System for water detection in an electronic device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (200) for detection of water in an electronic device (100), the system (200) comprising: - a chromatography test band (201), - an optical sensor (203), - a processing unit (103, 205), wherein the optical sensor (203) is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band (201), wherein the processing unit (103, 205) is configured to analyze the optical data acquired by the optical sensor (203) and to activate a given safety function in case the optical data differ from given reference data.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM FOR WATER DETECTION IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a system for water detection in an electronic device and an electronic device according to the appending claims.

[0004] Current solutions of water detection that are implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB) of an electronic device directly are very sensitive to any integration change related to space positioning, because they are designed for a very specific system orientation considering the water ingress flow within a closed space under analysis.

[0005] It is a problem to be solved by the present invention, to provide for a possibility to differentiate a humid environment from a water ingress in an electronic device.

[0006] Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed a system for detection of water in an electronic device.

[0007] The disclosed system comprises a chromatography test band, an optical sensor, and a processing unit, wherein the optical sensor is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band, and wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the optical data acquired by the optical sensor and to activate a given safety function in case the optical data differ from given reference data.

[0008] In the context of the present invention, a chromatography test band is to be understood as a material that separates particular elements solved in a solution, thereby generating a characteristic pattern of bars and / or colors.

[0009] In the context of the present invention, a processing unit may be a control unit, a processor, an ASIC or any other programmable electronic circuit. In particular, the control unit may be implemented into a particular electronic device. The system disclosed herein is based on the principle that water entering an electronic device caused the chromatography test band to show a characteristic pattern. Thus, the optical sensor can detect the characteristic pattern and a safety function can be activated.

[0010] A safety function may be a mechanism that enables the electronic device to put itself in a safe state without creating any safety goal violation defined for the electronic system.

[0011] Since the chromatography test band only shows a characteristic pattern only in case an aqueous solution floods the chromatography test band, a false activation of the safety function in case of high humidity in the electronic device is avoided.

[0012] The system disclosed herein provides for an economic water detection solution for electronic devices, that are integrated in products that are validated considering high environmental constraints and where water ingress can induce function loss.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the system further comprises a number of reagents that are soluble in water, wherein each reagent of the number of reagents is configured to generate a characteristic pattern on the chromatography test band, when the reagent is dissolved in water and in contact with the chromatography test band.

[0014] By using a reagent, such as a powder or gel, for example, that is soluble in water, the pattern of the water that gets in contact with the reagent generated on the chromatography test band is controlled. This means, the water that gets in contact with the reagent generates a characteristic known pattern on the chromatography test band. This characteristic pattern can be identified in the optical data acquired by the optical device easily. For identification of a characteristic pattern in the optical data, a pattern recognition algorithm, in particular a machine learning algorithm trained on a number of characteristic patterns may be used.

[0015] According to another embodiment, each reagent is formed as a pastille in its nondissolved state.

[0016] A pastille holds the reagent in place. Thus, the reagent can be arranged in a selected area in the electronic device and dissolves in water.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of reagents, wherein each reagent is configured to generate its own characteristic pattern on the chromatography test band that differs from all other characteristic patterns of other reagents of the plurality of reagents, wherein a particular reagent is linked to a particular area of a plurality of areas in the electronic device, and wherein the safety function comprises commands that configure the processing unit to compare a characteristic pattern detected in the optical data with a given set of characteristic patterns, and to output a signal signaling detection of water in the particular area linked to a particular characteristic pattern in case the particular characteristic pattern is detected in the optical data acquired by the optical sensor.

[0018] By using a plurality of reagents, a plurality of areas can be monitored, since each reagent causes its own characteristic pattern on the chromatography test band providing an unambiguous statement for ingress of water in a particular area linked to a particular reagent.

[0019] For example, the processing unit may use a look-up table that links particular characteristic patterns to particular locations or functional areas in the electronic device. Thus, a look-up table may be provided in a memory or via a communication interface. According to another embodiment, each reagent is configured to generate at least one characteristic color on the chromatography test band as the characteristic pattern.

[0020] By using characteristic colors, a particular characteristic pattern, i.e. a particular set of characteristic colors, can be identified easily and securely by a color recognition algorithm. Accordingly, multiple characteristic patterns can be separated and identified securely, i.e. with a very low failure rate.

[0021] According to another embodiment, each reagent is configured to generate at least one bar on a characteristic position on the chromatography test band.

[0022] By using bars on characteristic positions, a particular characteristic pattern, i.e. a particular set of bars, can be identified easily and securely by a pattern recognition algorithm. Accordingly, multiple characteristic patterns can be separated and identified securely, i.e. with a very low failure rate.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the optical sensor is an imaging device and the optical data are image data.

[0024] An imaging device, such as a camera, for example, provides for detailed optical data, in which complex characteristic pattern can be recognized.

[0025] Alternatively, the optical sensor may be scanner, such as a laser scanner or an infrared scanner, for example.

[0026] The optical data provided by the optical sensor may be analyzed directly by the processing unit or indirectly after preprocessing, such as filtering by the optical device itself or by the processing unit.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the safety function comprises commands that configure the processing unit to prevent the electronic device from starting up. Since the safety function is activated only in case water has been detected inside the electronic device, starting up the electronic device may damage the electronic device and / or other devices connected to the electronic device. Thus, further damage of the electronic device and / or other devices connected to the electronic device can be prevented by preventing the electronic device from starting up in case the safety function has been activated.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the optical sensor is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band in response to a test command provided by a user via a user interface, and / or the optical sensor is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band in a given interval.

[0029] By using a test command provided by a user via a user interface, a user can test the electronic device for ingress of water at any time.

[0030] By using a given interval for testing, such as at every start-up command or at a given time frame, ingress of water can be detected automatically.

[0031] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to electronic device, the electronic device comprising a housing, a number of electronic components arranged in the housing, and an embodiment of the system disclosed herein.

[0032] The system disclosed herein in particular serves to detect water ingress in the electronic device disclosed herein.

[0033] According to an embodiment, the electronic device is a processor unit.

[0034] Since a processor unit, such as a central processor unit can cause damage to other components connected to the processor unit, detecting a critical state of the processor unit by the system disclosed herein can prevent further damage to the other components.

[0035] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the electronic device comprising the system disclosed herein,

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the chromatography test band according to Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the electronic device comprising the system disclosed herein,

[0039] Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the chromatography test band according to Fig. 3.

[0040] In Fig. 1 , an electronic device 100 is shown, the electronic device 100 comprises an electronic component 101 in form of a printed circuit board carrying a processor unit 103 in form of circuit board controller.

[0041] Further, the electronic device 100 comprises a system 200 for detection of water in the electronic device 100.

[0042] The system 200 comprises a chromatography test band 201 , an optical sensor 203, and a processing unit 205, which is implemented in the processor unit 103, for example. The optical sensor 203 can use any possible signal type to feedback its status processing unit 205, processed in any possible way by the processing unit 205, at any possible machine state of the processor unit 103.

[0043] The processing unit 205 and the optical sensor 203 pair generates a binary parameter of any possible name, with its two states having any possible values. This parameter is used to declare the presence or not of water within the electronic device 100. For example, the parameter name will be WATERJN and its two states will be “YES” and “NO”.

[0044] The chromatography test band 201 is installed so that its separation zone 207 is set in front of the optical sensor 203.

[0045] A change in the separation zone 207 will be visible thanks to colorant reacting to the presence of a reagent 209 provided as a soluble pastille and become visible.

[0046] The chromatography test band 201 can be fixed by any possible way within the electronic device 100.

[0047] The chromatography test band 201 has a contact zone 211 which is an area where detection of water is expected and captates water via capillarity force.

[0048] The contact zone 211 can be a single shape of any type or the combination of multiple shapes of any types converging as one band to the separation zone 207.

[0049] The reagent 209 can be arranged in the electronic device 100 in places where a water ingress could either transit or stagnate. It can be of any shape and constitution and set at any possible distance to the contact zone 211 of the chromatography test band 201 . The pastille of the reagent 209 can only dissolve in the presence of a significant amount of water, which will allow to distinguish between a water ingress and a very humid environment.

[0050] When the reagent 209 is solved in water and processed into the separation zone 207 of the chromatography test band 201 , it reacts with a colorant that then changes the color of a specific spot of the separation zone 207.

[0051] This spot is sensed by the optical sensor 203 and optical data are analyzed by the processing unit 205 in such a way that, when there is no water ingress and the test band separation zone 207 has its original color, the parameter WATERJN is set to “NO”, and, when there is a sufficient water ingress that has dissolved the reagent 209, and the test band separation zone 207 spot has colored itself when reacting with the reagent 209, the parameter WATERJN is set to “YES”.

[0052] It is to be emphasized that a calibration of the initial state by the processing unit 205 can be used for analyzing the optical data.

[0053] In Fig. 2, the chromatography test band 201 with the separation zone 207 is shown in a first condition 213 and in a second condition 215.

[0054] In the first condition 213, the chromatography test band 201 does not show a characteristic pattern caused by an aqueous solution.

[0055] In the second condition 215, the chromatography test band 201 shows a characteristic pattern 217 in form of a colored band caused by an aqueous solution after water ingress in the electronic device 100.

[0056] In Fig. 3, the electronic device 100 is shown with a first reagent 219 located at Area A and a second reagent 221 located at Area B. It is considered a water ingress could happen in Area A or Area B and it is of interest to know where the failure happened for failure analysis. For this reason, parameter WATERJN now has four different states for this example, which are: “NO_WATER”, “FAILED_A”, “FAILED_B”, and “ALL_FAILED”.

[0057] In Fig. 4 the chromatography test band 201 with the separation zone 207 is shown corresponding to the four different states.

[0058] In a first condition 223, the chromatography test band 201 does not show a characteristic pattern caused by an aqueous solution and the parameter WATERJN has the state “NO_WATER”.

[0059] In a second condition 225, the chromatography test band 201 shows a characteristic pattern caused by an aqueous solution according to the first reagent 219 in Area A and the parameter WATERJN has the state “FAILED_A”.

[0060] In a third condition 227, the chromatography test band 201 shows a characteristic pattern caused by an aqueous solution according to the second reagent 221 in Area B and the parameter WATERJN has the state “FAILEDJ3”.

[0061] In a fourth condition 229, the chromatography test band 201 shows a characteristic pattern caused by an aqueous solution according to first reagent 219 and the second reagent 221 in Area A and Area B and the parameter WATERJN has the state “ALL_FAILED”.

[0062] Thus, in the second condition 225, the third condition 227, and the fourth condition 229, a safety function can be activated in order to prevent the electronic device 100 from starting up, for example. List of reference signs

[0063] 100 Electronic device

[0064] 101 Electronic component

[0065] 103 Processor unit

[0066] 200 System

[0067] 201 Chromatography test band

[0068] 203 Optical sensor

[0069] 205 Processing unit

[0070] 207 Separation zone

[0071] 209 Reagent

[0072] 21 1 Contact zone

[0073] 213 First condition

[0074] 215 Second condition

[0075] 217 Characteristic pattern

[0076] 219 First reagent

[0077] 221 Second reagent

[0078] 223 First condition

[0079] 225 Second condition

[0080] 227 Third condition

[0081] 229 Fourth condition

Claims

SYSTEM FOR WATER DETECTION IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICEPatent claims1 . System (200) for detection of water in an electronic device (100), the system (200) comprising:- a chromatography test band (201 ),- an optical sensor (203),- a processing unit (103, 205), wherein the optical sensor (203) is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band (201 ), wherein the processing unit (103, 205) is configured to analyze the optical data acquired by the optical sensor (203) and to activate a given safety function in case the optical data differ from given reference data.

2. System (200) according to claim 1 , characterized in that, the system (200) further comprising a number of reagents (209, 219, 221 ) that are soluble in water, wherein each reagent (209, 219, 221 ) of the number of reagents (209, 219, 221 ) is configured to generate a characteristic pattern (217) on the chromatography test band (201 ), when the reagent (209, 219, 221 ) is dissolved in water and in contact with the chromatography test band (201 ).

3. System (200) according to claim 2, characterized in that, each reagent (209, 219, 221 ) is formed as a pastille in its non-dissolved state.

4. System (200) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that,the system (200) comprises a plurality of reagents (219, 221 ), wherein each reagent (219, 221 ) is configured to generate its own characteristic pattern (217) on the chromatography test band (201 ) that differs from all other characteristic patterns (217) of other reagents (219, 221 ) of the plurality of reagents (219, 221 ), wherein a particular reagent (219, 221 ) is linked to a particular area (A, B) of a plurality of areas (A, B) in the electronic device (100), and wherein the safety function comprises commands that configure the processing unit (103, 205) to compare a characteristic pattern (217)) detected in the optical data with a given set of characteristic patterns, and to output a signal signaling detection of water in the particular area (A. B) linked to a particular characteristic pattern (217) in case the particular characteristic pattern (217) is detected in the optical data acquired by the optical sensor (203).

5. System (200) according to claim 4, characterized in that, each reagent (219, 221 ) is configured to generate at least one characteristic color on the chromatography test band (201 ) as the characteristic pattern (217).

6. System (200) according to claim 4, characterized in that, each reagent (219, 221 ) is configured to generate at least one bar on a characteristic position on the chromatography test band (201 ) as the characteristic pattern (217).

7. System (200) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that, the optical sensor (203) is an imaging device and the optical data are image data.

8. System (200) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that, the safety function comprises commands that configure the processing unit (103, 205) to prevent the electronic (100) device from starting up.

9. System (200) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that, the optical sensor (203) is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band (201 ) in response to a test command provided by a user via a user interface, or the optical sensor is configured to acquire optical data of the chromatography test band (201 ) in a given interval.

10. Electronic device (100), the electronic device (100) comprising:- a housing,- a number of electronic components (101 ) arranged in the housing, and- a system (200) according to any of claims 1 to 9.11 . Electronic device (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that, the electronic device (100) is a processor unit.

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