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

• US 9,559,514 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• 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:
  US14/788,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20150303680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/620, 340/618, 340/815.4, 361/1, 361/71
• 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 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, including a processing element;

a moisture-resistant coating on at least some of the plurality of electronic components, wherein the moisture-resistant coating comprises a poly(p-xylylene) film; and

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

monitor for exposure of the moisture sensor to moisture;

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, the moisture sensor operating continuously when the electronic device is in the moisture response mode;

monitor the amount of moisture the moisture sensor is exposed to when the electronic device is in the moisture response mode; and

automatically cause the electronic device to exit the moisture response mode and to reenter the normal operation mode when the moisture sensor is exposed to an amount of moisture that falls below a predetermined reset threshold.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor and/or the processing element is/are configured to send a message to a user of the electronic device upon or after exposure of the moisture sensor to the amount of moisture exceeding the predetermined moisture response threshold.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the moisture sensor and/or the processing element is/are configured to send a message to a remote monitoring service upon or after exposure of the moisture sensor to the amount of moisture exceeding the predetermined moisture response threshold.

2. The electronic device of 1, wherein the moisture-resistant coating covers at least a portion of an interior surface of the housing.

5. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing 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 including a processing element;

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

monitor for exposure of the moisture sensor to moisture;

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; and

automatically cause the electronic device to exit a moisture response mode and to reenter the normal operation mode when the moisture sensor is exposed to an amount of moisture that falls below a predetermined reset threshold; and

a moisture-resistant coating on at least some of the electronic components of the plurality of electronic components,

wherein, in the moisture response mode, electronic components of the plurality of electronic components that are protected by the moisture-resistant coating continue to operate.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein, in the moisture response mode, the moisture sensor operates continuously.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the moisture-resistant coating comprises a poly(p-xylylene) film.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing 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 including a processing element;

a moisture-resistant coating on at least some of the plurality of electronic components, wherein the moisture-resistant coating comprises a poly(p-xylylene) film;

a main power supply;

a moisture response system, including;

a moisture sensor within the housing, the moisture sensor and/or the processing element configured to cause the electronic device 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;

a switch associated with the moisture sensor and/or the processing element, wherein the switch is configured to electrically isolate one or more electronic components of the plurality of electronic components when the electronic device enters the moisture response mode; and

a dedicated power supply separate from the main power supply.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the switch is configured to prevent communication of power from the main power supply to at least some electronic components of the plurality of electronic components when the electronic device enters into the moisture response mode.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein operation of at least one communication port, a display, a sensor, a camera, a speaker or a microphone of the electronic device is terminated when the electronic device is in the moisture response mode.

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

a moisture sensor;

a processing element; and

a program configured to be executed by the processing element upon exposure of the moisture sensor to an amount of moisture that meets or exceeds a predetermined moisture response threshold, the program being configured to cause the processing element to cause an electronic device of which the moisture sensor is a part to enter a moisture response mode in which the moisture response system remains continuously active but power is terminated to other electronic components of the electronic device, and wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with information about when a moisture-resistant coating was last applied to components of the electronic device.

12. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide a user with information about exposure of the electronic device to moisture.

13. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with information about an amount of moisture to which the electronic device has been exposed.

14. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with a time at which the electronic device was exposed to moisture, a type of moisture to which the electronic device was exposed, an extent of the exposure of the electronic device to moisture, a duration of the exposure of the electronic device to moisture, and/or a geographic location of the electronic device at the time of exposure.

15. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element provide the user with instructions on how to minimize moisture-related damage to the electronic device with which the moisture response system is associated.

16. The moisture response system of claim 15, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with instructions on a protocol for removing moisture from, or drying, the electronic device with which the moisture response system is associated.

17. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with warranty information, repair information and/or advertisements relating to mitigating effects of potential damage from exposure of the electronic device to moisture.

18. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to notify the user of the electronic device that the electronic device requires service.

19. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to enable the user to schedule a reminder for the program to follow-up with the user.

20. The moisture response system of claim 11, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to maintain a record of the exposure of the electronic device to moisture.

21. The moisture response system of claim 20, wherein the program is configured to cause the processing element to provide the user with information about prior exposure of the electronic device to moisture.