Modular sealed portable digital electronic controller

• US 20030133269A1
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weigh-Tech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Weightech, Inc.
• Inventors: Newel, Stephen S., Cox, Timothy R., Pagan, Ronald T., Tull, Steve D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,002,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/715
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095

Abstract

An electronic digital controller, such as a load cell indicator, is disclosed in which a number of components, such as a circuit board, display, and keypad are placed within an enclosure, and the enclosure is bonded closed, such as using an adhesive, to render the enclosure watertight. The keypad is a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad with no moving parts, and it is housed behind a rigid panel. An optoelectronic transceiver allows for data exchange with an electronic memory device housed in the adhesively sealed enclosure and allows for data exchange and for updating or modification of software code housed therein. Other components, such as another circuit board, a power supply, and block connectors, are placed in an adjacent enclosure, and the circuit boards in the two enclosures are electrically connected. The power supply is preferably a potted AC power supply but may also include a battery.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a base;

a first cover bonded to said base to form a watertight first enclosure;

a second cover fastened to said base to form a water resistant second enclosure;

a first circuit board disposed within said first enclosure;

a first connector electrically connected to said first circuit board;

a display electrically connected to said first circuit board, said display being disposed within said first enclosure;

a keypad electrically connected to said first circuit board, said keypad being disposed within said first enclosure;

a second circuit board disposed within said second enclosure, and

a second connector electrically connected to said second circuit board, said first and second connectors being disposed to connect when said second cover is properly positioned on said base.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said bond comprises a first adhesive bond; and

said base and said first cover are adapted so that a user may not gain physical entry to said first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing said base or first cover.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said keypad comprises a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said first cover comprises a clear front panel; and

a side panel bonded to said front panel; and

further comprising a graphic legend, said graphic legend being bonded to said front panel, and said keypad being bonded to said graphic legend.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said front panel comprises a rigid, transparent plastic, said front panel having at least one area of reduced thickness adjacent said keypad.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a potted, AC power supply disposed in said second enclosure and electrically connected to said second circuit board.

7. The device of claim 6, further comprising a battery disposed within said second enclosure and electrically connected to said second circuit board.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an optoelectronic transceiver electrically connected to said first circuit board, said transceiver being disposed within said first enclosure.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said optoelectronic transceiver comprises an infrared optoelectronic transceiver.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of captive screw fasteners, captively retained by said base.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an erasable, programmable, electronic memory device electrically connected to said first circuit board, said erasable, programmable, electronic memory device being disposed within said first enclosure.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a measuring transducer, said measuring transducer being disposed outside of said first enclosure and said second enclosure and being electrically connected to said second circuit board.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said measuring transducer comprises a load cell.

14. A load cell indicator, comprising:

a housing defining a front enclosure and a rear enclosure, said front enclosure being permanently sealed to prevent fluid infiltration;

a first circuit board disposed within said front enclosure;

a first connector electrically connected to said first circuit board;

a display electrically connected to said first circuit board, said display being disposed within said front enclosure;

a keypad electrically connected to said first circuit board, said keypad being disposed within said front enclosure;

a second circuit board disposed within said rear enclosure, and

a second connector electrically connected to said second circuit board, said first and second connectors being disposed to connect when said housing is assembled.

15. The load cell indicator of claim 14, wherein said keypad comprises a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad.

16. The device of claim 14 further comprising a potted AC power supply disposed in said rear enclosure and electrically connected to said second circuit board.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising an optoelectronic transceiver electrically connected to said first circuit board, said transceiver being disposed within said front enclosure.

18. The device of claim 14, further comprising an erasable, programmable, electronic memory device electrically connected to said first circuit board, said erasable, programmable, electronic memory device being disposed within said front enclosure.

19. A method, comprising:

(a) placing a first circuit board, a display, and a keypad in a first housing;

(b) bonding said first housing closed to form a first enclosure containing said first circuit board, said display, and said keypad so that a user may not gain physical access to said first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing said first housing;

(c) electrically connecting said first circuit board to a second circuit board; and

(d) electrically connecting said second circuit board to a measuring transducer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

step (b) comprises, adhesively sealing said first housing closed to form a first enclosure containing said first circuit board, said display, and said keypad so that a user may not gain physical access to said first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing said first housing; and

further comprising placing said second circuit board in a second housing and affixing said second housing to said first housing.