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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic and electrical devices, particularly portable equipment and outdoor systems, are vulnerable to liquid damage from environmental exposure, leading to short circuits and sound quality degradation due to existing protective measures that compromise sensitivity and sound quality.
Innovation Solution
A pulsed plasma polymerization process applies a specific compound to form a protective polymeric layer on devices, making them highly liquid repellent without affecting their functionality or porosity, using a compound of formula (I) with specific monomers and deposition conditions to create a durable, water- and oil-repellent coating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-impermeable porous membranes such as PTFE membranes are introduced into microphones to protect against liquid contamination, then protection against liquid damage is improved, but sensitivity of the transducer is reduced and sound quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a thin hydrophobic coating film on the porous foam enclosure of the microphone. This thin film allows acoustic signals to pass through while blocking liquid penetration, resolving the contradiction between liquid protection and sound quality by providing a barrier that is permeable to sound waves but impermeable to liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the existing porous foam material with a hydrophobic coating layer to create a composite structure. The porous foam provides acoustic permeability while the hydrophobic coating provides liquid repellency, achieving both liquid protection and maintained sound quality through material composition rather than using solid impermeable membranes.
2Reliability
If more rigid protective covers are provided with holes for pick-up devices to protect against liquid damage, then protection against liquid damage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding rigid protective covers with holes, the patent uses a flexible hydrophobic coating applied directly to the existing foam enclosure. This thin film approach maintains the original simple structure while providing liquid protection, avoiding the complexity and cost of rigid protective housings.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymer synthesis is used to create protective coatings, then coating formation is achieved, but the coating structure resembles the monomer and lacks complex protective properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal polymerization with plasma polymerization technology. The plasma process creates highly reactive radical species that form complex cross-linked polymer networks with superior hydrophobic properties, transforming the coating mechanism to achieve better liquid repellency while maintaining ease of application through atmospheric or low-pressure plasma treatment.
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 solution effectively protects devices from liquid damage, including immersion in water, without compromising sound quality or device operation, offering broad applicability and enhanced protection without the drawbacks of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a polymeric coating, formed by exposing said device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I)
Implementation Method 2
exposing said device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I)
Implementation Method 3
making them highly liquid repellent without affecting their functionality or porosity
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical or electronic device having a polymeric coating, formed by exposing said device to pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I) where R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl or aryl optionally substituted by halo; and R4 is a group X-R5 where R5 is an alkyl or haloalkyl group and X is a bond; a group of formula -C (O) O (CH2) nY- where n is an integer of from 1 to 10 and Y is a bond or a sulphonamide group; or a group - (O) PR6 (O) q (CH2) t- where R6 is aryl optionally substituted by halo, p is 0 or 1, q is 0 or 1 and t is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 10, provided that where q is 1, t is other than 0, for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the electrical or electronic device. Devices of this type are protected from contamination by liquids, in particular environmental liquids.