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US 2012/0055767 A1Published application
Water inhibiting slide switch
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsKyle Yeates, Teodor Dabov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Electromechanical switches are provided. The electromechanical switches can include conductive components that are configured to change position relative to one another in response to a mechanical input. The electromechanical switch can include a distribution mechanism for replenishing a moisture inhibiting layer, such as an oleophobic material, on surface portions of conductive components within the switch. During actuation of the electromechanical switch, the distribution mechanism can be configured to reapply the moisture inhibiting material to the surface portions of the conductive components to prevent damage resulting from moisture intrusion.
Claims25
A switch, comprising:
- an electrical circuit including:
- a first conductive component;
- a second conductive component wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component are configured to move relative to one another in response to application of a mechanical input force wherein, during a range movement of the first conductive component and the second conductive relative to one another, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are brought into contact with one another, the contact effecting an electrical property associated with the electrical circuit;
- and
- a distribution mechanism for replenishing a moisture inhibiting material to the first conductive component or the second conductive component wherein the distribution mechanism is configured to replenish the moisture inhibiting material in response to the movement of the first conductive component and the second conductive component relative to one another.
2 more elements
A slide switch, comprising:
- a carrier body;
- a bridging component attached to the carrier body;
- a base, the base including a number of electrical contact pads, wherein a sliding force applied to the carrier body causes the bridging component to make electrical contact with no more than two of the electrical contact pads at a time;
- and
- a moisture inhibiting layer covering a top surface of each of the contact pads, wherein when the carrier body moves across the body of the slide switch, the moisture inhibiting layer over the contact pad that is not in contact with the bridging component is replenished thereby providing a moisture barrier for preventing moisture intrusion and resulting contact pad corrosion.
2 more elements
A portable electronic device comprising:
- a switch including:
- a first conductive component;
- a second conductive component wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component are configured to move relative to one another in response to application of a mechanical input force wherein during a range movement of the first conductive component and the second conductive relative to one another, the first conductive component and the second conductive component are brought into contact with one another, the contact changing an electrical property of an output signal generated by the switch;
- and
- a distribution mechanism for replenishing a moisture inhibiting material to the first conductive component or the second conductive component wherein the distribution mechanism is configured to replenish the moisture inhibiting material in response to the movement of the first conductive component and the second conductive component relative to one another;
- and
- a processor and a memory configured to control operation of the portable electronic device in response to the output signal generated by the switch.
4 more elements
The portable electronic device of claim 17, wherein one of the applicators is coupled to the first conductive component.
A method of forming a slider switch comprising:
- forming a carrier body including a bridging component in one or more applicators for applying a moisture inhibiting material;
- forming a base including a plurality of contact pads;
- attaching the carrier body to the base such that base and carrier body can move in a substantially parallel manner relative to one another and wherein the bridging component and the plurality of contact pads are arranged to allow the bridging component to touch no more than two of the plurality of contact pads at one time;
- and
- coating at least the plurality of contact pads with a moisture inhibiting material wherein, in response to the actuation of the slider switch, 1) friction between the bridging component and the metal contact pads removes the moisture inhibiting material and 2) the applicators replenish the moisture inhibiting material on at least portions of the metal contact pads where the moisture inhibiting material is removed as a result of the friction between the bridging component and the contact pads.
2 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer code executed by a processor in a computer aided manufacturing process comprising:
- computer code for attaching a carrier body to a base of an electronic switch such that the base and carrier body can move in a substantially parallel manner relative to one another and wherein the bridging component and the plurality of contact pads are arranged to allow the bridging component to touch no more than two of the plurality of contact pads at one time;
- and
- computer code for coating at least the plurality of contact pads with a moisture inhibiting material wherein, in response to the actuation of the slider switch, 1) friction between the bridging component and the metal contact pads removes the moisture inhibiting material and 2) the applicators replenish the moisture inhibiting material on at least portions of the metal contact pads where the moisture inhibiting material is removed as a result of the friction between the bridging component and the contact pads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.