Imager cover-glass mounting

• US 20040233318A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Inspection Technologies LP (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Everest Vit
• Inventors: Schiefer, Eugene C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,953,432 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements

Abstract

Devices and methods for protecting components of imaging devices are provided. In the illustrative embodiment, a plano-concave protective cover is provided which is bonded to an imager window by applying a thick, quick-setting adhesive to the exterior of the cover and of the imager window.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for an imager window of an imaging device, said imaging device having a focal length, the imager window including at least one optically active region, said cover assembly comprising:

an optically transmissive cover element having at least one edge shaped to form a tight fit with an edge of the imager window; and

a mounting element disposed on an exterior edge of the cover element and on an exterior edge of the imager window so as to hold the at least one edge of the cover element to the edge of the imager window in a tight fit, and form a seal between the cover element and the imager window,

wherein the cover element is shaped to create an air gap between the cover element and the at least one optically active region of the imager window.

2. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element is shaped in a plano-concave manner to create the air gap.

3. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element is shaped in a convex-concave manner to create the air gap.

4. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element is shaped in a concave-concave manner to create the air gap.

5. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein the concave portion of the cover element has a radius of curvature of about the focal length of the imaging device.

6. The cover assembly of claim 2, wherein the concave portion of the cover element has a radius of curvature sufficient to prevent the formation of Newton'"'"'s rings.

7. The cover assembly of claim 6, wherein the concave portion of the cover element has a radius of curvature which is greater than the focal length of the imaging device.

8. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element is shaped to create an air gap sufficient to prevent the presence of Newton'"'"'s rings.

9. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is selected from the group of mounting elements consisting of:

adhesives, tapes, shrink tubes, and mechanical mountings.

10. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting element is an adhesive.

11. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein the adhesive is an epoxy.

12. The cover assembly of claim 11, wherein the adhesive is a fast-curing epoxy.

13. The cover assembly of claim 10, wherein the adhesive is thick.

14. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the imager window is part of an electronic-type imaging device.

15. The cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the imager window is part of a CCD-type imager.

16. The cover assembly of claim 14, wherein the imager window is part of a CMOS-type imager.

17. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the imager window is part of an imaging device selected from the group of imaging devices consisting of:

microscopes, camcorders, thermal imagers, telescopes, digital cameras, endoscopes, and boroscopes.

18. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover element is constructed from a material selected from group of materials consisting of:

glass, plastics, crystals, and composites.

19. A cover assembly for an imager window of an imaging device comprising:

a cover element having at least one edge shaped to form a tight fit with an edge of the imager window; and

a layer of adhesive disposed on a peripheral edge of the cover element and on a peripheral edge of the imager window so as to hold the at least one edge of the cover element to the edge of the imager window, and form a seal between the cover element and the imager window,

wherein the cover element is oriented so that a portion of the cover element creates an air gap between the cover element and the imager window.

20. The cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover element is plano-concave, convex-concave, or concave-concave.

21. The cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the adhesive is epoxy.

22. The cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the imager window is chosen from the group of imager windows consisting of:

windows, lenses, and CHL assemblies.

23. The cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the air gap is of sufficient size to prevent the presence of Newton'"'"'s rings.

24. The cover assembly of claim 19, wherein the cover element is a lens.

25. A method for protecting an imager window of an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

providing an optically transmissive cover element having at least one exterior edge;

applying a mounting element to an exterior edge of the cover element and to an exterior edge of the imager window,

wherein the cover element is shaped to create an air gap between the cover element and the imager window, and

wherein the mounting element forms a seal over the exterior edge of the cover element and the exterior edge of the imager window.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the cover element is of plano-concave, concave-concave, or convex-concave.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the mounting element is selected from the group of mounting elements consisting of:

adhesives, tapes, shrink tubes, and mechanical mountings.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the presence of the air gap prevents the creation of Newton'"'"'s rings.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the imaging device is selected from the group of imaging devices consisting of:

microscopes, camcorders, thermal imagers, telescopes, digital cameras, endoscopes, and boroscopes.