IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,445,266
Granted Patent B2
US 10,445,266 · App. 15/850,477 · Granted Oct 15, 2019

Electronic device and method for preventing corrosion to connector

Inventor: Yeon-Rae Jo (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
G06F13/24G01N27/06G06F13/385G06F13/4068G06F13/4282H04N5/2257H04N5/23245G01N27/048G03B17/08G06F2213/0042G06F2213/2424H04N5/232411
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,445,266
App. No.
15/850,477
Granted
Oct 15, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device and method for communicating with an external electronic device that is connected via a connector of the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a connector including a first pin and a second pin, a communication interface connected with the connector, and at least one processor electrically connected with the communication interface, wherein the at least one processor may be configured to apply a first current to the first pin, determine whether liquid is introduced into the connector using the second pin, and if the liquid is introduced into the connector, apply a second current smaller than the first current to the first pin.

Claims (58)

1. An electronic device comprising:

a connector configured to include a first pin and a second pin;

a communication interface connected with the connector; and

at least one processor electrically connected with the communication interface,

wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

apply, to the first pin, a first current for identifying a connection with a first external electronic device,

detect a current passing through the second pin,

determine whether liquid is introduced into the connector based on the detected current, and

based on determining that the liquid is introduced into the connector, apply, to the first pin, a second current adjusted from the first current for preventing corrosion of the connector,

wherein the second current is smaller than the first current.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

convert a value of an analog current passing through the second pin into a digital current value to determine whether the liquid introduced into the connector is evaporated, and

based on determining that the liquid is evaporated, apply the first current to the first pin.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein, based on determining that the liquid is not evaporated, the at least one processor is further configured to maintain the applying of the second current to the first pin.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine whether an interrupt occurs due to the connection with the first external electronic device via the connector, and

based on determining that the interrupt occurs due to the connection with the first external electronic device, apply the first current to the first pin.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

measure a resistance based on the detected current, and

determine that an interrupt occurs based on, at least, the measured resistance.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to measure a resistance based on the detected current, and

determine a type of the liquid based on the measured resistance.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 ,

wherein the first pin is a configuration channel (CC) pin,

wherein the second pin includes at least one of a secondary bus (SBU) pin, a ground (GND) pin, or a detection (DET) pin,

wherein the CC pin, the SBU pin, and the GND pin are universal serial bus (USB) type-C pins, and

wherein the DET pin is a pin for detecting insertion of the first external electronic device.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display,

wherein, based on determining that the liquid is introduced, the at least one processor is further configured to provide information that the liquid is introduced through the display.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a camera,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine that the liquid is present inside the connector for a predetermined time based on the detected current, and

based on determining that the liquid is present inside the connector for the predetermined time, execute an underwater photography mode of the camera.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to cut off the second current to the first pin based on determining that the liquid is introduced.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a communication circuit,

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

determine that the liquid is present inside the connector for a predetermined time based on the detected current,

based on determining that the liquid is present inside the connector for the predetermined time, obtain, by using the communication circuit, geographical information of the electronic device, and

control the communication circuit to transmit a signal including the obtained geographical information to a second external electronic device.

12. A method for preventing corrosion to a connector in an electronic device, the method comprising:

applying, to a first pin of the connector, a first current for identifying a connection with a first external electronic device;

detecting a current passing through a second pin of the connector;

determining whether liquid is introduced into the connector based on the detected current; and

based on determining that the liquid is introduced into the connector, applying, to the first pin, a second current adjusted from the first current for preventing corrosion of the connector,

wherein the second current is smaller than the first current.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

converting a value of an analog current passing through the second pin into a digital current value to determine whether the liquid introduced into the connector is evaporated; and

based on determining that the liquid is evaporated, applying the first current to the first pin.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, based on determining that the liquid is not evaporated, maintaining applying of the second current to the first pin.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining whether an interrupt occurs due to the connection with the first external electronic device via the connector; and

based on determining that the interrupt occurs due to the connection with the first external electronic device, applying the first current to the first pin.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

measuring a resistance based on the detected current; and

determining that an interrupt occurs based on, at least, the measured resistance.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

measuring a resistance based on the detected current, and

determining a type of the liquid based on the measured resistance.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2017
From: JO, YEON-RAE
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 044463/0027 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2016-0178383 · Dec 23, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180181509A1 · Jun 28, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,292,773