Patent Publication Number: US-2009219130-A1

Title: Portable electronic device and recovery method therefor

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a portable electronic device and a recovery method for the portable electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices are almost always lost when inadvertently dropped in a body of liquid. 
     Therefore, improved portable electronic devices and recovery methods for the portable electronic devices are needed to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of a portable electronic device in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the portable electronic device in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a portable electronic device in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a recovery method for a portable electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart of details of a block S 806  of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of details of the block S 806  of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portable electronic device  100  includes an airbag  10 , a gas-injection apparatus  20 , a housing  30 , a liquid detecting apparatus  50 , and a control apparatus  70 . 
     The airbag  10  has two states; a deflated state, and an inflated state. The airbag  10  is in the deflated state when the portable electronic device  100  is not in contact with liquid. The airbag  10  is filled with gas to be in the inflated state when the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid, so that the airbag  10  can allow the portable electronic device  100  to float and facilitate recovery of the portable electronic device  100 . 
     The gas-injection apparatus  20  connected with the airbag  10  is used for injecting gas into the airbag  10 , thereby inflating the airbag  10  when the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid. 
     The housing  30  defines a receiving space  302  for accommodating the airbag  10  in the deflated state. The housing  30  includes a lid  304  for covering the receiving space  302 . The airbag  10  is configured to break out of the lid  304  when changing from the deflated state to the inflated state. 
     The liquid detecting apparatus  50  is used for detecting whether the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid, and generating a detecting signal when the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid. The liquid detecting apparatus  50  may be a liquid sensor. 
     The control apparatus  70  is connected between the liquid detecting apparatus  50  and the gas-injection apparatus  20 . The control apparatus  70  is used for receiving the detecting signal from the liquid detecting apparatus  50 , and controlling the gas-injection apparatus  20  to inject gas into the airbag  10  upon receiving the detecting signal. Thus the airbag  10  becomes filled with air and changes to the inflated state, thereby enabling the portable electronic device  100  to float. In this way, the airbag  10  helps protect the portable electronic device  100  from liquid (e.g. water) damage, and enables the portable electronic device  100  to be conveniently recovered. 
     In one embodiment, the gas-injection apparatus  20  includes a compressed gas container  22 , and a valve  24  for opening or closing the compressed gas container  22 . The valve  24  has two states; an open state, and a closed state. When the control apparatus  70  receives the detecting signal, the control apparatus  70  opens the valve  24 , so that gas in the compressed gas container  22  is injected into the airbag  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in another embodiment, the gas-injection apparatus  20  includes an igniter  26  and an inflating agent  28 . The inflating agent  28  has two states; a compressed state, and an expanded state. The compressed state may be in a liquid form or a solid form, and the expanded state is in a gaseous form. The inflating agent  28  changes from the compressed state to the expanded state when ignited. When the control apparatus  70  receives the detecting signal, the control apparatus  70  controls the igniter  26  to ignite. As a result, the inflating agent  28  changes from the compressed state to the expanded state, thereby filling the airbag  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a recovery method for a portable electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The recovery method may be implemented using the portable electronic device  100  ( FIG. 1 ). The recovery method includes the following blocks: 
     Beginning in block S 802 , it is determined whether the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid. If the portable electronic device  100  is in contact with liquid, the procedure goes to block S 804 . If the portable electronic device  100  is not in contact with liquid, the procedure returns to block S 802 . 
     In block S 804 , a detecting signal is generated. 
     In block S 806 , the detecting signal is received, and the gas-injection apparatus  50  is controlled to inject gas into the airbag  10 , so that the airbag  10  becomes inflated and enables the portable electronic device  100  to float. Thereby, the airbag  10  helps protect the portable electronic device  100  from liquid (e.g. water) damage, and enables the portable electronic device  100  to be conveniently recovered. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, block S 806  may include the following block: 
     In block S 8062 , the detecting signal is received, and the valve  24  of the gas-injection apparatus  20  is opened, so that gas in the compressed gas container  22  is injected into the airbag  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment, the block S 806  may include the following blocks: 
     In block S 8064 , the detecting signal is received, and the igniter  26  is ignited. 
     In block S 8066 , the inflating agent  28  changes from the compressed state to the expanded state, thereby filling the airbag  10  with gas. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.