Electronic device moisture indicators
First Claim
1. A portable electronic device comprising a moisture indicator structure, wherein the moisture indicator structure comprises:
- a wicking layer;
a dye on the wicking layer; and
upper and lower moisture barrier layers that cover the wicking layer and the dye and that are sealed along at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure, wherein the upper and lower moisture barrier layers comprise portions that touch each other to form a seal along the at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic devices may have sensitive circuitry. To determine whether an electronic device has been exposed to excessive amounts of moisture, the electronic device may be provided with a moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have a wicking layer of white paper and a red dye layer. If a portion of the moisture indicator is exposed to moisture, red dye may bleed into the white paper. The moisture indicator may be mounted in an input-output port opening or other portion of the electronic device where the state of the moisture indicator is visible. The moisture indicator may have sealed edges to reduce sensitivity to small amounts of moisture intrusion. Different regions of the moisture indicator may be provided with different sensitivities by forming structures that have altered moisture flow properties, by altering wicking layer thicknesses, or by otherwise spatially modifying moisture sensitivity.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A portable electronic device comprising a moisture indicator structure, wherein the moisture indicator structure comprises:
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a wicking layer; a dye on the wicking layer; and upper and lower moisture barrier layers that cover the wicking layer and the dye and that are sealed along at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure, wherein the upper and lower moisture barrier layers comprise portions that touch each other to form a seal along the at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A portable electronic device comprising a moisture indicator structure, wherein the moisture indicator structure comprises:
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a wicking layer; a dye on the wicking layer; and upper and lower moisture barrier layers that cover the wicking layer and the dye and that are sealed along at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure, wherein the upper and lower moisture barrier layers are sealed along the at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure to form at least one sealed edge of the moisture indicator structure that prevents moisture from reaching the wicking layer, wherein the moisture barrier layers are not sealed along an unsealed edge of the moisture indicator structure, and wherein moisture enters the wicking layer between the upper and lower moisture barrier layers along the unsealed edge of the moisture indicator structure. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A portable electronic device comprising a moisture indicator structure, wherein the moisture indicator structure comprises:
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a wicking layer; a dye on the wicking layer; upper and lower moisture barrier layers that cover the wicking layer and the dye and that are sealed along at least one edge of the moisture indicator structure; and a substance in a moisture-flow-impeding region in the wicking layer that impedes moisture flow, wherein the substance comprises wax.
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13. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a housing having an opening in an exterior surface of the housing; and a moisture indicator in the opening, wherein the moisture indicator comprises first and second moisture barrier layers that are sealed together along at least one sealed edge of the moisture indicator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification