Here’s how Apple, Samsung and Sony make their cell phones water resistant
- 8 years ago
Samsung, Apple and Sony all boast a water-resistant feature on their new phones.
The phones, Samsung’s Galaxy s7, Apple’s iPhone 7 and Sony’s Xperia XZ, are all designed with similar tricks to prevent water from damaging the the internal circuitry.
However, the phones are water resistant, not waterproof. This means they are able to resist some water penetration but not entirely.
The developers achieve water resistancy by creating a seal around each phone’s components. Like an egg boiling in water, if a small hole is created in its shell, its internal structure is compromised.
The most common seal used is tacky black adhesive that usually attaches the screen to the chassis. The same adhesive is used on circuits near exposed ports.
Developers also utilized rubber gaskets, plastic o-rings, around buttons, ports and trays.
Silicone rubber boots further help seal buttons. The rubber separates the buttons users push from the components inside.
And tiny mesh screens or breathable fabric membranes are used to regulate airflow while keeping water out of speakers by playing on water’s natural cohesion and surface tension properties.
The phones, Samsung’s Galaxy s7, Apple’s iPhone 7 and Sony’s Xperia XZ, are all designed with similar tricks to prevent water from damaging the the internal circuitry.
However, the phones are water resistant, not waterproof. This means they are able to resist some water penetration but not entirely.
The developers achieve water resistancy by creating a seal around each phone’s components. Like an egg boiling in water, if a small hole is created in its shell, its internal structure is compromised.
The most common seal used is tacky black adhesive that usually attaches the screen to the chassis. The same adhesive is used on circuits near exposed ports.
Developers also utilized rubber gaskets, plastic o-rings, around buttons, ports and trays.
Silicone rubber boots further help seal buttons. The rubber separates the buttons users push from the components inside.
And tiny mesh screens or breathable fabric membranes are used to regulate airflow while keeping water out of speakers by playing on water’s natural cohesion and surface tension properties.