A breathable waterproof structure

Abstract

This application relates to a ventilated waterproof structure, which includes a shell assembly, a ventilated assembly, and a self-healing assembly. The shell assembly includes an inner shell, an outer shell, and a thermally responsive sealing layer located between the two. The ventilated assembly includes an inner ventilated membrane and an outer ventilated membrane covering the vent openings, which together form a closed chamber. The self-healing assembly includes a sacrificial conductive element attached to the surface of the inner ventilated membrane and an electric heating element embedded in the thermally responsive sealing layer, which are connected in parallel. This application has the following advantages: it utilizes the resistance difference of the parallel circuit to construct a physical sensing logic. When the ventilated membrane ruptures, causing an open circuit in the conductive element, it automatically triggers the electric heating element to melt the thermally responsive sealing layer to fill the closed chamber, achieving adaptive sealing of the vent openings and effectively solving the problem of equipment scrapping due to the failure of a single protective layer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of structural protection for electronic devices, and in particular to a waterproof structure with vent holes. Background Technology

[0002] Millimeter-wave radar and related precision sensors are widely used in automotive driver assistance systems, drone flight control systems, and outdoor security monitoring. These electronic devices continuously generate heat during operation, causing pressure fluctuations due to the expansion of air inside the casing. To maintain pressure balance and ensure structural sealing, a common industry design involves incorporating vents into the casing and covering it with a waterproof and breathable membrane. This structure utilizes the properties of microporous membrane materials, allowing gas molecules to pass through while blocking liquid water molecules, thus balancing heat dissipation and breathability with waterproof protection.

[0003] These types of devices are typically used outdoors for extended periods. As a polymer material, the breathable membrane's properties gradually change under prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation, temperature fluctuations, and moisture, leading to aging or embrittlement. When faced with continuous raindrop impact or wind resistance during device movement, the decreased material strength makes the breathable membrane prone to micro-cracks or even physical tears. Especially when drones are flying at high altitudes or vehicles are in humid environments due to weather conditions, the integrity of the breathable membrane surface directly affects the device's protective capabilities.

[0004] Existing breathable and waterproof structures primarily rely on a breathable membrane as a single protective barrier. When this membrane ruptures due to aging or external impact, external moisture and rainwater can directly enter the casing through the vents. Because existing casing structures lack automatic response or remedial mechanisms after damage, once the breathable membrane fails, liquid can come into contact with the internal precision circuit boards and electronic components, leading to short circuits, corrosion, or abnormal signal transmission. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To meet the continued need for sealing in electronic devices after the venting function fails, this application provides a waterproof structure with vent holes.

[0006] This application provides a breathable waterproof structure, which adopts the following technical solution: A breathable and waterproof structure, comprising: A housing assembly, comprising an inner housing, an outer housing, and a heat-responsive sealing layer laminated between the inner housing and the outer housing; the inner housing has a first vent hole, the outer housing has a second vent hole, and the heat-responsive sealing layer has a receiving through hole; the first vent hole, the receiving through hole, and the second vent hole are coaxially aligned in the axial direction. A breathable assembly, comprising an inner breathable membrane covering the first breathable hole and an outer breathable membrane covering the second breathable hole; the inner breathable membrane, the outer breathable membrane, and the inner wall surface accommodating the through hole together form a closed chamber; The self-healing component includes a sacrificial conductive element attached to the surface of the inner breathable membrane and an electric heating element embedded inside the thermally responsive sealing layer; wherein the resistance of the sacrificial conductive element is less than the resistance of the electric heating element; the sacrificial conductive element and the electric heating element form a parallel connection circuit; the thermally responsive sealing layer is made of thermoplastic material, and when the electric heating element heats up to a preset temperature, the portion of the thermally responsive sealing layer located around the receiving through hole can undergo a phase change and melt, filling the sealed cavity.

[0007] By adopting the above technical solution, the shell assembly utilizes a layered structure of an inner shell, an outer shell, and a heat-responsive sealing layer to construct a physical support system and define a closed chamber for containing the molten medium. The intermediate heat-responsive sealing layer, while serving as a functional medium, also acts as a buffer and insulation layer, absorbing vibration energy generated by external impacts and preventing heat transfer from the external environment to the interior. This sandwich-like structure simplifies the processing and assembly process. Utilizing the physical clamping force of the inner and outer shells combined with the adhesiveness of the heat-responsive sealing layer, it achieves stable clamping and positioning of the breathable membrane edge, allowing for the installation and sealing of the breathable component without the need for additional fasteners.

[0008] The double-layered breathable membrane, combined with the central closed chamber, forms a dual protective barrier. The outer breathable membrane, acting as the first line of defense, blocks or disperses the direct impact of high-pressure water flow, protecting the inner breathable membrane from direct damage. Even under extreme stress conditions causing both membranes to physically rupture, the tear directions are often inconsistent due to the spatial gap and different stress states between the two membranes. This misalignment allows the two membranes to retain some structural overlap, providing mutual mechanical support, preventing the formation of large, penetrating open pores, slowing the rate of liquid intrusion, and buying time for subsequent melting and sealing.

[0009] The parallel circuit consisting of the sacrificial conductive component and the heating element establishes the preferred current path based on the resistance difference. When the vent membrane is intact, the current is shunt through the low-resistance branch, keeping the heating element in a quiescent state. Physical damage to the inner vent membrane simultaneously causes the attached sacrificial conductive component to break, forcing the current to redirect through the high-resistance heating element, achieving physical fault detection and triggering without the need for external sensors. The heat generated by the heating element drives a phase change in the thermal response sealing layer, transforming the solid thermoplastic material into a liquid fluid. The molten sealing material, guided by gravity or capillary action, flows into the closed cavity formed by the inner and outer vent membranes, filling the channels originally used for ventilation. The solid blockage formed after the material cools and solidifies blocks the path of external moisture into the shell, transforming the originally open ventilated structure into a sealed structure and preventing corrosion of internal components due to vent membrane failure.

[0010] Optionally, the sacrificial conductive element is a conductive metal circuit, and the sacrificial conductive element is arranged in a grid or spiral pattern on the side surface of the inner ventilated membrane facing the closed chamber; the sacrificial conductive element is fixedly installed on the inner ventilated membrane and serves as a reinforcing skeleton; both ends of the sacrificial conductive element extend to the outer edge of the first vent hole and are connected in parallel with the heating element.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solution, the sacrificial conductive component utilizes the high modulus characteristics of the metal circuitry as a reinforcing skeleton to enhance the overall rigidity and deformation resistance of the inner breathable membrane. The grid-like or spiral arrangement evenly distributes external stress to the membrane surface, reducing the risk of fatigue cracks caused by long-term wind pressure vibration. Simultaneously, this tight physical adhesion structure ensures strong coupling between electrical detection and mechanical status; if the inner breathable membrane undergoes physical tearing, the attached metal circuitry will inevitably break, guaranteeing the sensitivity and reliability of circuit state switching. Extending the two ends of the circuitry to the outside of the aperture edge, and utilizing the pressure of the stacked structure to achieve electrical connection with the heating element, simplifies the internal wiring process and avoids potential thermal damage caused by direct contact between the solder joints and the thin film surface.

[0012] Optionally, the heating element is a resistance heating wire, and the heating element is spirally embedded in the thermal response sealing layer along the circumference of the receiving through hole; there is a preset melting gap between the heating element and the inner wall surface of the receiving through hole; when the heating element heats up, the thermal response sealing layer within the melting gap range can be melted by heat.

[0013] By employing the above technical solution, the spirally embedded resistance heating wire constructs a uniform annular heating field within the thermally responsive sealing layer, ensuring uniform heating of the material surrounding the accommodating through-hole. The preset melting gap precisely defines the effective volume of the phase change material. Upon heating initiation, only the sealing layer closest to the inner wall of the accommodating through-hole and within the melting gap melts preferentially. This localized melting mechanism ensures sufficient material to fill the sealed chamber while maintaining the sealing layer outside the melting gap in a solid state. This ensures that the shell assembly maintains the interlayer structural connection strength during self-repair, preventing shell loosening or relative displacement caused by large-area melting.

[0014] Optionally, the surface of the inner breathable membrane facing away from the closed chamber is an oleophobic surface; the surfaces of the inner and outer breathable membranes facing the closed chamber are oleophilic surfaces; the oleophobic surface can prevent the molten heat-responsive sealing layer from penetrating through the inner breathable membrane; the oleophilic surface can adsorb the molten heat-responsive sealing layer.

[0015] By employing the above technical solution, the flow direction of the molten fluid is actively controlled by utilizing surface energy differences. The oleophilic surface facing the sealed chamber enhances the wettability between the liquid thermal response sealing layer and the breathable membrane, promoting the rapid spread of the molten material within the chamber under capillary action and filling the tiny gaps, ensuring the tightness of the seal. The oleophobic surface facing away from the sealed chamber constructs an anti-permeability barrier, using repulsion to prevent the organic molten liquid from penetrating the inner breathable membrane and entering the inner shell under gravity or pressure. This prevents fluid dripping during the repair process from contaminating or short-circuiting the precision electronic components inside the radar, achieving safety protection while ensuring a good seal.

[0016] Optionally, the thermally responsive sealing layer is a hot melt adhesive sheet or a modified paraffin sheet; the melting point temperature of the thermally responsive sealing layer is set to Tm, the heat distortion temperature of the housing assembly is set to T1, and the maximum ambient operating temperature of the housing assembly is set to T2, where T2... <Tm<T1。

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution and utilizing the excellent phase change characteristics and adhesive properties of hot melt adhesives or modified paraffin, a thermally responsive sealing layer was established that possesses both structural bonding and functional filling properties. By constructing a strict temperature hierarchy and setting the melting point temperature higher than the maximum ambient operating temperature, the seal layer is prevented from accidentally melting due to ambient heat during summer sun exposure or high engine compartment conditions, thus preventing accidental sealing. Simultaneously, setting the melting point temperature lower than the heat deformation temperature of the housing components ensures that the surrounding housing material maintains sufficient structural rigidity and dimensional stability during the heating and melting of the seal layer by the heating element. This prevents housing collapse or vent deformation due to localized overheating, ensuring the structural safety of the self-repair process.

[0018] Optionally, it also includes a power supply control module; the power supply control module is electrically connected to the self-healing component, and the power supply control module is used to provide a constant current to the sacrificial conductor and the heating element connected in parallel; the power supply control module also includes a fault detection unit, which is used to monitor the voltage value across the parallel connection circuit, and generate an alarm signal when the voltage value across the parallel connection circuit rises to a preset threshold.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, the power supply control module uses a constant current source to drive a parallel circuit, establishing a linear mapping relationship between the circuit state and the voltage signal based on Ohm's law. When the breathable membrane is intact, the current mainly flows through the low-resistance sacrificial conductor, maintaining a low voltage state across the circuit. Once the sacrificial conductor is open-circuited, the total resistance of the loop instantly jumps to the resistance of the heating element. Under the action of a constant current, the voltage value across the circuit synchronously experiences a significant step increase. By capturing this high signal-to-noise ratio voltage surge signal, the fault detection unit can accurately identify physical failure events of the breathable component and generate alarms, achieving highly sensitive fault diagnosis and feedback without the need for additional sensors.

[0020] Optionally, the sacrificial conductive element can be disconnected simultaneously when the inner breathable membrane undergoes mechanical rupture, thereby cutting off the sacrificial conductive element branch in the parallel connection circuit. After the thermal response sealing layer melts due to phase change, it flows into the closed chamber based on capillary action and is cooled and solidified to adhere the inner and outer breathable membranes, thereby sealing the first and second vent holes.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solution, a direct coupling mechanism between mechanical damage and electrical action is established, ensuring that the physical event of vent membrane rupture can be instantly converted into a trigger signal for circuit switching, eliminating signal transmission delay. The molten thermally responsive sealing layer utilizes the capillary effect of fluid in minute gaps to overcome gravity or surface tension resistance and automatically fill the sealed cavity between the inner and outer vent membranes. The subsequent cooling and solidification process transforms the originally independent liquid medium into a solid entity, not only filling the vent channels but also bonding the remaining inner and outer vent membranes into a single unit, forming a high-strength composite sealing plug that completely blocks water vapor passages.

[0022] Optionally, the volume of the receiving chamber is less than or equal to the volume of the thermally responsive sealing layer within the melt gap range.

[0023] By employing the above technical solution, it is ensured that the thermally responsive sealing layer material participating in the phase change melting is sufficiently large to completely fill the sealed chamber. This excess or equal volume configuration eliminates the risk of residual air bubbles or voids within the chamber after molten filling, guaranteeing a dense and non-porous sealing structure after cooling and solidification. Sufficient material supply allows the molten medium to fully wet and compress the inner wall of the chamber, forming a reliable solid sealing layer and improving the water pressure resistance of the repaired structure.

[0024] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. This application establishes a direct coupling mechanism between physical damage and thermal triggering by integrating a sacrificial conductive element on the inner breathable membrane and setting an electrothermal element within the thermally responsive sealing layer. When the breathable membrane ruptures due to external impact or aging, the synchronous fracture of the sacrificial conductive element automatically triggers the electrothermal element to operate, driving the thermally responsive sealing layer to melt and fill the sealed cavity between the two membrane layers. This design achieves adaptive switching from a breathable state to a densely sealed state, cutting off the moisture intrusion channel at the first moment of breathability failure. This effectively solves the problem of traditional breathable structures lacking a failure recovery mechanism and reduces the risk of the entire precision sensor being scrapped due to damage to a single protective layer.

[0025] 2. This application utilizes the resistance difference between sacrificial conductive components and heating components to construct a parallel circuit, coupled with a constant current source drive, establishing a passive fault detection logic based on physical laws. The system does not rely on complex humidity sensors or main control chip calculations; it can achieve immediate response to breathable membrane damage simply by changing the circuit topology. Simultaneously, utilizing the voltage step signal caused by an open circuit in the conductive component, the fault detection unit can accurately identify failure events and generate alarms, achieving proactive fault detection and precise fault location, thus improving the maintenance efficiency and reliability of the vehicle's electronic systems during long-term operation.

[0026] 3. This application employs a sandwich structure consisting of an inner shell, an outer shell, and a heat-responsive sealing layer. The adhesive properties of the middle layer and the physical clamping force of the shell simplify the assembly process of the double-layer breathable membrane, ensuring a tight seal without the need for additional fasteners. This composite structure utilizes the material properties of the heat-responsive sealing layer to provide additional shock absorption, cushioning, and thermal insulation, preventing heat transfer from the external environment to the interior. The double-layer breathable membrane, combined with the design of the enclosed middle chamber, forms a double physical barrier. The outer membrane effectively disperses the direct impact of high-pressure water flow, and the crack misalignment effect of the two membranes under extreme stress provides mutual mechanical support, enhancing the overall impact resistance of the structure.

[0027] 4. This application employs a differential surface energy treatment on the inner breathable membrane, utilizing the oleophobic properties of the side facing away from the sealed chamber to construct an anti-permeation barrier, while enhancing the wetting ability through the oleophilic properties of the side facing the sealed chamber. This fluid-directing control mechanism ensures that the molten thermally responsive sealing layer can densely fill the sealed chamber without generating air bubbles, while surface tension repulsion prevents organic molten liquid from penetrating the inner membrane and dripping into the shell. This design effectively avoids the risk of secondary contamination or short circuits to internal precision circuits during the self-repair process, ensuring the safety of internal electronic components while achieving the sealing and repair function. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the waterproof structure with vents in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 A partial schematic diagram illustrating a waterproof structure with a single vent hole on the outer casing in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1 ; Figure 3 A partial schematic diagram illustrating the heat-responsive sealing layer and inner breathable membrane of a single-pore waterproof structure in one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 4 A partial schematic diagram of the inner breathable membrane of a single breathable waterproof structure in one embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Outer shell; 2. Thermally responsive sealing layer; 3. Inner shell; 4. Outer breathable membrane; 5. Inner breathable membrane; 6. Melting gap; 7. Sacrificial conductive element; 8. Heating element. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the application and are not intended to limit the scope of the application.

[0031] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation in order to provide a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. As part of this specification, some of the accompanying drawings of this disclosure are block diagrams illustrating structures and devices to avoid complicating the disclosed principles. For clarity, not all features of the actual embodiment need to be described. Furthermore, the language used in this disclosure has been primarily chosen for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been chosen to define or limit the subject matter of the invention, thus requiring the necessary claims to determine such inventive subject matter. References to “an embodiment” or “an embodiment” in this disclosure mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment, and multiple references to “an embodiment” or “an embodiment” should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

[0032] Unless explicitly defined, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to a singular entity, but rather to include a general category whose specific examples can be used for illustration. Therefore, the use of the terms “a” or “an” can mean any number of at least one, including “a,” “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more.” The term “or” means any of the options and any combination of the options, including all options unless explicitly indicated that the options are mutually exclusive. The phrase “at least one of” when combined with a list of items refers to a single item in the list or any combination of items in the list. The phrase does not require all items listed unless explicitly defined as such.

[0033] like Figure 1-4 As shown, this embodiment provides a ventilated waterproof structure, the main body of which is composed of a shell assembly. The shell assembly adopts a three-layer composite structure, including an outer shell 1, an inner shell 3, and a heat-responsive sealing layer 2 located between the two. The outer shell 1 and the inner shell 3 are fixed by laminating the heat-responsive sealing layer 2, which not only serves as an adhesive fixation but also as a source of filling material in the subsequent self-healing process. Channels for gas flow are provided on the shell assembly. Specifically, the inner shell 3 has a first vent, the outer shell 1 has a second vent, and the heat-responsive sealing layer 2 has a receiving through-hole. In the assembled state, the first vent, the receiving through-hole, and the second vent are coaxially aligned, forming an airflow channel penetrating the shell.

[0034] It should be noted that, Figure 1 The application of this vented waterproof structure is illustrated using only a typical housing component as an example (see the area indicated by the dashed box). However, this does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this embodiment, but is merely an illustrative example of an application scenario. Similarly, Figures 2 to 4Although the vent is illustrated as a circle, this is merely a non-limiting example for ease of illustration, and the inventive concept of this application is equally applicable to vents with rectangular, elliptical, polygonal, or other irregular shapes. Furthermore, Figures 2 to 4 The dashed area used to mark the fusion gap 6 is only a schematic representation and does not represent an absolutely precise physical boundary. In actual applications, the specific range of this fusion area is not fixed, but will be dynamically adjusted according to factors such as the magnitude of the working current, resistance characteristics, ambient temperature of the housing, and the specific wiring shape of the heating element 8.

[0035] A breathable assembly, comprising an outer breathable membrane 4 and an inner breathable membrane 5, is disposed within the aforementioned airflow channel. The inner breathable membrane 5 covers the first vent, and the outer breathable membrane 4 covers the second vent. The inner breathable membrane 5, the outer breathable membrane 4, and the inner wall of the receiving through-hole of the intermediate thermally responsive sealing layer 2 together form a closed chamber. Under normal operating conditions, this closed chamber is hollow, allowing gas to flow between the two membranes to balance the internal and external air pressures.

[0036] This embodiment incorporates a self-healing component to address the failure of the breathable function. The self-healing component includes a sacrificial conductive element 7 and a heating element 8. The sacrificial conductive element 7 is attached to the surface of the inner breathable membrane 5 facing the closed chamber, and is specifically constructed as a conductive metal circuit. This conductive metal circuit is arranged in a tightly packed mesh or spiral pattern, serving both as part of the circuit and as a reinforcing skeleton for the inner breathable membrane 5, enhancing the membrane's mechanical strength. Both ends of the sacrificial conductive element 7 extend to the outer edge of the first vent hole, achieving physical compression connection with the power supply circuit using the laminated pressing structure of the housing assembly. This laminated structure allows each functional layer to be independently prefabricated layer by layer, and the electrical connection of the circuit nodes is completed in one step through a molding and pressing process, avoiding high-temperature welding on the thin film material, simplifying the assembly process, and making it suitable for large-scale automated production. The heating element 8 is constructed as a resistance heating wire, which is embedded inside the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 and spirally distributed along the circumference of the accommodating through-hole. A preset melting gap 6 is reserved between the heating element 8 and the inner wall surface of the through hole, which limits the range of material to be melted by heat.

[0037] In terms of circuit connection, the sacrificial conductive element 7 and the heating element 8 form a parallel connection circuit. The resistance of the sacrificial conductive element 7 is designed to be much smaller than that of the heating element 8. Therefore, under normal conditions when the parallel circuit is energized, the current preferentially flows through the low-resistance sacrificial conductive element 7, while the heating element 8 is in a short-circuited or low-current non-heating state.

[0038] The thermally responsive sealing layer 2 is made of a thermoplastic material, and specifically can be selected from hot-melt film materials or modified paraffin sheet materials. To ensure the safety of the structure and the reliability of the function, the system sets a strict temperature hierarchy: the melting temperature of the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 is set as Tm, the heat distortion temperature of the housing assembly (i.e., the inner housing 3 and the outer housing 1) is set as T1, and the highest ambient operating temperature of the environment where the housing assembly is located is set as T2. These three satisfy the relationship of T2 < Tm < T1. This design ensures that the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 will not be accidentally melted in the environment of high temperature in summer or when the device is running at full load; at the same time, when the self-repair heating is started, the housing assembly will not suffer from structural collapse or deformation due to excessive temperature.

[0039] In this embodiment, the breathable membrane can directly select the commonly used expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane material on the market. Such a conventional breathable membrane itself naturally has the surface characteristics of being hydrophobic and oleophilic, and the molten thermoplastic material after the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 melts belongs to the organic phase, and there is naturally good wettability between the two. Therefore, there is no need to perform additional chemical modification on the surface of the breathable membrane, and the molten liquid can spread rapidly and fill the gaps in the closed chamber relying on its own affinity. It should be noted that when the breathable membrane ruptures and triggers self-repair, it is usually accompanied by the intrusion of external rainwater or water vapor, which means that the damaged area is often in a relatively low temperature state. When the high-temperature molten thermally responsive sealing layer 2 flows to this low-temperature area, rapid heat exchange will occur and it will quickly cool and solidify. This physical property of instant coagulation upon cooling makes the molten material solidify and seal before it has time to deeply penetrate through the micropores of the inner breathable membrane 5, thus naturally avoiding the risk of dripping. As an optional enhanced protection scheme, the surface of the inner breathable membrane 5 facing away from the closed chamber (i.e., the side facing the inside of the housing) can be specially treated as a hydrophilic and oleophobic surface. This oleophobic surface, as an additional safety barrier, can further reduce the penetration probability of the molten liquid under extreme high pressure or high-temperature delayed solidification conditions, providing a redundant level of safety protection for the internal electronic components.

[0040] Furthermore, whether it is the instantaneous impact of external high-pressure water flow or the aging and cracking of polymer materials caused by long-term use, the physical damage form of the breathable membrane usually shows fine cracks or long and narrow tear gaps, rather than large-area material loss. The geometric characteristics of these fine gaps just provide an ideal capillary channel for fluids. When the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 melts into a liquid fluid, driven by the surface tension, the melt can overcome the influence of gravity and produce strong capillary penetration along these small tear gaps. The melt will automatically find and fill these damaged paths, and then quickly cool and solidify during the contact with the low-temperature environment, forming a solid filling layer with a certain toughness, so as to accurately repair and seal these small cracks and ensure the overall airtightness of the housing.

[0041] Furthermore, to ensure effective sealing, the volume of the sealed chamber is designed to be less than or equal to the volume of the thermally responsive sealing layer 2 within the melt gap 6. This ensures that when the sealing layer within the preset range completely melts, the resulting liquid material is sufficient to fill the entire sealed chamber, preventing air bubbles or gaps from remaining after cooling and solidification.

[0042] The ventilated waterproof structure of this embodiment also includes a power supply control module, which is electrically connected to the self-healing component. The power supply control module is configured to provide a constant current to the parallel-connected sacrificial conductor 7 and heating element 8. Simultaneously, the module integrates a fault detection unit for real-time monitoring of the voltage values ​​across the parallel-connected circuit.

[0043] The working principle of this ventilated waterproof structure is as follows: In the initial state, the inner breathable membrane 5 is intact, and the sacrificial conductive element 7 is in a conductive state. Due to its extremely low resistance, under constant current drive, the voltage across the circuit remains at an extremely low level, the heating element 8 does not heat up, and the breathable structure works normally.

[0044] When the inner breathable membrane 5 ruptures mechanically due to external impact or material aging, the sacrificial conductive element 7 attached to its surface will simultaneously break physically. At this time, the low-resistance branch in the parallel circuit is cut off, and the constant current is forced to flow entirely through the high-resistance heating element 8. According to Ohm's law, the voltage across the circuit will instantly rise to a preset threshold. After the fault detection unit detects this voltage surge, it immediately generates an alarm signal, alerting the backend system or maintenance personnel that the equipment has been damaged.

[0045] Simultaneously, current flows through the heating element 8, generating Joule heat. When the temperature reaches the preset temperature Tm, the thermally responsive sealing layer 2, located within the melting gap 6, undergoes a phase change and melts. Driven by gravity and capillary action, the molten material collapses inward from the periphery of the accommodating through-hole and flows into the sealed chamber. Due to the oleophilic nature of the inner side of the breathable membrane, the molten material rapidly wets and fills the gap between the inner breathable membrane 5 and the outer breathable membrane 4. Subsequently, as heat dissipates, the liquid material cools and solidifies, bonding the remaining inner breathable membrane 5 and outer breathable membrane 4 into a single unit, forming a dense solid blockage. This achieves permanent sealing of the first and second vents, completing the adaptive transition from breathable and waterproof to completely sealed.

[0046] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and should all be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A breathable and waterproof structure, characterized in that, include: The housing assembly includes an outer shell (1), an inner shell (3), and a heat-responsive sealing layer (2) laminated between the inner shell (3) and the outer shell (1); the inner shell (3) has a first vent hole, the outer shell (1) has a second vent hole, and the heat-responsive sealing layer (2) has a receiving through hole; the first vent hole, the receiving through hole, and the second vent hole are coaxially aligned in the axial direction. A breathable component, comprising an inner breathable membrane (5) covering the first breathable hole and an outer breathable membrane (4) covering the second breathable hole; the inner breathable membrane (5), the outer breathable membrane (4) and the inner wall surface of the accommodating through hole together form a closed chamber; The self-healing component includes a sacrificial conductive element (7) attached to the surface of the inner breathable membrane (5) and an electric heating element (8) embedded in the thermally responsive sealing layer (2); wherein the resistance of the sacrificial conductive element (7) is less than the resistance of the electric heating element (8); the sacrificial conductive element (7) and the electric heating element (8) form a parallel connection circuit; the thermally responsive sealing layer (2) is made of thermoplastic material, and when the electric heating element (8) heats up to a preset temperature, the portion of the thermally responsive sealing layer (2) located on the periphery of the receiving through hole can undergo phase change melting and fill into the closed cavity.

2. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sacrificial conductive element (7) is a conductive metal circuit. The sacrificial conductive element (7) is arranged in a grid or spiral pattern on the side surface of the inner breathable membrane (5) facing the closed chamber. The sacrificial conductive element (7) is fixedly installed on the inner breathable membrane (5) and serves as a reinforcing skeleton. The two ends of the sacrificial conductive element (7) extend to the outer edge of the first vent hole and are connected in parallel with the heating element (8).

3. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating element (8) is a resistance heating wire. The heating element (8) is spirally embedded in the thermal response sealing layer (2) along the circumference of the receiving through hole. There is a preset melting gap (6) between the heating element (8) and the inner wall surface of the receiving through hole. When the heating element (8) heats up, the thermal response sealing layer (2) within the melting gap (6) range can be melted by heat.

4. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner breathable membrane (5) has an oleophobic surface on the side facing away from the closed chamber; the inner breathable membrane (5) and the outer breathable membrane (4) have oleophilic surfaces on the side facing the closed chamber; the oleophobic surface can prevent the melted heat-responsive sealing layer (2) from penetrating through the inner breathable membrane (5); the oleophilic surface can adsorb the melted heat-responsive sealing layer (2).

5. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermally responsive sealing layer (2) is a hot melt adhesive sheet or a modified paraffin sheet; the melting point temperature of the thermally responsive sealing layer (2) is set to Tm, the heat deformation temperature of the housing assembly is set to T1, and the maximum ambient operating temperature of the housing assembly is set to T2, and T2 <Tm<T1。 6. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a power supply control module; the power supply control module is electrically connected to the self-healing component, and the power supply control module is used to provide a constant current to the parallel-connected sacrificial conductor (7) and the electric heating element (8); The power supply control module also includes a fault detection unit, which monitors the voltage value across the parallel connection circuit and generates an alarm signal when the voltage value across the parallel connection circuit rises to a preset threshold.

7. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sacrificial conductive element (7) can be disconnected synchronously when the inner breathable membrane (5) is mechanically broken, so as to cut off the branch of the sacrificial conductive element (7) in the parallel connection circuit. After the thermal response sealing layer (2) melts in the phase change, it flows into the closed chamber based on capillary action and is cooled and solidified to adhere the inner breathable membrane (5) and the outer breathable membrane (4) to block the first vent and the second vent.

8. The ventilated waterproof structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: The volume of the receiving chamber is less than or equal to the volume of the thermally responsive sealing layer (2) within the range of the melting gap (6).

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