Container having an observation window

• US 5,293,996 A
• Filed: 05/14/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duncan, William V.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/883,323
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 206/204, 206/328, 206/332, 206/334, 206/459.1, 206/524.4
• US Class Current: 206/459.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2201/00 Means or constructions for testing or controlling the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/268 the absorber being enclosed in a small pack, e.g. bag, included in the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/30 by excluding light or other outside radiation wrappers B65D65/16
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67356 specially adapted for containing chips, dies or ICs
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67366 characterised by materials, roughness, coatings or the like materials relating to an injection moulding process B29C45/00; chemical composition of materials C08L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67386 characterised by the construction of the closed carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67396 characterised by the presence of antistatic elements

Abstract

A sealed container (10) having a plurality of compartments. A first compartment (11) has a window (15) with a transparent panel. A humidity indicator device (16) is placed within the first compartment (11). A second compartment (12) is coupled to the first compartment (11) by a plurality of environmental exchange channels (17). At least one article (27), such as plastic encapsulated electronic components, is stored in the second compartment (12). A third compartment (13) is coupled to the second compartment (12) by a plurality of moisture transport channels (20). A desiccant (31) is placed in the third compartment (13). An internal environment of the sealed container (10) is monitored by viewing the humidity indicator device (16) through the window (15).

Claims

1. A container having an observation window, wherein the container serves as a barrier to moisture and provides electro-static discharge protection, comprising:

a container, the container comprised of a top sheet and a bottom sheet, wherein at least a first compartment and a second compartment are between the top sheet and the bottom sheet;

a plurality of channels coupling the first compartment with the second compartment;

a plurality of bonds interdigitated with the plurality of channels, wherein the plurality of bonds are comprised of a plurality of discrete portions of the top sheet bonded with corresponding discrete portions of the bottom sheet;

an observation window, wherein the observation window exposes a portion of an interior of the first compartment; and

a moisture level monitoring material within the first compartment, the moisture level monitoring material being visible through the observation window.

2. The container having an observation window of claim 1, wherein a moisture absorption material is placed within the container.

3. The container having an observation window of claim 1, wherein the container has a third compartment coupled to the second compartment by another plurality of channels.

4. The container having an observation window of claim 3, wherein the container houses a moisture absorption material in at least one of the three compartments.

9. The container having an observation window of claim 1, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are multi-layer structures comprised of a layer of polyethylene, a layer of aluminum, and a layer of terepthalate polyethylene.

10. The container having an observation window of claim 1, wherein the moisture level monitoring material monitors humidity levels.

5. An electro-static discharge protected container capable of preventing an ingress of moisture to an interior portion of the electro-static discharge protected container and capable of displaying moisture levels in the interior portion, comprising:

an electro-static discharge protected container, wherein the electro-static discharge protected container is comprised of a top sheet and a bottom sheet, and has at least an article storage chamber and an environmental monitoring chamber between the top sheet and the bottom sheet;

an environmental monitoring material in the environmental monitoring chamber;

a plurality of channels linking the environmental monitoring chamber and the article storage chamber, wherein a plurality of bonds are interdigitated with the plurality of channels, the plurality of bonds comprised of a plurality of discrete portions of the top sheet bonded with corresponding discrete portions of the bottom sheet; and

a window, wherein the window enables visual inspection of an interior portion of the environmental monitoring chamber.

6. The electro-static discharge protected container of claim 5 wherein the article storage chamber houses an electronic device in a plastic package.

7. The electro-static discharge protected container of claim 5 wherein the electro-static discharge protected container includes a moisture absorption material storage chamber, the moisture absorption material storage chamber being linked to the article storage chamber by another plurality of channels.

8. The electro-static discharge protected container of claim 7, wherein the moisture absorption material storage chamber houses a moisture absorption material.

11. The electro-static discharge protected container of claim 5, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are multi-layer structures.

12. The electro-static discharge protected container of claim 11, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are comprised of a layer of polyethylene, a layer of aluminum, and a layer of terepthalate polyethylene.