Wearable Display Housing Sealing Against Moisture Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wearable electronic devices face limitations in performance due to the inclusion of multiple components in a compact design, which can hinder functionality and durability, especially in varying and harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
The design of wearable electronic devices incorporates tailored component arrangements, including epoxy seals, insulating materials, and frames to prevent moisture ingress, while maintaining a compact form factor, with features like recessed buttons and speaker vents to enhance functionality and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are included in a compact wearable device design, then device functionality is enhanced, but device reliability deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to moisture ingress and environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct sealed compartments (first cavity for first speaker, second cavity for second speaker, third cavity for button) separated by sealed barriers. This segmentation allows each component to be independently protected from moisture while maintaining overall device functionality, resolving the contradiction between including multiple components and maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Sealed barriers (including epoxy seals and gaskets) act as intermediary elements between the external environment and internal components. These intermediaries prevent moisture ingress to sensitive components while allowing the device to maintain its compact multi-component design, thus protecting reliability without sacrificing functionality.
2Volume of moving object
If component density is increased to maintain compact form factor, then device portability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to tighter tolerances needed for sealing
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible gaskets and thin film seals are used to create moisture barriers between components. These flexible sealing elements can accommodate minor manufacturing variations and tolerances while maintaining effective seals, thus allowing high component density in a compact form factor without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite sealing structures combining multiple materials (e.g., epoxy seals combined with gasket materials) are employed to achieve reliable sealing in compact spaces. These composite solutions provide both the structural integrity needed for tight tolerances and the sealing capability to prevent moisture ingress, resolving the contradiction between compactness and manufacturing precision requirements.
3Reliability
If sealed barriers are added to prevent moisture ingress, then device reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into integrated sealed barriers that simultaneously protect multiple components (e.g., a single barrier protecting both first speaker and second speaker cavities). This merging reduces the total number of separate sealing components and assembly steps while maintaining comprehensive moisture protection, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed barriers are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as structural support elements and as moisture protection barriers. By combining multiple functions into single components, the design achieves effective moisture protection without adding proportional complexity to the device structure and assembly process.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a housing sidewall defining an opening and a display component, such as a display cover, disposed in the opening to form a gap between the housing sidewall and the display component. In at least one example, the cavity is defined by the sidewall and the display cover with the cavity in fluid communication with an external environment through the gap. In at least one example, an epoxy component at least partially defines the cavity and can be in direct contact with the housing sidewall.