IC I/O Opening Moisture Sensor Layout for Early Ingress Detection

The patent divides the moisture detection function into multiple segments by placing several moisture sensors at different positions along the I/O opening (e.g., at the outer end, inner end, and intermediate positions). This segmentation allows precise localization of moisture ingress and prevents premature false indications that would occur with a single sensor, while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic arrangement.

The patent implements preliminary moisture detection by placing sensors at multiple strategic positions along the I/O opening before moisture can reach critical components. The system monitors moisture progression sequentially from the outer end toward the inner end, enabling early warning and remedial action while maintaining reliability through cross-validation across multiple sensor positions that distinguish actual moisture ingress from environmental humidity.

The patent applies local quality by concentrating moisture sensors specifically along the edge of the I/O opening where moisture ingress most commonly occurs, rather than distributing them uniformly throughout the entire device. This targeted placement achieves high moisture localization precision at the critical interface between the external environment and internal circuitry, while minimizing overall device complexity by focusing sensing resources where they are most needed.