FLUID SENSING DEVICE FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device, comprising a fluid sensing means configured to analyze a sampling volume; and a fluid moving means comprising a motionless fluid pumping means using thermal transpiration for moving the sampling volume. It also relates to a portable electronic device comprising such fluid sensing device. Using a motionless fluid pumping means, a sampling volume can be moved at low energy consumption and low noise.

Claims

1. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device, comprising: a fluid sensing means configured to analyze a sampling volume; and a fluid moving means comprising a motionless fluid pumping means using thermal transpiration for moving the sampling volume.

2. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a gas.

3. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to of claim 1, wherein the motionless fluid pumping means is powered by a heat source.

4. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the heat source of the motionless fluid pumping means is based on Joule effect and/or solar energy.

5. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising a battery and/or electronic components used as the heat source of the motionless fluid pumping means.

6. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid moving means is capable of adjusting the flow rate and/or the temperature of the sampling volume.

7. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid sensing means is sensitive to at least one type of molecule.

8. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid sensing means comprises a metal oxide (MOX) sensor and/or a carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor.

9. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising a reverse thermal transpiration-based fluid pumping means configured for ejecting the sampling volume.

10. Fluid sensing device for a portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the motionless fluid pumping means comprises a reversible motionless fluid pumping means using thermal transpiration for moving the sampling volume with a bidirectional flow.

11. A portable electronic device, in particular a portable telecommunication device or a wearable device, comprising at least a fluid sensing device according to claim 1.

12. The portable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the fluid sensing device is positioned within the same opening of the portable device's housing than at least one other functional unit.

13. The portable electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the fluid sensing device is positioned further inside the housing than the at least one other functional unit.

14. Method for moving a fluid in a portable electronic device, in particular according to claim 11, comprising the steps of: a) feeding a sampling volume towards a fluid sensing means; b) analyzing the sampling volume by the fluid sensing means; c) ejecting the sampling volume from the fluid sensing means; wherein step a) and/or step c) comprise(s) a motionless fluid pumping means using thermal transpiration.

15. The method for moving a fluid in a portable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a flow rate and/or a temperature of the sampling volume is adjusted by the motionless fluid pumping means using thermal transpiration.

16. Use of a fluid sensing device, in particular according to claim 1, in a portable electronic device, with a motionless fluid pumping means operating by thermal transpiration for moving a fluid towards and/or from the fluid sensing means.

Description

[0022] Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that are meant to illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It is understood that such embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematically, perspective view of a portable electronic device comprising a fluid sensing device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram with the components of the fluid sensing device according to the first embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram with components of a fluid sensing device according to a second embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram with components of a fluid sensing device according to a third embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart with the steps of a method for moving a fluid in a portable electronic device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a chart with the steps of a method for moving a fluid within a portable electronic device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram with the components of the fluid sensing device according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.

[0030] The portable electronic device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 represents a portable telecommunication device such as a mobile phone. The portable electronic device 1 can also be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal electronic assistant, a tracking device, an electronic wearable or the like.

[0031] The portable electronic device 1 comprises a housing 2 which in this embodiment has a rectangular shape. One of the two main sides of the portable electronic device 1, i.e. the front side 3, is provided with a display device 5, such as a screen, and interfacing elements like a button 7, allowing the user to interact with the portable electronic device 1.

[0032] The portable electronic device may comprise one or more openings. The front side 3 is further provided with an opening 9 for a loudspeaker. The opening 9 is protected from dirt, like dust particles, by a grid 10. The housing 2 may comprise further openings 13, 15, e.g. on the lower side 11 of the display device 5. Also, the side-wall 17 of the housing 2 may be provided with another opening 19. A microphone, a loudspeaker, a headphone jack hole, a charger hole and/or the like can be provided in openings like the openings 13 and/or 15 and/or 19.

[0033] The dotted lines on FIG. 1 represent inner portions 21, 23, 25, 27 having various possible shapes inside the openings 9, 13, 15, 19 of the housing 2 of the portable electronic device 1. In the tubular-shaped duct 29 of the opening 13, a fluid sensing device 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention, is mounted. The fluid sensing device 100 comprises a fluid moving means 200 for moving a sampling volume towards a fluid sensing means 300 for analyzing the sampling volume. The fluid sensing device 100 will be described in more detail in FIG. 2.

[0034] The fluid sensing means can be a metal oxide (MOX) sensor and/or a carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor. The fluid sensing means 300 of the fluid sensing device 100 can also comprise gold nanoparticles, a silicon nanowire, a quartz crystal microbalance, a colorimetric sensor and/or a conductive polymer; which represent other low energy consumption sensing means. The fluid moving means 200 is in a fluid connection with the opening 13 of the tubular-shaped duct 29.

[0035] In this embodiment, the opening 13 receiving the fluid sensing device 100 can be located near the fluid to analyze, e.g. located near the mouth of a user for the purpose of analyzing the user's exhaled air while the user talks on the portable electronic device 1. In other variants the fluid sensing device 100 could be positioned elsewhere like in the inner portions 21, 23 or 27 of the other openings 9, 15 or 19, depending on the available space inside the housing 2.

[0036] According to further variants the fluid sensing device 100 could be placed inside one of the openings 9, 13, 15 or 19 together with one or more other functional features, like the microphone, the speaker or alike. In particular, due to the use of the fluid moving means 200, the fluid sensing device 100 could be positioned further inside the housing 2 than the other functional feature.

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the fluid sensing device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Elements with the same reference numeral already used in FIG. 1 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates the motionless fluid pumping means 200 powered by a heat source 400 and the fluid sensing means 300.

[0039] The motionless fluid pumping means 200 generates a gas flow based on thermal transpiration using, e.g. narrow channels and/or a porous media which allowing thermal transpiration to occur to generate a flow of a fluid entering the motionless fluid pumping means 200. With a temperature gradient applied along the narrow channel, which is not represented in FIG. 2, the fluid flows from the cold end to the hot end. As the Knudsen pump 200 does not comprise moving parts, it operates more silently than mechanical gas pumps, and thus is well-adapted for use in portable electronic device.

[0040] To create the temperature gradient, the motionless fluid pumping means 200 uses a heat source 400 of the portable electronic device 1. The motionless fluid pumping means 200 operates with simple electronic control circuitry and low energy consumption.

[0041] The heat source 400, represented in FIG. 2, can be a battery 400 enclosed in the housing 2 of the portable electronic device 1. The battery 400 can, for example, be a rechargeable battery used to run the various functionalities of the portable electronic device 1. By placing the heat source 400 in the vicinity of the motionless fluid pumping means 200 one can take advantage of the heat 43 created by the battery 400. Thus, the usually wasted thermal energy can be used according to the invention to run the motionless fluid pumping means 200.

[0042] The heat source 400 can also comprise any of the other components of the portable electronic device 1 that heat up during use or the heat a solar energy conversion means.

[0043] The fluid sensing device 100 according to the first embodiment functions as follows: a sampling volume 41 of a fluid to be analyzed, e.g. the breath of a user or the ambient air, is drawn into the opening 13 in the housing 2 by the motionless fluid pumping means 200 of the fluid sensing device 100. Due to the temperature gradient provided by the heat source 400, the sampling volume is then moved towards the fluid sensing means 300, as illustrated by reference numeral 45.

[0044] The parameters of the sampling volume 41, like temperature, pressure and/or flow rate, can be controlled when passing through the motionless fluid pumping means 200.

[0045] It becomes thus possible to prepare the sampling volume 41 such that its temperature and/or flow rate is adjusted in accordance with the operating parameters imposed by the fluid sensing means 300. Hence, additional preheating operations required inside the fluid sensing means 300 can be reduced or even eliminated. By adjusting the flow rate and/or the temperature of the gas sampling volume 41, it becomes, for example, possible to enable a catalytic effect needed for sensing the sampling volume 45 in the fluid sensing means 300.

[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sampling volume 45 is analyzed by the fluid sensing means 300 which is sensitive to at least one type of molecule. The fluid sensing means 300 can be configured to analyze ambient air, e.g. for checking air quality, and/or to analyze a user's exhalation, e.g. for measuring blood alcohol content.

[0047] The sampling volume then leaves the fluid sensing means 300 via opening 13 as illustrated by reference numeral 47.

[0048] Instead of taking different paths as illustrated in FIG. 2 but leaving via the same opening 13, the input sampling volume 41 and the output sampling volume 47 can move through different openings and paths of the housing 2 (not shown).

[0049] The FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a fluid sensing device 103 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Elements with the same reference numeral already used in FIGS. 1 and 2 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0050] As already described with respect to the first embodiment and illustrated FIG. 2, an input sampling volume 41 is moved towards the fluid sensing means using the motionless fluid pumping means 200. In this embodiment, however, an additional reverse thermal transpiration-based fluid pumping means 205 is used to move the output sampling volume 47 out of the fluid sensing means 300 towards the opening 13 or any other opening in the portable electronic device 1 (as indicated by the reference numeral 49).

[0051] The reverse thermal transpiration-based fluid pumping means 205 operates in the opposite flow direction compared to the motionless fluid pumping means 200. The motionless fluid pumping means 200 and the reverse motionless fluid pumping means 205 can have a common heat source 400, like illustrated in FIG. 3 to provide the necessary heating 43 to each one of the motionless fluid pumping means 200, 205.

[0052] In a variant, not illustrated in FIG. 3, each one of the motionless fluid pumping means 200, 205 has its own heat source.

[0053] Depending on the process parameters, the ejected sampling volume 47 is cooled down in the motionless fluid pumping means 205 before leaving the portable electronic device 1.

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a fluid sensing device 105 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Elements with the same reference numeral already used in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0055] The fluid sensing means 105 represented in FIG. 4 comprises a reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 configured to operate in two opposite directions.

[0056] In configuration A, the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 forces the fluid from the opening 13 towards the fluid sensing means 300. In this configuration, the cold side of the motionless fluid pumping means 207 is located in the area 209, facing the opening 13 in the housing 2, whereas the hot side of the pumping means 207 is located in the area 211, facing the fluid sensing means 300.

[0057] In configuration B, the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207, forces the fluid from the fluid sensing means 300 towards the opening 13 of the housing 2. The cold side of the pumping means 207 is then located in the area 211 facing the fluid sensing means 300, whereas the hot side of the pumping means 207 is located in the area 209, facing the opening 13. The reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 comprises a thermoelectric material to be able to change the direction of the pumping by reversing the electrical current passing through the thermoelectric material, and thus the hot side and the cold side of the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 can be exchanged.

[0058] In use, the fluid sampling volume 51 is dragged into the housing 2 via the opening 13 by the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 in configuration A and pushed (indicated by reference numeral 53) towards the fluid sensing means 300, where it is analyzed.

[0059] Once the sampling volume 53 has been analyzed, a controlling means 405 changes the operational state of the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 to operate in configuration B. Hence, the sampling volume 53 is moved away from the fluid sensing means 300 towards the opening 13 of the fluid sensing means 105. The sampling volume 51 is then expelled from the housing 2 of the portable electronic device 1.

[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart 150 illustrating the steps in a method for moving a fluid in a portable electronic device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention. Elements with the same reference numeral already used in the embodiments 1 to 3 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0061] In the first step 501 of the method for moving a fluid in a portable device 1 a sampling volume is fed towards the fluid sensing means 300 using a motionless fluid pumping means 200, 207 using thermal transpiration like described above with respect to one of embodiments 1 to 3. While moving the sampling volume towards the fluid sensing means 300, the fluid parameters, such as fluid temperature, flow rate and/or pressure can be adjusted.

[0062] In the next step 503 the sampling volume is analyzed by the fluid sensing means 300 as described above.

[0063] In step 505 the sampling volume is ejected from the fluid sensing means 300 using the motionless fluid pumping means 200, 205, 207.

[0064] In a variant, fluid parameters, such as fluid temperature, flow rate and/or pressure can be adjusted by the motionless fluid pumping means 200, 205, 207 prior to leaving the opening 9, 13, 15 or 19 of the housing 2 of the portable electronic device 1. As a consequence, the fluid parameters can be controlled before to be ejected and thus, before that the fluid may come into contact with user's skin, hair or any material near the openings 9, 13, 15, 19 of the housing 2. FIG. 6 illustrates a chart 160 with processing steps in accordance with the method for moving a fluid within a portable electronic device comprising a fluid sensing device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. Elements with the same reference numeral already described in embodiments 1 to 4 and illustrated FIGS. 1 to 5 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0065] The sampling fluid to be analyzed, illustrated by reference numeral 41, is moved towards the fluid sensing means 300 by the motionless fluid pumping means 200.

[0066] Using the motionless fluid pumping means 200, the fluid parameters, such as the fluid flow rate, the fluid temperature and/or the pressure can be adapted. Indeed, the parameters of the sampling volume 41 are adjusted in accordance with the operating parameters of the fluid sensing means 300 and/or in accordance with a desired catalytic effect.

[0067] At step 211, it is therefore determined whether the fluid parameters of the sampling volume 41 have to be adjusted or are within the range needed by the fluid sensing means 300.

[0068] If the parameters of the sampling volume 41 have to be adjusted, the sampling volume 42 is returned to the motionless fluid pumping means 200.

[0069] If the parameters of the sampling volume 41 do not have to be further adjusted, the sampling volume 45 can thus be fed into the fluid sensing means 300.

[0070] The sampling volume 45 is then analyzed by the fluid sensing means 300.

[0071] Once the sampling volume 45 is analyzed by means of the fluid sensing means 300, the sampled volume 47 is ejected from the portable electronic device 1. In this embodiment, the sampling volume 45 is ejected by means of the reverse thermal transpiration-based fluid pumping means 205 of the second embodiment. The reverse motionless fluid pumping means 205 operates in the opposite flow direction of the motionless fluid pumping means 200. As an alternative, the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 of the third embodiment may also be used.

[0072] At step 213, the portable electronic device 1 determines whether the fluid parameters of the sampled volume 47 have to be adjusted before ejection.

[0073] If the parameters of the sampling volume 47 do not have to be adjusted, the sampling volume 49 is expelled out of the portable electronic device 1 via the reverse motionless fluid pumping means 205.

[0074] If the parameters of the sampling volume 47 have to be adjusted, the sampling volume 48 is returned to the motionless fluid pumping means 205, e.g. as they are too hot which might represent a risk of injury to the user of the portable electronic device 1.

[0075] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a fluid sensing device 107 according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. Elements with the same reference numeral already described in embodiments 1 to 5 and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 will not be described in detail again but reference is made to their description above.

[0076] FIG. 7 illustrates the fluid sensing device 105 comprising the reversible motionless fluid pumping means 207 and the fluid sensing means 300 according to the third embodiment, as described in FIG. 4.

[0077] According to the sixth embodiment of the invention, the fluid sensing device 105 is placed inside the opening 13 together with another functional unit 107, e.g. a microphone. In particular, due to the use of the reversible fluid moving means 207, the fluid sensing device 105 is positioned further inside the housing 2 than the microphone 107, in particular behind the functional feature 107 of the portable electronic device 1.

[0078] As a consequence, no additional hole is necessary in the device's housing 2 and the fluid sensing device 105 can be positioned anywhere inside the housing where sufficient space is available.

[0079] The fluid sensing device 100, 103, 105 can, e.g., be positioned on an existing structure inside the portable electronic device 1, like on the printed circuit board PCB.

[0080] The various individual features of the embodiments 1 to 6 can be independently combined to create further variants according to the invention.