Leak detection in electronic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264994-B2
Application number	US-202318124483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2023
Priority date	May 24, 2022
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

Aspects of the subject technology relate to a device including a pressure sensor to measure a pressure level in a port cavity. A port allows equalization of air pressure between the port cavity and an outside environment. A vent port within the port cavity allows equalization of air pressure between the port cavity and an internal volume of a housing of the device. A tool is used to activate a heat-generating component of the device while the port is obstructed for a predetermined time duration to enable detecting a sealing efficacy of the housing.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system comprising:
a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure level in a port cavity;
a first port configured to allow equalization of air pressure between the port cavity and an outside environment;
a second port within the port cavity and configured to allow equalization of air pressure between the port cavity and an internal volume of a housing of the system; and
a tool configured to activate a heat-generating component of the system while the first port is obstructed for a predetermined time duration to enable detecting a seal efficacy of the housing.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating component comprises, a system-on-chip, a graphical processing-unit, a power management unit, and a battery charger.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the battery charger comprises a wireless charger and is used as the heat-generating component when the system is placed on the wireless charger.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a software tool including an application running on the system.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first port is configured to be externally obstructed manually by a user.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first port is configured to be externally obstructed by using an auxiliary component.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second port comprises an air-permeable and waterproof membrane.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure monitor configured to display a reading of a pressure of the internal volume of the housing, and wherein the seal efficacy of the housing is detected by examining a response of the pressure of the internal volume of the housing to a temperature rise due to an activation of the heat-generating component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein damage to a seal of the housing is detected by a non-rising pressure reading of the pressure monitor while the internal volume of the housing is heated by the heat-generating component.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined time duration is one of within a range of 30 to 60 seconds or related to a threshold rise in the pressure of the internal volume of the housing.

11. A smart device comprising:
one or more heat-generating components configured to be activated by a tool;
a housing sealed from an outside environment by a sealing component that is configured to prevent moisture from entering the housing; and
a pressure sensor disposed in a cavity and configured to measure a pressure inside the cavity, wherein the pressure inside the cavity is equalized with the outside environment via a first port and with a pressure of an internal volume of the housing via a second port,
wherein the tool is configured to activate at least one of the one or more heat-generating components while the first port is obstructed for a predetermined period to enable detecting a sealing efficacy.

12. The smart device of claim 11 , wherein the tool comprises a software tool including an application running on the smart device.

13. The smart device of claim 11 , wherein the first port is configured to be externally obstructed by a fingertip.

14. The smart device of claim 11 , wherein the second port comprises an air-permeable and waterproof membrane.

15. The smart device of claim 11 , further comprising a pressure indicator configured to display a reading of the pressure of the internal volume of the housing.

16. The smart device of claim 15 , wherein the sealing efficacy is detected by a non-rising pressure reading of the pressure indicator while a temperature of the internal volume of the housing is increased by the heat-generating components.

17. The smart device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more heat-generating components comprise a system-on-chip, a graphical processing-unit, a power management unit, and a battery charger.

18. The smart device of claim 17 , wherein the battery charger comprises a wireless charger and is used as a heat-generating component when the smart device is placed on the wireless charger.

19. A method comprising:
obstructing a first port of a device using one of a fingertip or an auxiliary component, the first port allowing equalization of air pressure between a port cavity and an outside environment;
activating a heat-generating component of the device to enable heating of an internal volume of a housing, wherein the housing is coupled to the port cavity via a second port that allows equalization of air pressure between the port cavity and an internal volume of the housing;
reading a pressure measured by a pressure sensor located within the port cavity after a predetermined time; and
determining a sealing efficacy of the housing by a read pressure while the heating of the internal volume of the housing is underway.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising using a tool including a software tool to activate the heat-generating component, wherein the heat-generating component comprises a system-on-chip, a graphical processing-unit, a power management unit, and a battery charger, and wherein the predetermined time is within a range of 30 to 60 seconds.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wiles Brentley M
• Wang Jeanny
• Macneil David

Classifications

• G01M3/26 Primary

  by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors · CPC title

• G01M3/3272 Primary

  for verifying the internal pressure of closed containers · CPC title