Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
FAN CONTROL FOR DEHUMIDIFIER
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to dehumidification and more particularly to
fan
control for a dehumidifier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In certain situations, it is desirable to reduce the humidity of air within a
structure. For
example, in fire and flood restoration applications, it may be desirable to
quickly remove
moisture from areas of a damaged structure. To accomplish this, one or more
portable
dehumidifiers may be placed within the structure to dehumidify the air and
direct dry air
toward water-damaged areas. Many current dehumidifiers, however, are bulky,
difficult to
move, not rugged, and have proven inefficient in various respects.
=
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to embodiments of the present disclosure, disadvantages and problems
associated with previous dehumidification systems may be reduced or
eliminated.
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method for controlling a fan of a
dehumidifier, the method comprising: transitioning a compressor from off to
on; setting a fan
speed to a default value; waiting a first predetermined amount of time; after
waiting the
predetermined amount of time, performing a first step of obtaining: an ambient
temperature;
an exhaust temperature; and a delta temperature comprising a difference
between the ambient
temperature and the exhaust temperature; after performing the first step,
determining whether
the delta temperature is within a delta temperature range; if the delta
temperature is within the
delta temperature range: waiting a second predetermined amount of time; and
after waiting the
second predetermined amount of time, proceeding back to the first step; if the
delta
temperature is not within the delta temperature range, proceeding to a second
step, the second
step comprising determining an adjusted fan speed using the delta temperature;
determining
whether an evaporator temperature is less than a predetermined temperature; if
the evaporator
temperature is not less than the predetermined temperature, proceeding to a
third step, the third
step comprising setting the fan speed to the determined adjusted fan speed; if
the evaporator
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temperature is less than the predetermined temperature: proceeding back to the
first step if the
determined adjusted fan speed is negative with respect to a current fan speed;
and proceeding
to the third step if the determined adjusted fan speed is positive with
respect to the current fan
speed; and after performing the third step, proceeding back to the first step
after waiting the
second predetermined amount of time.
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method for controlling a fan of a
dehumidifier, the method comprising: performing a first step of obtaining: an
ambient
temperature; an exhaust temperature; and a delta temperature comprising a
difference
between the ambient temperature and the exhaust temperature; after performing
the first step,
determining whether the delta temperature is within a delta temperature range;
if the delta
temperature is within the delta temperature range, proceeding back to the
first step after
waiting a predetermined amount of time; and if the delta temperature is not
within the delta
temperature range, performing a second step of determining an adjusted fan
speed using the
delta temperature; after performing the second step, performing a third step
of setting the fan
speed to the determined adjusted fan speed; and after performing the third
step, proceeding
back to the first step after waiting the predetermined amount of time.
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method comprising: performing a
first
step of obtaining: an ambient temperature; an exhaust temperature; and a delta
temperature
comprising a difference between the ambient temperature and the exhaust
temperature; after
performing the first step, determining whether the delta temperature is within
a delta
temperature range; if the delta temperature is within the delta temperature
range, proceeding
back to the first step; if the delta temperature is not within the delta
temperature range,
performing a second step of determining an adjusted fan speed using the delta
temperature;
and after performing the second step, performing a third step of setting the
fan speed to the
.. determined adjusted fan speed.
In some embodiments, a portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet, a fan, a
dehumidification system, and a compressor. The cabinet includes a front side
and a back side
opposite the front side, an airflow inlet located on a first side of the
cabinet, and an airflow
outlet located on a second side of the cabinet that is opposite the first
side. The
dehumidification system includes a secondary evaporator located proximate to
the airflow
inlet, a primary condenser located proximate to the airflow outlet, a primary
evaporator
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located adjacent to the secondary evaporator, a secondary condenser located
between the
primary evaporator and the primary condenser, and a compressor. The fan is
configured to
generate an airflow that flows into the cabinet through the airflow inlet and
out of the cabinet
through the airflow outlet. The airflow flows through the dehumidification
system in order to
provide dehumidification to the airflow.
In some embodiments, a portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet and a pivoting
handle. The cabinet includes a front side and a back side opposite the front
side. The pivoting
handle is configured to pivot from a stored position to an engaged position.
The pivoting
handle includes a cross member, two extension members, and a cam arm. The
cross member
is configured to permit a user to grip the pivoting handle. Each extension
member is coupled
to a respective end of the cross member. The cam arm is coupled to one of the
extension
members at an end of the extension member that is opposite the cross member.
The cam arm
includes a spring arm configured to engage with a locking pin coupled to the
cabinet, a
clearance hole configured to permit the cam arm to clear the locking pin when
the pivoting
handle is in the stored position, an aperture configured to permit a pivot pin
to secure the cam
arm to the cabinet, and a compression gap adjacent to the spring arm. The
compression gap is
configured to permit the spring arm to provide resistance to the pivoting
handle during
pivoting.
In certain embodiments, a portable dehumidifier includes a cabinet and two
wheel
mounting brackets. The cabinet includes a front side and a back side opposite
the front side,
and a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. Each wheel mounting
bracket is
configured to secure one of two wheels to the cabinet. Each wheel mounting
bracket includes
an inside member, a bottom member, a top member and an outside member. The
inside
member includes a first axle aperture that is configured to accept one end of
an axle used to
secure one of the two wheels to the cabinet. The bottom member is coupled to
the inside
member and is proximate to the bottom side of the cabinet. The bottom member
includes one
or more mounting apertures configured to permit one or more fasteners to
couple the wheel
mounting bracket assembly to the bottom side of the cabinet. The outside
member is
proximate to an outside of the cabinet with respect to the inside member and
includes a second
axle aperture configured to accept another end of the axle. The top member
couples the
outside member to the inside member and is coupled to an end of the inside
member opposite
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to the bottom member. The top member includes one or more locating pins
configured to be
inserted into one or more locating apertures in the cabinet.
In certain embodiments, a method for controlling a fan of a dehumidifier
includes
performing a first step of obtaining an ambient temperature, an exhaust
temperature, and a
delta temperature that is a difference between the ambient temperature and the
exhaust
temperature. The method further include determining, after performing the
first step, whether
the delta temperature is within a delta temperature range. If the delta
temperature is within the
delta temperature range, the method proceeds back to the first step. If the
delta temperature is
not within the delta temperature range, the method performs a second step of
determining an
adjusted fan speed using the delta temperature. The method further includes
performing, after
performing the second step, a third step of setting the fan speed to the
determined adjusted fan
speed.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may provide one or more
technical
advantages. For example, unique internal arrangement of components of certain
embodiments
provides a portable dehumidifier that is more compact and rugged than existing
systems.
Certain embodiments include a pivoting/folding handle that pivots to an angle
when the
portable dehumidifier is being transported but folds down against the portable
dehumidifier for
storage. In some embodiments, the portable dehumidifier utilizes two unique
wheel mounting
brackets that enable the wheels to be mounted partially within and very close
to the cabinet of
the portable dehumidifier, thereby increasing the compactness of the portable
dehumidifier. In
some embodiments, the portable dehumidifier utilizes a unique control method
for its fan that
utilizes a delta temperature that is calculated between the exhaust and
ambient temperatures.
In these embodiments, there is a minimum delta temperature for each ambient
temperature that
the portable dehumidifier will attempt to maintain by adjusting its fan speed.
If the delta
temperature falls below a minimum allowed amount, the fan will be slowed to
maintain the
desired delta temperature.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include some, all, or none
of the
above advantages. One or more other technical advantages may be readily
apparent to those
skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention and the
features
and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken
in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGURES 1-2 illustrate perspective views of a portable dehumidifier, according
to
certain embodiments;
FIGURES 3A-3F illustrate cut-away views of the portable dehumidifier of
FIGURES
1-2, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURES 4-6 illustrate various positions of a pivoting handle of the portable
dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURES 7A-7G illustrate more details of the pivoting handle of FIGURES 4-6,
according to certain embodiments;
FIGURES 8A-8D illustrate a wheel mounting bracket assembly of the portable
dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURES 9A-9B illustrate another embodiment of the wheel mounting bracket
assembly of FIGURES 8A-8D, according to certain embodiments;
FIGURE 10 illustrates a fan control method that may be used by the portable
dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, according to certain embodiments; and
FIGURE 11 illustrates a computing system that may be used by the portable
dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, according to certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In certain situations, it is desirable to reduce the humidity of air within a
structure. For
example, in fire and flood restoration applications, it may be desirable to
remove water and
moisture from a damaged structure by placing one or more portable
dehumidifiers within the
structure. Many current dehumidifiers, however, are bulky, difficult to move,
not rugged, and
have proven inefficient in various respects.
The disclosed embodiments provide a portable dehumidifier that includes
various
features to address the inefficiencies and other issues with current portable
dehumidification
systems. In some embodiments, a unique internal arrangement of components is
used to
provide a portable dehumidifier that is more compact and rugged than existing
systems.
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Certain embodiments include a pivoting/folding handle that pivots to an angle
when the
portable dehumidifier is being transported but folds down against the portable
dehumidifier for
storage. In some embodiments, the portable dehumidifier utilizes two unique
wheel mounting
brackets that enable the wheels to be mounted partially within and very close
to the cabinet of
the portable dehumidifier, thereby increasing the compactness of the portable
dehumidifier. In
some embodiments, the portable dehumidifier utilizes a unique control method
for its fan that
utilizes a delta temperature that is calculated between the exhaust and
ambient temperatures.
In these embodiments, there is a minimum delta temperature for each ambient
temperature that
the portable dehumidifier will attempt to maintain by adjusting its fan speed.
If the delta
temperature falls below a minimum allowed amount, the fan will be slowed to
maintain the
desired delta temperature.
These and other advantages and features of certain embodiments arc discussed
in more
detail below in reference to FIGURES 1-11. FIGURES 1-2 illustrate perspective
views of
certain embodiments of a portable dehumidifier; FIGURES 3A-3F illustrate cut-
away views of
the portable dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, FIGURES 4-6 illustrate various
positions of a
pivoting handle of the portable dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, FIGURES 7A-7G
illustrate
more details of the pivoting handle of FIGURES 4-6, FIGURES 8A-8D illustrate a
wheel
mounting bracket of the portable dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, FIGURES 9A-9B
illustrate
another embodiment of the wheel mounting bracket of FIGURES 8A-8D, FIGURE 10
illustrates a fan control method that may be used by the portable dehumidifier
of FIGURES I -
2, and FIGURE 11 illustrates a computing system that may be used by the
portable
dehumidifier of FIGURES 1-2, according to certain embodiments.
FIGURES 1-2 illustrate perspective views of a portable dehumidifier 100,
according to
certain embodiments. In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a
cabinet
105, an airflow inlet 110, an airflow outlet 115, two or more wheels 130, a
pivoting handle
135, and one or more stationary handles 136. While a specific arrangement of
these and other
components of portable dehumidifier 100 are illustrated in these figures,
other embodiments
may have other arrangements and may have more or fewer components than those
illustrated.
In general, portable dehumidifier 100 provides dehumidification to an area
(e.g., a
room, a floor, etc.) by moving air through portable dehumidifier 100. To
dehumidify air,
portable dehumidifier 100 generates an airflow 101 that enters cabinet 105 via
airflow inlet
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110, travels through a dehumidification system (e.g., dehumidification system
300 described
below) where it is dried, and then exits cabinet 105 via airflow outlet 115.
Water removed
from airflow 101 via the dehumidification system may be captured within a
water reservoir of
portable dehumidifier 100 (e.g., drain pan 360 described below) where it may
be later
removed via, for example, a drain or a pump (e.g., drain pump 370 described
below).
Cabinet 105 may be any appropriate shape and size. In some embodiments,
cabinet
105 includes multiple sides 106. For example, some embodiments of cabinet 105
include a
top side 106A, a bottom side 106B, a front side 106C, a back side 106D, a
right side 106E, and
a left side 106F as illustrated in the figures. In some embodiments, airflow
inlet 110 is on
right side 106E and airflow outlet 115 is on left side 106F.
In some embodiments, cabinet 105 is formed from a rugged material such as
plastic.
In some embodiments, cabinet 105 is formed using a plastic rotational molding
process. In
some embodiments, all or a portion of cabinet 105 is removable for maintenance
and service
to portable dehumidifier 100. For example, cabinet 105 may include separate
top and lower
portions that are coupled to each other using any appropriate fasteners (e.g.,
screws, bolts,
etc.). The top portion of cabinet 105 may be easily removed by removing a
certain number of
fasteners that are accessible from the outside of cabinet 105.
Airflow inlet 110 is generally any opening in which airflow 101 enters
portable
dehumidifier 100. In some embodiments, airflow inlet 110 is geometric (e.g.,
hexagonal,
octagonal, square, rectangular, etc.) in shape as illustrated. In other
embodiments, airflow
inlet 110 may have any other appropriate shape or dimensions. In some
embodiments, airflow
inlet 110 includes a grate or grille that is formed out of geometric shapes.
For example, some
embodiments of airflow inlet 110 include a grill formed from hexagons,
octagons, and the
like. In some embodiments, a removable air filter (e.g., air filter 310
described below) may be
installed proximate to airflow inlet 110 to filter airflow 101 as it enters
portable dehumidifier
100. In some embodiments, airflow inlet 110 is located on right side 106E as
illustrated in the
figures, but may be in any other appropriate location on other embodiments of
portable
dehumidifier 100.
Airflow outlet 115 is generally any opening in which airflow 101 exits
portable
dehumidifier 100 after it has passed through a dehumidification system of
portable
dehumidifier 100 such as dehumidification system 1400 for dehumidification.
Similar to
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airflow inlet 110, airflow outlet 115 includes a grate or grille that is
formed out of geometric
shapes such as hexagons, octagons, and the like. Airflow outlet 115 may be
hexagonal,
octagonal, square, or rectangular in shape, but may have any other appropriate
shape or
dimensions. In some embodiments, airflow outlet 115 is located on left side
106F as
illustrated in the figures, but may be in any other appropriate location on
other embodiments
of portable dehumidifier 100.
Portable dehumidifier 100 includes a fan 117 that, when activated, draws
airflow 101
into portable dehumidifier 100 via airflow inlet 110, causes airflow 101 to
flow through a
dehumidification system such as dehumidification system 300, and exhausts
airflow 101 out
of airflow outlet 115. In some embodiments, fan 117 is located within cabinet
105 proximate
to airflow outlet 115 as illustrated in FIGURES 3A-3C. Fan 117 may be any type
of air mover
(e.g., axial fan, forward inclined impeller, backward inclined impeller, etc.)
that is configured
to generate airflow 101 that flows through portable dehumidifier 100 for
dehumidification and
exits portable dehumidifier 100 through airflow outlet 115.
Embodiments of portable dehumidifier 100 may include two or more wheels 130.
In
some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes two wheels 130 as
illustrated that
permit portable dehumidifier 100 to be tilted towards front side 106C and
easily transported to
a new location. Wheels 130 may be of any size and be made of any appropriate
materials. In
some embodiments, wheels 130 may be mounted to cabinet 105 using a bracket
such as wheel
mounting bracket assembly 810 or wheel mounting bracket 910 described below in
reference
to FIGURES 8A-9B. The use of such brackets may allow wheels 130 to be
partially within
and close to cabinet 105, which may help decrease the size and footprint of
portable
dehumidifier 100.
Some embodiments of portable dehumidifier 100 may include a pivoting handle
135.
Pivoting handle 135 may be used to tilt portable dehumidifier 100 towards
front side 106C and
rolled to a new location. Particular embodiments of pivoting handle 135 arc
described below
in reference to FIGURES 7A-7G.
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes one or more stationary
handles 136 that permit operators to lift and move portable dehumidifier 100.
In some
embodiments, stationary handles 136 are formed as a part of cabinet 105, but
may be separate
attachments in other embodiments. In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier
100 includes
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a first stationary handle 136 located on front side 106C and a second
stationary handle 136
located on back side 106D of cabinet 105.
Embodiments of portable dehumidifier 100 also include a control panel 140
located in
cabinet 105. In general, control panel 140 provides various controls for an
operator to control
certain functions of portable dehumidifier 100. While control panel 140 is
located on top side
106A close to front side 106C in some embodiments, control panel 140 may be
located in any
appropriate location on cabinet 105.
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a storage compartment
150
within cabinet 105. In general, storage compartment 150 provides a convenient
location for
operators to store hoses, cords, and other items needed for the operation of
portable
dehumidifier 100. In some embodiments, storage compartment 150 is an open
pocket located
on top side 106A of cabinet 105 as illustrated. In other embodiments, storage
compartment
150 may be in any other appropriate location on cabinet 105 and may include
one or more
doors or panels to enclose storage compartment 150. Storage compartment 150
allows the
operator to store needed accessories (e.g., cords, hoses, etc.) for each job
without limiting the
ability to stack and store portable dehumidifier 100 in the smallest possible
volume during
transport.
FIGURES 3A-3F illustrate various cut-away views of portable dehumidifier 100,
according to certain embodiments. FIGURE 3A is a cut-away top-down view of
portable
dehumidifier 100, FIGURES 3B-3C are cut-away perspective views of portable
dehumidifier
100, FIGURE 3D is a cut-away sectioned view of portable dehumidifier 100, and
FIGURES 3E-3F are cut-away perspective views of cabinet 105 (i.e., portable
dehumidifier
100 with most internal components removed). As
illustrated in these figures,
portable dehumidifier 100 includes various components to provide
dehumidification to airflow
101. In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a compressor 320
and a
dehumidification system 300 that may include a secondary evaporator 325,
a primary evaporator 330, a secondary condenser 340, and a primary condenser
350.
In some embodiments, dehumidification system 300 may be dehumidification
system 300
as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0266709, published September
20, 2018
and entitled "Dehumidifier with Secondary Evaporator and Condenser Coils."
These and other internal components of portable dehumidifier 100 are uniquely
arranged so as
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to minimize the size and maximize the effectiveness of portable dehumidifier
100. In some
embodiments, air filter 310 is located inside cabinet 105 adjacent to airflow
inlet 110, and fan
117 is located adjacent to airflow outlet 115. Fan 117 generates airflow 101
that flows from
airflow inlet 110 to airflow outlet 115 within cabinet 105. Secondary
evaporator 325 is
located adjacent to air filter 310 and receives airflow 101 from air filter
310. Primary
evaporator 330 is located adjacent to secondary evaporator 325 and receives
airflow 101 from
secondary evaporator 325. Secondary condenser 340 is located between primary
evaporator
330 and primary condenser 350 and receives airflow 101 from primary evaporator
330.
Primary condenser 350 is located adjacent to fan 117 and receives airflow 101
from secondary
condenser 340. Compressor 320 may be located adjacent to front side 106C of
cabinet 105 as
illustrated. In general, compressor 320 is not within airflow 101 in certain
embodiments.
FIGURE 3D is a cut-away sectioned view of portable dehumidifier 100, and
FIGURES
3E-3F are cut-away perspective views of cabinet 105. These figures illustrate
various features
of portable dehumidifier 100 for storing and disposing of water extracted from
airflow 101 by
dehumidification system 300. In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100
includes
drain pan 360 located at the bottom of cabinet 105 at least partially below
dehumidification
system 300. In some embodiments, drain pan 360 is integrally-formed as a part
of cabinet
105. In other embodiments, drain pan 360 may be a separate drain pan unit that
is coupled to
cabinet 105. Drain pan 360, in general, is configured to hold water that is
condensed from
dehumidification system 300.
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a drain pump 370 is
located
at least partially within drain pan 360. In some embodiments, drain pump 370
is located
adjacent to front side 106C of cabinet 105. In general, drain pump 370 is any
appropriate
electrical pump that is configured to pump water from drain pan 360 and out of
portable
dehumidifier 100 (e.g., via an attached hose).
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a drain pan cover 390
that is
located adjacent to front side 106C of cabinet 105. In some embodiments, drain
pan cover 390
is configured to secure drain pump 370 in place. In such embodiments, drain
pan cover 390
may include various features (e.g., indentations, ridges, etc.) that
correspond to various
features of drain pump 370 in order to secure drain pump 370 in place. In some
embodiments,
drain pump 370 may be fastened to drain pan cover 390 using any appropriate
fasteners in
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order to secure drain pump 370 in place. In general, drain pan cover 390
covers a front
portion of drain pan 360 that is adjacent to front side 106C of cabinet 105.
This prevents
water that is stored in drain pan 360 from spilling out of portable
dehumidifier 100 when
portable dehumidifier 100 is tilted towards front side 106C during transport.
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes a wall 380 as
illustrated in
FIGURES 3D-3F. In general, wall 380 is located at least partially between
secondary
condenser 340 and primary condenser 350. In some embodiments, wall 380 extends
from an
inside bottom surface of cabinet 105 to a height that is less than a height of
primary condenser
350. In some embodiments, wall 380 is less than one-fourth the height of
primary condenser
350. In general, wall 380 forms at least a portion of drain pan 360 and
prevents water from
exiting portable dehumidifier 100 via airflow outlet 115. As water is removed
from airflow
101 via dehumidification system 300, it falls via gravity to the bottom of
cabinet 105 and into
drain pan 360 where is may be later removed from portable dehumidifier 100. By
having wall
380 being integrated into cabinet 105 and forming a portion of drain pan 360,
valuable space
may be saved within portable dehumidifier 100. This further helps reduce the
overall size and
footprint of portable dehumidifier 100.
In some embodiments, wall 380 wraps at least partially around a bottom portion
321 of
compressor 320. This is best illustrated in FIGURE 3D. In addition to helping
secure
compressor 320, this curved feature of wall 380 further helps reduce the
overall size and
footprint of portable dehumidifier 100 by allowing compressor 320 to be moved
closer to the
middle of cabinet 105.
In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 includes features that permit
an
operator to claim ownership of portable dehumidifier 100. For example,
portable dehumidifier
100 may include a computing system (e.g., computer system 1100) and a
communications
interface (e.g., communication interface 1110) that permits portable
dehumidifier 100 to
communicate wirelessly (e.g., Bluetooth, BLE, or Wi-Fi) to another computing
system such as
a smartphone or tablet computer. To claim ownership of portable dehumidifier
100, an
operator may download and install a dedicated application ("app") to their
device and then
register for an account using the app. Once registered with the app, the
operator may establish
a wireless communications link with portable dehumidifier 100 using the
communications
interface (e.g., connect to portable dehumidifier 100 using Bluetooth) and
claim ownership of
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portable dehumidifier 100. Once connected, the operator may view the
current
status/performance history of portable dehumidifier 100 and control various
operations of
portable dehumidifier 100. In some embodiments, the purchaser of portable
dehumidifier 100
may associate portable dehumidifier 100 with a particular company. By using
this feature,
only employees of the particular company may be permitted to connect to
portable
dehumidifier 100 and view the current status/performance history of portable
dehumidifier
100 and control the operation of portable dehumidifier 100.
Although not illustrated, some embodiments of portable dehumidifier 100 may
include
multiple sensors to sense various aspects of airflow 101 and the environment.
For example,
portable dehumidifier 100 may include multiple sensors such as thermometers,
humidistats,
and the like. In some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 may include a
sensor to sense
conditions of the ambient air before it is dehumidified by portable
dehumidifier 100. Such a
sensor may be installed anywhere in airflow 101 prior to airflow 101 entering
secondary
evaporator 325 (e.g., anywhere between airflow inlet 110 and secondary
evaporator 325). In
some embodiments, portable dehumidifier 100 may include a sensor to sense
conditions of
airflow 101 as it is exhausted out of airflow outlet 115. Such a sensor may be
installed
anywhere in airflow 101 after airflow 101 exits primary condenser 350 (e.g.,
anywhere
between primary condenser 350 and airflow outlet 115). In some embodiments,
portable
dehumidifier 100 may include a sensor to sense the temperature of primary
evaporator 330.
This sensor may be installed anywhere proximate to primary evaporator 330.
FIGURES 4-7G illustrate details of pivoting handle 135 while pivoting handle
135 is
in various positions. In general, pivoting handle 135 may be used to tilt
portable dehumidifier
100 towards it front side 106C and then rolled to a new location on wheels
130. In general,
pivoting handle 135 provides a solution to a collapsible handle that is rigid
and is held in
multiple positions. To operate pivoting handle 135, an operator may push a
locking latch 410
to the side (FIGURE 7G) to unlock pivoting handle 135 from its stored position
(FIGURE 4
and 7C) and enable it to pivot upwards toward top side 106A. Once pivoting
handle 135 has
been unlocked, some embodiments of portable dehumidifier 100 utilize a torsion
spring (not
illustrated) to pivot pivoting handle 135 upwards toward the operator. The
operator grasps
pivoting handle 135 and pivots pivoting handle 135 upwards until it stops into
an engaged
position (e.g., approximately fifteen degrees above vertical). The engaged
position of pivoting
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handle 135 is illustrated in FIGURES 5-6 and 7B. Pivoting handle 135 is locked
into its
engaged position by a cam arm 720, described in more detail below. Once
pivoting handle
135 is in its engaged position, the operator may tilt portable dehumidifier
100 towards front
side 106C and transport portable dehumidifier 100 using wheels 130. Once no
longer needed,
pivoting handle 135 may be pivoted downwards and back into its stored position
(e.g., flat
against back side 106D). Once in its stored position, latch 410 automatically
rotates to engage
pivoting handle 135 and lock it in its stored position (FIGURE 7F).
As illustrated in FIGURES 7A-7G, some embodiments of pivoting handle 135
include
a cross member 710, two extension members 715, and a cam arm 720. Cross member
710 is
any appropriate shape that allows for an operator to hold cross member 710
while transporting
portable dehumidifier 100. In some embodiments, cross member 710 includes a
material (e.g.,
paint) or surface design that makes pivoting handle 135 suitable for gripping
by an operator.
In some embodiments, cross member 710 may be attached to extension members 715
using
any appropriate fastener (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) or may be permanently
attached to extension
members 715 using, for example, welding. Cross member 710, extension members
715, and
cam arm 720 may be made of any appropriate material such as metal or plastic.
In some embodiments, cam arm 720 includes a spring arm 730, a clearance hole
740,
an aperture 755 for a pivot pin 760, and a compression gap 780. Spring arm 730
may include
an indentation 790 and a straight edge 735. Pivot pin 760, which may be any
appropriate
fastener such as a shoulder bolt, is inserted through aperture 755 and into a
pivot plate 750 in
order to secure cam arm 720 to cabinet 105 and to provide a pivot point for
cam arm 720 to
pivot. Indentation 790 and straight edge 735 of spring arm 730 engages with a
locking pin
770 at various times while pivoting handle 135 is being pivoted. Locking pin
770 is any
appropriate fastener or protrusion coupled to pivot plate 750. In some
embodiments, a bearing
775 is coupled to locking pin 770 and is configured to contact spring arm 730
and rotate about
locking pin 770.
Spring arm 730 may have any appropriate shape to allow cam arm 720 to engage
locking pin 770 at various points while pivoting handle 135 is pivoting
upwards. In some
embodiments, spring arm 730 is a finger-shaped protrusion as illustrated in
FIGURES 4-7G
and includes indentation 790 at an end of spring arm 730. Indentation 790 is
any appropriate
feature at the end of spring arm 730 to engage with locking pin 770 and lock
pivoting handle
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135 in its engaged position (see FIGURE 7B). Compression gap 780 is adjacent
to spring arm
730 and is located between spring arm 730 and aperture 755. Compression gap
780 is any
appropriate shaped gap in cam arm 720 that allows spring arm 730 to compress
towards pivot
pin 760 and therefore act as a spring. This provides positive feedback and
resistance to
pivoting handle 135 as it is pivoted upwards to it engaged position.
Clearance hole 740 is any gap in cam arm 720 that permits cam arm 720 to clear
locking pin 770 when pivoting handle 135 is in the stored position (see FIGURE
7C). In other
words, clearance hole 740 prevents cam arm 720 from contacting locking pin 770
when
pivoting handle 135 is pivoted from its engaged position to its stored
position. Clearance hole
740 may have any appropriate shape, but is generally larger than locking pin
770. Clearance
hole 740 is located between an end of extension member 715 and pivot pin 760.
In operation, pivoting handle 135 is typically in the stored position when not
in use
(see FIGURE 7C). In the stored position, pivoting handle 135 lays flat against
back side 106D
of cabinet 105. In addition, as illustrated in FIGURE 7C, clearance hole 740
prevents cam
arm 720 from contacting locking pin 770 while pivoting handle 135 is in the
stored position.
When an operator desires to move portable dehumidifier 100 to a new location,
the operator
may push locking latch 410 to the side (see FIGURE 7G) to unlock pivoting
handle 135 from
its stored position and enable pivoting handle 135 to pivot upwards toward top
side 106A.
The operator then grasps pivoting handle 135 and pivots pivoting handle 135
upwards. While
pivoting handle 135 is being pivoted upwards, straight edge 735 of spring arm
730 begins
contacting locking pin 770 (see FIGURE 7D). This permits spring arm 730 to
slide along
locking pin 770. While sliding along locking pin 770, spring arm 730 begins
compressing
into compression gap 780. This spring action of spring arm 730 provides
positive feedback
and resistance to pivoting handle 135 during pivoting. Once pivoting handle
135 is pivoted
upwards further, indentation 790 will engage locking pin 770. This stops the
pivoting of
pivoting handle 135 and locks pivoting handle 135 into its engaged position
(see FIGURE
7E). At the engaged position, indentation 790 of spring arm 730 provides
enough holding
strength to hold up the weight of pivoting handle 135 without requiring the
operator to hold up
pivoting handle 135. In addition, the spring action of spring arm 730 and the
shape of
indentation 790 allows pivoting handle 135 to "pop" into its engaged position.
This provides
confirmation to the operator that pivoting handle 135 has been sufficiently
pivoted into the
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engaged position. Once pivoting handle 135 is in its engaged position, the
operator may tilt
portable dehumidifier 100 towards front side 106C and transport portable
dehumidifier 100
using wheels 130. Once no longer needed, pivoting handle 135 may be pivoted
downwards
and back into its stored position (e.g., flat against back side 106D). Once in
its stored position,
latch 410 automatically rotates to engage pivoting handle 135 and lock it in
its stored position
(see FIGURE 7F).
FIGURES 8A-8D illustrate a wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 of portable
dehumidifier 100, according to certain embodiments. In general, certain
embodiments of
portable dehumidifier 100 utilize two unique wheel mounting bracket assemblies
810 that
enable wheels 130 to be mounted partially within and very close to cabinet 105
of portable
dehumidifier 100. For example, wheels 130 may be partially covered by skirts
131 as
illustrated in FIGURES 1-2. Skirts 131 may be, for example, integrally-formed
portions of
cabinet 105 or may be separate components that are coupled to cabinet 105
during assembly.
This increases the compactness and ruggedness of portable dehumidifier 100.
FIGURE 8A
provides a cut-away view of cabinet 105 showing how wheel mounting bracket
assembly 810
is coupled to cabinet 105 in some embodiments. FIGURE 8B provides an isolated
view of
wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 and a wheel 130 that is coupled to wheel
mounting
bracket assembly 810 using an axle 805. FIGURES 8C-8D, which are discussed in
more
detail below, provide more details on specific embodiments of wheel mounting
bracket
assembly 810.
As illustrated in FIGURES 8C-8D, some embodiments of wheel mounting bracket
assembly 810 include an inside member 820, an outside member 830, a bottom
member 840,
and a top member 865. Inside member 820 is installed proximate to one of the
sides of
cabinet 105 and is closer to the interior of cabinet 105 than outside member
830. In some
embodiments, inside member 820 includes a first axle aperture 870 that is
configured to accept
one end of axle 805. Axle 805 is generally configured to secure one of wheels
130 to cabinet
105.
In some embodiments, bottom member 840 is coupled to an end of inside member
820
that is opposite from top member 865. When wheel mounting bracket assembly 810
is
installed in portable dehumidifier 100, bottom member 840 contacts a portion
of bottom side
106B of cabinet 105. In some embodiments, bottom member 840 includes one or
more
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mounting apertures 845 that are configured to permit one or more fasteners to
couple wheel
mounting bracket assembly 810 to bottom side 106B of cabinet 105. For example,
some
embodiments of bottom member 840 include two mounting apertures 845 that
permit two
fasteners (e.g., screws or bolts) to couple wheel mounting bracket assembly
810 to cabinet
105.
In some embodiments, top member 865 couples inside member 820 to outside
member
830. In some embodiments, top member 865 includes one or more locating pins
860 that are
configured to be inserted into one or more locating apertures (not
illustrated) in cabinet 105.
For example, some embodiments of wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 include
two
threaded locating pins 860 (e.g., bolts, screws, or pins that arc otherwise
coupled to top
member 865) that may be inserted into locating apertures of cabinet 105. The
locating
apertures may be any appropriate receptacle for locating pins 860 and function
to align and
secure wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 within cabinet 105. In some
embodiments, top
member 865 is two separate portions: one portion that is coupled to an end of
inside member
820 that is opposite to bottom member 840, and a second portion that is
coupled to an end of
outside member 830 that is opposite second axle aperture 835. In such
embodiments, wheel
mounting bracket assembly 810 is formed from two separate pieces that are
welded or
otherwise coupled together: inside member 820 and outside member 830. In
other
embodiments, wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 is a single bracket that is
formed from a
single piece of metal. An example of such embodiments is discussed below in
reference to
FIGURES 9A-9B.
In some embodiments, wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 includes an outside
member 830 that is closer to an outside of cabinet 105 with respect to inside
member 820
when wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 is installed in cabinet 105. In some
embodiments, outside member 830 includes a second axle aperture 835 that is
configured to
accept another end of axle 805. In some embodiments, outside member 830
includes a weld
nut 850 coupled to an outside surface of outside member 830 as illustrated.
Weld nut 850 may
be used to secure axle 805 and may include a threaded aperture that is aligned
with second
axle aperture 835. In some embodiments, outside member 830 is shorter than
inside member
820 as illustrated in the figures.
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In some embodiments, wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 includes multiple
gussets 880. For example, some embodiments include one or more first gussets
880 that are
located at an edge between inside member 820 and bottom member 840, one or
more second
gussets 880 that are located at an edge between inside member 820 and top
member 865, and
one or more third gussets 880 that are located at an edge between outside
member 830 and top
member 865. In general, gussets 880 give strength and structural support to
the various
members of wheel mounting bracket assembly 810.
FIGURES 9A-9B illustrate a wheel mounting bracket 910 according to certain
embodiments. In general, wheel mounting bracket 910 is similar to wheel
mounting bracket
assembly 810. However, unlike wheel mounting bracket assembly 810 which may be
formed
from two separate pieces of metal that are coupled together at top member 865,
wheel
mounting bracket 910 may be formed from a single piece of metal. This may
provide for
lower material and assembly costs for portable dehumidifier 100.
FIGURE 10 illustrates a fan control method 1000 that may be used by portable
dehumidifier 100, according to certain embodiments. In general, fan control
method 1000
provides for a unique method for controlling the speed of fan 117. For each
ambient
temperature, there is a minimum temperature difference between the exhaust
temperature and
the ambient temperature that portable dehumidifier 100 will try to maintain by
adjusting the
speed of fan 117. If the temperature difference falls below the minimum
allowed at that
ambient temperature, portable dehumidifier 100 will slow the speed of fan 117
to maintain the
temperature difference. A particular embodiment of fan control method 1000 is
discussed in
more detail below in reference to the flow chart illustrated in FIGURE 10.
At step 1002, which is an optional step in some embodiments, method 1000 turns
on
compressor 320. At step 1004, which may also be an optional step in some
embodiments,
method 1000 sets the speed of fan 117 to a default fan speed. In some
embodiments, the
default fan speed may be a maximum fan speed, a minimum fan speed, a fan speed
associated
with a quiet-mode of portable dehumidifier 100, or any other fan speed between
the minimum
and maximum fan speed. At step 1006, which may also be an optional step in
some
embodiments, method 1000 waits a first predetermined amount of time. In
some
embodiments, the first predetermined amount of time may be zero seconds or
less, greater than
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zero seconds but less than or equal to five minutes, or greater than five
minutes but less than
or equal to ten minutes. After step 1006, method 1000 may proceed to step
1010.
At step 1010, method 1000 performs a first step of obtaining an ambient
temperature,
obtaining an exhaust temperature, and calculating or otherwise obtaining a
delta temperature
which is a difference between the ambient temperature and the exhaust
temperature. In some
embodiments, the ambient temperature is obtained from a temperature sensor
located
anywhere within airflow 101 prior to dehumidification system 300, and the
exhaust
temperature is obtained from a temperature sensor located anywhere within
airflow 101 after
dehumidification system 300.
After step 1010, method 1000 may proceed to step 1020 where the delta
temperature of
step 1010 is compared to a predetermined delta temperature range. If the delta
temperature of
step 1010 is within the delta temperature range, method may proceed to step
1025. Otherwise,
if the delta temperature is not within the delta temperature range, method
1000 may proceed to
step 1030. In some embodiments, step 1020 includes determining whether the
delta
temperature of step 1010 is greater than or equal to 20 degrees Fahrenheit
(plus or minus 10%)
and less than or equal to 23 degrees Fahrenheit (plus or minus 10%). In some
embodiments,
the delta temperature range is a predetermined a constant range. In other
embodiments, the
delta temperature range is a variable range based on the ambient temperature.
At step 1025, method 1000 waits a second predetermined amount of time. The
second
predetermined amount of time may be, for example, zero seconds or less,
greater than zero
seconds but less than or equal to one minute, greater than one minute but less
than or equal to
five minutes, or greater than five minutes. After step 1025, method 1000
proceeds back to
step 1010.
At step 1030, method 1000 performs a second step of determining an adjusted
fan
speed using the delta temperature of step 1010. In some embodiments,
determining the
adjusted fan speed using the delta temperature of this step includes
calculating an adjusted
delta by subtracting a target delta constant from the delta temperature of
step 1010 and then
calculating the adjusted fan speed by multiplying the adjusted delta by a fan
unit constant.
The target delta constant may be, for example 21.5 degrees Fahrenheit (plus or
minus 20%).
In some embodiments, the fan unit constant is a number of fan units per degree
Fahrenheit
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(e.g., three fan units per degree Fahrenheit). The fan units may correspond to
a number of
rotations per minute (RPM) or cubic feet per minute (CFM).
After step 1030, method 1000 may proceed to step 1040 where portable
dehumidifier
100 determines whether an evaporator temperature is less than a predetermined
temperature.
In some embodiments, the evaporator temperature is a measurement of the
temperature of
primary evaporator 330 and is performed by any appropriate temperature sensor
located
proximate to primary evaporator 330. In some embodiments, the predetermined
temperature
is the water/ice point (i.e., 32 degrees Fahrenheit). If the evaporator
temperature is not less
than the predetermined temperature, method 1000 proceeds to step 1060.
However, if the
evaporator temperature is less than the predetermined temperature, method 1000
proceeds to
step 1050.
At step 1050, method 1000 determines if the adjusted fan speed determined in
step
1040 is positive (i.e., faster) or negative (i.e., slower) with respect to the
current fan speed. If
the adjusted fan speed is positive, method 1000 proceeds to step 1060. If the
adjusted fan
speed is negative or identical, method 1000 proceeds back to step 1010.
At step 1060, method 1000 performs a third step of setting the speed of fan
117 to the
adjusted fan speed determined in step 1030. After step 1060, method 1000
proceeds to step
1025 where method 1000 waits the second predetermined amount of time before
proceeding
back to step 1010.
Particular embodiments may repeat one or more steps of the method of FIGURE
10,
where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates
particular steps of the
method of FIGURE 10 as occurring in a particular order, this disclosure
contemplates any
suitable steps of the method of FIGURE 10 occurring in any suitable order.
Moreover,
although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular components,
devices, or systems
carrying out particular steps of the method of FIGURE 10, this disclosure
contemplates any
suitable combination of any suitable components, devices, or systems carrying
out any suitable
steps of the method of FIGURE 10 (including computer system 1100 described
below).
FIGURE 11 illustrates an example computer system 1100. In particular
embodiments,
one or more computer systems 1100 perform one or more steps of one or more
methods
described or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, one or more
computer systems 1100
provide functionality described or illustrated herein. In particular
embodiments, software
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running on one or more computer systems 1100 performs one or more steps of one
or more
methods described or illustrated herein or provides functionality described or
illustrated
herein. Particular embodiments include one or more portions of one or more
computer systems
1100. Herein, reference to a computer system may encompass a computing device,
and vice
versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to a computer system may
encompass one or
more computer systems, where appropriate.
This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer systems 1100.
This
disclosure contemplates computer system 1100 taking any suitable physical
form. As example
and not by way of limitation, computer system 1100 may be an embedded computer
system, a
system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for
example, a
computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computer
system, a
laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh
of computer
systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, a
tablet computer
system, an augmented/virtual reality device, or a combination of two or more
of these. Where
appropriate, computer system 1100 may include one or more computer systems
1100; be
unitary or distributed; span multiple locations; span multiple machines; span
multiple data
centers; or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components
in one or more
networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer systems 1100 may perform
without
substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one or more
methods described
or illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, one or more
computer
systems 1100 may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of
one or more
methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computer systems 1100 may
perform at
different times or at different locations one or more steps of one or more
methods described or
illustrated herein, where appropriate.
In particular embodiments, computer system 1100 includes a processor 1102,
memory
1104, storage 1106, an input/output (I/O) interface 1108, a communication
interface 1110, and
a bus 1112. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular
computer system
having a particular number of particular components in a particular
arrangement, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable computer system having any suitable
number of any
suitable components in any suitable arrangement.
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In particular embodiments, processor 1102 includes hardware for executing
instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example and
not by way of
limitation, to execute instructions, processor 1102 may retrieve (or fetch)
the instructions from
an internal register, an internal cache, memory 1104, or storage 1106; decode
and execute
them; and then write one or more results to an internal register, an internal
cache, memory
1104, or storage 1106. In particular embodiments, processor 1102 may include
one or more
internal caches for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure
contemplates processor
1102 including any suitable number of any suitable internal caches, where
appropriate. As an
example and not by way of limitation, processor 1102 may include one or more
instruction
caches, one or more data caches, and one or more translation lookaside buffers
(TLBs).
Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions in memory
1104 or storage
1106, and the instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions
by processor
1102. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory 1104 or storage
1106 for
instructions executing at processor 1102 to operate on; the results of
previous instructions
executed at processor 1102 for access by subsequent instructions executing at
processor 1102
or for writing to memory 1104 or storage 1106; or other suitable data. The
data caches may
speed up read or write operations by processor 1102. The TLBs may speed up
virtual-address
translation for processor 1102. In particular embodiments, processor 1102 may
include one or
more internal registers for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure
contemplates
processor 1102 including any suitable number of any suitable internal
registers, where
appropriate. Where appropriate, processor 1102 may include one or more
arithmetic logic
units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one or more processors
1102. Although
this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, this
disclosure contemplates any
suitable processor.
In particular embodiments, memory 1104 includes main memory for storing
instructions for processor 1102 to execute or data for processor 1102 to
operate on. As an
example and not by way of limitation, computer system 1100 may load
instructions from
storage 1106 or another source (such as, for example, another computer system
1100) to
memory 1104. Processor 1102 may then load the instructions from memory 1104 to
an
internal register or internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor
1102 may retrieve the
instructions from the internal register or internal cache and decode them.
During or after
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22
execution of the instructions, processor 1102 may write one or more results
(which may be
intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal cache.
Processor 1102 may then
write one or more of those results to memory 1104. In particular embodiments,
processor 1102
executes only instructions in one or more internal registers or internal
caches or in memory
1104 (as opposed to storage 1106 or elsewhere) and operates only on data in
one or more
internal registers or internal caches or in memory 1104 (as opposed to storage
1106 or
elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus
and a data
bus) may couple processor 1102 to memory 1104. Bus 1112 may include one or
more memory
buses, as described below. In particular embodiments, one or more memory
management units
(MMUs) reside between processor 1102 and memory 1104 and facilitate accesses
to memory
1104 requested by processor 1102. In particular embodiments, memory 1104
includes random
access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where
appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM).
Moreover,
where appropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. This
disclosure
contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory 1104 may include one or more memories
1104,
where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates
particular memory, this
disclosure contemplates any suitable memory.
In particular embodiments, storage 1106 includes mass storage for data or
instructions.
As an example and not by way of limitation, storage 1106 may include a hard
disk drive
(HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical
disc, magnetic
tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of
these. Storage
1106 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where
appropriate. Storage
1106 may be internal or external to computer system 1100, where appropriate.
In particular
embodiments, storage 1106 is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular
embodiments,
storage 1106 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may
be mask-
programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically
erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or
a
combination of two or more of these. This disclosure contemplates mass storage
1106 taking
any suitable physical form. Storage 1106 may include one or more storage
control units
facilitating communication between processor 1102 and storage 1106, where
appropriate.
Where appropriate, storage 1106 may include one or more storages 1106.
Although this
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disclosure describes and illustrates particular storage, this disclosure
contemplates any suitable
storage.
In particular embodiments, I/O interface 1108 includes hardware, software, or
both,
providing one or more interfaces for communication between computer system
1100 and one
or more I/O devices. Computer system 1100 may include one or more of these I/0
devices,
where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may enable communication
between a
person and computer system 1100. As an example and not by way of limitation,
an I/O device
may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner,
speaker, still
camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball, video camera, another
suitable I/O device or a
combination of two or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more
sensors. This
disclosure contemplates any suitable I/0 devices and any suitable I/O
interfaces 1108 for
them. Where appropriate, I/O interface 1108 may include one or more device or
software
drivers enabling processor 1102 to drive one or more of these I/O devices. I/0
interface 1108
may include one or more I/0 interfaces 1108, where appropriate. Although this
disclosure
describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, this disclosure
contemplates any suitable
I/0 interface.
In particular embodiments, communication interface 1110 includes hardware,
software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as,
for example,
packet-based communication) between computer system 1100 and one or more other
computer systems 1100 or one or more networks. As an example and not by way of
limitation,
communication interface 1110 may include a network interface controller (NIC)
or network
adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a
wireless NIC
(WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as
a WI-Fl
network. This disclosure contemplates any suitable network and any suitable
communication
interface 1110 for it. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer
system 1100 may
communicate with an ad hoc network, a personal area network (PAN), a local
area network
(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or
more
portions of the Internet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more
portions of one
or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As an example, computer
system 1100
may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH
WPAN), a WI-Fl network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such
as, for
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example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other
suitable
wireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Computer system
1100 may
include any suitable communication interface 1110 for any of these networks,
where
appropriate. Communication interface 1110 may include one or more
communication
interfaces 1110, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and
illustrates a
particular communication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable
communication
interface.
In particular embodiments, bus 1112 includes hardware, software, or both
coupling
components of computer system 1100 to each other. As an example and not by way
of
limitation, bus 1112 may include an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other
graphics bus,
an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB),
a
HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,
an
INF1NIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro
Channel
Architecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, a PCI-
Express
(PCIe) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video
Electronics
Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or a
combination of two or
more of these. Bus 1112 may include one or more buses 1112, where appropriate.
Although
this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosure
contemplates any
suitable bus or interconnect.
Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media may include
one
or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (such, as for
example, field-
programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard
disk drives
(HDDs), hybrid hard drives (HHDs), optical discs, optical disc drives (ODIN),
magneto-
optical discs, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppy disk drives
(FDDs), magnetic
tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs), RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or drives,
any other
suitable computer-readable non-transitory storage media, or any suitable
combination of two
or more of these, where appropriate. A computer-readable non-transitory
storage medium may
be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile,
where appropriate.
Herein, "or" is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated
otherwise or
indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, "A or B" means "A, B, or
both," unless
expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover,
"and" is both joint
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and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by
context. Therefore,
herein, "A and B" means "A and B, jointly or severally," unless expressly
indicated otherwise
or indicated otherwise by context.
The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions,
variations,
alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments described or
illustrated herein that
a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. The scope of this
disclosure is not
limited to the example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover,
although this
disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as
including particular
components, elements, feature, functions, operations, or steps, any of these
embodiments may
include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements,
features,
functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that
a person having
ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the
appended claims to
an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted
to, arranged
to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to
perform a particular
function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or
that particular
function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus,
system, or component
is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative.
Additionally,
although this disclosure describes or illustrates particular embodiments as
providing particular
advantages, particular embodiments may provide none, some, or all of these
advantages.
CA 3031426 2019-02-15
