Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- placing a portable electronic device that has been rendered at least partially inoperable due to moisture intrusion into a low pressure chamber;
decreasing pressure within the low pressure chamber by removing first air from the low pressure chamber via an evacuation port located in an area enclosed by a sealing means for mating the low pressure chamber to a heater;
introducing, via an air injection nozzle connecting a pneumatic venting port, located in the area enclosed by the sealing means, to the portable electronic device, second air into an interior of the portable electronic device, the second air being at a pressure above a pressure within the low pressure chamber;
removing moist air from the interior of the portable electronic device;
equalizing the pressure within the low pressure chamber with a pressure outside the low pressure chamber; and
removing the portable electronic device from the low pressure chamber.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. Embodiments include heating the gas supplied into the interior of the electronic device with pump used to decrease pressure within the electronic device and/or a separate heater. Still other embodiments include controlling the temperature of the gas supplied into the electronic device. Still further embodiments automatically control, such as by using an electronic processor, some or all aspects of the drying of the electronic device.
134 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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placing a portable electronic device that has been rendered at least partially inoperable due to moisture intrusion into a low pressure chamber; decreasing pressure within the low pressure chamber by removing first air from the low pressure chamber via an evacuation port located in an area enclosed by a sealing means for mating the low pressure chamber to a heater; introducing, via an air injection nozzle connecting a pneumatic venting port, located in the area enclosed by the sealing means, to the portable electronic device, second air into an interior of the portable electronic device, the second air being at a pressure above a pressure within the low pressure chamber; removing moist air from the interior of the portable electronic device; equalizing the pressure within the low pressure chamber with a pressure outside the low pressure chamber; and removing the portable electronic device from the low pressure chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a low pressure chamber defining an interior, the low pressure chamber sized and configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior of the low pressure chamber and removal of the electronic device from the interior of the low pressure chamber; an evacuation pump connected to the low pressure chamber and configured to decrease pressure within the low pressure chamber by removing first air from the low pressure chamber via an evacuation port located in an area enclosed by a sealing means for sealing the low pressure chamber to a heater; and a gas nozzle injector configured for pneumatic connection from a pneumatic venting port located in the area enclosed by the sealing means to the electronic device while the evacuation pump removes the first air from the low pressure chamber, the gas nozzle injector being configured for introducing second air into an interior of the electronic device, the second air being at a pressure above a pressure within the interior of the low pressure chamber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification