Electronic device having an interior that includes a saturated salt solution and a desiccant
The present disclosure includes embodiments of an electrical device that includes an interior having a saturated salt solution and desiccant disposed therein to manage the relative humidity of the interior.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a) a housing having an interior space;
b) one or more electronic components disposed within the interior space;
c) a saturated salt solution disposed within the interior space, wherein the saturated salt solution is contained within a first container that is permeable to water vapor, and impermeable to liquid and ions, and wherein the first container is disposed within the interior space; and
d) a desiccant disposed within the interior space, wherein the desiccant is contained within a second container that is permeable to water vapor, and wherein the second container is disposed within the interior space.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the saturated salt solution can control the relative humidity within the interior space to a relative humidity from 5 to 60 percent at a temperature in the range from 10 to 75° C.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the salt is chosen from lithium chloride, potassium formate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium acetate, lithium bromide, desium fluoride, zinc bromide, lithium iodide, and combinations thereof.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an environmental control module disposed within the interior space, wherein the first container is disposed within the environmental control module.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first container comprises a sealed pouch, wherein the sealed pouch comprises a polymer membrane that is permeable to water vapor, and impermeable to liquid and ions.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the desiccant is precharged in an environment having a relative humidity in the range from 5 to 60 percent at a temperature in the range from 10 to 30° C.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the saturated salt solution can control the relative humidity within the interior space to a first relative humidity at a temperature in the range from 10° C. to 75° C., wherein the desiccant is precharged in an environment having a second relative humidity at a temperature in the range from 15 to 30° C., wherein second relative humidity is different from the first relative humidity, and wherein the second relative humidity is within 10% of the first relative humidity at a temperature in the range from 10° C. to 75° C.
8. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the desiccant is precharged in an environment having a relative humidity in the range from 5 to 60 percent at a temperature in the range from 10 to 30° C.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the desiccant is chosen from silica gel, activated alumina, alumina, calcium oxide, activated carbon, calcium sulfate, magnesium aluminum silicate, and combinations thereof.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising an environmental control module disposed within the interior space, wherein the second container is disposed within the environmental control module.
11. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a data storage device.
12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the data storage device comprises a hard disk drive.
13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the hard disk drive is hermetically sealed.
14. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the interior space is a first interior space, wherein the first container is disposed in an area of the electronic device that defines a second interior space, wherein the second container is disposed in an area of the electronic device that defines a third interior space, wherein the first, second, and third interior spaces are in fluid communication with each other so that humidity can transfer among the first, second, and third interior spaces.
15. A method of making an electronic device, the method comprising:
a) providing a housing having an interior space;
b) disposing one or more electronic components within the interior space;
c) disposing a first container within the interior space, wherein a saturated salt solution is contained within the first container, and wherein the first container is permeable to water vapor, and impermeable to liquid and ions; and
d) disposing a second container within the interior space, wherein a desiccant is contained within the second container, wherein the second container is permeable to water vapor.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the interior space is a first interior space, wherein the first container is disposed in an area of the electronic device that defines a second interior space, wherein the second container is disposed in an area of the electronic device that defines a third interior space, wherein the first, second, and third interior spaces are in fluid communication with each other so that humidity can transfer among the first, second, and third interior spaces.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the saturated salt solution can control the relative humidity within the interior space to a relative humidity from 5 to 60 percent at a temperature in the range from 10° C. to 75° C., and wherein the salt is chosen from lithium chloride, potassium formate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium acetate, lithium bromide, desium fluoride, zinc bromide, lithium iodide, and combinations thereof.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first container comprises a sealed pouch, wherein the sealed pouch comprises a polymer membrane that is permeable to water vapor, and impermeable to liquid and ions.