Attorney Docket No.: 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
`
`U. S. PATENT APPLICATION FOR
`
`INTELLIGENT VENTS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
`
`Inventors:
`
`David MACNEIL, residing in
`Cupertino, California
`
`Roberto M. RIBEIRO, residing in
`San Jose, California
`
`William S. LEE, residing in
`Fremont, California
`
`Assignee:
`
`Apple Inc.
`One Apple Park Way
`Cupertino, California 95014
`
`Entity:
`
`Undiscounted
`
`MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
`600 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1800
`
`Costa Mesa, CA 92626-7653
`714.830.0600
`
`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
`
`INTELLIGENT VENTS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001]
`
`The present application claims the benefit of US. Provisional Patent Application Serial
`
`No. 62/560,114, entitled “INTELLIGENT VENTS FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES” filed on
`
`September 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`[0002]
`
`The present description relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly,
`
`but not exclusively, to electronic devices with barometric vents.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`[0003]
`
`Electronic devices are often provided with housings having openings that allow airflow
`
`into the housing. The airflow can be used for temperature control and/or pressure measurements
`
`within the housing. However, challenges can arise when providing housing openings,
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`particularly for portable electronic device that can be carried among different locations and
`
`environments.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0004]
`
`Certain features of the subject technology are set forth in the appended claims.
`
`However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the subject technology are set
`
`forth in the following figures.
`
`[0005]
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`FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an electronic device having an intelligent vent
`
`in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0006]
`
`FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device having an intelligent vent
`
`and implemented in the form of a handheld device in accordance with various aspects of the
`
`subject technology.
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
`
`[0007]
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`FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an electronic device having an intelligent vent
`
`and implemented in the form of a smart watch in accordance with various aspects of the subject
`
`technology.
`
`[0008]
`
`FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional perspective view of portion of an
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`electronic device in the vicinity of an intelligent vent in accordance with various aspects of the
`
`subject technology.
`
`[0009]
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`FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a cover-integrated sensor including conductive
`
`traces on a vent cover in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0010]
`
`FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a cover-integrated sensor including a
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`conductive coating on a vent cover in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0011]
`
`FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a cover-integrated sensor formed from a
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`conductive vent cover in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0012]
`
`FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a cover-integrated sensor including conductive
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`threads woven into a vent cover in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0013]
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`FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic view of a cover-integrated sensor including a vent cover
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`formed from conductive threads in accordance with various aspects of the subject technology.
`
`[0014]
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`FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a cover-integrated sensor including
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`a capacitive sensor associated with a vent cover in accordance with various aspects of the subject
`
`technology.
`
`[0015]
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`FIG. 11 illustrates a flow chart of an example process for operating a portable
`
`electronic device having an intelligent vent in accordance with various aspects of the subject
`
`technology.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`[0016]
`
`The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various
`
`configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`in which the subject technology may be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated
`
`herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific
`
`details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology.
`
`However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not
`
`limited to the specific details set forth herein and may be practiced without these specific details.
`
`In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in
`
`order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.
`
`[0017]
`
`Portable electronic devices such as a mobile phones, portable music players, smart
`
`watches, and tablet computers are provided that include an intelligent vent. The intelligent vent
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`is formed between an environment external to the device and an internal cavity within a housing
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`of the device. The intelligent vent includes an opening in a barrier structure between the
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`environment external to the device and the internal cavity within the housing of the device. The
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`intelligent vent includes a cover over the opening.
`
`[0018]
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`The cover is an air-permeable cover that allows airfiow through the opening. The
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`airflow can facilitate the operation of one or more environmental sensors disposed in the internal
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`cavity within the housing for sensing aspects of the environment external to the device such as
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`the ambient temperature and/or pressure. The airfiow can also facilitate venting of heat and/or
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`pressure within the internal cavity out to the external environment.
`
`[0019]
`
`The cover may be a water-resistant cover that prevents water ingress through the
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`opening into the internal cavity. Occlusion of the opening by, for example, an environmental
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`aggressor such as moisture, water, oil, other liquids, or even dry debris on the cover can occlude
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`the vent and prevent the vent from functioning as desired. Occlusion of the vent can prevent
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`proper operation of the environmental sensors within the device and/or can lead to potentially
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`damaging temperature and/or pressure increases within the device.
`
`[0020]
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`In accordance with various aspects of the subject disclosure, the intelligent vent is
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`provided with a cover-integrated sensor to sense occlusions of the opening. The device may also
`
`be provided with occlusion-mitigation components that operate to clear or reduce the occlusion
`
`responsive to the detection. Further details of the cover-integrated sensor and the occlusion
`
`mitigation components are described hereinafter.
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`[0021]
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`A schematic block diagram of an illustrative electronic device with an intelligent vent
`
`is shown in FIG. 1. In the example of FIG. 1, device 100 includes barometric vent 103. As
`
`shown, barometric vent 103 in an intelligent vent that includes a cover 105 having a cover-
`
`integrated sensor 107. Cover 105 may be an air-permeable and liquid-resistant (e.g., water-
`
`resistant) cover such as a membrane or mesh formed from polymer or other materials (e.g.,
`
`polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) and covering an opening in device 100 as described in further
`
`detail hereinafter.
`
`[0022]
`
`Cover-integrated sensor 107 may include resistive, capacitive, inductive, and/or other
`
`conductive components formed on and/or embedded within cover 105. Cover-integrated sensor
`
`107 may be communicatively coupled to occlusion detection circuitry 109. Occlusion detection
`
`circuitry 109 operates cover-integrated sensor 107 to identify occlusions of vent 103 (e.g., of an
`
`opening between an external environment and an internal cavity of device 100 as described in
`
`further detail hereinafter).
`
`[0023]
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`As shown in FIG. 1, device 100 may also include occlusion mitigation components
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`111. Occlusion mitigation components 111 may be separate from vent 103 and cover-integrated
`
`sensor 107 or may be integrally formed with vent 103 and/or cover-integrated sensor 107. For
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`example, cover-integrated sensor 107 may include resistive elements in and/or on cover 105, the
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`resistance of which is sensitive to the presence of moisture or liquid on cover 105 so that
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`occlusion of vent 103 by a liquid can be detected based on a change in resistance. In this
`
`example, occlusion mitigation components 111 may include the resistive elements in and/or on
`
`cover 105 which can be heated to encourage evaporation of the liquid occlusion.
`
`[0024]
`
`Occlusion mitigation components 111 can include other components such as an
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`infrared heater, a resistive heater that is separate from cover 105 and cover-integrated sensor 107,
`
`a vibratory component such as a haptic component such as a vibratory motor or a piezoelectric
`
`vibrator (e. g., an ultrasonic water vaporizer), an audio component such as a speaker or a
`
`microphone having an actuable membrane, or another component that is operable to move,
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`agitate, heat, or otherwise disturb an occluding substance on cover 105.
`
`[0025]
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`Electronic device 100 may include various electronic components disposed within one
`
`or more internal cavities within an enclosure of the device (e.g., an enclosure formed by a
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`housing and/or a display such as display 110). FIG. 1 shows examples of electronic components
`
`that may be located within an internal cavity of the device (e. g., an internal cavity having
`
`barometric vent 103). For example, device 100 may include one or more environmental sensors
`
`such as environmental sensor 102. Environmental sensor 102 may include a pressure sensor, a
`
`temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or another sensor that senses features of the environment
`
`external to device 100 using airflow through cover 105 of barometric vent 103.
`
`[0026]
`
`A pressure sensor may include a pressure sensing element (e. g., a MEMS element, a
`
`piezo element, a membrane coupled to a capacitive or resistive transducer circuit, etc.) and may
`
`include processing circuitry for the pressure sensor. In some scenarios, the pressure sensor is
`
`sometimes used for barometric pressure measurements, which can be used to identify changes in
`
`elevation. The changes in elevation are sometimes used to identify a location or exercise
`
`performed by a user of the device (e. g., by an activity monitor application running on processing
`
`circuitry of the device when the device is worn or carried by the user while the user walks or
`
`runs up a flight of stairs or up a hill). In other scenarios, the pressure sensor may be used as a
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`force sensor that detects changes in the pressure in the internal cavity of device 100 caused by
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`pressure on the device housing or display 110 and/or a squeeze of the housing of display 110 by
`
`a user.
`
`[0027] Device 100 also includes processing circuitry 128 and memory 130. Memory 130 may
`
`include one or more different types of storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile
`
`memory (e. g., flash memory or other electrically-programmable-read-only memory), volatile
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`memory (e. g., static or dynamic random-access-memory), magnetic or optical storage,
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`permanent or removable storage and/or other non-transitory storage media conf1gure to store
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`static data, dynamic data, and/or computer readable instructions for processing circuitry 128.
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`Processing circuitry 128 may be used in controlling the operation of device 100. Processing
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`circuitry 128 may sometimes be referred to as system circuitry or a system-on-chip (SOC) for
`
`device 100.
`
`[0028]
`
`Processing circuitry 128 may include a processor such as a microprocessor and other
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`suitable integrated circuits, multi-core processors, one or more application specific integrated
`
`circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that execute sequences of
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`instructions or code, as examples. In one suitable arrangement, processing circuitry 128 may be
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`used to run software for device 100, such as vent occlusion detection operations, vent occlusion
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`mitigation operations, activity monitoring applications, pressure sensing applications, internet
`
`browsing applications, email applications, media playback applications, operating system
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`functions, software for capturing and processing images, software implementing functions
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`associated with gathering and processing sensor data, and/or software that controls audio, visual,
`
`and/or haptic functions.
`
`[0029]
`
`In the example of FIG. 1, device 100 also includes display 110, communications
`
`circuitry 122, battery 124, and input/output components 126. Input/output components 126 may
`
`include a touch-sensitive layer of display 110, a keyboard, a touch-pad, and/or one or more real
`
`or virtual buttons. Input/output components 126 may also include audio components such as one
`
`or more speakers and/or one or more microphones. Audio components such as speakers and
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`microphones each have membranes that are actuable to generate and/or receive sound waves.
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`The membrane of a speaker and/or a microphone may also be actuated to generate airflow and/or
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`pressure waves to mitigate, reduce, or remove an occlusion of vent 103. In this way, the
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`membrane of a speaker or a microphone may form a portion of occlusion mitigation components
`
`111.
`
`[0030] Device 100 may also include communications circuitry 122, which may be
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`implemented using WiFi, near field communications (NFC), Bluetooth®, radio, microwave,
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`and/or other wireless and/or wired communications circuitry. Communications circuitry 122
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`may be operated by processing circuitry 128 based on instructions stored in memory 130 to
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`perform cellular telephone, network data, or other communications operations for device 100.
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`Communications circuitry 122 may include WiFi and/or NFC communications circuitry operable
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`to communicate with an external device such as a mobile telephone or other remote computing
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`device. In some scenarios, data communications with an external device such as
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`communications by circuitry 122 of a smart watch with a host mobile phone may allow the use
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`of data from the external device to support device operations for device 100. Although not
`
`explicitly shown, device 100 may include other sensors such as an ambient light sensor and/or a
`
`proximity sensor.
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`[0031]
`
`FIG. 2 shows how device 100 may include a housing within which one or more of the
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`components of FIG. 1 are enclosed. In the example of FIG. 2, device 100 has been implemented
`
`using a housing 106 that is sufficiently small to fit within a user's hand (e.g., device 100 of FIG.
`
`1 may be a handheld electronic device such as a cellular telephone). As shown in FIG. 2, device
`
`100 may include a display such as display 110 mounted on the front of housing 106. Display
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`110 may have openings (e.g., openings in the inactive or active portions of display 110) such as
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`an opening to accommodate button 199 and an opening to accommodate speaker port 197.
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`[0032] Housing 106, which may sometimes be referred to as a case, may be formed of plastic,
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`glass, ceramics, fiber composites, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, etc.), other suitable
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`materials, or a combination of any two or more of these materials. Housing 106 may include one
`
`or more openings such as opening 108. In the example of FIG. 3, opening 108 is formed in a
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`sidewall of housing 106 and provides a fluid coupling for airflow between an environment
`
`external to housing 106 into a portion of housing 106. Opening 108 may be a barometric vent
`
`such as barometric vent 103 that allows airflow between the external environment through
`
`opening 108. However, this is merely illustrative.
`
`In some implementations, barometric vent
`
`103 may include another opening in an internal structure of device 100 within housing 106 at or
`
`near the location of opening 108. For example, in these implementations, opening 108 may be
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`an air and liquid permeable opening and barometric vent 103 may be formed internally to
`
`opening 108.
`
`[0033]
`
`The configuration of electronic device 100 of FIG. 2 is merely illustrative. In other
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`implementations, electronic device 100 may be a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a
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`somewhat smaller portable device such as a wrist-watch device, pendant device, or other
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`wearable or miniature device, a media player, a gaming device, a navigation device, a fitness
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`device, or other electronic equipment.
`
`[0034]
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`For example, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of electronic device 100 in a configuration
`
`in which electronic device 100 has been implemented in the form of a wearable device such as a
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`smart watch that includes an opening 108 in a housing 106. As shown, in a smart watch
`
`implementation, strap 112 may be coupled to housing 106 at interfaces 114 and arranged to
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`secure device 100 to a part of a user’s body such as around the user’s wrist.
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`[0035]
`
`FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a portion of device 100 with the cross-
`
`section taken through barometric vent 103 (e.g., through opening 108). As shown in FIG. 4,
`
`barometric vent 103 includes an opening 402 in a structure 400. Structure 400 separates an
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`environment 403 on a first side of the structure from an environment 405 on a second side of the
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`structure. Environment 405 is an internal cavity within housing 106. Components such as
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`environmental sensor 102, communications circuitry 122, battery 124, input/output components
`
`126, processing circuitry 128, and/or memory 130 may be located within cavity 405. Cavity 405
`
`may be a water-resistant cavity that is protected from ingress of moisture and/or liquid by cover
`
`105 over opening 402 in structure 400.
`
`[0036]
`
`The environment 403 on the first side of structure 400 may be an environment external
`
`to housing 106. In this example, structure 400 forms a portion of housing 106 and opening 402
`
`is an implementation of opening 108 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2 and 3) in housing 106. However, this is
`
`merely illustrative.
`
`[0037]
`
`In another example, structure 400 is an internal dividing wall that separates cavity 405
`
`from another internal cavity within housing 106. In this example, cavity 403 is an internal cavity
`
`within housing 106 that is fluidly coupled to the environment external to housing 106 by opening
`
`108. In this way, cavity 403 may be a cavity that allows airflow and/or moisture ingress through
`
`opening 108 and cavity 405 is protected from moisture and/or liquid within cavity 403 by cover
`
`105.
`
`[0038]
`
`As shown in FIG. 4, cover-integrated sensor 107 includes components that are formed
`
`on or within cover 105. For example, cover-integrated sensor 107 may include conductive
`
`structures that extend across opening 402 and conductively couple to control lines 404 and 406
`
`disposed on opposing sides of opening 402. As shown in FIG. 4, control lines 404 and 406 may
`
`extend to occlusion detection circuitry 109. In the example of FIG. 4, occlusion detection
`
`circuity 109 is implemented as an integrated circuit formed on a substrate 408 such as printed
`
`circuit board (e. g., a main logic board for device 100). However, this is merely illustrative and
`
`occlusion detection circuity 109 may be implemented at the location of cover 105 or may be
`
`implemented in software running on processing circuitry 128 implemented at one or more other
`
`locations on or within printed circuit board 408.
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`[0039]
`
`In one exemplary operational scenario, water may occlude opening 402 by resting on
`
`or adhering to cover 105. The water may change the conductivity, resistivity, and/or other
`
`electrical characteristics of the conductive structures that extend across opening 402. Occlusion
`
`detection circuity 109 detects this change in conductivity and/or resistivity (as examples) and
`
`identifies the changes as resulting from a water occlusion. Occlusion by different substances can
`
`be differentiated by the amount and/or rate of the change in the conductivity, resistivity, and/or
`
`other electrical characteristics of the conductive structures. In this example, occlusion detection
`
`circuitry 109 can also generate currents through the conductive structures of cover-integrated
`
`sensor to heat cover 105 and encourage evaporation of the water. In this way, occlusion
`
`detection circuitry 109 can also function as occlusion mitigation circuitry 111.
`
`[0040]
`
`Other examples of occlusion mitigation circuity 111 are also shown in FIG. 4,
`
`including remote mitigation circuitry 111R formed on substrate 408 and local mitigation
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`circuitry 111L that is directly coupled to cover 105. Remote mitigation circuitry 111R generates
`
`signals 413 that can help facilitate mitigation, reduction, and/or removal of the occlusion of
`
`opening 402. For example, signals 413 may include vibrations generated by a motor or
`
`piezoelectric vibrator, pressure waves (e. g., sound waves) in the air in cavity 405 generated by an
`
`actuating membrane such as a speaker membrane or a microphone membrane, heat generated by
`
`a remote heating element, and/or light-based signals such as infrared light. Local mitigation
`
`circuitry 111L is mechanically coupled to cover 105 (e. g., by direct contact or by a mechanical
`
`coupling structure 422 such as a mechanical arm that transfers motion such as vibrations from a
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`vibratory component and/or a thermal coupling structure that transfers heat generated by a
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`heating component).
`
`[0041]
`
`Although occlusion detection circuity 109 and occlusion mitigation circuity 111 are
`
`shown separately in FIG. 4, it should be appreciated that occlusion detection circuity 109 and
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`occlusion mitigation circuity 111 may be formed in a common integrated circuit and/or as parts
`
`of a common software application for device 100 (as examples).
`
`[0042]
`
`The conductive structures of cover-integrated sensor 107 may be implemented in
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`various forms, as illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 5-10. For example, FIG. 5 shows the
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`conductive structures of cover-integrated sensor 107 implemented as conductive traces 500 (e.g.,
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`copper, nickel, or other suitable conductive traces) formed on a membrane 502 that forms cover
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`105. Membrane 502 may be a monolithic air-permeable membrane as shown in FIG. 5 or may
`
`be formed by one or more woven fibers such as polymer (e.g., PTFE) fibers.
`
`[0043]
`
`In the example of FIG. 6, the conductive structures of cover-integrated sensor 107
`
`include a conductive coating 600 (e.g., a copper, nickel or other suitable conductive coating
`
`material) formed on membrane. Coating 600 may be formed on a portion of the top surface of
`
`membrane 502 (e.g., around the periphery in the example of FIG. 6, along one or more edges, or
`
`in one or more strips) to maintain the air-permeability of membrane 502.
`
`[0044]
`
`In the example of FIG. 7, cover 105 is entirely formed from a conductive material 700.
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`For example, conductive material 700 may be a porous conductive foam or a conductive polymer
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`membrane. As previously noted, in some implementations, cover 105 may be formed from
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`woven fibers. FIG. 8 shows an example of cover 105 implemented with insulating fibers 800
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`(e.g., insulating fibers such as polymer fibers such as PTFE fibers) that are interwoven with
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`conductive fibers 802 that form the conductive structures of cover-integrated sensor 107 (e.g., by
`
`coupling to lead lines 404 and 406). In this example, conductive fibers 802 may be heated (e.g.,
`
`by applying a current therethrough) to heat cover 105 to mitigate, reduce, or eliminate an
`
`occlusion of opening 402. In the example of FIG. 9, cover 105 is formed entirely of conductive
`
`fibers 802. Gaps 804 between the fibers may be sized to allow airflow therethrough while
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`discouraging or preventing passage of liquids such as water.
`
`[0045]
`
`FIG. 10 shows an example of cover-integrated sensor 107 in an implementation that
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`includes a capacitive occlusion detector. As shown, a conductive plate 1000 may be separated
`
`from cover 105 and extend parallel to a portion of cover 105, such that a capacitive coupling
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`between plate 1000 and cover 105 is formed. Plate 1000 is coupled to lead lines 1002 and 1004
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`(e.g., implementations of lead lines 404 and 406 of FIG. 4) which couple plate 1000 to occlusion
`
`detection circuitry 109. If an environmental aggressor such as water occludes opening 402 by
`
`contacting cover 105, the capacitance between cover 105 and plate 1000 changes by an amount
`
`that is detectable by occlusion detection circuitry 109.
`
`[0046]
`
`FIG. 11 depicts a flow diagram of an example process for operating a portable
`
`electronic device with an intelligent barometric vent, in accordance with various aspects of the
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`-10-
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`

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`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`subject technology. For explanatory purposes, the example process of FIG. 11 is described
`
`herein with reference to the components of FIGS. 1-10. Further for explanatory purposes, some
`
`blocks of the example process of FIG. 11 are described herein as occurring in series, or linearly.
`
`However, multiple blocks of the example process of FIG. 11 may occur in parallel. In addition,
`
`the blocks of the example process of FIG. 11 need not be performed in the order shown and/or
`
`one or more of the blocks of the example process of FIG. 11 need not be performed.
`
`[0047]
`
`In the depicted example flow diagram, at block 1100, an occlusion of a barometric vent
`
`for an electronic device is detected using a cover-integrated sensor. The cover-integrated sensor
`
`is a sensor that is integrated with a moisture-resistant cover for the barometric vent. The cover-
`
`integrated sensor may be implemented as any of the cover-implemented sensors 107 as described
`
`above in connection with, for example, FIGS. 1-10. Detecting the occlusion may include
`
`detecting a change in resistance, conductivity, capacitance, inductance, or other electrical
`
`features of the cover-integrated sensor (e. g., using occlusion detection circuitry 109 and/or
`
`processing circuitry 128 as described herein).
`
`[0048]
`
`At block 1102, corrective action may be taken to mitigate or remove the occlusion.
`
`For example, the corrective action may include providing instructions to a user using display 110
`
`to shake the device or otherwise manually clear the occlusion or may include operating occlusion
`
`mitigation components 111 as described herein to mitigate, reduce, and/or remove the occlusion.
`
`[0049]
`
`At block 1104, sensor data such as environmental sensor data (e. g., pressure data,
`
`temperature data, and/or humidity data) may be obtained using a sensor (e. g., environmental
`
`sensor 102) disposed interior to the barometric vent. As described herein, the environmental
`
`sensor may be disposed in an internal cavity such as cavity 405 of FIG. 4 and may receive
`
`airflow from an environment external to housing 106 via vent 103. The environmental sensor
`
`data (e. g., pressure data) may be used for activity monitoring operations and/or force-input
`
`operations for device 100 as described herein.
`
`[0050]
`
`In accordance with various aspects of the subject disclosure, a portable electronic
`
`device is provided that includes a housing having an internal cavity. The portable electronic
`
`device also includes a structure that separates the internal cavity from an environment external to
`
`the housing. The structure includes an opening. The portable electronic device also includes an
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`-11-
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`

`

`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`air-permeable, liquid-resistant cover over the opening. The portable electronic device also
`
`includes a sensor, integrated with the cover, and configured to detect an occlusion of the
`
`opening.
`
`[0051]
`
`In accordance with other aspects of the subject disclosure, a portable electronic device
`
`is provided that includes a housing having an internal cavity. The portable electronic device also
`
`includes an intelligent barometric vent that separates the internal cavity from an environment
`
`external to the housing. The intelligent barometric vent comprises an opening and a sensor to
`
`detect an occlusion of the opening.
`
`[0052]
`
`In accordance with other aspects of the subject disclosure, a method is provided that
`
`includes detecting an occlusion of an opening in a structure of a portable electronic device using
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`a cover-integrated sensor associated with a cover for the opening. The structure comprises a
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`portion of a barometric vent disposed between a cavity within the device and an external
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`environment.
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`[0053]
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`Various functions described above can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry,
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`in computer software, firmware or hardware. The techniques can be implemented using one or
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`more computer program products. Programmable processors and computers can be included in
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`or packaged as mobile devices. The processes and logic flows can be performed by one or more
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`programmable processors and by one or more programmable logic circuitry. General and special
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`purpose computing devices and storage devices can be interconnected through communication
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`networks.
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`[0054]
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`Some implementations include electronic components, such as microprocessors,
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`storage and memory that store computer program instructions in a machine-readable or
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`computer-readable medium (alternatively referred to as computer-readable storage media,
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`machine-readable media, or machine-readable storage media). Some examples of such
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`computer-readable media include RAM, ROM, read-only compact discs (CD-ROM), recordable
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`compact discs (CD-R), rewritable compact discs (CD-RW), read-only digital versatile discs (e. g.,
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`DVD-ROM, dual-layer DVD-ROM), a variety of recordable/rewritable DVDs (e. g., DVD-RAM,
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`DVD-RW, DVD+RW, etc.), flash memory (e.g., SD cards, mini-SD cards, micro-SD cards, etc.),
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`magnetic and/or solid state hard drives, ultra density optical discs, any other optical or magnetic
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`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`media, and floppy disks. The computer-readable media can store a computer program that is
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`executable by at least one processing unit and includes sets of instructions for performing various
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`operations. Examples of computer programs or computer code include machine code, such as is
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`produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level code that are executed by a computer,
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`an electronic component, or a microprocessor using an interpreter.
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`[0055] While the above discussion primarily refers to microprocessor or multi-core processors
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`that execute software, some implementations are performed by one or more integrated circuits,
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`such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or field programmable gate arrays
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`(FPGAs). In some implementations, such integrated circuits execute instructions that are stored
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`on the circuit itself.
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`[0056]
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`As used in this specification and any claims of this application, the terms “computer”,
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`“processor”, and “memory” all refer to electronic or other technological devices. These terms
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`exclude people or groups of people. For the purposes of the specification, the terms “display” or
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`“displaying” means displaying on an electronic device. As used in this specification and any
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`claims of this application, the terms “computer readable medium” and “computer readable
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`media” are entirely restricted to tangible, physical objects that store information in a form that is
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`readable by a computer. These terms exclude any wireless signals, wired download signals, and
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`any other ephemeral signals.
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`[0057]
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`To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subject matter described
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`in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device as described
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`herein for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a
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`mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of
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`devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well, for example, feedback
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`provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory
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`feedback, or tactile feedback, and input from the user can be received in any form, including
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`acoustic, speech, or tactile input.
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`[0058] Many of the above-described features and applications are implemented as software
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`processes that are specified as a set of instructions recorded on a computer readable storage
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`medium (also referred to as computer readable medium). When these instructions are executed
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`

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`Attorney Docket No. 122202-5654 (P3 5420USl)
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`by one or more processing unit(s) (e. g.,