Sealing Element with Force Detection Sensor for Liquid Ingress Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices face issues with liquid ingress and contaminant entry through sealed interfaces, leading to potential damage due to inadequate sealing and lack of force detection capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design incorporating a sealing element with a force detection sensor and support members to prevent liquid ingress, featuring a compressible dielectric material forming a parallel plate capacitor and additional structural components to counteract external forces, ensuring effective sealing and force monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing element is used to seal the interface region, then liquid ingress is prevented, but the sealing element may be displaced by external forces causing seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is integrated with a force detection sensor to form a composite structure. This composite design allows the sealing element to maintain its sealing function while gaining force sensing capabilities, enabling detection of external forces that may cause displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The force detection sensor provides feedback about forces applied to the protective cover. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect when external forces are applied to the sealing element, allowing for monitoring and potential corrective actions to maintain seal integrity.
2Reliability
If the interface region is sealed to prevent liquid ingress, then internal components are protected, but force applied to the protective cover cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element and force detection sensor are merged into a single integrated component. This combination allows the force detection capability to be embedded within the sealing structure itself, enabling force measurement without compromising the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element serves multiple functions: it provides the primary sealing barrier against liquid ingress and simultaneously acts as a force detection sensor. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components and enables both protection and detection capabilities.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sealing element is made more robust to resist external forces, then seal stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element utilizes a flexible membrane structure that can deform in response to external forces. This flexibility allows the sealing element to accommodate force applications without requiring complex rigid support structures, maintaining stability while minimizing added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element's physical parameters (such as thickness, material properties, or geometric configuration) are optimized to provide adequate stability against external forces. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design achieves necessary stability without over-engineering the structure.
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 prevents liquid ingress and detects applied forces, maintaining a reliable seal and protecting internal components from external pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing element may include a force detection sensor that detects a force (or forces) applied to one of the parts
Implementation Method 2
featuring a compressible dielectric material forming a parallel plate capacitor
Implementation Method 3
featuring a compressible dielectric material forming a parallel plate capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device may include a sealing element between a protective cover and a housing of the electronic device. The sealing element may provide a seal between the protective cover and the enclosure, as well as monitor or detect a force to the protective cover. Also, one or more support members may surround the sealing element to provide protection against a material (such as liquid) entering an opening between the protective cover and the enclosure. Alternatively, or in combination, the sealing element may include several openings, each of which may include a restraining element to limit movement of the sealing element. Also, a blocking element may be placed at or near an edge of the enclosure to provide additional reinforcement if the sealing element is laterally displaced. The blocking element may include an operational component of the electronic device, such as an antenna.