Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a low-pressure chamber defining an interior and having the interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior;
an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber;
a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; and
at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and to the heater, the at least one control system controlling removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to add heat to the electronic device,wherein a computing device is either located in the apparatus or is located external to the apparatus, and wherein the computing device executes instructions for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting data associated with at least one of the apparatus, the electronic device, or a user of the electronic device.
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.
193 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a low-pressure chamber defining an interior and having the interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior; an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber; a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; and at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and to the heater, the at least one control system controlling removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to add heat to the electronic device, wherein a computing device is either located in the apparatus or is located external to the apparatus, and wherein the computing device executes instructions for at least one of receiving, processing, or transmitting data associated with at least one of the apparatus, the electronic device, or a user of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a low-pressure chamber defining an interior and having the interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior; an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber; a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and to the heater, the at least one control system controlling removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to add heat to the electronic device; a WiFi connection device; and a cellular connection device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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a low-pressure chamber defining an interior and having the interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior; an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber; a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and the heater, the at least one control system controlling removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, and controlling operation of the heater to add heat to the electronic device; and at least one connection device, wherein the apparatus sends first data to, using the at least one connection device, or receives second data from, using the at least one connection device, a database system, the database system associated with a database, and wherein the apparatus sends third data to, using the at least one connection device, or receives fourth data from, using the at least one connection device, a computing device, wherein the computing device executes an electronic device drying registration application. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An apparatus comprising:
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a low-pressure chamber defining an interior and having the interior configured for placement of an electronic device in the interior and removal of the electronic device from the interior; an evacuation pump connected to the low-pressure chamber; a heater connected to the low-pressure chamber; and at least one control system connected to the evacuation pump and to the heater, the at least one control system controlling removal of moisture from the electronic device by controlling the evacuation pump to decrease pressure within the low-pressure chamber, controlling operation of the heater to add heat to the electronic device, and determining whether to stop or continue removing the moisture from the electronic device based on data associated with at least one of the electronic device or the low-pressure chamber. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification