Progressive moisture detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9606045-B2
Application number	US-201414213175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A progressive, or graded, passive moisture detector is configured to provide an indication of the amount of moisture to which a moisture-sensitive substrate has been exposed, a duration of time that a moisture-sensitive substrate has been exposed to moisture or the effectiveness of one or more protective coatings at preventing moisture-sensitive components from being exposed to moisture. A progressive passive moisture detector includes a plurality of different passive moisture detectors with different properties. The passive moisture detectors may be arranged in a manner (e.g., a sequence, etc.) that correlates to information the progressive passive moisture detector is intended to provide.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A progressive moisture detector, comprising:
a plurality of physically discrete, adjacent, but spaced apart moisture detection elements comprising:
a first moisture detection element comprising a first moisture-resistant coating covering a first circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a first indicator layer exposed between a first bottom layer and a first top film, and
a second moisture detection element physically separate from the first moisture detection element comprising a second moisture-resistant coating covering a second circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a second indicator layer exposed between a second bottom layer and a second top film;

wherein the first moisture-resistant coating is laterally spaced apart from the second moisture-resistant coating and configured to react to a moisture exposure event differently from the second moisture-resistant coating.

2. The progressive moisture detector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete, adjacent, but spaced apart moisture detection elements are arranged in a series that corresponds to a moisture sensitivity of each moisture detection element of the plurality.

3. The progressive moisture detector of claim 2 , wherein:
the first moisture detection element in the series is configured to change appearance when exposed to moisture for a first duration of time; and
the second moisture detection element in the series is configured to change appearance when exposed to moisture for a second duration of time, the second duration less than the first duration.

4. The progressive moisture detector of claim 3 , the plurality of physically discrete, adjacent, but spaced apart moisture detection elements further comprising a third moisture detection element, wherein the third moisture detection element comprises a third circumferentially peripheral, laterally exposed surface of a third indicator layer and wherein the third moisture detection element lacks a moisture-resistant coating covering the third circumferentially peripheral, laterally exposed surface of the third indicator layer that inhibits exposure of an indicator of the first moisture detection element to moisture.

5. The progressive moisture detector of claim 4 , wherein the third moisture detection element is configured to change appearance when exposed to moisture for about a minute or less.

6. The progressive moisture detector of claim 4 , wherein the second moisture-resistant coating covering the second circumferentially peripheral, laterally exposed surface of the second indicator layer inhibits exposure of an indicator of the second moisture detection element to moisture.

7. The progressive moisture detector of claim 6 , wherein:
the third moisture detection element in the series is configured to change appearance when exposed to moisture for a third duration of time, the third duration less than the second duration.

8. The progressive moisture detector of claim 7 , wherein the third moisture detection element includes a feature that inhibits exposure of an indicator of the third moisture detection element to moisture.

9. The progressive moisture detector of claim 3 , wherein the second moisture-resistant coating of the second moisture detection element and the first moisture-resistant coating of the first moisture detection element comprise coatings formed from the same material, but having different thicknesses.

10. The progressive moisture detector of claim 3 , wherein the second moisture-resistant coating of the second moisture detection element and the first moisture-resistant coating of the first moisture detection element are made of different materials.

11. The progressive moisture detector of claim 3 , wherein the second moisture-resistant coating of the second moisture detection element and the first moisture-resistant coating of the first moisture detection element have different permeabilities to moisture.

12. The progressive moisture detector of claim 3 , wherein the first moisture detection element and the second moisture detection element comprise different dyes that are dissolved by a type of moisture at different rates.

13. An electronic device, comprising:
an electronic device; and
a plurality of physically discrete, adjacent, but spaced apart moisture detection elements comprising:
a first moisture detection element comprising a first moisture-resistant coating covering a first circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a first indicator layer exposed between a first bottom layer and a first top film, and
a second moisture detection element physically separate from the first moisture detection element comprising a second moisture-resistant coating covering a second circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a second indicator layer exposed between a second bottom layer and a second top film;

wherein the first moisture-resistant coating is laterally spaced apart from the second moisture-resistant coating and configured to react to a moisture exposure event differently from the second moisture-resistant coating.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising:
a moisture-resistant coating on at least a portion of the electronic device.

15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the moisture-resistant coating is on at least some surfaces within an interior of the electronic device.

16. The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising a third moisture detection element, wherein the third moisture detection element of the plurality includes laterally exposed surface of a third indicator layer not protected by a moisture-resistant coating.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the first moisture-resistant coating and the moisture-resistant coating on at least a portion of the electronic device comprise the same material.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the second moisture-resistant coating comprises a different material from a material of the first moisture-resistant coating.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the first moisture-resistant coating and the moisture resistant coating on at least a portion of the electronic device have about the same thicknesses.

20. A method for obtaining information about a moisture exposure event, comprising:
viewing a plurality of laterally discrete passive moisture detection sections of the progressive moisture detector providing different visible information about the moisture detection event, the plurality of laterally discrete passive moisture detection sections comprising:
a first moisture detection element comprising a first moisture-resistant coating covering a first circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a first indicator layer exposed between a first bottom layer and a first top film, and
a second moisture detection element physically separate from the first moisture detection element comprising a second moisture-resistant coating covering a second circumferentially exposed peripheral surface of a second indicator layer exposed between a second bottom layer and a second top film;
wherein the first moisture-resistant coating is laterally spaced apart from the second moisture-resistant coating;

determining whether or not an appearance of each passive moisture detection section of the progressive moisture detector has changed; and
correlating information about an appearance of each passive moisture detection section to a moisture exposure event.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein correlatin

Assignees

• Hzo Inc

Inventors

• Stevens Blake

Classifications

• G01N19/10 Primary

  Measuring moisture content, e.g. by measuring change in length of hygroscopic filament; Hygrometers · CPC title

• G01N21/81

  Indicating humidity · CPC title

• G01D7/005

  Indication of measured value by colour change · CPC title

• G01N31/222 Primary

  for investigating moisture content · CPC title