Methods, apparatuses and systems for monitoring for exposure of electronic devices to moisture and reacting to exposure of electronic devices to moisture

• US 9,071,046 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HzO, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HzO, Inc.
• Inventors: Stevens, Blake, Sorenson, Max
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US13/734,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20130182360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/620, 340/618, 340/815.4, 361/1, 361/71, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal non-electric working conditions with or without subsequent reconnection using simulators of the apparatus being protected H02H6/00; specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/083 responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance moisture alarm G08B21/20

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring the moisture to which an electronic device is exposed may alter or vary operation of the electronic device. Operation of the electronic device may be altered or varied to provide a notification that the electronic device has been exposed to moisture. When an electronic device is exposed to moisture, an operational mode of the electronic device may be changed. A change in the operational mode of the electronic device may include termination of the supply of power to one or more components, which may protect those components. Programs or apps that provide a user of the electronic device with information regarding exposure of the electronic device to an amount of moisture that meets or exceeds a moisture response threshold are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing and a display defining an exterior of an electronic device and an interior of the electronic device;

a plurality of electronic components at least partially within the interior of the device, the plurality of electronic components comprising a processing element;

a moisture sensor associated with the processing element, the moisture sensor and/or the processing element being configured to;

cause the electronic device to exit a normal operation mode and to enter into a moisture response mode when the moisture sensor is exposed to an amount of moisture that meets or exceeds a predetermined moisture response threshold;

maintain a tally of a number of times the electronic device has entered the moisture response mode; and

inform a user of the electronic device of a need to service the electronic device when the tally reaches a predetermined protection threshold.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the moisture sensor continues to monitor the amount of moisture to which the electronic device is exposed.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the moisture sensor and/or the processing element is configured, when the moisture sensor detects an amount of moisture below a predetermined reset threshold, to cause the electronic device to exit the moisture response mode and enter into the normal operation mode.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, in the moisture response mode, at least one of the moisture sensor and the processor causes a switch to terminate communication between a power supply and at least some electronic components of the plurality of electronic components.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the switch prevents communication of power to all electronic components of the electronic device other than moisture response components involved in:

monitoring the amount of moisture to which the electronic device is exposed;

or

reporting exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein, in the moisture response mode, moisture response components are involved in reporting exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the switch prevents communication of power to a charging port.

8. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein, in the moisture response mode:

the switch prevents communication of power to all electronic components of the electronic device other than moisture response components involved in reporting exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold; and

the moisture response components report exposure of the electronic device to;

the user of the electronic device;

a data storage element of the electronic device;

or

a remote monitoring service.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the moisture response components report exposure of the electronic device to the user by:

generating an alarm perceivable by the user of the electronic device;

or

causing the moisture response components to visually indicate to the user that the electronic device has been exposed to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the moisture response components report exposure of the electronic device to the user by:

generating and transmitting a message to the user.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the moisture response components report exposure of the electronic device to the user and to the remote monitoring service.

12. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the switch prevents communication of power to all electronic components of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one moisture-resistant element.

14. The electronic device of claim 13, wherein the at least one moisture-resistant element comprises a moisture-resistant coating on at least one electronic component of the plurality of electronic components.

15. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, when the moisture sensor is exposed to an amount of moisture that meets or exceeds a predetermined moisture response threshold, the processing element launches an app to provide at least one of the user of the electronic device and a remote monitoring service with information about exposure of the electronic device to moisture.

16. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor and/or the processing element is further configured to:

inform the user of the electronic device of a need to apply a moisture-resistant coating to internal surfaces of the electronic device.

17. A moisture response system for use with an electronic device, comprising:

a moisture sensor;

a control element in communication with the moisture sensor, the control element configured to maintain a tally of a number of times the electronic device has entered a moisture response mode;

a warning element for generating a warning perceivable by a user of the electronic device or sending a message to a remote monitoring service, the warning element in communication with the control element and configured to inform a user of the electronic device of a need to service the electronic device when the tally reaches a predetermined protection threshold; and

a switch in communication with at least one of the moisture sensor and the control element, and located to control communication of power from a power supply of the electronic device to other circuitry of the electronic device.

18. The moisture response system of claim 17, wherein the switch is configured to electrically isolate the moisture response system from other circuitry of the electronic device.

19. The moisture response system of claim 18, wherein the switch is configured to discontinue communication of power to a charging port of the electronic device.

20. The moisture response system of claim 17, further comprising:

an app configured to be executed by a processing element of the electronic device upon exposure of the moisture sensor to an amount of moisture that meets or exceeds a predetermined moisture response threshold.

21. The moisture response system of claim 20, wherein the app is configured to provide at least one of a user of the electronic device and a remote monitoring service with information about exposure of the electronic device to moisture.

22. The moisture response system of claim 17, wherein the warning element is configured to inform the user of a need to apply a moisture-resistant coating to internal surfaces of the electronic device.

23. A method for responding to exposure of an electronic device to moisture, comprising:

monitoring an amount of moisture to which an electronic device is exposed, including determining whether the amount of moisture meets or exceeds a predetermined moisture response threshold;

if the amount of moisture meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold;

exiting a normal operational mode of the electronic device; and

entering a moisture response mode of the electronic device;

maintaining a tally of a number of times the electronic device has entered the moisture response mode; and

when the tally reaches a predetermined protection threshold, informing a user of the electronic device of a need to service the electronic device.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein exiting the normal operational mode includes terminating communication of power from a power supply of the electronic device to selected circuitry of the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein exiting the normal operational mode includes terminating communication of power at a charging port of the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein exiting the normal operational mode includes terminating charging of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein entering the moisture response mode includes:

generating a user-perceptible output indicative of exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the user-perceptible output comprises launching an app that corresponds to detection of exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that meets or exceeds the predetermined moisture response threshold amount of moisture.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein entering the moisture response mode includes:

generating a signal indicative of exposure of the electronic device to the amount of moisture that exceeds the predetermined threshold; and

transmitting the signal to a remote monitoring service.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein entering the moisture response mode includes:

continuing to monitor the amount of moisture to which the electronic device is exposed.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein, while continuing to monitor the amount of moisture:

if the amount of moisture to which the electronic device is exposed falls below a predetermined reset threshold;

exiting the moisture response mode; and

reentering the normal operational mode.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein reentering the normal operational mode comprises automatically reentering the normal operational mode.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein informing the user of the electronic device of the need to service the electronic device comprises informing the user of a need to apply a moisture-resistant coating to internal surfaces of the electronic device.