of the apparatus or the electronic device, or the location-determining system enables determination of the network location information or the physical location information associated with the at least one of the apparatus or the electronic device upon an initial power-up or a reboot of the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a telecommunication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a user places or receives a call using the telecommunication device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the telecommunication device comprises at least one of a cellular system or a Wi-Fi system, or wherein the telecommunication device is connected to a back-up power source connected to the telecommunication device such that the telecommunication device is operational when the apparatus is not connected to an external power source.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one connection device, wherein the at least one connection device comprises a first connection device and a second connection device, and wherein the apparatus;

sends first data, to a database system, using the first connection device, or receives second data, from the database system, using the first connection device;

or sends third data, to a computing device, using the second connection device, or receives fourth data, from the computing device, using the second connection device.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

at least one connection device, wherein the at least one connection device comprises a first connection device and a second connection device, and wherein the apparatus;

sends first data, to a database system, using the first connection device, or receives second data, from the database system, using the first connection device; and

sends third data, to a computing device, using the second connection device, or receives fourth data, from the computing device, using the second connection device.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the heater provides heat to the electronic device via one or more contoured surfaces at least partially contacting the electronic device.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein a total surface area associated with the one or more contoured surfaces contacting the electronic device is approximately 1.5 square inches.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the heater comprises a thermofoil resistance heater.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the thermofoil resistance heater is mounted on a heater substrate.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control system is further configured for determining whether to stop or continue removing the moisture from the electronic device based on data associated with at least one of the electronic device or the low-pressure chamber.

29. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the control system is further configured for determining whether to stop or continue removing the moisture from the electronic device based on at least one of moisture-related data or a duration associated with a drying operation for the electronic device.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the heater provides heat to the electronic device via one or more contoured surfaces at least partially contacting the electronic device.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the interior is shaped by the one or more contoured surfaces for fitting the electronic device in the interior.