U.S. patent application number 11/519711 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for dynamic internal humidity control.
Invention is credited to George Grosskopf, Karl Keppeler.
Application Number | 20080061157 11/519711 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39168580 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080061157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grosskopf; George ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Dynamic internal humidity control
Abstract
Controlling internal humidity for a device by receiving an
environmental parameter relating to a humidity control in the
device, analyzing the environmental parameter to determine a
humidity condition of the device, and sending a signal to activate
a heater based on the humidity condition. A device including
humidity control includes a humidity measuring arrangement, a
temperature measuring arrangement, a processor receiving a humidity
input from the humidity measuring arrangement and a temperature
input from the temperature measuring arrangement, the processor
comparing the humidity input and temperature input to stored data
to determine a humidity condition of the device and a heater which
is activated upon the determination of a predetermined humidity
condition.
Inventors: |
Grosskopf; George; (Coram,
NY) ; Keppeler; Karl; (Bellport, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY KAPLUN & MARCIN, LLP
15O BROADWAY, SUITE 702
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
39168580 |
Appl. No.: |
11/519711 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/44C |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D 22/02 20130101;
Y02D 10/00 20180101; G06F 1/1613 20130101; Y02D 10/16 20180101;
H04M 2250/12 20130101; H04M 1/18 20130101; G06F 1/1684 20130101;
H04M 1/24 20130101; G06F 1/206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
236/44.C |
International
Class: |
F24F 3/14 20060101
F24F003/14 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: receiving an environmental parameter
relating to a humidity control in a device; analyzing the
environmental parameter to determine a humidity condition of the
device; and sending a signal to activate a heater based on the
humidity condition.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental parameter
includes one of a humidity inside the device, a humidity in an
operating location of the device, a temperature inside the device
and a temperature in an operating location of the device.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the humidity condition is one of
acceptable and unacceptable, the signal to activate the heater
being sent only when the humidity condition is unacceptable.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes: comparing
the environmental parameter to stored parameters.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing includes:
determining a trend of the environmental parameter.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending a signal to
activate the heater based on a temperature condition.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental parameter is at
least two environmental parameters.
8. A device, comprising: an environmental measuring arrangement; an
analyzing component to determine a humidity condition of the device
based on parameters from the environmental measuring arrangement;
and a heater which is activated based on the determined humidity
condition of the device.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the environmental measuring
arrangement is one of a humidity measuring arrangement and a
temperature measuring arrangement.
10. The device of claim 8, wherein the environmental measuring
arrangement is at least two environmental measuring
arrangements.
11. The device of claim 8, further comprising: a heater control
receiving input from the analyzing component, the heater control
controlling operation of the heater.
12. The device of claim 8, wherein the analyzing component is a
processor.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the heater control includes a
thermostat, the thermostat including at least two set points.
14. The device of claim 8, wherein the analyzing component includes
a memory storing environmental data, the humidity condition being
further based on the environmental data.
15. The device of claim 8, wherein the heater is further activated
based on a temperature condition measured by the environmental
measuring arrangements.
16. A device, comprising: a humidity measuring arrangement; a
temperature measuring arrangement; a processor receiving a humidity
input from the humidity measuring arrangement and a temperature
input from the temperature measuring arrangement, the processor
comparing the humidity input and temperature input to stored data
to determine a humidity condition of the device; and a heater which
is activated upon the determination of a predetermined humidity
condition.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the processor outputs a heater
activation signal when the humidity condition is the predetermined
humidity condition.
18. The device of claim 17, further comprising: a heater control
receiving the heater activation signal and controlling the heater
based on the heater activation signal.
19. The device of claim 16, further comprising: a memory storing
the stored data, where the stored data is environmental data.
20. A device, comprising: at least two environmental measuring
arrangements; an analyzing means to determine a humidity condition
of the device based on parameters from the at least two
environmental measuring arrangements; and a heating means that
activates based on the determined humidity condition of the device.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Mobile units (MU) such as mobile computers are relied on for
business and personal use in a wide variety of applications. Many
of these devices are used in a variety of environments where rapid
changes in temperature and humidity are common. High levels of
humidity may develop internally in a mobile unit which reduces the
product life cycle and reliability.
[0002] Many mobile units also include optical devices. Optical
devices include scanners and imagers. A rapid change in the
temperature of the air within the housing of an optical device can
cause condensation to build up on an optical window of the device,
interfering with operation. In particular, condensation building up
within the housing is a difficult problem to address. Some devices
employ a chemical desiccant within the housing to remove moisture.
However, chemical desiccants have a short lifetime and becomes
useless when saturated. The desiccant must then be changed. Again,
this is a difficult process because the desiccant is within the
housing and users are generally discouraged from opening the
housing because it may damage the device, void the warranty,
etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention is related to a method for humidity
control. The method comprises receiving an environmental parameter
relating to a humidity control in a device, analyzing the
environmental parameter to determine a humidity condition of the
device, and sending a signal to activate a heater based on the
humidity condition.
[0004] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a dual
function heater within a terminal is created. One function is to
warm internal components at low ambient temperatures while the
other function is to remove internal humidity typically associated
with higher ambient temperatures and humidity. Using hardware
and/or software, the internal humidity of the mobile device may be
monitored and the humidity may be dissipated using the heater. The
hardware and/or software may also monitor the change of temperature
and humidity and appropriately enable the heater to remove the
humidity while minimizing the energy required to remove the
humidity.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system of a humidity
controller according to the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary circuit diagram of a heater
control of a mobile unit according to the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of humidity control
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The present invention may be further understood with
reference to the following description and the appended drawings,
wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference
numerals. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention
describes a system and method for a dynamic internal humidity
control for a mobile device. However, those skilled in the art will
understand that the exemplary humidity control may be implemented
in any device, whether the device is mobile or stationary. The
humidity control is performed by a humidity controller and its
constituent parts. The controller and parts will be discussed in
detail below.
[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 200 of a humidity
controller 201 according to the present invention. The humidity
controller 201 measures an actual amount of humidity and an ambient
temperature (i.e., environmental parameters) during the use of the
humidity controller 201 to predict and control humidity within the
device. The humidity controller 201 maintains a preset atmospheric
condition in order to prevent the humidity level to go beyond a
certain predetermined value, thereby preventing any damage to the
unit and increasing product life cycle and reliability. Also, the
humidity controller 201 maintains a preset temperature in order to
prevent any condensation build up (i.e., fogging) on any glass or
clear surface that may be present on the unit. The glass surface
may be, for example, a transparent window for a scanner or imager
or a display screen for a computing device. It should be noted that
the example of the glass surface is exemplary only and that the
surface may just as easily be composed of transparent plastics (as
is exhibited on many conventional technologies).
[0010] In the present invention, the amount of humidity is measured
using a humidity detector 202. The humidity detector 202 may be,
for example, a humidity or moisture meter. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the humidity detector 202 is
placed within the unit. Placement of the humidity detector 202
within the unit allows a more direct, accurate measurement of
internal humidity to assess any subsequent actions to be taken by
the humidity controller 201.
[0011] The ambient temperature is measured using an ambient
temperature detector 203. The ambient temperature detector 203 may
be, for example, a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector
(RTD), etc. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
ambient temperature detector 203 is placed on the periphery of the
unit. Placement of the ambient temperature detector 203 on the
periphery of the unit allows a more direct, accurate measurement of
ambient temperature to assess any subsequent measures to be taken
by the humidity controller 201. It should be noted that a second,
internal temperature detector may also be included in the present
invention. The second, internal temperature detector may be used to
measure the temperature within a unit. This second measurement of
temperature may be used by the humidity controller to further
determine the amount of control to be exerted by the humidity
controller 201.
[0012] Both the humidity detector 202 and the ambient temperature
detector 203 provide input to a processor 204. The processor 204
includes the logic for determining when and by how much the unit
will control the conditions of the humidity controller 201. As will
be described in detail below, the processor 204 may be used in
conjunction with a heater control 207 to control humidity within
the housing of a device. In an alternative embodiment, the
processor 204 may be used to directly control a heater 208 to
control humidity within the housing, i.e., the heater control 207
may be eliminated. In a further exemplary embodiment, the processor
204 may not be used. For example, an additional hardware circuit,
chop (e.g., an ASIC), or specialized computing device may be used
to perform the functions described herein for the processor 204.
Thus, those skilled in the art will understand that while the
exemplary embodiment is described with reference to a processor 204
and a heater control 207, it is possible to implement the present
invention without these specific components.
[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, the processor may contain a
memory 205 and an input/output component 206. The memory 205 may be
used, for example, to store previously measured data by the
humidity detector 202 and the ambient temperature detector 203. The
memory may be a separate component outside the processor itself,
e.g., hard drive, flash memory, ROM, etc. The input/output
component 206 may be used, for example, to send any signals that
the processor 204 generates or the received input to subsequent
units involved with the dynamic humidity control. It should be
noted that there may be further components connected to the
processor 204 of the humidity controller 201. For example, a
display mechanism may be used to indicate to a user that a
component of the humidity controller 201 has been activated. The
display mechanism may be, for example, a light emitting diode
(LED), a speaker, or a digital display.
[0014] In order to accomplish the humidity control, a heater 208 is
utilized. A heater control 207 is used to adjust the heater 208
operation by receiving signals from the input/output components 206
of the processor 204. The use of the heater 208 allows the humidity
controller 201 to control the amount of humidity to be present
within the unit and the temperature of any glass surface prone to
condensation buildup. For example, if the ambient temperature
reaches very low values, then the heater 208 may be activated to
raise the temperature of the unit to a sufficient amount to prevent
both high levels of humidity building up within the unit and
condensation from forming on any glass surfaces.
[0015] For example, when it is very cold, the heater 208 may be
used to warm the components within the device. However, when the
ambient temperature is higher, it may also be advantageous to turn
on the heater to prevent moisture build-up, condensation, fogging,
etc., within the device. Thus, the processor 204 may store data in
the memory 205 indicating certain environmental factors. In one
example, the memory 205 stores dew point temperatures for various
ambient humidity levels. Thus, the processor 204 receives the
humidity detector 202 input and determines the dew point
temperature based on the data stored in memory 205. The processor
204 also receives the ambient temperature input from ambient
temperature detector 203. If the processor determines that the
ambient temperature trend is dropping toward the dew point, the
processor 204 may send an output signal to the heater control 207
to turn the heater 208 on to prevent the dew point from being
reached inside the device, thereby preventing condensation,
fogging, etc. and also minimizing the amount of energy required to
maintain humidity conditions.
[0016] The above example shows that the humidity controller 201 may
be used to preemptively stop humidity issues by predicting trends
or other changes in environmental conditions. It also shows that
the heater 208 is not limited to low temperature operation. For
example, in high humidity locations, the temperature may be fairly
high (e.g., 60.degree. F.), but the heater 208 may be used to
prevent the temperature inside the device from dropping a few
degrees (even at the high temperature) to prevent condensation from
occurring.
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary circuit diagram of a heater
control (e.g., heater control 207) of a mobile unit implementing
the humidity control according to the present invention. The
following will describe the components and functionality that may
be used to implement the exemplary embodiment of the heater control
207. It will not describe every component since those skilled in
the art will understand the purpose and functionality of the
components used to control the heater 208.
[0018] Initially, the heater control 207 includes a component U30
which is, for example, a MAX6510CAUT-T that is a
resistor-programmable SOT (small outline transistor) temperature
switch sold by Maxim Integrated Products. The component U30
operates as a thermostat to enable the heater 208. Thus, the output
of pin 3 is used to control the heater 208. Those skilled in the
art will understand that the output of pin 3 and the components
which are downstream of the output enable/disable the heater 208
which is connected to heater control 207 via heater connection
CN15.
[0019] The resistor R208 may be used to set a set point for heater
operation. For example, the resistor R208 may set a set point for
low temperature heater operation (e.g., if temperature is below
0.degree. C., turn on heater). However, the resistor R534 allows
the terminal to incorporate multiple temperature values to turn on
the heater 208. The resistor R534 in conjunction with MOSFET Q66
allows the processor 204 to enable the heater 208 at a high
temperature typically set when high humidity is expected. As
described above, the heater 208 may be used at higher temperature
than expected for heater operation because the heater 208 is being
used for both heating of components at low temperatures, but also
for humidity control at higher temperatures. The resistor R534 may
be, for example, a discrete resistor. However, it should be noted
that the resistor R534 being a discrete resistor is exemplary only
and that other resistor types may be used. For example, the
resistor R534 may be a variable or processor controlled resistor
which would allow a dynamic enablement of the heater as different
ambient conditions exist.
[0020] It should be noted that the use of the thermostat component
U30 is exemplary only and that the present invention may be
implemented without the use of that component. For example, the
processor 204 may directly enable and disable the heater 208 as a
result of the processor 204 directly monitoring the humidity
detector 202 and the ambient temperature detector 203.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method 400 of humidity
control according to the present invention. Initially, in step 401,
the humidity controller 201 is activated. The humidity controller
201 may be activated personally by the user or it may be
automatically activated upon activation of the mobile unit. The
humidity controller 201 may also be activated using a sensor that
determines if the humidity controller 201 should be activated. The
sensor would be connected to a processor of the mobile unit that
sends a signal to the humidity controller 201.
[0022] In step 402, the humidity and ambient temperature are
measured. As discussed above, the humidity detector 202 and the
ambient temperature detector 203 perform these measurements,
respectively. The measurements performed may be taken dynamically
throughout the use of the mobile unit. For example, the
measurements may be taken continuously to ensure that the mobile
unit functions efficiently without any hindrance due to a gap in
measurements. The measurements may be taken based on a timer to be
performed every preset time period (e.g., 10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1
minute, 5 minutes). The measurements may also be taken upon based
on a change in atmosphere conditions. This change may be detected,
for example, by the sensor discussed above.
[0023] The measured values are fed to the processor 204 and, in
step 403, the method 400 determines if the conditions are
acceptable. As discussed above, the acceptable conditions may be
preset during the manufacturing of the mobile unit. The acceptable
conditions may also be ascertained by using a simple algorithm that
incorporates different factors such as operating temperatures of
components of the mobile unit, consequences of the operation of
components of the mobile unit, and resultant internal
temperature.
[0024] If the measurements are found to be acceptable conditions
for the mobile unit, then the method 400 returns to step 402 where
a continuous process is created to dynamically control the humidity
level in and around the mobile unit. It should be noted that
subsequent measurements may be taken based on the above mentioned
methods.
[0025] If, however, the measurements are found to be unacceptable
conditions for the mobile unit, then the method 400 proceeds to
step 404 where the processor 204 determines the amount of control
necessary to counterbalance the unacceptable conditions. Once the
processor 204 makes such a determination, the input/output
component 206 sends a signal to the heater control 207. Upon
sending this signal, in step 405, the heater is activated. The
method 400 then returns to step 402 to create the continuous
process discussed above.
[0026] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications may be made in the present invention, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention cover the modifications and
variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of
the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *