PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH MOISTURE INFILTRATION INDICATION SYSTEM

• US 20090273480A1
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Erik L., Mittleman, Adam D., Sloey, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A portable electronic device may have a dock connector moisture infiltration indication structure for indicating whether moisture has infiltrated the device. The structure may be located within a dock connector port. The dock connector may have a viewing hole that enables viewing of the moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have four layers: upper and lower moisture barriers, a wicking layer and a dyeing layer. After becoming wet, the moisture indicator may change from one color to another color. A menu button in the device may have a transparent and opaque member with a viewing aperture. A moisture indicator may be formed on the button and may be viewed through the viewing aperture.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a housing having a dock connector with a viewing hole; and

a moisture indication structure attached to the dock connector and viewable through the viewing hole.

2. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the moisture indication structure comprises:

a wicking layer that covers the viewing hole; and

a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer.

3. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the moisture indication structure comprises a transparent moisture barrier layer attached to the dock connector and covering the viewing hole.

4. The portable electronic device defined in claim 3 wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises:

an additional moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer;

a wicking layer; and

a dyeing layer, wherein the wicking layer and the dyeing layer are interposed between the transparent moisture barrier layer and the additional moisture barrier layer.

5. The portable electronic device defined in claim 4 wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises an adhesive layer that attaches the moisture indication structure to the dock connector.

6. The portable electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the dock connector comprises alignment posts and wherein the moisture indication structure comprises alignment holes for receiving the alignment posts.

7. A moisture indication structure for a portable electronic device, the moisture indication structure comprising:

a first moisture barrier layer, the first moisture barrier layer being transparent;

a wicking layer adjacent to the first moisture barrier layer;

a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer; and

a second moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer, wherein the wicking layer is viewable through the first moisture barrier layer and has a first appearance before exposure to moisture and a second appearance when dyed with dye from the dyeing layer after exposure to moisture.

8. The moisture indication structure defined in claim 7 further comprising:

a dock connector having a hole that is covered by the first moisture barrier layer.

9. The moisture indication structure defined in claim 8 wherein the dock connector comprises a metal frame in which the hole is formed and a plurality of pins.

10. A button comprising:

a button structure; and

a moisture indication structure attached to the button structure.

11. The button defined in claim 10 wherein the button structure comprises a transparent member through which the moisture indication structure is viewed.

12. The button defined in claim 11 wherein the moisture indication structure comprises a wicking layer and a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer and wherein the wicking layer is viewable through the transparent member.

13. The button defined in claim 12 wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises a moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer.

14. The button defined in claim 13 further comprising a transparent adhesive layer that attaches the moisture indication structure to the button structure.

15. The button defined in claim 13 wherein the button structure comprises an opaque member with a viewing aperture wherein the opaque member is connected between the transparent member and the moisture indication structure so that the moisture indication structure is viewable through the viewing aperture.

16. The button defined in claim 15 wherein the opaque member comprises portions that define a ring shape for the viewing aperture.

17. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a housing; and

a button having a moisture indication structure.

18. The portable electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the button comprises a transparent member through which the moisture indication structure is viewed.

19. The portable electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the moisture indication structure comprises a wicking layer and a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer and wherein the wicking layer is viewable through the transparent member.

20. The portable electronic device defined in claim 17 further comprising:

a dock connector with a viewing hole; and

a moisture indicator attached to the dock connector and viewable through the viewing hole.