Water resistant vent in an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9939783-B2
Application number	US-201514830658-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Aug 19, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

An electronic device includes a compound designed to raise a surface tension of a water-based solution. The electronic device may include a vent feature to allow air to pass through the vent feature such that the air reaches a component in the electronic device. The vent feature may include a first vent structure and a second vent structure, both of which combine to confine the compound. When the water-based solution passes through an electronic device opening, the water-based solution may reach the first vent structure. If a surface tension is sufficiently low, the water-based solution may pass through the first vent structure. However, the water-based solution may then reach the compound causing the compound to dissociate, forming form positive and negative ions that attract molecules of the water-based solution. Then, the water-based solution surface tension increases and does not pass through the first vent structure or the second vent structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing having walls that define an interior volume, the housing carrying an operational component within the interior volume, the walls comprising a sidewall having a through hole that opens to the interior volume;
a vent feature positioned in the interior volume between the operational component and the through hole; and
a surface tension enhancing compound carried within the vent feature, the surface tension enhancing compound capable of increasing a surface tension of a liquid that passes through the through hole and enters the vent feature to define an increased surface tension of the liquid, wherein the increased surface tension prevents the liquid from exiting the vent feature.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the vent feature comprises a first mesh feature having a first opening and a second mesh feature having a second opening, the first opening and the second opening each having a size smaller than a size of the surface tension enhancing compound, and wherein the first opening and the second opening allow ambient air to flow to the operational component.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein when the liquid extends through the first mesh feature, the liquid remains between the first mesh feature and the second mesh feature based upon the increase of the surface tension of the liquid.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the operational component comprises a barometer.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension enhancing compound comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a salt and a fluorocarbon.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension enhancing compound, when interacting with the liquid, forms a positive ion and a negative ion, wherein the positive ion and the negative ion attract molecules of the liquid causing the liquid to include the increased surface tension.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cover glass coupled with the housing;
a display module covered by the cover glass;
a first band extending from a first end of the housing; and
a second band extending from a second end of the housing, the second end opposite the first end.

8. A wearable electronic device, comprising:
a sensing element;
a vent feature comprising a first layer having a first opening, the vent feature further comprising a second layer having a second opening; and
a compound disposed between the first layer and the second layer, the compound capable of interacting with a liquid that enters through the first opening such that the liquid increases from a first surface tension to a second surface tension, the compound preventing the liquid at the second surface tension from passing through the second opening and reaching the sensing element.

9. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the first layer comprises a mesh material that defines the first opening.

10. The wearable electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the second layer comprises a mesh material that defines the second opening.

11. The wearable electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the compound comprises a plurality of particles, and wherein each of the plurality of particles includes a size and a shape larger than the first opening and larger than the second opening.

12. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the compound ionizes when reacting with the liquid to form a positively charged ion and a negatively charged ion, and wherein the positively charged ion and the negatively charged ion increase the liquid to the second surface tension.

13. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising:
an enclosure including an opening; and
a speaker module that emits an audible sound from the electronic device via the opening of the enclosure.

14. The wearable electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the sensing element comprises a barometer that receives air via the opening of the enclosure and at least the first opening of the first layer, and wherein the vent feature is positioned between the opening and the barometer.

15. The wearable electronic device of claim 13 , further comprising a band feature coupled with the enclosure, the band feature configured to secure the wearable electronic device with an appendage of a user.

16. The wearable electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the compound comprises a salt that includes a potassium or sodium chloride.

17. A method for preventing ingress of a water-based solution to a component in an electronic device, the method comprising:
positioning a first vent structure and a second vent structure in an interior volume defined by an enclosure of the electronic device; and
disposing a compound between the first vent structure and the second vent structure, wherein when the water-based solution enters the enclosure and passes through the first vent structure, the compound interacts with the water-based solution and causes an increased surface tension of the water-based solution, the water-based solution prevented from passing through the second vent structure based on the increased surface tension.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first vent structure includes a first opening, and wherein the second vent structure feature includes a second opening.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein disposing the compound between the first vent structure and the second vent structure comprises disposing a salt between the first vent structure and the second vent structure.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein when the compound interacts with the water-based solution, the compound dissociates to form a positive ion and a negative ion, the positive ion and the negative ion attracting molecules of the water-based solution.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hilario Alvin J
• Huey Jason J
• Maharaj Moahni L

Classifications

• G04B37/00 Primary

  Cases {(cases with a special shape G04B45/0069; ornamentation of the case G04B47/04; cartridges A45C11/00 - A45C11/38)} · CPC title

• G04G17/08 Primary

  Housings · CPC title