Moisture-Resistant Coating for Refurbished Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refurbished or remanufactured electronic devices remain susceptible to moisture damage despite repair, as existing methods do not adequately address internal moisture resistance during the refurbishment process.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a diagnosis element to identify defective components, a coating element to apply a protective moisture-resistant coating to internal surfaces, and a material removal element to ensure the coating is applied only where needed, using techniques like chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition to form a polymer coating such as poly(p-xylylene) on the electronic device's subassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic devices are repaired and refurbished, then defective components are eliminated and devices are resold, but the devices remain susceptible to moisture damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by depositing a moisture-resistant coating on electronic components before they are assembled into the refurbished device. The coating is applied to circuit boards and components during the refurbishment process, creating a protective barrier that prevents moisture ingress before the device is completed and resold.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary substance - a moisture-resistant coating material - that acts as a mediator between the electronic components and the harmful moisture environment. This coating layer serves as a protective interface that allows the device to function reliably while blocking moisture from reaching sensitive electronic parts.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective coating is applied to internal surfaces, then moisture resistance is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the moisture protection function from the final device assembly and applies it separately to individual components during refurbishment. By treating circuit boards and components with moisture-resistant coatings independently before reassembly, the process avoids the complexity of applying coatings to fully assembled devices while still achieving comprehensive protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the coating application process by using vapor-phase deposition methods that allow the coating material to conformally coat complex three-dimensional electronic components. This approach simplifies the manufacturing process compared to traditional liquid coating methods, as the vapor automatically penetrates and coats all surfaces including hard-to-reach areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively imparts moisture resistance to refurbished electronic devices, preventing electrical shorting and corrosion, and ensuring the devices are ready for resale by quantifiable metrics such as water permeation rates and contact angles, making them more durable against moisture exposure.
Implementation Method 1
using techniques like chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition to form a polymer coating such as poly(p-xylylene) on the electronic device's subassembly
Implementation Method 2
using techniques like chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition to form a polymer coating such as poly(p-xylylene) on the electronic device's subassembly
Data Source
AI summary
An approach to refurbishing or remanufacturing an electronic device may involve exposing electrical components that are situated within an interior of the electronic device. The approach may also involve replacing one or more defective electronic components of the electronic device with one or more replacement components and applying a protective coating to at least a portion of the interior of the electronic device. The protective coating may cover the circuit board and the electronic components it carries. The protective coating may also cover at least some of the electrical connections of the electronic device. The protective coating may also be applied to the replacement component prior to reassembly. The resulting refurbished or remanufactured electronic device may thus be provided with moisture resistance to help protect the electronic device from damage caused by exposure to moisture.