IP Library Granted Patent US 10,215,742
Granted Patent B2
US 10,215,742 · App. 14/615,305 · Granted Feb 26, 2019

Electronic device and operation method thereof

Inventors: Jongchul Choi (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Soohyung Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Byounguk Yoon (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Taeho Kim (Chungcheongbuk-do, KR); Hyoungwook Yi (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G01N33/0004G01N33/0009G06F1/1658G06F1/1684G06F1/1694G06F3/017G06F3/0346H04M2250/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,215,742
App. No.
14/615,305
Granted
Feb 26, 2019
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (18)

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.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2015
From: CHOI, JONGCHUL; KIM, SOOHYUNG; YOON, BYOUNGUK; KIM, TAEHO; YI, HYOUNGWOOK
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 034901/0162 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2014-0013120 · Feb 5, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150219608A1 · Aug 6, 2015
Cited By (3)
US 12,284,304 US 12,411,054 US 12,477,668