Vapor ports for electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10264689-B2
Application number	US-201314103768-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2013
Priority date	Dec 11, 2012
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

An electronic device that has components is provided with a housing that defines an exterior and an interior of the electronic device. The housing includes a vapor port that prevents ingress of liquid through the vapor port from the exterior of the electronic device to the interior of the electronic device. The vapor port also permits egress of vapor through the vapor port from the interior of the electronic device to the exterior of the electronic device. The vapor port may include a breathable, but water-resistant or waterproof barrier to prevent water from entering through the barrier while enabling water vapor to exit through the barrier and, thus, the vapor port.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining an exterior of the electronic device and an interior of the electronic device;
a plurality of components within the interior of the electronic device, wherein one or more of the components generate heat when the electronic device is in use;
a vapor port in the housing, the vapor port preventing ingress of liquid through the vapor port from the exterior of the electronic device to the interior of the electronic device, and permitting egress of vapor through the vapor port from the interior of the electronic device to the exterior of the electronic device, the vapor port comprising:
an aperture;
a breathable element covering at least a portion of the aperture and allowing vapor to exit the interior of the electronic device through the aperture; and
a support element providing structure and support for the breathable element, the support element being discrete from the breathable element, wherein the support element comprises a grid with a plurality of apertures to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and wherein the breathable element comprises a coating applied to the support element; and

a liquid gathering element that collects liquid within the interior of the electronic device proximate to the one or more components that generate heat.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor port further comprises a waterproof element, the waterproof element facing the exterior of the electronic device, and a breathable element facing the interior of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor port is disposed on a front face of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , the vapor port comprising a material having apertures too small for liquid water to pass through and large enough for water vapor to pass through.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device further comprises:
one or more water-permeable seams; and
a waterproof and breathable material disposed along the one or more water-permeable seams and sealing the one or more water-permeable seams.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor port comprises an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene laminate.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor port comprises a polyurethane film.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor port is treated with a water repellent.

9. The electronic device of claim 1 , the vapor port comprising a hydrophilic monolithic interior surface.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , the vapor port further comprising a hydrophobic microporous membrane.

11. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a moisture resistant coating on an interior surface of at least one component of the plurality of components.

12. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a moisture proof housing including at least one seal to prevent moisture from entering into the interior of the electronic device.

13. A housing for an electronic device comprising:
a plurality of faces defining an exterior of the electronic device and an interior of the electronic device;
an aperture through the housing that defines a passage between the exterior of the electronic device and the interior of the electronic device;
a plurality of components within the interior of the electronic device, wherein one or more of the components generate heat when the electronic device is in use;
a liquid gathering element that collects liquid within the interior of the electronic device proximate to the one or more components that generate heat; and
a membrane entirely covering the aperture of the electronic device, the membrane comprising:
a waterproof element entirely covering the aperture and preventing liquid from entering the interior of the electronic device through the aperture; and
a breathable element covering at least a portion of the aperture and allowing vapor to exit the interior of the electronic device through the aperture;

a support element providing structure and support for the breathable element, the support element being discrete from the breathable element, wherein the support element comprises a grid with a plurality of apertures to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and wherein the breathable element comprises a coating applied to the support element.

14. The housing of claim 13 , wherein the breathable element is a fabric.

15. The housing of claim 14 , wherein the breathable element includes a water repellent finish.

16. The housing of claim 14 , wherein the fabric comprises one of a laminate applied to an interior of the fabric and a coating applied to the exterior of the fabric.

17. An electronic device comprising:
a housing defining an exterior of the electronic device and an interior of the electronic device;
a plurality of components within the interior of the electronic device;
a vapor port, wherein the vapor port is situated proximate to a heat sink of the electronic device, the vapor port comprising:
one or more apertures in the housing;
a breathable element preventing ingress of liquid through the apertures of the vapor port from the exterior of the electronic device to the interior of the electronic device, and permitting egress of vapor through the apertures of the vapor port from the interior of the electronic device to the exterior of the electronic device;

a support element providing structure and support for the breathable element, the support element being discrete from the breathable element, wherein the support element comprises a grid with a plurality of apertures to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and wherein the breathable element comprises a coating applied to the support element; and
a liquid gathering element that collects liquid proximate to the heat sink.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the breathable element is recessed relative to the exterior of the housing.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the breathable element comprises an oleophobic element.

20. The electronic device of claim 17 , further comprising:
a moisture resistant coating on an interior surface of at least one component of the plurality of components.

21. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the housing comprises a moisture proof housing including at least one seal to prevent moisture from entering into the interior of the electronic device.

Assignees

• Hzo Inc

Inventors

• Stevens Blake

Classifications

• H04M1/18 Primary

  Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment (H04M1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K5/068

  having a pressure compensation device, e.g. membrane (venting means H05K5/0213) · CPC title

• H05K5/0213 Primary

  Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof · CPC title

• H05K7/20009

  using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954) · CPC title

• G06F1/203

  for portable computers, e.g. for laptops · CPC title