Detecting water intrusion in electronic devices

• US 9,317,802 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Inventors: Hebig, Travis R., Kuczynski, Joseph, Nickel, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Franklin, Jamara
• Application Number:
  US13/966,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20150048154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 235/492
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07798 part of the antenna or the integrated circuit being adapted for rupturing or breaking, e.g. record carriers functioning as sealing devices for detecting not-authenticated opening of containers electronic seals G09F3/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 Assembling formed circuit to base

Abstract

A device includes a device casing and a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing. An identification code is encoded on the circuit. The identification code is associated with the device.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a device casing;

one or more components located within the device casing, the one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device;

a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing; and

an identification code encoded on the water-soluble circuit, the identification code associated with the electronic device.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication apparatus connected to the circuit, the communication apparatus configured to transmit the identification code from the electronic device to an external device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification code is unique to the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the identification code is a serial number for the device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a laptop.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a tablet.

9. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is an audio player.

10. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic device is a gaming system.

11. A method for manufacturing an electronic device, the method comprising:

installing a water-soluble circuit within a casing of an electronic device that further includes one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device, the water-soluble circuit encoded with an identification code, and the identification code associated with the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

encoding the identification code on the water-soluble circuit.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification code is unique to the device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

assembling the water-soluble circuit.

16. A method for detecting water intrusion in an electronic device, the method comprising:

installing a water-soluble circuit within a casing of an electronic device that further includes one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device, the circuit encoded with a first identification code, and the first identification code associated with the electronic device; and

placing the first identification code into a database.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

retrieving the first identification code from the database.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

reading a second identification code off of the water-soluble circuit; and

comparing the second identification code to the first identification code.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining that a warranty is void, the determining based on the second identification code not identical to the first identification code.