Automatically Applying Modifications to a Device in a Liquid Environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017201618-A1
Application number	US-201614992096-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

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 immersion of a device in a liquid environment; in response to detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment:
automatically determining at least one modification that can be applied to the device to enable specific device functionality while immersed in the liquid environment; 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 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.

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 function, and a position of at least one element of a user interface of the device for use while the device is immersed in the liquid environment, wherein the user interface is viewable on a display of the device.

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, wherein the at least one modification that is applied to the device is based on the real-time specific depth.

8 . The method of claim 1 , the method 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; a processor communicatively coupled to the immersion detection component 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 detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment:
the processor automatically determines at least one modification to apply to the device to enable specific device functionality while the device is immersed in the liquid environment; 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; and
in response to the immersion detection component measuring the flow of current between the first pin and the second pin:
the processor determines a level of electrical conductivity of a current environment of the device, based on the flow of current between the first pin and the second pin; and
the processor determines, based on the level of electrical conductivity of the current environment, whether device is immersed in the liquid environment.

11 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one first input component that is reconfigurable to receive input while the device is immersed in the liquid environment; 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 the immersion detection component detecting the immersion of the device in the liquid environment:
the processor triggers 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; and
the processor disables the at least one second input component.

12 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one first component that is reconfigurable to function while the devic

Assignees

• Motorola Mobility Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt Dave J

Classifications

• H04M1/72569 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04L43/16

  Threshold monitoring · CPC title

• H04W8/22

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

• G01N27/02

  by investigating impedance · CPC title

• G01N27/06

  of a liquid (involving electrolysis G01N27/26) · CPC title