The iPhone has always been reasonably durable, but never waterproof. While the vast majority of smartphones aren’t waterproof either, it’s definitely a useful feature, one that’s actually a big selling point for some of Samsung and Sony’s devices. Apparently Apple wants to cash in on that as well according to a recent patent application that discusses a few ways in which Apple would go about waterproofing a device such as the iPhone.
A U.S. patent application published on Thursday reveals Apple is actively researching ways to make its products resistant to moisture, a feature sometimes attributed to “active” smartphone models marketed by competing smartphone manufacturers. As published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple’s filing for “Methods for shielding electronic components from moisture” outlines a process for coating sensitive device components using advanced vapor deposition technology and protecting solder leads with silicone seals. Instead of sealing off the entire device housing like a common wristwatch, Apple proposes coating integral components, like the printed circuit board (PCB), with a hydrophobic coating. Depositing the coating via plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) would create an acceptable insulating layer to protect against short circuits that occur when high voltage parts are exposed to liquid.