Detecting water intrusion in electronic devices
A device includes a device casing and a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing. An identification code is encoded on the circuit. The identification code is associated with the device.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a device casing;
one or more components located within the device casing, the one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device;
a water-soluble circuit located within the device casing; and
an identification code encoded on the water-soluble circuit, the identification code associated with the electronic device.
2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication apparatus connected to the circuit, the communication apparatus configured to transmit the identification code from the electronic device to an external device.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the identification code is unique to the device.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the identification code is a serial number for the device.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.
6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone.
7. The device of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is a laptop.
8. The device of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is a tablet.
9. The device of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is an audio player.
10. The device of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device is a gaming system.
11. A method for manufacturing an electronic device, the method comprising:
installing a water-soluble circuit within a casing of an electronic device that further includes one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device, the water-soluble circuit encoded with an identification code, and the identification code associated with the electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
encoding the identification code on the water-soluble circuit.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the identification code is unique to the device.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.
15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
assembling the water-soluble circuit.
16. A method for detecting water intrusion in an electronic device, the method comprising:
installing a water-soluble circuit within a casing of an electronic device that further includes one or more components configured to perform the functions of the electronic device, the circuit encoded with a first identification code, and the first identification code associated with the electronic device; and
placing the first identification code into a database.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
retrieving the first identification code from the database.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the water-soluble circuit comprises a nonvolatile memory circuit.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
reading a second identification code off of the water-soluble circuit; and
comparing the second identification code to the first identification code.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
determining that a warranty is void, the determining based on the second identification code not identical to the first identification code.