Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices

A method for removing moisture from the interior of a portable electronic device, comprising the acts of:

• providing a low-pressure chamber having a heated conduction platen arranged therewithin;
• providing a desiccator in fluid communication with the chamber and the desiccator;
• providing a pump in fluid communication with the chamber;
• placing upon said heated conduction platen the portable electronic device that has been rendered at least partially inoperable due to moisture intrusion, the portable electronic device being selected form the group consisting of cell phones, digital music players, watches, pagers, cameras, and tablet computers;
• heating the electronic device conductively by heating said heated conduction platen;
• controlling the heating of said heated conduction platen to maintain the temperature of the heated conduction platen within a range of about 110 degrees F. to about 120 degrees F.;
• decreasing pressure within the chamber during said heating by drawing gas from within the chamber using said pump to approximately 28-30 inches of Hg below the pressure outside of said chamber;
• removing moisture from the gas flow being drawn from within the chamber prior to the gas flow reaching said pump by directing said gas flow through said desiccator in a first direction;
• removing moisture from the interior of the portable electronic device to the exterior of the portable electronic device;
• increasing pressure within the chamber after said decreasing pressure, said increasing pressure including introducing ambient air into the low-pressure chamber;
• measuring the relative humidity within the chamber;
• equalizing the pressure within the chamber with the pressure outside of said chamber;
• and
• decreasing pressure and increasing pressure within the chamber a least once until the difference between a sequential relative humidity maximum and relative humidity minimum are within a predetermined tolerance.