Electronic device and operation method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10215742-B2
Application number	US-201514615305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 5, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

The electronic device includes at least one sensor configured to detect air flow in from outside of the electronic device, and a plurality of openings formed in the electronic device. Further, the electronic device includes a duct formed between the at least one sensor and at least one of the plurality of openings. A method for operating an electronic device having at least one sensor configured to detect air flow in from outside includes detecting a motion of the electronic device by using a motion sensor, recognizing a pattern of the detected motion, and activating a foreign matter removing unit when the recognized pattern corresponds to a predefined first motion pattern.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile electronic device comprising:
at least one environmental sensor configured to detect an environmental information with respect to outside of the mobile electronic device;
a first opening and a second opening formed through a body of the mobile electronic device, the first opening and the second opening providing passage for air from an exterior to enter the mobile electronic device;
a microphone to detect, via the first opening, a sound with respect to the outside of the mobile electronic device;
a duct formed between the first opening and the second opening, the duct connecting the at least one environmental sensor, the microphone and the first opening and the second opening,
wherein the microphone is located fully within an interior of the duct;
a first case on which a display unit is mounted; a second case combined with the first case and the duct connected to the first opening and the second opening; and
a third case connected functionally to the body of the mobile electronic device and including at least one hole, wherein the at least one environmental sensor is associated with the third case and is configured to detect outside air which flows in through the first opening and the second opening and the duct.

2. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the duct has an internal space becoming broader toward a position of the at least one environmental sensor.

3. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the duct protrudes toward the at least one environmental sensor.

4. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the duct includes a bump.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising: an auxiliary unit configured to accelerate air flow, the auxiliary unit comprising at least one of a fan using a vibration motor or dual piezoelectric cooling jets (DCJ).

6. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first opening includes at least one of a protective member for preventing an inflow of a foreign matter or a receptacle configured to store the foreign matter.

7. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising: a foreign matter removing unit configured to remove foreign matter, the foreign matter removing unit configured to cause an outward air movement from the mobile electronic device.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first opening includes a microphone hole and the second opening is formed through the body of the mobile electronic device in a location of at least one of a speaker hole, an interface unit hole, a receiver hole, a gap between a display unit and a case, or an ear jack hole.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a shield disposed between the microphone and the at least one environmental sensor and configured to block a leakage or inflow of sound.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , wherein at least part of the duct is formed in a carrier in which a speaker is mounted.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising: a sealing part located between the second and third cases and covering the at least one environmental sensor; and an interface configured to electrically couple the at least one environmental sensor and an electronic component in the body of the mobile electronic device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Jongchul
• Kim Soohyung
• Yoon Byounguk
• Kim Taeho
• Yi Hyoungwook

Classifications

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• G06F1/1694

  the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer · CPC title

• G06F1/1684

  Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 · CPC title

• G06F1/1658

  related to the mounting of internal components, e.g. disc drive or any other functional module · CPC title

• G01N33/0009

  General constructional details of gas analysers, e.g. portable test equipment (devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state G01N1/22) · CPC title