Sensor stack venting

• US 9,111,703 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2012
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitt, David Otto III, Shaw, Timothy C., Vandervoort, David C., Pleake, Todd David, Huala, Rob, Mickelson, Matthew David, Pelley, Joel Lawrence, Stoumbos, Christopher Harry, Spooner, Richard Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): LEON MUNOZ, EDWIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/653,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20130228435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/512, 200/515, 200/238
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1669 Detachable keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/82 characterised by contact space venting means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/88 Processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Sensor stack venting techniques are described. In one or more implementations, one or more vent structures are formed within layers of a pressure sensitive sensor stack for a device. Vent structures including channels, holes, slots, and so forth are designed to provide pathways for gas released by feature elements to escape. The pathways may be arranged to convey outgases through the layers to designated escape points in a controlled manner that prevents deformities typically caused by trapped gases. The escape points in some layers enable at least some other layers to be edge-sealed. Pathways may then be formed to convey gas from the edge-sealed layer(s) to an edge vented layer(s) having one or more escape points, such that feature elements in the edge-sealed layer(s) remain protected from contaminants.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor stack having a plurality of layers that include one or more feature elements to implement accessory functionality provided by the apparatus;

one or more vent structures formed in the pressure sensitive sensor stack to convey gases released by the feature elements between the plurality of layers to designated escape points disposed in one or more of the plurality of layers; and

a designated vent layer configured to include the designated escape points to handle the gases that are conveyed to the designated vent layer via the vent structures from at least one other layer of the plurality of layers.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the vent structures are configured to convey the gases to at least one vented layer that contains the designated escape points from at least one sealed layer that does not contain escape points.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising a connection portion configured to connect the apparatus as an accessory device to a computing device and provide the accessory functionality to the computing device when the computing device is communicatively coupled to the apparatus via the connection portion.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide keyboard functionality and the feature elements comprise one or more pressure sensitive keys configured to convey inputs to the computing device.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more vent structures formed across multiple layers of the plurality of layers are aligned one to another to form pathways between the multiple layers for the gases released by the feature elements.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more vent structures are formed by die cutting structures in one or more of the plurality of layers.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more vent structures are formed by laser etching structures in one or more of the plurality of layers.

8. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more vent structures are formed by selectively placing adhesive to form structures in one or more of the plurality of layers.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the plurality of layers include:

at least one edge-vented layer that includes one or more of the designated escape points to allow the gases to escape from the pressure sensitive sensor stack; and

at least one edge-sealed layer that is substantially sealed to protect feature elements within the edge-sealed layer from contaminants.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the at least some of the feature elements are formed by screen printing on the plurality of layers and the gases are produced by solvents used for the screen printing that are retained in the feature elements.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the feature elements include one or more sensor elements.

12. A method comprising:

forming vent structures within one or more of a plurality of layers of a pressure sensitive sensor stack including formation of designated escape points in at least one of the plurality of layers; and

assembling the pressure sensitive sensor stack to align the formed vent structures to produce pathways across multiple layers of the plurality of layers for gases released by feature elements such that the gases from the feature elements disposed in the plurality of layers are conveyed via the vent structures within the plurality of layers to the designated escape points.

13. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the vent structures are configured to convey the gases to at least one vented layer that contains one or more of the designated escape points from at least one sealed layer that does not contain escape points so as to protect feature elements contained within the at least one sealed layer from contamination.

14. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the vent structures comprise combinations of holes, slots, and channels that form one or more pathways between the plurality of layers to the designated escape points.

15. A method as described in claim 12, wherein forming the one or more the vent structures comprises removing material from portions of the plurality of layers to form one or more of holes, channels, slots, or escape points.

16. A method as described in claim 12, wherein forming the vent structures comprises selectively applying spacer material to form voids in at least one of the plurality of layers.

17. An computing device comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor stack having a plurality of layers including;

a sealed layer having one or more feature elements;

a vented layer of the plurality of layers with one or more escape points exposed to an exterior of the pressure sensitive sensor stack to allow gases to escape, the escape points including edge vents spaced along an edge of the vented layer; and

one or more vent structures formed in the plurality of layers to facilitate conveyance of the gases released by the feature elements in the sealed layer to the escape points in the vented layer.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the vented layer is configured as a designated vent layer having the one or more escape points and including one or more control structures to prevent contaminants from reaching the sealed layer and other layers of the plurality of layers.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor stack having a plurality of layers that include one or more feature elements to implement accessory functionality provided by the apparatus; and

one or more vent structures formed in the pressure sensitive sensor stack to convey gases released by the feature elements between the plurality of layers to designated escape points disposed in one or more of the plurality of layers, the one or more vent structures formed across multiple layers of the plurality of layers and aligned one to another to form pathways between the multiple layers for the gases released by the feature elements.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensitive sensor stack having a plurality of layers that include one or more feature elements to implement accessory functionality provided by the apparatus; and

one or more vent structures formed in the pressure sensitive sensor stack to convey gases released by the feature elements between the plurality of layers to designated escape points disposed in one or more of the plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including;

at least one edge-vented layer that includes one or more of the designated escape points to allow the gases to escape from the pressure sensitive sensor stack; and

at least one edge-sealed layer that is substantially sealed to protect feature elements within the edge-sealed layer from contaminants.