Mobile communication terminal apparatus including moisture detection

• US 7,050,837 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gigaset Communications GmbH (Gigaset AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Menz, Wolfgang, Plugge, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Application Number:
  US10/503,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20050079888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/572, 455/557, 455/466, 455/74.1, 343/80, 34/13, 34/80, 345/95, 342/10, 702/31, 436/2, 360/128, 219/501
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal device is disclosed having elements for detecting moisture in the device. These elements include the following precautionary features: a memory for recording a circumstance under which the detection of moisture takes place, a shutdown feature for shutting down the mobile communication terminal device at least partially if moisture has been detected, and a feature for determining two circumstances, namely that the mobile communications terminal has been at least partially shut down as a result of a detection of moisture and that the mobile communication terminal device has been connected to an external power supply and subsequent current is being drawn from the power supply. Once these two circumstances have been detected, a mode is activated by which the mobile communication terminal device is subjected to a heating phase and as a result, in turn, to a drying phase.

Claims

1. For use in a mobile communication terminal, an apparatus comprising:

a moisture detection element configured to detect moisture in the mobile communication terminal device;

a memory to record circumstances under which the detection of moisture takes place;

a first shutdown element configured to at least partially shut down the mobile communication terminal device when moisture has been detected; and

a control element configured to determine a first event where an at least partial shutdown of the mobile communication terminal device has been performed by the first shutdown element as a result of moisture being detected, and a second event where the mobile communication terminal device is connected to a charger unit and current is being drawn from the charger unit; and

, upon detection of the first and second events, activate a mode to cause the mobile communication terminal device through the drawing of current to be subjected to a heating phase and a subsequent drying phase.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a detector configured to detect discharged power supply cells connected to the mobile communication terminal;

a second shutdown element configured to shut down the mobile communication terminal device on detection of connected discharged power supply cells; and

an indication element configured to indicate that the connected power supply cells are discharged.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the second shutdown elements and the indication element are incorporated with the first shutdown element;

and

shutdown of the mobile communication terminal device when moisture is detected is displayed to an outside observer by the indication element as a shutdown resulting from a discharged state of the connected power supply cells.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the control element includes a processor control unit for carrying out the determination of these circumstances.

5. For use in a mobile communication terminal, an apparatus comprising:

a moisture detection element configured to detect moisture in the mobile communication terminal device;

a memory to record circumstances under which the detection of moisture takes place;

a first shutdown element configured to at least partially shut down the mobile communication terminal device when moisture has been detected;

a control element configured to determine a first even where an at least partial shutdown of the mobile communication terminal device has been performed by the first shutdown element as a result of moisture being detected, and a second even where the mobile communication terminal device is connected to an external power supply source and current is being drawn from the power supply source; and

, upon detection of the first and second events, activate a mode to cause the mobile communication terminal device through the drawing of current to be subjected to a heating phase and a subsequent drying phase;

a detector configured to detect discharged power supply cells connected to the mobile communication terminal;

a second shutdown element configured to shut down the mobile communication terminal device on detection of connected discharged power supply cells; and

an indication element configured to indicate that the connected power supply cells are discharged.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the second shutdown elements and the indication element are incorporated with the first shutdown element;

and

shutdown of the mobile communication terminal device when moisture is detected is displayed to an outside observer by the indication element as a shutdown resulting from a discharged state of the connected power supply cells.