IP Library Granted Patent US 10,165,694
Granted Patent B1
US 10,165,694 · App. 15/836,955 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Concealed barometric vent for an electronic device

Inventors: Christopher M. Werner (San Jose, CA); Maegan K. Spencer (Emerald Hills, CA); Daniel J. Barrett (Redwood City, CA); Brad G. Boozer (Saratoga, CA); Daniel J. Hiemstra (San Jose, CA); Christopher D. Guichet (Mountain View, CA); Amin M. Younes (Mountain View, CA); James G. Horiuchi (Fresno, CA); Eugene H. Fox (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: APPLE INC.
H05K5/0213G06F1/163G06F1/1637G06F1/1656G06F3/02G06F3/041H04R1/023H04R1/086H04R1/44H04R2499/11
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,165,694
App. No.
15/836,955
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

Embodiments are directed to a portable electronic device having a substantially concealed barometric vent. The vent may be used to equalize air pressure within the enclosure while forming a barrier between external contaminants, moisture, and so on and various internal component and assemblies of the device. In one embodiment, the vent may include a screen configured to impede ingress of particulates and an air-permeable membrane configured to impede ingress of moisture.

Claims (66)

1. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure defining an interior volume, an engagement feature, and a port extending from an inner surface of the interior volume to a surface of the engagement feature;

a display at least partially positioned within the enclosure;

a watch band that is coupled to the engagement feature of the enclosure;

a bracket positioned within the interior volume of the enclosure; and

a vent assembly positioned between the bracket and the inner surface of the interior volume and comprising:

an air-permeable membrane defining a moisture barrier; and

a screen positioned along the air-permeable membrane,

wherein the watch band visually obscures the port when the watch band is coupled to the engagement feature.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the engagement feature is a receiving slot that extends along a side of the enclosure.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the port is positioned offset from a middle of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein:

the watch band includes a strap and a lug coupled to the strap; and

the lug and the engagement feature cooperate to releasably couple the watch band and the enclosure.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein:

the display includes a touch sensor and is configured to receive a touch input;

the electronic device further comprises a crown at least partially extending through an opening in the enclosure;

the crown is configured to receive a translational input and a rotational input; and

the display is configured to depict a graphical output of the electronic device that is responsive to each of:

the touch input of the touch sensor of the display;

the translational input of the crown; and

the rotational input of the crown.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein

the vent assembly is configured to equalize an internal pressure of the interior volume with an external pressure of an external environment.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure is impermeable to liquid and the vent assembly is substantially impermeable to liquid.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein:

the watch band comprises a lug; and

the lug is positioned at least partially in the engagement feature.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure defining:

an interior volume;

a sidewall defining a slot configured to receive a watch band;

an outer port extending from an inner surface of the interior volume to a surface of the slot;

a bracket positioned within the enclosure and defining an inner port; and

a vent assembly secured between the bracket and the enclosure, the vent assembly having a duct region that forms at least part of a passage between the outer port and the inner port, the vent assembly comprising, within the duct region:

an air-permeable membrane defining a moisture barrier; and

a screen stacked along the air-permeable membrane.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:

the vent assembly further comprises a deformable layer forming at least a portion of a sidewall of the duct region; and

the bracket is configured to compress the deformable layer.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein:

the bracket is coupled to the enclosure by a fastener; and

a cantilevered portion of the bracket extends from the fastener and defines the inner port.

12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein:

the screen is a first screen adjacent the outer port; and

the vent assembly further comprises, within the duct region:

a second screen stacked along the air-permeable membrane opposite the first screen.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the vent assembly is configured to reduce a pressure differential between an interior volume of the enclosure and an external environment.

14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first screen or the second screen is configured to limit deflection of the air-permeable membrane within the duct region caused by the pressure differential.

15. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the vent assembly further comprises:

a film configured to form a temporary seal between an interior volume of the enclosure and both of the air-permeable membrane and the screen and having a punctured section that extends into the duct region.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

an enclosure defining a slot along an exterior side of the enclosure and having a port formed in a surface of the slot;

a vent assembly positioned within the enclosure and defining a duct region configured to channel air between the port and an interior volume of the enclosure, the vent assembly comprising:

an air-permeable membrane extending across the duct region and defining a moisture barrier; and

a screen between the air-permeable membrane and the port; and

a watch band positioned at least partially within the slot and at least partially overlapping the port.

17. The electronic device of claim 16 , further comprising a dial configured to receive rotatable and translatable input.

18. The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the vent assembly further comprises an overmolded layer defining sidewalls of the duct region and molded over at least a portion of the screen.

19. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the screen comprises a mesh layer having a group of intertwined structures.

20. The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein:

the electronic device further comprises:

a display at least partially positioned within the enclosure;

a cover covering the display; and

a touch sensor configured to sense a touch input applied to the cover; and

the display is configured to depict a graphical output that is responsive to the touch input.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: WERNER, CHRISTOPHER M.; SPENCER, MAEGAN K.; BARRETT, DANIEL J.; BOOZER, BRAD G.; HIEMSTRA, DANIEL J.; GUICHET, CHRISTOPHER D.; YOUNES, AMIN M.; HORIUCHI, JAMES G.; FOX, EUGENE H.
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 045171/0939 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62557131 · Sep 11, 2017
Cited By (9)
US 12,212,906 US 12,216,504 US 12,256,032 US 12,262,161 US 12,413,880 US 12,547,215 US 12,663,762 US 12,666,185 US 12,675,134