Sterilizable wireless tracking and communication device and method for manufacturing

• US 8,600,374 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Hertlein, Robert, Perkins, Matthew R., Jorgensen, Gary, O'Bright, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US13/371,416
• Time in Patent Office: 661 Days
• Field of Search: 455/425, 455/575.1, 381/386, 361/816, 340/445
• US Class Current: 455/425
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/17 Hygienic or sanitary devices on telephone equipment for mouthpieces or earpieces H04R1/12
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

The present invention is a wireless communication device which includes a circuit board with a coating, a top housing, a bottom housing and a gasket. The wireless communication device is preferably a water-tight enclosure. A method for forming a water-proof wireless communication device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device comprising:

a circuit board with a coating;

a top housing having an upper wall and a side wall connected to the upper wall, the side wall having an extension and a protrusion extending downward;

a bottom housing for engagement with the top housing, the bottom housing having a lower wall and a side wall connected to lower wall, the side wall having a slot; and

a gasket with a designed interference for sealing a chamber defined by the top housing and the bottom housing;

wherein the circuit board is positioned within the chamber;

wherein the extension of the side wall of the top housing is positioned in the slot of the side wall of the bottom housing;

wherein the protrusion of the top housing, and the side wall of the bottom housing form a trap to prevent the passage of at least one of a liquid and a vapor into the chamber.

2. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a transceiver and a processor.

3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the top housing and the bottom housing are ultrasonic welded together to create a melt front on at least three surfaces for a liquid tight enclosure.

4. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the circuit board comprises a radiofrequency transmitter operating a low frequency communication protocol.

5. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein radiofrequency transmitter operating a ZIGBEE communication protocol.

6. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 further comprising a battery positioned within the chamber.

7. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is a water-tight enclosure.

8. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the coating of the circuit board is at least one of a paralyne coating, a silicone coating, an acrylic coating or a rubber coating.

9. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the housing is composed of at least one of an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material, or a polycarbonate material.

10. The wireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is composed of at least one of silicone, acrylic, a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber.

11. A method for forming a water-proof wireless communication device, the method comprising:

coating a circuit board with a coating material to form a coated circuit board;

placing a gasket around the coated circuit board;

placing the coated circuit board and gasket in a bottom housing;

mating a top housing with the bottom housing; and

ultrasonically welding the top housing with the bottom housing to form a water-proof wireless communication device;

wherein an extension of the side wall of the top housing is positioned in a slot of a side wall of the bottom housing;

wherein a protrusion of the top housing, the gasket and the side wall of the bottom housing form a trap to prevent the passage of at least one of a liquid and a vapor into a chamber formed by the top housing and the bottom housing.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the circuit board comprises a transceiver and a processor.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the gasket is composed of at least one of silicone, acrylic, a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the circuit board comprises a radiofrequency transmitter operating a low frequency communication protocol.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein radiofrequency transmitter operating a ZIGBEE communication protocol.

16. The method according to claim 11 further comprising a battery.

17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the gasket has an interference for sealing an interior chamber defined by the top housing and the bottom housing.

18. The method according to claim 11 wherein the coating of the circuit board is at least one of a paralyne coating, a silicone coating, an acrylic coating or a rubber coating.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the housing is composed of at least one of an amorphous thermoplastic polyetherimide, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material, or a polycarbonate material.