PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9300773-B2
Application Number: US-11390208-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Portable electronic device with moisture infiltration indication system

Abstract:
A portable electronic device may have a dock connector moisture infiltration indication structure for indicating whether moisture has infiltrated the device. The structure may be located within a dock connector port. The dock connector may have a viewing hole that enables viewing of the moisture indicator. The moisture indicator may have four layers: upper and lower moisture barriers, a wicking layer and a dyeing layer. After becoming wet, the moisture indicator may change from one color to another color. A menu button in the device may have a transparent and opaque member with a viewing aperture. A moisture indicator may be formed on the button and may be viewed through the viewing aperture.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a dock connector comprising a viewing hole inside the dock connector; and 
 a moisture indication structure attached to the dock connector and viewable through the viewing hole inside the dock connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the moisture indication structure comprises:
 a wicking layer that covers the viewing hole; and 
 a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer. 
 
     
     
       3. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the moisture indication structure comprises a transparent moisture barrier layer attached to the dock connector and covering the viewing hole. 
     
     
       4. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 3  wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises:
 an additional moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer; 
 a wicking layer; and 
 a dyeing layer, wherein the wicking layer and the dyeing layer are interposed between the transparent moisture barrier layer and the additional moisture barrier layer. 
 
     
     
       5. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 4  wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises an adhesive layer that attaches the moisture indication structure to the dock connector. 
     
     
       6. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the dock connector comprises alignment posts and wherein the moisture indication structure comprises alignment holes for receiving the alignment posts. 
     
     
       7. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the moisture indication structure comprises:
 a first moisture barrier layer, the first moisture barrier layer being transparent; 
 a wicking layer adjacent to the first moisture barrier layer; 
 a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer; and 
 a second moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer and operable to inhibit moisture from an interior region of the portable electronic device from reaching the dyeing layer, wherein the wicking layer is viewable through the first moisture barrier layer and has a first appearance before exposure to moisture and a second appearance when dyed with dye from the dyeing layer after exposure to moisture, wherein the dyeing layer has a surface in contact with the second moisture barrier layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 7  wherein the first moisture barrier layer covers the viewing hole. 
     
     
       9. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the dock connector comprises a metal frame in which the viewing hole is formed and a plurality of pins. 
     
     
       10. A button in an electronic device, the button comprising:
 a button structure having opposing interior and exterior surfaces and operable to receive user input at the exterior surface; and 
 a moisture indication structure attached to the interior surface of the button structure, wherein the button structure comprises a transparent member through which the moisture indication structure is viewed, wherein the moisture indication structure comprises an opaque member with an inner portion and an outer portion that surrounds the inner portion, wherein the inner and outer portions of the opaque member define a ring-shaped viewing aperture, and wherein the inner portion of the opaque member is connected to the moisture indication structure with an opaque adhesive layer. 
 
     
     
       11. The button defined in  claim 10  wherein the moisture indication structure comprises a wicking layer and a dyeing layer adjacent to the wicking layer and wherein the wicking layer is viewable through the transparent member. 
     
     
       12. The button defined in  claim 11  wherein the moisture indication structure further comprises a moisture barrier layer adjacent to the dyeing layer. 
     
     
       13. The button defined in  claim 12  wherein the opaque member is connected between the transparent member and the moisture indication structure so that the moisture indication structure is viewable through the viewing aperture. 
     
     
       14. The button defined in  claim 13 , wherein the opaque adhesive layer is in direct contact with the inner portion of the opaque member and is not in direct contact with the outer portion of the opaque member. 
     
     
       15. The button defined in  claim 13 , wherein the inner portion of the opaque member overlaps the opaque adhesive layer, and wherein the outer portion of the opaque member does not overlap the opaque adhesive layer. 
     
     
       16. A portable electronic device comprising:
 a housing having a port comprising a viewing hole inside the port; and 
 a moisture indication structure attached to the port and viewable through the viewing hole inside the port. 
 
     
     
       17. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the port comprises an input-output port. 
     
     
       18. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the port comprises a 30-pin data port connector. 
     
     
       19. The portable electronic device defined in  claim 16 , wherein the port is configured to receive a mating plug.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly, to moisture infiltration indicating systems for portable electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices. 
     Handheld electronic devices and other portable electronic devices are becoming increasingly popular. Examples of handheld devices include handheld computers, cellular telephones, media players, and hybrid devices that include the functionality of multiple devices of this type. Popular portable electronic devices that are somewhat larger than traditional handheld electronic devices include laptop computers and tablet computers. 
     Portable electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices may contain complex electronic circuitry in a compact area. Electronic components such as memory, processors, and other circuits are highly sensitive to moisture. Too much moisture can create unintended low resistance connections between nodes that are meant to be at different voltages making the circuits perform unpredictably or fail. Because portable electronic devices may not always be operated in a controlled environment, they may be more prone to moisture exposure than stationary electronic devices. 
     If a portable electronic device becomes inoperable, it can be difficult to determine if the device has been damaged by moisture or is inoperable for another reason. For example, a device may have been exposed to moisture without the knowledge of the owner of the device. It may therefore take time for the repair personnel to troubleshoot the device to determine whether the device has been infiltrated by sufficient moisture to damage the device. It is important to evaluate the moisture infiltration status of devices quickly and easily for many reasons, including troubleshooting, validating warranty claims, and failure analysis. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide electronic devices such as portable electronic devices with an improved moisture infiltration indication system which can easily and quickly indicate moisture infiltration. 
     SUMMARY 
     A portable electronic device such as a handheld electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a dock moisture infiltration indication system for indicating the moisture infiltration status of the device. The moisture infiltration indication system may be located within a dock connector port of the device. A dock connector may have a dock connector frame with a viewing hole structure that enables viewing of a moisture indication structure beneath the viewing hole. The moisture indication structure changes its appearance upon becoming moist and may have four layers: upper and lower moisture barrier layers, a wicking layer and a dyeing layer. When wet, the wicking layer may absorb wet dye from the dyeing layer thereby changing its appearance from one color (e.g., white) to another color (e.g., red). The upper moisture barrier layer may provide a moisture seal from the dock connector cavity while the lower moisture barrier layer may impede moisture from within the device. The moisture barrier layers therefore help prevent the moisture indication structure from becoming excessively sensitive to small amounts of moisture. The moisture barrier layers may be designed to allow more or less moisture to pass—depending upon the needs of the device. 
     With one suitable arrangement, the moisture infiltration indication system may be implemented as part of a button, such as a menu button. A moisture indication structure may be located beneath the transparent cover. A viewing aperture may allow the moisture indication structure to be viewed through the transparent cover. The viewing aperture may be provided in the form of a logo or other pattern. 
     Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional moisture indicating device located at the bottom of an audio jack. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of an illustrative dock connector having a moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an illustrative dock connector having a moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system without moisture barrier layers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system with an upper moisture barrier layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system with upper and lower moisture barrier layers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system with a lower moisture barrier layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of an upper portion of a conventional menu button. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system without a lower moisture barrier layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system with a lower moisture barrier layer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional side view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system showing how a moisture indication structure can be attached to a button using a central region of adhesive in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of a menu button moisture infiltration indication system showing how adhesive may be applied over the entire lower surface of the button in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to moisture infiltration indication structures for electronic devices. 
     The electronic devices may be portable electronic devices such as laptop computers or small portable computers of the type that are sometimes referred to as ultraportables. Portable electronic devices may also be somewhat smaller devices. Examples of smaller portable electronic devices include wrist-watch devices, pendant devices, headphone and earpiece devices, and other wearable and miniature devices. With one suitable arrangement, the portable electronic devices may be wireless electronic devices. 
     The wireless electronic devices may be, for example, handheld wireless devices such as cellular telephones, media players with wireless communications capabilities, handheld computers (also sometimes called personal digital assistants), remote controllers, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and handheld gaming devices. The wireless electronic devices may also be hybrid devices that combine the functionality of multiple conventional devices. Examples of hybrid portable electronic devices include a cellular telephone that includes media player functionality, a gaming device that includes a wireless communications capability, a cellular telephone that includes game and email functions, and a portable device that receives email, supports mobile telephone calls, has music player functionality and supports web browsing. These are merely illustrative examples. 
     An illustrative portable electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . Device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be, for example, a handheld electronic device that supports 2G and/or 3G cellular telephone and data functions, global positioning system capabilities, and local wireless communications capabilities (e.g., IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth®) and that supports handheld computing device functions such as internet browsing, email and calendar functions, games, music player functionality, etc. 
     Device  10  may have housing  12 . Antennas for handling wireless communications may be housed within housing  12  (as an example). 
     Housing  12 , which is sometimes referred to as a case, may be formed of any suitable materials including, plastic, glass, ceramics, metal, or other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some situations, housing  12  or portions of housing  12  may be formed from a dielectric or other low-conductivity material, so that the operation of conductive antenna elements that are located in proximity to housing  12  is not disrupted. Housing  12  or portions of housing  12  may also be formed from conductive materials such as metal. An advantage of forming housing  12  from a dielectric material such as plastic is that this may help to reduce the overall weight of device  10  and may avoid potential interference with wireless operations. 
     In scenarios in which housing  12  is formed from metal elements, one or more of the metal elements may be used as part of the antennas in device  10 . For example, metal portions of housing  12  may be shorted to an internal ground plane in device  10  to create a larger ground plane element for that device  10 . 
     Housing  12  may have a bezel, such as bezel  14 . Bezel  14  may be formed from a conductive material and may serve to hold a display or other device with a planar surface in place on device  10  and/or to form an esthetically pleasing trim around the edge of device  10 . 
     Display  16  may be a liquid crystal diode (LCD) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or any other suitable display. The outermost surface of display  16  may be formed from one or more plastic or glass layers. If desired, touch screen functionality may be integrated into display  16  or may be provided using a separate touch pad device. An advantage of integrating a touch screen into display  16  to make display  16  touch sensitive is that this type of arrangement can save space and reduce visual clutter. 
     Display screen  16  (e.g., a touch screen) is merely one example of an input-output device that may be used with electronic device  10 . If desired, electronic device  10  may have other input-output devices. For example, electronic device  10  may have user input control devices such as button  19 , and input-output components such as port  20  and one or more input-output jacks (e.g., for audio and/or video). Button  19  may be, for example, a menu button. Port  20  may contain a 30-pin data connector (as an example). Openings  22  and  24  may, if desired, form speaker and microphone ports. Speaker port  22  may be used when operating device  10  in speakerphone mode. Opening  23  may also form a speaker port. For example, speaker port  23  may serve as a telephone receiver that is placed adjacent to a user&#39;s ear during operation. In the example of  FIG. 1 , display screen  16  is shown as being mounted on the front face of handheld electronic device  10 , but display screen  16  may, if desired, be mounted on the rear face of handheld electronic device  10 , on a side of device  10 , on a flip-up portion of device  10  that is attached to a main body portion of device  10  by a hinge (for example), or using any other suitable mounting arrangement. 
     A user of electronic device  10  may supply input commands using user input interface devices such as button  19  and touch screen  16 . Suitable user input interface devices for electronic device  10  include buttons (e.g., alphanumeric keys, power on-off, power-on, power-off, and other specialized buttons, etc.), a touch pad, pointing stick, or other cursor control device, a microphone for supplying voice commands, or any other suitable interface for controlling device  10 . Although shown schematically as being formed on the top face of electronic device  10  in the example of  FIG. 1 , buttons such as button  19  and other user input interface devices may generally be formed on any suitable portion of electronic device  10 . For example, a button such as button  19  or other user interface control may be formed on the side of electronic device  10 . Buttons and other user interface controls can also be located on the top face, rear face, or other portion of device  10 . If desired, device  10  can be controlled remotely (e.g., using an infrared remote control, a radio-frequency remote control such as a Bluetooth® remote control, etc.). 
     Electronic device  10  may have ports such as port  20 . Port  20 , which may sometimes be referred to as a dock connector, 30-pin data port connector, input-output port, or bus connector, may be used as an input-output port (e.g., when connecting device  10  to a mating dock connected to a computer or other electronic device). Port  20  may contain pins for receiving data and power signals. Device  10  may also have audio and video jacks that allow device  10  to interface with external components. Typical ports include power pins to recharge a battery within device  10  or to operate device  10  from a direct current (DC) power supply, data pins to exchange data with external components such as a personal computer or peripheral, audio-visual jacks to drive headphones, a monitor, or other external audio-video equipment, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card port to authorize cellular telephone service, a memory card slot, etc. The functions of some or all of these devices and the internal circuitry of electronic device  10  can be controlled using input interface devices such as touch screen display  16 . 
     Components such as display  16  and other user input interface devices may cover most of the available surface area on the front face of device  10  (as shown in the example of  FIG. 1 ) or may occupy only a small portion of the front face of device  10 . Because electronic components such as display  16  often contain large amounts of metal (e.g., as radio-frequency shielding), the location of these components relative to the antenna elements in device  10  should generally be taken into consideration. Suitably chosen locations for the antenna elements and electronic components of the device will allow the antennas of electronic device  10  to function properly without being disrupted by the electronic components. 
     Examples of locations in which antenna structures may be located in device  10  include region  18  and region  21 . These are merely illustrative examples. Any suitable portion of device  10  may be used to house antenna structures for device  10  if desired. 
     A schematic diagram of an embodiment of an illustrative portable electronic device such as a handheld electronic device is shown in  FIG. 2 . Portable device  10  may be a mobile telephone, a mobile telephone with media player capabilities, a handheld computer, a remote control, a game player, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, an ultraportable computer, a hybrid device that includes the functionality of some or all of these devices, or any other suitable portable electronic device. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , device  10  may include storage  34 . Storage  34  may include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile memory (e.g., battery-based static or dynamic random-access-memory), etc. 
     Processing circuitry  36  may be used to control the operation of device  10 . Processing circuitry  36  may be based on a processor such as a microprocessor and other suitable integrated circuits. With one suitable arrangement, processing circuitry  36  and storage  34  are used to run software on device  10 , such as internet browsing applications, voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system functions, etc. Processing circuitry  36  and storage  34  may be used in implementing suitable communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using processing circuitry  36  and storage  34  include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, protocols for handling 3G communications services (e.g., using wide band code division multiple access techniques), 2G cellular telephone communications protocols, etc. To minimize power consumption, processing circuitry  36  may include power management circuitry to implement power management functions. 
     Input-output devices  38  may be used to allow data to be supplied to device  10  and to allow data to be provided from device  10  to external devices. Display screen  16 , button  19 , microphone port  24 , speaker port  22 , and dock connector port  20  are examples of input-output devices  38 . 
     Input-output devices  38  can include user input-output devices  40  such as buttons, touch screens, joysticks, click wheels, scrolling wheels, touch pads, key pads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, etc. A user can control the operation of device  10  by supplying commands through user input devices  40 . Display and audio devices  42  may include liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens or other screens, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and other components that present visual information and status data. Display and audio devices  42  may also include audio equipment such as speakers and other devices for creating sound. Display and audio devices  42  may contain audio-video interface equipment such as jacks and other connectors for external headphones and monitors. 
     Wireless communications devices  44  may include communications circuitry such as radio-frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry formed from one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, passive RF components, antennas, and other circuitry for handling RF wireless signals. Wireless signals can also be sent using light (e.g., using infrared communications). 
     Device  10  can communicate with external devices such as accessories  46 , computing equipment  48 , and wireless network  49  as shown by paths  50  and  51 . Paths  50  may include wired and wireless paths. Path  51  may be a wireless path. Accessories  46  may include headphones (e.g., a wireless cellular headset or audio headphones) and audio-video equipment (e.g., wireless speakers, a game controller, or other equipment that receives and plays audio and video content), a peripheral such as a wireless printer or camera, etc. 
     Computing equipment  48  may be any suitable computer. With one suitable arrangement, computing equipment  48  is a computer that has an associated wireless access point (router) or an internal or external wireless card that establishes a wireless connection with device  10 . The computer may be a server (e.g., an internet server), a local area network computer with or without internet access, a user&#39;s own personal computer, a peer device (e.g., another portable electronic device  10 ), or any other suitable computing equipment. 
     Wireless network  49  may include any suitable network equipment, such as cellular telephone base stations, cellular towers, wireless data networks, computers associated with wireless networks, etc. For example, wireless network  49  may include network management equipment that monitors the wireless signal strength of the wireless handsets (cellular telephones, handheld computing devices, etc.) that are in communication with network  49 . 
     The antenna structures and wireless communications devices of device  10  may support communications over any suitable wireless communications bands. For example, wireless communications devices  44  may be used to cover communications frequency bands such as cellular telephone voice and data bands at 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, and 2100 MHz (as examples). Devices  44  may also be used to handle the Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11) bands at 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz (also sometimes referred to as wireless local area network or WLAN bands), the Bluetooth® band at 2.4 GHz, and the global positioning system (GPS) band at 1575 MHz. 
     To facilitate manufacturing operations, device  10  may be formed from two intermediate assemblies, representing upper and lower portions of device  10 . The upper or top portion of device  10  may sometimes be referred to as a tilt assembly. The lower or bottom portion of device  10  may sometimes be referred to as a housing assembly. 
     The tilt and housing assemblies are each formed from a number of smaller components. For example, the tilt assembly may be formed from components such as display  16  and an associated touch sensor. The housing assembly may include a plastic housing portion such as plastic housing portion  12  and printed circuit boards. Integrated circuits and other components may be mounted on the printed circuit boards. During manufacturing, one end of the tilt assembly may be inserted into the housing assembly. The tilt assembly may then be rotated (“tilted”) into place so that the upper surface of the tilt assembly lies flush with the upper edges of the housing assembly. 
     An exploded perspective view showing illustrative components of device  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Tilt assembly  60  (shown in its unassembled state in  FIG. 3 ) may include components such as cover  62 , touch sensitive sensor  64 , display unit  66 , and frame  68 . Cover  62  may be formed of glass or other suitable transparent materials (e.g., plastic, combinations of one or more glasses and one or more plastics, etc.). Display unit  66  may be, for example, a color liquid crystal display. Frame  68  may be formed from one or more pieces. With one suitable arrangement, frame  68  may include metal pieces to which plastic parts are connected using an overmolding process. If desired, frame  68  may be formed entirely from plastic or entirely from metal. 
     Housing assembly  70  (shown in its unassembled state in  FIG. 3 ) may include housing  12 . Housing  12  may be formed of plastic and/or other materials such a metal (metal alloys). For example, housing  12  may be formed of plastic to which metal members are mounted using fasteners and/or a plastic overmolding process. Bezel  14  may be formed of plastic or other dielectric materials or may be formed from metal or other conductive materials. Housing assembly  70  may also include one or more printed circuit boards such as printed circuit board  72 . Housing assembly  70  may also include components such as microphone  76  for microphone port  24 , speaker  78  for speaker port  22 , and dock connector  20 , integrated circuits, a camera, ear speaker for port  23 , audio jack, buttons, SIM card slot, etc. 
     Device  10  contains numerous electronic components such as printed circuit board  72 , integrated circuits (ICs) mounted on board  72 , display unit  66 , touch sensor  64 , a camera, etc. These components are moisture sensitive. Too much moisture can create unintended low resistance connections, or short circuits, between nodes that are meant to be at different voltages, making the circuits perform unpredictably or fail. For that reason, many portable electronic devices utilize structures for inhibiting moisture infiltration into the device. Such structures may include gaskets and moisture-repellent treatments to prevent water or moisture ingress into a device. Despite these safeguards, a portable electronic device may have sufficient moisture infiltration to cause the device to fail if, perhaps, the device is inadvertently immersed in water or a liquid is spilled on the device. 
     When a portable device has failed or is not operating in a normal manner, it is important to quickly and easily identify that the device malfunction is related to moisture exposure. Convenient moisture infiltration indicators allows technicians to ascertain the moisture exposure history of the device. This facilitates troubleshooting and allows a business to evaluate warranty claims. 
     Various systems for indicating the moisture infiltration status of an electronic device have been used in the past. Many include use of a moisture indicating structure (often referred to as a “water dot”) in the interior of the device, sometimes under replaceable batteries. These systems have some drawbacks. While providing an indication that moisture had infiltrated the interior of the device and likely in proximity to the moisture-sensitive circuitry, it is inconvenient to access the moisture indicating substance to examine it as, many times, a device cover and batteries need to be removed. 
     Other systems have provided a water dot viewable from the exterior of the device, making it more convenient for examination.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional moisture indication system, such as system  90  of this type. System  90  has a water dot made up of red dye layer  92  and white wicking layer  94 , attached at the base of audio jack  98  with adhesive  96 . Audio jack  98  has an audio jack opening  100  for receiving an audio plug or other type of plug. When the water dot becomes wet, the red dye from layer  92  colors white layer  94 . This provides a visual indication that the device has become wet. The status of the water dot can be examined by viewing the color of layer  94  through audio jack  90 . 
     This system has drawbacks, however. While it may provide an external visual indication of water penetration by manually examining the moisture indicating substance through audio jack opening  100 , it may be difficult to view as audio jack openings are generally small in diameter as compared to their depth. Another drawback is that audio jack  98  may be physically away from many water sensitive components so that a water infiltration indication at audio jack  98  may have no bearing on whether the water reached the water sensitive circuitry. Yet another drawback is that audio jack  98 , due to its shape coupled with its typical location (on the top of the device), may act a water collection well giving a false indication of water infiltration into the interior of the device. Moreover, when in use, a cord for headphones, as a typical use example, may act as a water conduit in that water landing anywhere along the cord may track down the cord into the audio jack well. This could provide an indication of water infiltration in the jack area but possibly not in the interior of the device near the electronic circuitry. Jack  98  may also be blocked during normal use making the water dot arrangement of  FIG. 4  insufficiently sensitive. 
       FIG. 5  provides a perspective view of an illustrative portable electronic device having a moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Portable electronic device  10  may have a port, such as port  20 . Port  20  may have connector assembly  104  for receiving a mating plug, such as a 30-pin data port connector plug. Port  20 , together with connector assembly  104 , may sometimes be referred to as a dock connector, 30-pin data port connector, input-output port, or bus connector. Connector assembly  104  may be provided with a moisture infiltration indication structure (e.g., structure  102 ). 
     Portable electronic device  10  may also have tilt assembly  60 , which may include cover  62 . Cover  62  may be formed of glass or other suitable transparent materials (e.g., plastic, combinations of one or more glasses and one or more plastics, etc.). Cover  62 , while providing viewing access to a display, may also provide some water, shock and other protection for the electronics of the device. Cover  62  may also provide a menu button opening, such as opening  105 , for menu button  19 . Menu button  19  may have a transparent covering. If desired, buttons such as menu button  19  may be provided with a moisture infiltration indicator (e.g., indicator  103 ) in addition to or instead of a dock connector indicator such as indicator  102 . 
     An exploded bottom perspective view showing illustrative components of connector assembly  104  is shown in  FIG. 6  for illustrating an embodiment of moisture infiltration indication system  102  of the present invention. 
     Connector assembly  104  of device  10  has frame  106 , which is a structural system that supports other components of connector assembly  104 , and moisture indication structure  114  (sometimes referred to as a water dot or water dot layer). Frame  106  has mounting holes  107  for allowing connector assembly  104  to be mounted within port  20 . Frame  106  may be formed from one or more pieces. With one suitable arrangement, frame  106  may include metal pieces to which plastic parts, such as viewing hole structure  108 , are connected using an overmolding process. If desired, frame  106  may be formed entirely from plastic or entirely from metal. In the example of  FIG. 6 , viewing hole structure  108  is a plastic overmold connected to frame  106 . Viewing hole structure  108  has viewing hole  110  located near the center of viewing hole structure  108 . Viewing hole  110  may be of any size and shape and may be placed in any location so that lows viewing of moisture exposure status from outside of device  10  through port  20 . In the  FIG. 6  example, a user can view the color of the underside of indicator  114  through the opening of dock connector  20  and hole  110 . 
     Viewing hole structure  108  may further have alignment posts  112  located on each end of viewing hole structure  108  and on each side of viewing hole  110 . The location of alignment posts  112  may be in any suitable location to align a moisture indication structure such as structure  114  to be positioned so that it covers viewing hole  110  when installed. 
     Moisture indication structure  114  has alignment holes  116  that, together with alignment posts  112 , align moisture indication structure  114  so that it covers viewing hole  110 . Moisture indication structure  114  provides a visual indication, generally by changing colors (e.g., from white to red) when moisture comes into contact with it. Moisture indication structure  114  is connected to viewing hole structure  108  by an adhesive such as adhesive layer  118 . Adhesive layer  118  may be of any suitable adhesive material such as two-sided pressure sensitive adhesive film (double sided tape), an adhesive without film backing etc. 
     A top perspective view of connector assembly  104  is shown in  FIG. 7 , illustrating how viewing hole structure  108  may have a viewing hole such as viewing hole  110  so that moisture indication structure  114  may be viewed from the exterior of the device without disassembly. Connector assembly  104  further has pins  120 . There may be any suitable number of pins, or contacts, such as 30 pins as in a rectangular 30-pin dock connector. With the 30-pin dock connector, an electronic device (i.e., device  10 ) such as an Apple® iPod® mobile digital device, can be charged, connected to a personal computer via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) path, connected to audio equipment, etc. Device  10  may be use with other suitable connector types if desired. 
     A cross-sectional side view A-A of  FIG. 7  of an illustrative arrangement for a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system such as system  102  is shown in  FIG. 8 . System  102  of  FIG. 8  has frame  106  connected to viewing hole structure  108  providing viewing hole  110 . Adhesive layer  118  bonds moisture indication structure  114  to viewing hole structure  108 . Moisture indication structure  114  has two layers—wicking layer  124  and dyeing layer  126 . Wicking layer  124  is made of a wicking material that provides a capillary action or the ability to draw another substance, in this case moisture, into it. Wicking layer  124  has a prespecified color when dry and no foreign substance has been wicked into it. The wicking layer  124  “unwicked” color is typically white but could also be gray, a light color, etc. 
     Dyeing layer  126  is adjacent to wicking layer  124 . Dyeing layer  126  is made of a dry dye, or colored substance, of a predefined color, typically red. When dyeing layer  126  is in dry form, wicking layer  124  has no wicking ability so that the two remain separated. Once dyeing layer  126  becomes moist or wet as shown by moisture arrows  127 , the dry dye becomes wet and is wicked into wicking layer  124  as shown by dye wicking arrows  129 . 
     Wicking layer  124  is viewable through viewing hole  110 . When there has been no moisture infiltration of the dry red dye, wicking layer  124  appears white through viewing hole  110  as no wicking has occurred. However, when moisture infiltrates the dry red dye, the red dye, now wet, wicks into and through wicking layer  124  such that a red color of wicking layer  124  is apparent through viewing hole  108 . Once the red dye has been wicked into wicking layer  124 , it will remain there even after wicking layer  124  dries. 
     A cross-sectional side view A-A of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system  102  is shown in  FIG. 9 . As in  FIG. 8 , system  102  of  FIG. 9  has frame  106  with overmolded viewing hole structure  108  providing viewing hole  110 . 
     In the arrangement of  FIG. 9 , adhesive layer  118  bonds to another moisture indication structure  130  to viewing hole structure  108 . Moisture indication structure  130  has three layers—wicking layer  124 , dyeing layer  126  and an upper moisture barrier layer  128 . Upper moisture barrier layer  128  may be formed of any suitable moisture repellent material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Upper moisture barrier layer  128  provides a printable surface allowing the addition of code numbers, logos and other artwork. It also may be used to protect wicking layer  124  from soiling and moisture during handling. 
     Because upper moisture barrier layer  128  provides a moisture barrier to moisture indication structure  114 , it helps to prevent moisture from infiltrating wicking layer  124  and dyeing layer  126  through viewing hole  110 . The moisture barrier qualities of upper moisture barrier layer  128 , coupled with its adhesion to adhesive layer  118 , which itself may have high moisture barrier qualities, provides moisture protection from the viewing hole thereby preventing the moisture indicator from being triggered by contact with low levels of moisture. By contrast, moisture from the interior of the device (moisture arrows  127 ), which arises when device  10  has been exposed to substantial amounts of moisture, may more easily infiltrate dyeing layer  126  activating the dye so that it is wicked (arrows  129 ) into wicking layer  124 . 
     The use of upper moisture barrier layer  128  lowers the sensitivity of moisture indication structure  130  with respect to moisture from viewing hole  110  as compared to the structure of the type described in connection with  FIG. 8 . The addition of upper moisture barrier layer  128  therefore aids in the prevention of false indications—that is, indications that moisture has infiltrated the device when, in fact, moisture may have only infiltrated viewing hole  110  while the remainder of device may have remained dry. 
     A cross-sectional side view A-A of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system such as system  102  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 10 . As in the systems shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , system  102  of  FIG. 10  has frame  106  with overmolded viewing hole structure  108  providing viewing hole  110 . 
     In this embodiment, adhesive layer  118  bonds to different moisture indication structure  132  to viewing hole structure  108 . Moisture indication structure  132  has four layers—wicking layer  124 , dyeing layer  126 , upper moisture barrier layer  128  and lower moisture barrier layer  134 . Lower moisture barrier layer  134  may be made of the same material as upper moisture barrier layer or other suitable materials can be used. Like upper moisture barrier layer  128 , lower moisture barrier layer  134  has moisture barrier qualities. Lower moisture barrier layer  134  forms a moisture barrier on the underside of moisture indication structure  132  towards the interior of device  10 . This inhibits moisture from the inside of the device from infiltrating dyeing layer  126 . This lowers even further the sensitivity of moisture indication structure  114  with respect to moisture—as it has moisture barriers for both external and internal moisture. 
     As in the structure of the type shown in  FIG. 9 , moisture from viewing hole  110  of  FIG. 10  is sufficiently inhibited by upper moisture barrier layer  128  and adhesive layer  118 . This lowers the sensitivity of moisture indication structure  132  with respect to moisture from viewing hole  110 . 
     In the interior of the device, due to the moisture barrier qualities of lower moisture barrier layer  134 , moisture  127  must pass around lower moisture barrier layer  134  in order to activate dyeing layer  126  so that dye  129  is wicked into wicking layer  124 . In contrast to upper moisture barrier layer  128 , lower moisture barrier layer  134  may have sides that are exposed to the interior of the device thereby providing a path to moisture indication structure  132 . Because the lower face of moisture indication structure  132  has a moisture barrier, more interior device moisture is necessary in order to activate moisture indication structure  132 . 
     Upper moisture barrier layer  128  aids in the prevention of false indications from viewing hole  110  while lower moisture barrier layer  134  raises the interior moisture threshold for moisture indication structure  132  to be activated. This is especially helpful in a situation where the moisture indication structure is too sensitive giving an unacceptably high rate of false indications. It is helpful in the situation where the circuitry of the device is especially tolerant of moisture, perhaps because of superior moisture protection in the immediate surroundings of the circuitry. It can also be helpful where moisture indication structure  132  is physically located in an area prone to water infiltration in contrast to the remainder of the device. 
     Lower moisture barrier layer  134  (and, if desired, upper moisture barrier layer  128 ) may be chosen to be of a material having a higher or lower porosity value so that more or less moisture may pass through lower moisture barrier layer  134 . In this way, the moisture detection threshold of moisture indication structure  132  for moisture internal to a device may be adjusted downwardly or upwardly by a device designer. A material having a porosity value greater than the approximate porosity value of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) may sometimes be considered to be semi-porous. 
     A cross-sectional side view A-A of a dock connector moisture infiltration indication system  102  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 11 . As in the systems of  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 , system  102  of  FIG. 11  has frame  106  with overmolded viewing hole structure  108  providing viewing hole  110 . 
     In this embodiment, adhesive layer  118  attaches moisture indication structure  136  to viewing hole structure  108 . Moisture indication structure  136  has three layers—wicking layer  124 , dyeing layer  126  and lower moisture barrier layer  134 . Lower moisture barrier layer  134  forms a moisture barrier on the underside of moisture indication structure  132 , inhibiting moisture infiltration of dyeing layer  126  from the interior of the device. However, because there is no moisture barrier on the viewing hole side of moisture indication structure  136 , moisture indication structure  136  has high sensitivity with respect to moisture from viewing hole  110 —thereby providing an indication if moisture is entering into device via connector assembly  104  and port  20 . 
     Buttons such as menu button  19  may provide another external viewing point for a moisture infiltration indication system. Menu buttons may have transparent menu button covers. Moisture infiltration indication system  103  in this type of arrangement can be externally viewed. 
     A conventional menu button is shown in  FIG. 12  in a cross-sectional side view. The menu button of  FIG. 12  has cover  1162  having menu button opening  1105  having transparent menu button cover  1140  and opaque lower button layer  141 . Located adjacent to and beneath cover  162  is a switch that is actuated when the button is pressed. Layer  141 , which is black, has an opening  143  for holding a white patterned button portion  144 . Portion  144  forms a white square when viewed from the front face of the device through viewing aperture  145  of transparent layer  1140 . The white color of portion  144  is formed from white paint. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of menu button  19  that has a menu button moisture infiltration indication system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Menu button  19  may have transparent menu button cover  140  covering lower button layer  142  and menu button moisture infiltration indication system  103 . Button layer  142  may be formed of plastic or other suitable material and may be black in color or any other suitable color. Menu button moisture infiltration indication system  103  may have moisture indication structure  146  that is viewable through opening  156 . Adhesive ring  148  may be used to attach the moisture indicator to button  19 . 
     In this embodiment, the visible portion of the moisture indication structure is in the shape of a ring-shaped square. A pattern such as this for example may be used to form a logo. Outside of the moisture indication structure pattern is outer portion  170  provided by opaque button layer  142 . Inside of the moisture indication region is inner portion  172  provided by opaque button layer  142 . Opaque button layer and the wicking portions of the moisture indicator have any suitable colors. For example, opaque button layer  142  may be black and moisture indication structure  146  may be white (as an example). This allows a white pattern such as a ring-shaped square to be viewed through a transparent menu button cover, such as cover  140 . 
     A bottom view of menu button  19  having a moisture indication structure is shown in  FIG. 14 . Menu button  19  of  FIG. 14  has opaque button layer  142  having a flexible printed circuit alignment and access portion  150 . Menu button  19  further has moisture indication structure  146 . 
     A cross-sectional side view taken along B-B of  FIG. 13  is shown in  FIG. 15 . Menu button  19  may be mounted within a device structure such as cover glass  62  having menu button opening  105 . Transparent menu button cover  140  is connected to opaque button layer  142 . With one suitable arrangement, transparent layer  140  and opaque layer  170  are formed using a two-shot plastic molding process. Transparent upper layer  140  and opaque lower layer  142  reciprocate vertically within menu button opening  105 . 
     Moisture indication structure viewing aperture  156  may be formed in a ring (as shown in  FIG. 14 ) or other suitable pattern. Adhesive ring  148 , which is transparent, adheres moisture indication structure  146  to button layer  142 . The outline of adhesive ring  148  is shown by the dashed lines in  FIG. 13 . Adhesive ring  148  may be formed of any suitable adhesive material such as transparent two-sided pressure sensitive adhesive film, contact adhesive, etc. 
     Moisture indication structure  146  has two layers: wicking layer  152  and dyeing layer  154 . Wicking layer  152  provides the wicking action of wet dye  155  for moisture indication structure  146  when dyeing layer  154  becomes wet from moisture  157 . Once exposed to moisture, moisture indication structure  146  changes its appearance from a first appearance (white) to a second appearance (red) due to the wicked dye. 
     Because transparent menu button cover  140  and adhesive ring  148  are transparent and button layer  142  provides viewing aperture  156 , the status of wicking layer  152  is externally viewable through menu button opening  105 . Viewing aperture  156  is in the shape of a ring-shaped square between outer portion  170  and inner portion  172  of layer  142 . Wicking layer  152  is of a predetermined color, generally white, and button layer  142  is of a predetermined color, generally black. Together, they provide the appearance of a white square against a black background through transparent menu button cover  140  and viewing aperture  156  when no moisture has infiltrated the device. Wicking layer  152  remains white as dyeing layer  154  remains dry and no wicking can occur. However, when moisture infiltrates the dry red dye, the red dye, now wet, wicks through wicking layer  152  such that a red color is apparent through viewing aperture  156 . Once the red dye has been wicked into wicking layer  152 , it will remain there even after wicking layer  152  dries. This provides a readily apparent visual indication (a red ring-shaped square icon pattern) that moisture infiltration has occurred in the device. 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional side view of another menu button moisture indication structure. Menu button  19  may be mounted within case  62  having menu button opening  105 . Transparent menu button cover  140  forms the top part of menu button opening  105 . Layer  140  may be formed of clear plastic or other suitable material. 
     Button  19  may have an opaque layer  142 . Moisture indication structure viewing aperture  156  may be formed in layer  142 . This opening may have any suitable shape. Moisture indication structure  158  is adhered to button layer  142  by adhesive ring  148 . Moisture indication structure  158  has three layers: wicking layer  152 , dyeing layer  154  and lower moisture barrier layer  160 . Layer  160  may provide a moisture barrier for moisture indication structure  158  from moisture  157  intruding from the interior of the device, i.e., to reduce the sensitivity of the moisture indicator. 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional side view of another menu button moisture indication structure. In this structure, moisture indication structure  146  is adhered only to inner portion  172  of button layer  142  by disk-shaped adhesive layer  162 . Adhesive layer  162  need not be transparent in this case as it is not viewable through opening  156 . 
       FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional side view of another menu button moisture indication structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, moisture indication structure  166  is adhered to both inner portion  172  and outer portion  170  of button layer  142  by an adhesive layer such as adhesive layer  168  that covers the entire top face of wicking layer  152 . Adhesive layer  168  may be a transparent adhesive. 
     The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080501
Publication Date: 20160329
Grant Date: 20160329
Priority Date: 20080501
Inventors: MITTLEMAN ADAM D.
WANG ERIK L.
SLOEY JASON
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72522", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/72403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/0274", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04M1/18", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 41256751