Modular sealed portable digital electronic controller

• US 7,002,084 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weigh-Tech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Weightech, Inc.
• Inventors: Cox, Timothy R., Pagan, Ronald T., Newell, Stephen S., Tull, Steve D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/345,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20030133269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50.5, 174/50.52, 174/50.53, 174/52.2, 361/752, 361/736, 177/238, 235/145.R, 400/714
• US Class Current: 177/238
• 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 housing sealed to the base to form a first enclosure, the first enclosure having therein a first circuit board, a display, and a keypad,

wherein a clear front panel is disposed over the keypad, the clear front panel comprising a rigid, transparent plastic having at least one area of reduced thickness adjacent to at least one front panel legend of the keypad;

a second housing connected to the base to form a second enclosure, the second enclosure having therein a second circuit board and a power source;

a first connector electrically connected to the first circuit board and a second connector electrically connected to the second circuit board, the first and second connectors electrically connecting the first and second circuit boards when placed in contact with one another; and

at least one port extending through the second housing to provide an electrical entry point into the second housing for one or more wires or cables.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the base is sandwiched between the first housing and the second housing; and

the first and second connectors contact one another through the base.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising electrically connecting a load cell to at least one of the one or more wires or cables connected to the at least one port.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first housing is permanently connected to the base and the first housing sealed to the base forms a liquid-impervious seal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the keypad consists of five touch-sensitive keys located proximate to corresponding areas of reduced thickness of the rigid, transparent plastic.