Electronic device and method for sensing moisture in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041821-B2
Application number	US-201815938704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 28, 2017
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device and a method for sensing moisture in an electronic device are provided. The method for sensing moisture in an electronic device includes sensing moisture introduced into a connector of the electronic device in a state where one or more functions executable by connection of the connector with an external electronic device are activated. Further, the method includes deactivating the one or more functions based on the sensing; determining whether the introduced moisture is removed in a state where the one or more functions are deactivated; and activating the one or more functions if the moisture is removed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a connector including at least a first pin and a second pin; and
a processor configured to:
sense moisture introduced into the connector, by using the second pin of the connector for identifying an external electronic device, in a first state where one or more functions executable by connection of the connector with the external electronic device are activated;
deactivate the one or more functions if moisture is sensed in the connector;
determine whether the introduced moisture is removed by using the first pin of the connector, in a second state where the one or more functions are deactivated; and
activate the one or more functions if the moisture is removed from the connector.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
supply electric current to the second pin included in the connector and to sense introduction of the moisture into the connector by using the second pin to which the electric current is supplied.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
supply electric current to the first pin included in the connector and to determine through the first pin whether the moisture introduced into the connector is removed.

4. An electronic device comprising:
a display;
a connector including at least a first pin and a second pin; and
a processor configured to sense moisture introduced into the connector, by using the second pin of the connector for identifying an external electronic device, in a first state where one or more functions executable by connection of the connector with the external electronic device are activated, and
switch to a second state where a function of the connector is deactivated if sensing moisture in the connector in the first state where the function of the connector is activated, and to supply electric current to the first pin for sensing moisture drying in the second state.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the first state indicates a dry state where the moisture in the connector is removed, and the second state indicates a wet state of the connector, and
wherein the processor is further configured to:
activate the function of the connector by supplying electric current to at least the second pin of the connector in the first state and to deactivate the function of the connector by blocking supply of the electric current to at least the second pin except for the first pin among pins of the connector in the second state.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
sense whether the connector is in the dry state using the first pin at predetermined intervals in the second state;
block supply of the electric current in a first period where the dry state is not sensed;
supply the electric current in a second period where the dry state is sensed;
check a wet state of the connector after an elapse of a predetermined time if sensing a dry state of the connector in the second state; and
switch to the first state if sensing the dry state of the connector based on a result of checking the wet state.

7. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
check a wet state of the connector after an elapse of a predetermined time if detecting an external electronic device while sensing a dry state of the connector in the second state, and maintain the second state if sensing moisture in the connector; and
switch to the first state if sensing moisture drying in the connector, based on the result of checking the wet state.

8. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
check a wet state of the connector by using the first pin while being connected with a first external electronic device for charging and performing a charging function with the connected first external electronic device for charging, if the first external electronic device for charging which does not control the first pin is inserted in a power-off state of the electronic device; and
check a wet state of the connector by using the first pin before a second external electronic device for charging controls the first pin, by setting up communication with the second pin for sensing insertion of the second external electronic device for charging, if the second external electronic device for charging, which controls the first pin, is inserted in a power-off state of the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
perform at least one of releasing control by the first pin or resetting the second pin before the electronic device is powered off, if the powering off of the electronic device is selected when the second external electronic device for charging, which controls the first pin, is connected and a charging function is executed.

10. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
detect a type of a foreign substance by using the first pin if detecting the foreign substance in the connector in the first state;
perform a corresponding function when connected with the external electronic device if detecting that the type of the foreign substance is an external electronic device;
detect a type of the foreign substance by using a second pin for sensing insertion of the external electronic device, if detecting that the type of the foreign substance is not the external electronic device; and
switch to the second state if detecting that the type of the foreign substance is moisture, based on a result of the detecting of the second pin.

11. A method for sensing moisture in an electronic device, the method comprising:
sensing, by using at least a second pin of a connector for identifying an external electronic device, moisture introduced into the connector of the electronic device in a state where one or more functions executable by connection of the connector with the external electronic device are activated;
deactivating the one or more functions if moisture is sensed in the connector;
determining, by using at least a first pin of the connector, whether the introduced moisture is removed in a state where the one or more functions are deactivated; and
activating the one or more functions if the moisture is removed.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein sensing the moisture comprises supplying electric current to at least the second pin included in the connector and sensing introduction of the moisture in the connector by using the at least the second pin to which the electric current is supplied.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining whether the moisture is removed comprises supplying electric current to at least the firs pin included in the connector and sensing drying of the moisture introduced to the connector by using at least the first pin.

14. A method for sensing moisture in an electronic device, the method comprising:
sensing moisture introduced into a connector, by using at least a second pin of the connector for identifying an external electronic device, in a first state where one or more functions executable by connection of the connector with the external electronic device are activated;
switching from the first state where a function of the connector of the electronic device is activated to a second state where the function of the connector is deactivated, if sensing moisture in the connector; and
supplying electric current to at least a first pin of the connector for sensing drying of moisture in the second state.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Kyoung-Won
• Lee Sung-Eun
• Ahn Jae-Hyun
• Kim Je-Kook
• Park Joon-Yung
• Park Kyung-Won
• Won Jong-Ik
• Lee In-Geol
• Bae Yu-Dong
• Shin Dong-Rak
• Ko Kang-Jun
• Kim Kyoung-Hoon
• Kim Min-Gi
• Park Sang-Il
• Seo Jeong-Hun

Classifications

• H02H5/083

  responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance (moisture alarm G08B21/20) · CPC title

• H04M1/72454 Primary

  according to context-related or environment-related conditions · CPC title

• H04M1/0274

  for an electrical connector module · CPC title

• H04M2201/38

  Displays · CPC title

• G01N27/048 Primary

  for determining moisture content of the material · CPC title