Imager cover-glass mounting
First Claim
Patent Images
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 an imager facing side and at least one edge shaped to form a tight fit with an edge of the imager window; and
a mounting element substantially 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 to form a seal between the cover element and the imager window, and wherein said imager facing side is contiguous and non-planar and is shaped to create an enclosed air gap between the cover element and the at least one optically active region of the imager window.
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Accused Products
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.
68 Citations
35 Claims
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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:
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an optically transmissive cover element having an imager facing side and at least one edge shaped to form a tight fit with an edge of the imager window; and
a mounting element substantially 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 to form a seal between the cover element and the imager window, and wherein said imager facing side is contiguous and non-planar and is shaped to create an enclosed air gap between the cover element and the at least one optically active region of the imager window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 30)
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19. A cover assembly for an imager window of an imaging device comprising:
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a 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 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 enclosed air gap between the cover element and the imager window. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for protecting an imager window of an imaging device, comprising the steps of:
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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 to enclose 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. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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31. An imaging device comprising:
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an electronic imager;
a window attached to said imager, said window having an external surface;
an imager window cover plate having an imager facing surface, and a lateral edge surface;
a mounting element disposed on said lateral edge surface of the cover plate and said external surface of the imager window and configured to hold said imager window cover plate and said imager window adjacent to each other; and
an enclosed air gap having a shape at least partially defined by a radius of curvature formed between the imager window and the imager window cover plate when said imager window and said imager window cover plate are held adjacent to each other by said mounting element.
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32. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
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a power supply unit;
an imager and an image viewing display;
an insertion tube having a distal end including a camera housing;
an optical system and an imaging assembly located in said camera housing;
an imager assembly having an imager window and a cover plate, where said cover plate is secured to a lateral edge surface of said imager window via a mounting element, and wherein said cover plate has a non-planar imager facing surface that forms an enclosed air gap that is also adjacent to the imager window. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification