Venting array and manufacturing method

• US 8,956,444 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Holliday, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Greene, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHUMATE, ANTHONY R
• Application Number:
  US13/795,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130263996A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 96/11
• US Class Current: 96/11
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/228 characterised by specific membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 69/1213 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/06 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 3/00 General-purpose turning-machines or devices, e.g. centre lathes with feed rod and lead screw; Sets of turning-machines
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0235 Accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0242 Gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0257 Microphones or microspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/0264 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0041 maintaining a controlled atmosphere with techniques not provided for in B81B7/0038
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0058 for protecting against damages due to external chemical or mechanical influences, e.g. shocks or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0061 suitable for fluid transfer from the MEMS out of the package or vice versa, e.g. transfer of liquid, gas, sound
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00293 maintaining a controlled atmosphere with processes not provided for in B81C1/00285
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/28 Transducer mountings or enclosures modified by provision of mechanical or acoustic impedances, e.g. resonator, damping means combinations of transducers with horns, i.e. front-loaded horns H04R1/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/11 Aspects relating to vents, e.g. shape, orientation, acoustic properties in ear tips of hearing devices to prevent occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/456 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 including nonapertured component

Abstract

The invention relates to a vent array comprising a plurality of venting regions comprising a porous PTFE matrix material and a nonporous material comprising a substrate material having a plurality of perforations, wherein the substrate material fills the pores of a porous PTFE matrix material to form nonporous regions, the nonporous regions interconnecting the plurality of venting regions.

Claims

1. A vent array comprising:

a. a plurality of venting regions comprising a porous PTFE matrix, and

b. a nonporous matrix material comprising a substrate material having a plurality of perforations, wherein the substrate material fills the pores of the porous PTFE matrix to form nonporous regions, the nonporous regions interconnecting the plurality of venting regions.

2. The vent array of claim 1 in which the porous PTFE matrix is oleophobic.

3. The vent array of claim 1 in which the substrate material is a dielectric material.

4. The vent array of claim 1 in which the substrate material is an epoxy.

5. The vent array of claim 1 in which the substrate material is polyimide.

6. The vent array of claim 1 having a thickness of less than 200 micron.

7. The vent array of claim 1 further comprising an attachment layer.

8. A vent array that is gas permeable comprising:

a plurality of venting regions comprising a porous polymeric matrix material that is liquid impermeable and gas permeable, and

a nonporous matrix material comprising a substrate material having a plurality of gas permeable perforations, wherein the substrate material fills pores of the porous polymeric matrix material in some regions to form nonporous regions, the nonporous regions interconnecting the plurality of venting regions.

9. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the porous polymeric matrix material comprises a porous PTFE matrix.

10. The vent array of claim 9 wherein the porous PTFE matrix is oleophobic.

11. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the substrate material comprises a thermoplastic.

12. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the substrate material comprises a dielectric material.

13. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the substrate material comprises an epoxy.

14. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the substrate material comprises polyimide.

15. The vent array of claim 8 having a thickness of less than 200 micron.

16. The vent array of claim 8 further comprising an attachment layer.

17. The vent array of claim 8 wherein the porous polymeric material matrix is laminated to the substrate material.