Automatically applying modifications to a device in a liquid environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104223-B2
Application number	US-201614992096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A method, a system, and computer program product automatically apply at least one modification to a device that optimizes the operation of the device in a liquid environment. The method includes detecting immersion of a device in a liquid environment. In response to determining the device is immersed in the liquid environment, at least one modification is determined that can be applied to the device to enable specific device functionality while the device is immersed in the liquid environment. The at least one modification is then applied to the device. In response to detecting that the device is no longer immersed in the liquid environment, the at least one modification to the device is reverted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
detecting, via an immersion detection component (IDC) of an electronic device, immersion of the device in a liquid environment;
in response to detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment:
automatically determining, via the IDC, at least one first modification that can be applied to the device to at least one of enable specific device functionality that facilitates operation of the device in the liquid environment or disable specific device functionality, including disabling one or more components that are not configurable for operational use in the liquid environment, while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, the at least one first modification being applied to at least one of input devices, output devices, sensors, software, or applications of the electronic device; and
automatically applying the at least one modification to the device; and

in response to detecting that the device is no longer immersed in the liquid environment, reverting the at least one modification.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting immersion of the device in the liquid environment further comprises:
applying a voltage to a first pin of a port of the device, wherein the port is one of an input port, an output port, and an input/output port;
measuring a flow of current between the first pin and a second pin of the port;
determining a level of electrical conductivity of a current environment of the device based on the measured flow of current; and
determining, based on the level of electrical conductivity of the current environment, whether the device is immersed in the liquid environment.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the electronic device includes at least one input device with associated input functions; and automatically determining the at least one modification further comprises:
determining whether the device includes at least one first input component that is reconfigurable to receive input while the device is immersed in the liquid environment;
in response to determining that the device includes the at least one first input component, applying the at least one modification to the at least one first input component to enable the at least one first input component to receive input while the device is immersed in the liquid environment;
determining whether the device includes at least one second input component that is not configured to receive input while the device is immersed in the liquid environment; and
in response to determining the device includes the at least one second input component, disabling the at least one second input component while the device is in the liquid environment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically determining the at least one modification further comprises:
determining whether the device includes at least one first component that is reconfigurable to function while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, wherein the at least one first component includes at least one of an output component and a sensor;
in response to determining the device includes the at least one first component, applying the at least one modification to the at least one first component to enable the at least one first component to function while the device is immersed in the liquid environment;
determining whether the device includes at least one second component that is not configured to function while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, wherein the at least one second component includes at least one of an output component and a sensor; and
in response to determining the device includes the at least one second component, disabling the at least one second component while the device is immersed in the liquid environment.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment, tracking an amount of time the device has been immersed in the liquid environment; and
triggering the at least one modification in response to the device being immersed in the liquid environment for more than a pre-determined time threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment, modifying at least one of a size, a shape, an arrangement, a function, and a position of at least one component of a viewable user interface of the device to facilitate use while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, wherein the modified user interface is displayed and viewable on a display of the device while the device is immersed in the liquid environment.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, via a barometric altimeter of the device, a pressure measurement in the liquid environment; and
calculating, in real-time, a specific depth of the device within the liquid environment, based on the pressure measurement; and
applying the at least one modification to the device is based on the calculated real-time specific depth, wherein different modifications can be applied at different measured depths of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment, performing at least one modification to at least one image sensor of the device from among:
at least one first modification to a focus subsystem of the at least one image sensor;
at least one second modification to a capture subsystem of the at least one image sensor; and
at least one third modification that changes an actuation trigger for at least one shutter of the at least one image sensor, wherein the actuation trigger causes the at least one shutter to capture image data.

9. A device comprising:
an immersion detection component that detects an immersion of the device in a liquid environment;
at least one input/output (I/O) component having associated I/O functions; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the immersion detection component and the I/O components and which receives a signal from the immersion detection component identifying when the device is immersed in the liquid environment, the processor executing an immersion response firmware, wherein:
in response to receiving the signal identifying that the device is immersed in the liquid environment:
automatically determines at least one first modification to apply to the device to at least one of enable specific device functionality that facilitates operation of the device in the liquid environment or disable specific device functionality, including disabling one or more components that are not configurable for operational use in the liquid environment, while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, the at least one first modification being applied to at least one of input devices, output devices, sensors, software, or applications of the electronic device; and
the processor automatically triggers the at least one modification to the device; and

in response to the immersion detection component detecting that the device is no longer immersed in the liquid environment, the processor reverts the at least one modification.

10. The device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a port having a plurality of pins, wherein the port is one of an input port, an output port, and an input/output port;
a power supply;
wherein the immersion detection component is electrically connected to the power supply and the port and, to detect immersion of the device, the immersion detection component:
applies a voltage to a first pin of the plurality of pins; and
measures a flow of current between the first pin and a second pin of the port; an

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt Dave J

Classifications

• H04M1/18

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N27/02

  by investigating impedance · CPC title

• H04L43/16

  Threshold monitoring · CPC title

• H04W8/22

  Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities · CPC title

• H04M1/72569 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic