Electronic Devices With Moisture Resistant Openings

• US 20120224299A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Myers, Scott A., Weber, Douglas, Tan, Tang Yew, Dinh, Richard Hung Minh, Pakula, David A., Sloey, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0086 portable, e.g. battery operated apparatus casings for switching devices H01H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0214 with means preventing penetration of rain water or dust semi-permeable membranes H05K5/0215, H05K5/0216

Abstract

Electronic devices may have openings that serve as potential pathways for moisture intrusion into interior portions of the devices. An electronic device may be provided with moisture repelling coatings in the vicinity of these openings to help prevent moisture from reaching the interior of the device. The openings may be associated with gaps between adjacent housing structures, openings for buttons, openings for audio and connector ports or other openings in device structures. The moisture repelling coatings may be applied to housing surfaces, button members, structures associated with audio and connector ports, and other device structures.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that separates an interior region of the electronic device from an exterior region, wherein the housing has at least first and second housing members, wherein the first and second housing members have respective opposing first and second surfaces that are separated by a gap; and

a moisture repelling coating on the first and second surfaces.

2. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the first housing member comprises a housing sidewall member.

3. The electronic device defined in claim 2 further comprising a display cover layer with a peripheral edge, wherein the second housing member comprises a trim structure that runs along the peripheral edge.

4. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the first housing member comprises a display cover layer.

5. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the first housing member comprises metal and wherein the second housing member comprises plastic.

6. The electronic device defined in claim 5 wherein the first housing member comprise a peripheral housing member that forms sidewalls for the electronic device and wherein the plastic comprises glass-filled plastic.

7. The electronic device defined in claim 1 wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises fluorine.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening; and

a moisture repelling coating on a surface associated with the opening.

9. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a housing member, wherein the opening comprises a hole in the housing member, wherein the electronic device further comprises a button member in the opening, and wherein the moisture repelling coating is formed on the button member and at least some of the housing member.

10. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the housing member comprises a display cover layer, wherein the hole comprises a hole in the display cover layer, wherein the button member reciprocates within the hole in the display cover layer, wherein a surface of the hole is separated by a gap from a surface of the button member, and wherein the surface of the hole and the surface of the button member are coated with the moisture repelling coating.

11. The electronic device defined in claim 9 wherein the housing member comprises a sidewall member, wherein the hole comprises a hole in the sidewall member, wherein the button member reciprocates within the hole in the sidewall member, wherein a surface of the hole is separated by a gap from a surface of the button member, and wherein the surface of the hole and the surface of the button member are coated with the moisture repelling coating.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the button member forms part of a sliding button and wherein the button member has raised portions that facilitate sliding movement of the button member relative to the housing member.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the opening is associated with an audio port in the electronic device, the electronic device further comprising a mesh that covers the opening, wherein the moisture repelling coating is formed on the mesh.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 8 wherein the opening is associated with a connector port, the electronic device further comprising a connector structure mounted in the connector port, wherein at least one surface of the connector structure is coated with the moisture repelling coating.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the electronic device comprises at least one ring-shaped member in the audio port that is adjacent to the connector structure, wherein at least one surface of the ring-shaped member is coated with the moisture repelling coating.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the ring-shaped member comprises a plastic member having a surface that opposes a surface of the connector structure and wherein the moisture repelling coating is formed on the opposing surface of the plastic member and connector structure.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 14 wherein the connector structure comprises a plastic structure with openings that receive spring contacts and wherein surfaces in the openings of the plastic structure and surfaces of the spring contacts are coated with the moisture repelling coating.

18. An electronic device, comprising:

a display cover layer having a peripheral edge;

a trim member that runs along the peripheral edge;

a housing member on which the trim member is mounted; and

a moisture repelling coating on opposing surfaces between the trim member and the housing member.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 18 wherein the housing member comprises metal, wherein the trim member comprises plastic, and wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises fluorine.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 18 further comprising at least one connector port that has surfaces that are at least partly coated with the moisture repelling coating.

21. The electronic device defined in claim 18 further comprising at least one audio port that has a mesh that is at least partly coated with the moisture repelling coating.

22. The electronic device defined in claim 18 further comprising at least one button that has surfaces that are at least partly coated with the moisture repelling coating.