Method for controlling power supply and electronic device implementing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016342143-A1
Application number	US-201615156962-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device for controlling a power supply is provided. The electronic device includes a power unit configured to supply power, a power management unit configured to receive a supply of power from the power unit and to distribute the supplied power, a flood sensing unit connected to the power unit and located in a part of the electronic device most subject to flooding or fluid penetration, and a power control switch configured to, if a voltage level of the flood sensing unit is a first level indicating no detected flooding or fluid penetration, electrically connect the power unit and the power management unit to each other, and if the voltage level of the flood sensing unit is a second level indicating a detected flooding or fluid penetration, interrupt an electrical connection between the power unit and the power management unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device, comprising:
a power unit configured to supply power and a signal corresponding to the power; a power management unit configured to:
receive a supply of power from the power unit, and
distribute the supplied power;
a flood sensing unit connected to the power unit and located in the electronic device; and a power control switch configured to:
electrically connect the power unit and the power management unit to each other if a voltage level of the flood sensing unit is a first level as indicated by an input of a signal corresponding to the first level, and
interrupt an electrical connection between the power unit and the power management unit if the voltage level of the flood sensing unit is a second level as indicated by an input of a signal corresponding to the second level.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the flood sensing unit comprises at least two conductive elements configured to electrically respond to flooding in the electronic device.

3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein one of the at least two conductive elements further comprises a resistor.

4 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein one of the at least two conductive elements further comprises an inductor.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the flood sensing unit further comprises a non-conductive absorber.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the flood sensing unit further comprises a projection shape configured to alter a contact profile of at least one of the conductive elements.

7 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the flood sensing unit is disposed adjacent to at least one opening in a housing of the electronic device.

8 . An electronic device for controlling a power supply, comprising:
a power unit configured to supply power and a signal corresponding to the power; a power management unit configured to:
receive a supply of power from the power unit, and
distribute the supplied power;
a power sensing unit connected to the power unit; a disassembly sensing unit configured to sense a disassembly of at least a part of the electronic device; and a flood sensing circuit configured to:
receive an input of signals from the power sensing unit and the disassembly sensing unit, and
determine the power supply to the electronic device based on the signals.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the disassembly sensing unit is further configured to sense a removal of at least one of a battery cover of the electronic device, a housing, and a fixing portion for fixing the housing.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the flood sensing circuit comprises at least one switch.

11 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the flood sensing circuit comprises at least one logical operation unit.

12 . The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the logical operation unit comprises an OR gate.

13 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the flood sensing circuit is disposed adjacent to at least one opening in a housing of the electronic device.

14 . A method for controlling a power supply to an electronic device, comprising:
confirming whether the electronic device is flooded; deactivating the power supply if a flood of the electronic device is confirmed; sensing whether at least a part of the electronic device is disassembled; activating the power supply if a disassembly of the at least a part of the electronic device is sensed; confirming, if the power supply is activated, whether a power button is input; and providing the power supply to the electronic device if the power button is input.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the confirming whether the electronic device is flooded comprises confirming whether a signal that is output through a flood sensing unit is a signal corresponding to a second level.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the deactivating of the power supply comprises:
controlling a first switch of a flood sensing circuit to open in response to receiving an input of a signal corresponding to a second level from a flood sensing unit; controlling a logical operation unit to receive an input of the signal corresponding to the second level from the first switch as the first switch is opened; controlling a power control switch to receive an input of the signal corresponding to the second level of the logical operation unit; and deactivating the power supply by deactivating a power management unit through the power control switch that receives the input of the signal corresponding to the second level.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sensing of the disassembly comprises:
sensing that a signal output through a disassembly sensing unit is transitioned from a signal corresponding to a second level, to a signal corresponding to a first level.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sensing of the disassembly comprises:
sensing the disassembly of the electronic device if a signal that is output through a disassembly sensing unit is transitioned from a signal corresponding to a second level, to a signal corresponding to a first level.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the activating of the power supply comprises:
controlling a logic operation unit to receive an input of a signal corresponding to a first level from a disassembly sensing unit; controlling a power control switch to receive an input of the signal corresponding to the first level from the logic operation unit; and activating the power supply by activating a power management unit through the power control switch.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the confirming whether the electronic device is flooded comprises detecting a flooding through at least one opening in a housing of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Junghoon
• Kim Jinwoo

Classifications

• G05B19/0428 Primary

  Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02H5/083

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

• G01N27/048

  for determining moisture content of the material · CPC title

• H02H11/00

  Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result · CPC title

• G05B9/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title