PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8830662-B2
Application Number: US-201113037887-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Electronic devices with moisture resistant openings

Abstract:
Electronic devices may have openings that serve as potential pathways for moisture intrusion into interior portions of the devices. An electronic device may be provided with moisture repelling coatings in the vicinity of these openings to help prevent moisture from reaching the interior of the device. The openings may be associated with gaps between adjacent housing structures, openings for buttons, openings for audio and connector ports or other openings in device structures. The moisture repelling coatings may be applied to housing surfaces, button members, structures associated with audio and connector ports, and other device structures.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing that separates an interior region of the electronic device from an exterior region, wherein the housing has at least first and second housing members, wherein the first and second housing members have respective opposing first and second surfaces; 
 a first moisture repelling coating layer on the first surface; and 
 a second moisture repelling coating layer on the second surface, wherein the first and second moisture repelling coating layers are separated by a gap that extends along an overlapping portion of the first and second surfaces. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first housing member comprises a housing sidewall member. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device defined in  claim 2  further comprising a display cover layer with a peripheral edge, wherein the second housing member comprises a trim structure that runs along the peripheral edge. 
     
     
       4. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first housing member comprises a display cover layer. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first housing member comprises metal and wherein the second housing member comprises plastic. 
     
     
       6. The electronic device defined in  claim 5  wherein the first housing member comprise a peripheral housing member that forms sidewalls for the electronic device and wherein the plastic comprises glass-filled plastic. 
     
     
       7. The electronic device defined in  claim 1  wherein the first and second moisture repelling coating layers comprise fluorine. 
     
     
       8. An electronic device, comprising:
 a display cover layer having a peripheral edge; 
 a housing member having a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 a trim member that runs along the peripheral edge and that is mounted on the top surface of the housing member; and 
 moisture repelling coating formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the housing member. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the housing member comprises metal, wherein the trim member comprises plastic, and wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises fluorine. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the housing member comprises a metal band. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device defined in  claim 10  wherein metal band forms a vertical sidewall structure of a device housing that is formed at least in part by the metal band, the trim member and the display cover layer. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device defined in  claim 10  wherein the metal band includes a plastic-filled gap. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises a hydrophobic material. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises an oleophobic material. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device defined in  claim 8  wherein the moisture repelling coating comprises a hydrophobic and oleophobic material. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device defined in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a planar rear housing member having a peripheral edge; 
 an additional trim member that runs along the peripheral edge of the planar rear housing member, wherein the moisture repelling coating is interposed between the trim member and the top surface of the housing member and between the additional trim member and the bottom surface of the housing member. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device defined in  claim 16  wherein the planar rear housing member comprises glass.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, to controlling moisture intrusion into the interior of electronic devices. 
     Electronic devices are often exposed to moist environments. As an example, a user may operate a cellular telephone or media player outdoors when there is precipitation. Devices may also be exposed to moisture in the form of user perspiration. 
     Devices with watertight housings are able to prevent sensitive internal components from being exposed to moisture. Waterproof housings are, however, often impractical for normal use. 
     Devices without watertight housings are vulnerable to moisture-induced damage. Moisture may enter a device housing through an opening that is associated with a connector port or a button. Moisture may also enter a device housing through housing seams. If sufficient moisture intrudes into the interior of an electronic device, integrated circuits, switches, and other electronic components may be damaged. 
     It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide electronic devices with improved resistance to the intrusion of moisture. 
     SUMMARY 
     Electronic devices may be provided with moisture repelling coatings to help prevent moisture from intruding into sensitive areas. Moisture repelling coatings may be used, for example, to prevent moisture from entering the interior of an electronic device through gaps in an electronic device housing, housing openings associated with device ports, holes in a device that are associated with buttons, and other openings. 
     Gaps may be formed along the seams between mating housing members or may arise at the interface between a display and the housing structures to which the display is mounted. Gap-shaped openings may also arise between other housing structures. To help prevent moisture from wicking along the surfaces of the gap, a moisture repelling coating may be deposited on the gap surfaces. The moisture repelling coating may cause moisture to bead, thereby helping to prevent wicking action and moisture intrusion. 
     Moisture repelling coatings may also be formed in device openings that are associated with device ports. Audio ports such as microphone and speaker ports may be covered with a mesh. To help prevent moisture intrusion, the mesh may be coated with moisture repelling coating. Structures associated with connector ports such as audio jacks, data connector ports, and other ports may also be provided with moisture repelling coatings. 
     Buttons and other movable parts may be formed in openings in device housings. To help prevent moisture intrusion, button structures and housing members may be coated with moisture repelling material in the vicinity of the openings. 
     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 electronic device of the type that may be provided with moisture repelling coatings to help prevent the intrusion of moisture into the interior of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of a conventional electronic device showing how moisture may intrude into the interior of the device through a gap between housing structures. 
         FIG. 3  is cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device showing how surfaces of a gap between housing structures may be coated with a moisture repelling coating to cause moisture to bead into droplets and thereby become less likely to intrude into the interior of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is cross-sectional end view of an electronic device of the type shown in  FIG. 1  showing how moisture repelling coatings may be formed in the gaps between housing structures such as housing sidewalls, a display cover glass, and display mounting structures in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device having a button that reciprocates in and out of a housing opening showing how button surfaces and surfaces associated with the opening in the housing may be coated with moisture repelling material in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device in which a sliding button and surfaces associated with an opening in a housing member adjacent to the button may be coated with moisture repelling material in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device with a connector port showing how a moisture repelling material may be used to help prevent intrusion of moisture through openings into the interior of a device housing in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device including a connector port such as an audio jack port coated with a moisture repelling material in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device with an audio port showing how audio port mesh structures may be coated with a moisture repelling material to prevent ingress of moisture from the exterior to the interior of the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of a moisture droplet beaded due to the presence of a moisture repellant coating on a surface. The large contact angle of the desired beaded droplet, a standard for determining water repellency is shown. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side view of a moisture droplet adhering to, also commonly referred to as wetting, a surface in the absence of moisture repellant material. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an illustrative audio jack connector that has structures such as a body structure and spring contact structure coated with moisture repelling coatings in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Electronic devices may have gaps along housing seams, button openings, openings for audio and connector ports, and other openings that may allow moisture to intrude into device interiors. The moisture may damage electrical components. To help prevent moisture intrusion, the surfaces associated with the openings in an electronic device may be coated with a moisture repelling material. The moisture repelling material on the surface of a device structure may cause moisture to bead into droplets and resist movement through the opening towards the device interior. 
     An electronic device of the type that may be provided with moisture repelling coatings is shown in  FIG. 1 . Electronic device  10  of  FIG. 1  may be a cellular telephone, media player, computer, handheld device, portable computer, tablet computer, Global Positioning System device, camera, gaming device, or other electronic equipment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , device  10  may have a housing such as housing  24 . Housing  24  maybe formed from plastic, metal, carbon fiber composite material, other composites, glass, ceramics, other materials, or combinations of these materials. Housing  24  may be formed using a unibody construction in which housing  24  is substantially formed from a single structure (e.g., machined or cast metal, plastic, etc.) or may be formed from multiple pieces of material. For example, housing  24  may include front and rear planar housing structures. The front planar housing structure may be a display cover layer for a display such as display  12 . The display cover layer may be formed from glass and may sometimes be referred to as cover glass or display cover glass. The display cover layer may also be formed from other transparent materials such as plastic. 
     Device  10  may be provided with housing structures (sometimes referred to as trim members) that run along the edges of the front and rear planar housing members. A peripheral housing member such as member  16  may have a bezel shape that surrounds display  14  on the front surface of housing  12 . In the example of  FIG. 1 , peripheral housing member  16  forms vertical sidewall structures for device  10 . A peripheral housing member in this configuration may sometimes be referred to as a housing band. Peripheral housing member  16  may be formed from a material such as metal (as an example) and may have one or more gaps such as gap  15  that are filled with plastic (as an example). If desired, peripheral housing member  16  may be formed from a single structure that is uninterrupted by gaps as it runs around the edges of the device. Housing structures  12 ,  14 , and  16  may be formed from plastic, metal, carbon fiber composite material, other composites, glass, ceramics, other materials, or combinations of these materials. 
     Device  10  may have input-output devices such as input-output ports, speakers, microphones, displays, status indicator lights, touch screens, buttons, proximity sensors, wireless circuitry, accelerometers, ambient light sensors, touch pads, and other devices for accepting input from a user or the surrounding environment of device  10  and/or for providing output to a user of device  10 . 
     As shown in the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 1 , device  10  may, as an example, have one or more buttons  22  which may be used to gather user input. Buttons  22  may be based on dome switches or other switch circuitry. Buttons  22  may include button members that form push buttons (e.g., momentary buttons), slider switches, rocker switches, etc. 
     Device  10  may have connector ports such as connector port  20  and connector port  26 . Connector port  20  may be, for example, a 30-pin connector for a 30-pin data port, a Universal Serial Bus port, or other input-output port. Port  26  may be, for example, an audio jack port configured to receive a mating audio plug. Additional buttons such as buttons  22 , additional data ports such as port  20 , and additional ports such as audio connector port  26  may be provided in device  10  if desired. The example of  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative. 
     Openings in device  10  may allow moisture to infiltrate into the interior of device  10 . Sensitive electronic components may be mounted in the interior of device  10  such as buttons, printed circuit boards, integrated circuits, connectors, sensors, batteries, displays, light-emitting diodes, and other structures. These sensitive electronic components may be damaged by exposure to moisture. 
     Moisture may intrude into the interior of device  10  through gaps that are formed along the seams in device  10 . For example, device  10  may have mating housing members. A gap may form along the seam between the housing members. Gaps may also be formed between components such as display  10 , housing sidewalls  16 , and trim structures  14 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a conventional electronic device showing how an opening such as gap  422  may exist between opposing surfaces  360  and  380  of respective device structures  320  and  340 . Structures  320  and  340  may be associated with the housing of the electronic device and may separate exterior region  300  from device interior  400 . In the  FIG. 2  scenarios, external moisture droplet  420  is coming into contact with surfaces  360  and  380  of gap  422 . As moisture contacts the surfaces of structures  320  and  340 , it wets these surfaces and is drawn into the interior of the device. The intrusion of moisture into interior  400  of the device may be exacerbated when the device is used, because use of the device may cause structures  320  and  340  to move slightly with respect to each other, resulting in a pumping action that tends to pull moisture into interior  40 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an electronic device such as device  10  of  FIG. 1  showing how device surfaces may be coated with a moisture repelling coating to help prevent moisture intrusion. 
     In the example of  FIG. 3 , device  10  has device structures such as structures  32  and  34  that are separated by a gap such as gap  23 . Structures  32  and  34  may be housing members such as peripheral housing member  16 , a cover glass layer or other display structures, a rear planar housing structure, a trim structure, a bezel, a unitary housing body, or other housing or other portions of device  10 . Arrangements in which structures  32  and  34  are formed from housing members such as a housing sidewall member, a display cover glass layer, and a trim member may sometimes be described as an example. This is, however, merely illustrative. Any set of structures in device  10  may be separated by an opening such as gap  23 . The arrangement of  FIG. 3  is presented as an example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , opposing surfaces  36  and  38  of housing members  32  and  34  may be coated with moisture repelling material  48 . The presence of moisture repelling material  48  causes external moisture  42  to bead into a beaded droplet  46 , significantly reducing the likelihood of moisture ingress from exterior region  30  to device interior  40 . Moisture  42  may be water (e.g., from condensation, precipitation, or a spill), a spilled beverage, perspiration, or other liquid. Moisture repelling coating materials that may be used in forming moisture repelling coating layers  48  include parylene, silicone, and polytetrafluoroethylene. With one suitable arrangement, coating  48  is formed from a fluorine-containing coating such as the Hanaryl® 630A coating available from Kanto Kasei Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. 
     Materials that repel moisture are sometimes referred to as hydrophobic (water-repelling) coating materials. Coating  48  may exhibit the ability to repel other liquids in addition to water. For example, coating  48  may repel oils and adhesives. Coating materials that repel oils are sometimes referred to as oleophobic materials. Coating  48  may, if desired, exhibit both hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional end view of device  10  of  FIG. 1  showing how trim structures  14  may be used to surround and cover edges  13  of front planer member  12  and rear planar member  50 . Member  12  may be a display cover glass layer associated with a front-facing liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light-emitting display, or other display in device  10 . Trim structures  14  may be formed form a material such as glass-filled nylon or other plastic (as an example). Peripheral housing member  16  may be formed from stainless steel or other metal or plastic. Rear planar member  50  may be formed from glass (as an example). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , housing members  12 ,  14 , and  16  and planar rear member  50  form a housing for device  10 , separating exterior region  30  from interior region  40  of device  10 . One or more sensitive electronic components such as component  41  may be housed within interior region  40 . Gaps such as gap  23  at the joint between opposing housing members  14  and  16  serves as a possible path for moisture intrusion into interior  40 . In the arrangement of  FIG. 4 , opposing surfaces  52  and  54  of mated housing members  14  and  16  in the vicinity of gap  23  are coated in moisture repelling (hydrophobic) material  48 . Moisture repelling material  48  reduces the likelihood that moisture will enter gap  23  between housing structures  52  and  54  and reach interior  40  of device  10 . 
     Hydrophobic material  48  may be applied using a robotic x-y table connected to a reservoir of material  48 , by submerging device members in a reservoir of material  48 , by applying material  48  manually using liquid application tools (e.g., paintbrushes), or using other suitable application methods. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of device  10  in the vicinity of one of buttons  22 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , button  22  may have a button member such as button member  62  that reciprocates within opening  72  of housing member  60 . Housing member  60  may be a cover glass layer in device  10  (e.g., layer  12 ), a device sidewall structure such as structure  16  of device  10 , planar housing structures, other housing structures, etc. When a user presses the exterior of button member  62  in direction  68 , button member  62  may press against a dome switch such as dome switch  74  or other switch mechanism, thereby activating the switch (e.g., shorting internal switch terminals together to close the switch). Dome switches such as dome switch  74  may, if desired, by mounted to printed circuits such as printed circuit  64 . Dome switch  74  may have a dome-shaped biasing member that pushes button member  62  outward in direction  70  when the user releases pressure from button member  62 . Other types of switches may use spring-based biasing members or other biasing structures to bias button members such as button member  62 . The use of a dome switch with a dome-shaped biasing structure is merely illustrative. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a support bracket such as support bracket  76  may be used to mount dome switch  74  and printed circuit board  64  within device  10 . 
     To allow button member  62  of button  22  to move freely with respect to housing member  60 , clearance is provided between the outer surfaces of button member  62  and the opposing inner surface of button-member-shaped hole  72  in housing member  60 . This clearance forms gaps or other openings  23 . Openings  23  may serve as a possible entrance for moisture into device interior  40 . To prevent moisture from reaching sensitive internal components of device  10 , moisture repelling coating  48  may be applied to some or all of the surfaces of button member  62  and to appropriate surfaces  78  of member  60 . For example, coating  48  may be applied to sidewall portions of button member  62  and opposing inner sidewall surfaces  78  of opening  72  in member  60 . Coating  48  may help prevent moisture infiltration into gaps  23 . Opening  72  may have a circular shape, may form a rectangular hole, or may have other suitable shapes. Button member  62  may have the shape of a disk or other cylinder, may have a rectangular shape, or may have other suitable shapes. 
     Switch structure  64  may include a dome switch or other switch mechanism that may fail if exposed to moisture (e.g., short term and/or long term moisture exposure from water or other liquids). Switch structure  64  therefore represents an example of a device component that exhibits sensitivity to moisture. Other moisture-sensitive device components may include integrated circuits, discrete circuit components such as resistors, inductors, and capacitors, display structures, touch sensor circuitry, and sensor circuits (as an example). These sensitive circuits may be vulnerable to moisture exposure due to weather conditions, perspiration, spills of beverages and other liquid, etc. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of device  10  showing how button  22  may have a button member such as button member  80  with protrusions such as rails (raised portions)  82 . Button  22  of  FIG. 6  may be a sliding button (e.g., a button of the type shown in the upper left corner of device  10  of  FIG. 1 ). As shown in  FIG. 6 , button member  80  may be mounted in opening  84  of housing member  16 . Raised sections  82  of button member  80  may serve as rails that reduce friction between housing member  16  and button member  80  and therefore facilitate sliding of button member  80  relative to housing member  16 . Openings such as gaps  86  may be enlarged due to presence of raised sections  82  of button member  80 . Openings  86  therefore may serve as another possible pathway for moisture to intrude from exterior region  30  into interior  40  of device  10 . 
     To prevent moisture from entering opening  86  between housing member  16  and button member  80 , hydrophobic coating  48  may be applied to some or all surfaces of button member  80  and may be applied to opposing housing structure surfaces such as surfaces  88  around opening  84  in housing member  16 . Moisture repelling coating  48  may cause moisture to bead on the exterior of device  10  rather than wicking into the interior of device  10  via gap  86 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of device  10  in the vicinity of a connector port  20  of  FIG. 1 . In a connector port arrangement of the type shown in  FIG. 7 , an opening such as opening  90  in housing member  16  may be provided with a connector structure such as connector structure  92  (e.g. a jack or female connector). Connector structure  92  may include electrical contacts  94 . The connector port defined by opening  90  and connector structure  92  may be, for example, a 30-pin connector for a 30-pin data port, a Universal Serial Bus port, or other input-output port. A mating external connector (e.g. a plug or male connector) with electrical contacts  100  may be inserted in direction  98  into opening  90  until contacts  100  mate with contacts  94 . 
     Gaps  102  may be present at the junction between connector structure  92  and the interior surface of housing member  16 . This creates a potential path for moisture to travel from exterior  30  to interior  40  of device  10 . To minimize the risk of moisture ingress via gap  102 , at least the overlapping parts of the abutting surfaces of the mating connector structure  92  and housing member  16  may be coated in a moisture repelling material  48 . The presence of moisture repelling coating  48  may encourage moisture to bead within the connector port rather than wicking into the interior of device  10 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of device  10  in the vicinity of a connector port such as port  26  of in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , opening  120  in housing member  16  may be provided with connecting structure  110 . Connecting structure  110  may be an audio jack (male connector) that has contacts  118  for mating with connector  116  (e.g., a mating audio plug or other female connector. 
     A ring such as metal ring  114  or other port entrance lining member may be provided in opening  120 . Opening  120  may also be provided with an isolating member  112  such as a black plastic ring that serves to electrically isolate metal ring  114  from housing member  16 . 
     Electrical contacts  118  may be provided along the sides of connector structure  110 . In some configurations, connector structure  110  may be at least partly sealed using structure  122 . Nevertheless, a path for possible moisture ingress may still exist in the gap at the interface between the mating connector structure  110  and port isolating member  112  and adjacent port lining member  114 . To help prevent the entrance of moisture into the interior of device  10 , the interior surface of port isolating member  112  and the abutting surface of mating connector structure  110  may be coated with hydrophobic coating  48 . Coating  48  may cause external moisture entering the opening defined by port lining member  114  to bead rather than entering the interior of device  10 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of device  10  in the vicinity of an audio port such as one of audio ports  18  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , port  18  may be formed from an opening such as opening  130  in housing member  140  (e.g. cover glass  12 , peripheral housing member  16 , or planar rear housing member  50 , or other housing structures). Opening  130  may be aligned with audio component  134 . Audio component  134  may be a speaker for providing sound to a user of device  10  or a microphone for receiving input from a user or the external environment. As shown in  FIG. 9 , audio port  18  may contain an elastomeric mounting structure such as elastomeric structure  132  to support audio component  134 . Audio component  134  may be shielded by mesh cover  136 . Mesh  136  may have openings that are sufficiently large to allow sound to pass through mesh  136 , but sufficiently small to prevent dust and other external objects from reaching audio component  134 . 
     When exposed to moisture, there is a possibility that some of the moisture may penetrate the small openings in the mesh and thereby reach interior  40  of device  10  from exterior region  30 . Mesh structure  136  may be made of metal, plastic, carbon fiber composite material, other composites, glass, ceramics, other materials, or combinations of these materials and may have any suitable mesh pattern (e.g., a rectangular grid formed from wires or other filaments, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 9 , mesh cover  136  (e.g., the wires or other intersecting filaments of the mesh) may be coated with hydrophobic coating layer  48 . This may encourage moisture to bead on the external side of mesh  48  rather than penetrating the holes in mesh  48 , entering interior  40  of device  10 , and potentially damaging sensitive interior components such as audio component  134 . 
       FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , respectively, depict desirable and undesirable properties for a moisture repelling material. In the arrangement of  FIG. 10 , moisture repelling material  150  coats surface  160  and causes moisture  152  to bead on the surface. The resulting beaded shape for moisture  152  is characterized by a large contact angle such as angle  154  with surface  160 . Contact angle  154  for coating  150  (and hydrophobic coating  48 ) is preferably at least 90° or more. A large contact angle is consistent with a difficult entrance of a beaded moisture droplet such as droplet  152  into small gaps in or between surfaces. Coating  48  may be formed from a fluorine-based coating such as the Hanaryl® 630A coating available from Kanto Kasei Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. This coating exhibits satisfactory wear resistance, is water insoluble, and adheres well to a variety of surfaces such as stainless steel, glass-filled nylon and other plastics, glass, etc. 
       FIG. 11  shows an ineffective coating arrangement. In the example of  FIG. 11 , coating material  170  does not cause moisture  172  to bead on surface  180  and is characterized by a relatively small contact angle  174 . Coating  170  of  FIG. 11  may allow moisture to enter a thin gap in or between surfaces. Situations in which there is no coating  170  on surface  180  may likewise be characterized by small contact angles. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an illustrative audio jack connector of the type that may be provided with moisture repelling coatings to help prevent moisture from infiltrating the interior of device  10 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , connector structure  110  may have openings such as openings  123  that receive mating spring structures such as spring structure  118 . Spring structures  118  may be used in forming electrical contacts for the audio jack connector (see, e.g., contacts  118  of  FIG. 8 ). To help block moisture, surfaces such as spring surface  121  and opening surfaces  119  of openings  123  may be coated with moisture repelling coatings (e.g., before springs  118  are inserted into openings  123  during assembly of the audio jack connector). Connector structure  110  may be formed from plastic or other suitable materials. Springs  118  may be formed from spring metal or other suitable conductors. If desired, other conductive structure and connector parts may be coated with moisture repelling coating  48 . The example of  FIG. 12 , which illustrates how moisture repelling coatings may be used in the context of an electrical contact is merely illustrative. 
     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. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented individually or in any combination.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20110301
Publication Date: 20140909
Grant Date: 20140909
Priority Date: 20110301
Inventors: MYERS SCOTT A.
WEBER DOUGLAS
TAN TANG YEW
DINH RICHARD HUNG MINH
PAKULA DAVID A.
SLOEY JASON
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K5/0213", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0086", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0214", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K5/0213", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46753159