Dust protection device for an image sensor

• US 4,991,949 A
• Filed: 01/23/1990
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Comar Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Comar Limited (Nabors Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Moorehead, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US07/469,030
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 350/582, 390/589
• US Class Current: 359/513
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/04 by using removable coverings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00909 Cleaning arrangements or preventing or counter-acting contamination from dust or the like cleaning in general, prevention of fouling in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/03 with photodetectors arranged in a substantially linear array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0303 with the scanned line and the photodetector array lying in non-parallel planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02497 Additional elements, e.g. sheet guide plates, light shields H04N2201/02489 - H04N2201/02495 take precedence

Abstract

A dust protection device for an image sensor includes a housing in which the image sensor is mounted. The housing includes an aperture for allowing reflected light from the object being viewed to enter the housing and impinge upon the image sensor. A trasparent film is mounted across the aperture for prefenting dust from entering the housing. The transparent film is selectively movable for providing a continuous clean surface across the aperture.

Claims

1. A dust protection device for an image sensor for capturing an image of an object comprising:

a housing;

an image sensor mounted within said housing;

an illumination source mounted within said housing;

said housing including an aperture disposed adjacent said illumination source for allowing light from said illumination source to impinge on the object and for allowing reflected light from the object to reenter said housing to impinge upon said image sensor;

a continuous sheet of plastic material mounted within said housing between a supply and a takeup reel, said reels being mounted adjacent said illumination source and adjacent said aperture and within said housing for preventing dust from entering said housing through said aperture; and

said continuous sheet of plastic forming a wall for said housing and being selectively movable from said supply reel across said aperture and adjacent said illumination source to said takeup reel thereby providing a clean surface across said aperture.