An electronic device includes an outer housing and various electronic components contained inside the outer housing. Openings can be provided in the outer housing for a display panel, buttons, connectors, and/or other features of the electronic device.
Some implementations of the present disclosure are described with respect to the following figures.
Openings can be formed in an outer housing of an electronic device to mount various features, such as a display panel, a connector, a user-actuatable button, a keyboard, a keypad, or any other feature. The presence of the openings can form liquid ingress paths in the outer housing, which can allow a liquid such as water to pass into an inner region of the electronic device. A user of the electronic device may accidentally drop the electronic device into a pool of water. Alternatively, a user may accidentally spill liquid onto the electronic device. Any liquid entering the electronic device's inner region can damage electronic components located in the inner region.
Examples of electronic devices can include any of the following: a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a game appliance, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, smart eyeglasses, etc.), or any other type of electronic device.
In some examples, to protect electronic components from damage due to ingress of liquids, various seals can be provided to protect certain parts of the electronic device. Such seals may be complex in nature or may not comprehensively protect the entire electronic device.
In accordance with some implementations of the present disclosure, a primary seal can be provided inside the outer housing of the electronic device to prevent liquid that has entered through liquid ingress paths in the outer housing from passing into an inner region of the electronic device, such that electronic components inside the inner region are protected from the liquid. An “inner region” of an electronic device where electronic components can refer to any portion of an inner chamber within the outer housing of the electronic device that is to be protected from penetration of a liquid. Examples of electronic components that can be damaged by liquid can include any or some combination of the following: a processor, a memory device, a storage device, a display panel, a battery, an input/output (I/O) device, and so forth.
The primary seal can be a unitary seal that extends along a circumference on an inner surface of the outer housing. A unitary seal can refer to a seal without any breaks in the seal. In some examples, the circumference along which the primary seal extends can be generally rectangular in shape, with deviations from such rectangular shape at respective locations to accommodate connectors, buttons, or other features of the electronic device. In other examples, the primary seal can extend along a circumference of a different shape.
By arranging the primary seal along a circumference on the inner surface of the outer housing of the electronic device, a protective barrier can be set up along a perimeter of the electronic device. This primary seal is the main seal that prevents ingress of a liquid that has entered through ingress liquid paths of the electronic device. It is noted that additional seals can be provided to supplement the primary seal at certain parts of the electronic device, as discussed further below. For example, such additional seals can be provided for a connector assembly and/or for a button assembly of the electronic device, to further prevent liquid that has penetrated into the connector assembly or button assembly from entering into the inner region of the electronic device.
In some examples, the primary seal is formed of a material that is deflectable by support structures inside the electronic device when the support structures are mounted inside the outer housing of the electronic device. A “support structure” can refer to any structure in the electronic device that is used to support a component (or multiple components) inside the electronic device. A support structure can be separate from the outer housing, can be attached to the outer housing, or can be part of the outer housing. A support structure can be formed of a material that includes a metal, a plastic, or any other rigid material.
An example of a material that is deflectable is silicone. More generally, the primary seal can be formed of a polymer, or any other type of material that when pressed up against or otherwise engaged with another structure forms a liquid seal.
The deflection of the primary seal by a support structure provides for a sealing engagement between the primary seal and the support structure, such that a liquid cannot pass through the interface between the primary seal and the support structure.
The electronic device 100 includes an outer housing 102, which can be formed of any rigid material, such as metal, plastic, and so forth. Note that the term “housing” can refer to a unitary housing structure, or multiple housing structures that are attached together. The outer housing 102 has an inner surface 104, along which a primary seal 106 is provided. The primary seal 106 extends along a circumference on the inner surface 104 of the outer housing 102. The circumference defines a perimeter just inside the outer side edges of the outer housing 102. The primary seal 106 provides a barrier where liquid from outside the primary seal 106 is unable to penetrate into an inner region of the electronic device 100 that is within the circumference along which the seal 106 extends.
Although just one primary seal 106 is shown in
The electronic device 100 includes support structures 108 and 110, which can be used to support various components in the electronic device 100, such as a display panel, a connector assembly, a button assembly, a battery, a printed circuit board, a processor, a memory device, or any other component. Although two support structures 108 and 110 are shown in
As depicted in
When the support structures 108 and 110 are mounted into an inner chamber 112 inside the outer housing 102, the support structures 108 and 110 press downwardly onto the primary seal 106 to deflect the upper portion of the primary seal 106. The deflection of the upper portion of the primary seal 106 allows for a sealing engagement to be formed between the primary seal 106 and the support structures 108 and 110. The primary seal 106 is deflectable by the support structures 108 and 110 upon engagement of the primary seal 106 with the support structures 108 and 110 when the support structures 108 and 110 are received in an inner chamber 112 defined by the outer housing 102.
The sealing engagement between the primary seal 106 and the support structures 108 and 110 can further be enhanced when pressure is applied by a liquid that has penetrated into a portion of the outer housing 102 and has pushed up against the primary seal 106, as indicated by arrows 114.
The circumference along which the primary seal 206 extends is generally rectangular in shape, but has a first deflected portion 206-A to accommodate a first connector assembly 208, and a second deflected portion 206-B to accommodate a second connector assembly 210. The connector assembly 208 can be a first type of connector assembly, while the connector assembly 210 can be a second, different type of connector assembly. For example, the connector assembly 208 can include a High Speed J (HSJ) connector that can mate with a corresponding connector to perform audio and video communications. The connector assembly 210 can include a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector to mate with a corresponding connector to perform USB communications. In other examples, other types of connector assemblies can be employed. Also, although two connector assemblies 208 and 210 are shown in
A connector assembly can also be referred to as a “communication connector assembly,” since it is used to allow communications between the electronic device and an external device.
The electronic device 200 also includes user-actuatable buttons 214 that can be actuated by a user, such as by pressing down on each button 214. The buttons 214 protrude from a side of the outer housing 202. Although three buttons 214 are shown, it is noted that in other examples, a different number of buttons can be provided. Also, buttons can additionally or alternatively be provided on other parts of the outer housing 202.
The support structure 220 supports a display assembly 226 that includes a display panel 226-1 and a display cover 226-2 that lies over an upper surface of the display panel 226-1 to protect the upper surface of the display panel 226-1. The display cover 226-2 can be formed of a glass, a transparent plastic, or any other material that is transparent. The display panel 226-1 can include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, and so forth.
An adhesive seal 228 is sandwiched between an end portion of the display cover 226-2 and an upper surface of the support structure 220. The adhesive seal 228 is adhered to the respective surfaces of the display cover 226-2 and the support structure 220, to form a seal between the display cover 226-2 and the support structure 220. The adhesive seal 228 can be formed of a polymer or any other type of material that can provide a seal against a liquid.
A gap 230 exists between the inner surface 222 of the outer housing 202 and several components inside the inner chamber of the outer housing 202, including the display cover 226-2 and the support structure 220. The gap 230 provides a liquid ingress path that allows a liquid outside the electronic device 200 to enter through the gap 230 into a portion of the inner chamber of the outer housing 202. As shown in
As further shown in
As further shown in
The support structure 304 retains the connector assembly 210 in position, as well as also provides support for the display assembly 226. The cap 302 is mounted over the external surface of the support structure 304 as well as the outer surface of the outer housing 202.
The connector assembly 210 includes a connector circuit board 306, which receives electrical signals from electrical contact pins of the connector assembly 210. The connector assembly 210 also includes a retaining bracket 314. The retaining bracket sits on the inner surface of the external housing 202.
The circuit board 306 of the connector assembly 210 is electrically connected to a communication cable 308, which can be a flex cable in some examples. The cable 308 includes electrical conductors to carry electrical signals between the connector assembly 210 and another electronic component (e.g., a main circuit board) in the electronic device 200. Connector seals 310 and 312 are engaged to respective surfaces of the cable 308. In some examples, the seals 310 and 312 can be formed with the cable 308 as a single structure by using an overmolding process. In other examples, the seals 310 and 312 can be bonded to the seal 308 using a different technique.
The support structure 304 includes an engagement portion 304-1 to engage respective engagement portions 310-1 and 312-1 of the seals 310 and 312. This engagement between the seals 310, 312 and the support structure 304 provides for a sealing engagement between the seals 310, 312 and the support structure 304.
Although not shown, an adhesive seal can also be provided between an end portion of the display cover 226-2 and the support structure 304, similar to the adhesive seal 228 shown in
If the electronic device 200 is exposed to liquid, liquid can potentially enter through the opening 302-1 of the cap 302 and into the inner chamber of the connector assembly 210. Liquid that has entered into the inner chamber of the connector assembly 210 is prevented from passing into an inner region of the electronic device 200 by the seals 310 and 312.
As further shown in
In examples according to
A support structure 410 is provided in the electronic device 200 to retain the connector assembly 208 and also to support the display assembly 226. The support structure 410 engages the primary seal 206, to provide a seal between the support structure 410 and the outer housing 202. Thus, any liquid that enters into the inner chamber of the electronic device 200 between the connector assembly 208 and the inner surface of the outer housing 202 is stopped by the primary seal 206.
An adhesive seal 412 can also be provided between the display cover 226-2 of the display assembly 226 and an upper structure 414 of the connector assembly 208, to provide a seal between the display cover 226-2 and the upper structure 414.
As further shown in
The button assembly further includes a plunger 504 that is attached to the button 214, such that when the user presses against the button 214, the plunger 504 moves by the corresponding distance against a dome switch 506 arranged in a pocket inside the electronic device. A prospective view of the dome switch 506 is shown in
A support structure 522 is used to provide support for the dome switch 506. In addition, a lower surface of the support structure 522 engages against the primary seal 206. Any liquid that enters through the opening 502 of the outer housing 202 is blocked from entry by the primary seal 206 between the support structure 522 and the inner surface of the outer housing 202.
In addition, the engagement between the compressible layer 512 of the dome switch 506 and a respective surface of the support structure 522 is a sealing engagement to prevent liquid ingress pass the dome switch 506 into the inner region of the electronic device 200.
In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the subject disclosed herein. However, implementations may be practiced without some of these details. Other implementations may include modifications and variations from the details discussed above. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/039867 | 6/28/2016 | WO | 00 |