Venting array and manufacturing method

• US 9,011,581 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• 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
• Application Number:
  US14/564,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20150114555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 133 Days
• 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 method of manufacturing a venting device for a container, the container defining an internal space and an ambient space, and having an aperture between the internal space and the ambient space, the venting device adapted for placement over the aperture, said method comprising:

a. providing a porous PTFE matrix,

b. providing a substrate material having a plurality of perforations,

c. combining the porous PTFE matrix and the substrate material such that the substrate material fills the adjacent porous PTFE matrix thereby creating a composite having regions of porous PTFE and regions of filled PTFE matrix, and

d. separating the composite into a plurality of venting devices, each venting device including at least one region of porous PTFE matrix.

2. A method of manufacturing a vented MEMS package comprising:

a. providing a MEMS package having a container, the container defining an internal space and an ambient space, and having an aperture between the internal space and the ambient space,

b. providing a porous PTFE matrix,

c. providing a substrate material having a plurality of perforations,

d. combining the porous PTFE matrix and the substrate material such that the substrate material fills the adjacent porous PTFE matrix thereby creating a composite having regions of porous PTFE and regions of filled PTFE matrix,

e. separating the composite into a plurality of venting devices, each venting device including at least one region of porous PTFE matrix, and

f. attaching a venting device over the aperture of the MEMS package.

3. A method of manufacturing a vent array, said method comprising:

a. providing a porous PTFE matrix,

b. providing a substrate material having a plurality of perforations, and

c. combining the porous PTFE matrix and the substrate material such that the substrate material fills the adjacent porous PTFE matrix thereby creating a composite having regions of porous PTFE and regions of filled PTFE matrix.