Waterproof combined global positioning system receiver and two-way radio and method of waterproof enclosure fabrication

• US 7,298,320 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Original Assignee: Garmin Limited
• Inventors: Whiteside, John B., Lammers-Meis, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US10/960,185
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 342/357.64
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/061 sealed by a gasket held between a removable cover and a body, e.g. O-ring, packing

Abstract

A combined global positioning system receiver and two-way radio communications unit (GPS/radio unit) that is configured for wirelessly communicating with one or more other such units and that includes a substantially waterproof enclosure for protection of the electronic components contained therein is provided. The substantially waterproof enclosure includes first and second cooperatively mated housing sections which, when mated, form an internal compartment or chamber for enclosing electronic components of the GPS/radio unit. The waterproof enclosure may further include a cover positioned over a plurality of tubular structures which protrude from a top end wall of the second housing section. Also provided is a method of waterproofing a GPS/radio unit including a number of different techniques for waterproofing different features and elements of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A method of forming a substantially waterproof enclosure for an electronic communications device, comprising:

molding a first housing section defining a cavity and having a peripheral edge;

molding a second housing section defining a cavity and having a peripheral edge cooperatively configured for continuous contact with the peripheral edge of the first housing section;

molding a continuous elastomeric gasket along the peripheral edge of the first housing section;

disposing between the housing sections—

a global positioning system receiver for receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites,

a processor coupled with the global positioning system receiver for calculating a first location of the global positioning system receiver as a function of the received satellite signals,

a radio transceiver coupled with the processor for directly transmitting and receiving direct voice and data communications, wherein the transmitted data communications is indicative of the first location, and wherein the processor is configured to identify a second location based upon the received data communications, and

a display coupled with the processor for indicating the second location;

placing the first housing section and the second housing section with their respective peripheral edges in mutual alignment; and

compressing the elastomeric gasket therebetween.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein molding the continuous elastomeric gasket comprises forming a seal bead protruding from a surface of the continuous elastomeric gasket and wherein compressing the gasket comprises compressing the seal bead.

3. The method of claim 2, further including configuring the peripheral edge of the second housing section as a flat and compressing the seal bead against the flat.

4. The method of claim 3, further including polishing the flat.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein molding of the first housing section, the second housing section and the elastomeric gasket comprises injection molding.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein injection molding of the elastomeric gasket is effected in a different mold than injection molding of the first housing section.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein—

the housing sections each include a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall,

first and second tubular structures protrude upwardly from at least one of the top walls, and

a ridge extends upwardly from the top, first, and second side walls to create a cavity when the first and second housing sections are cooperatively coupled.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the waterproof enclosure further comprises a cover having a body portion and at least first and second tubular cover portions, wherein the first tubular cover portion covers the first tubular structure, the second tubular cover portion covers the second tubular structure and at least a portion of the body portion of the cover is received in the cavity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each of the at least first and second cover tubular portions includes an annular protrusion on an interior thereof sized to compressibly contact an exterior surface of a tubular structure covered thereby.

10. A method of forming a substantially waterproof enclosure for an electronic communications device, comprising:

injection molding a first housing section defining a cavity and having a peripheral edge;

injection molding a second housing section defining a cavity and having a flat peripheral edge cooperatively configured for continuous contact with the peripheral edge of the first housing section, and wherein;

injection molding a continuous elastomeric gasket along the peripheral edge of the first housing section including forming a seal bead protruding from a surface of the continuous elastomeric gasket;

disposing between the housing sections—

a global positioning system receiver for receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites,

a processor coupled with the global positioning system receiver for calculating a first location of the global positioning system receiver as a function of the received satellite signals,

a radio transceiver coupled with the processor for directly transmitting and receiving direct voice and data communications, wherein the transmitted data communications is indicative of the first location, and wherein the processor is configured to identify a second location based upon the received data communications, and

a display coupled with the processor for indicating the second location;

placing the first housing section and the second housing section with their respective peripheral edges in mutual alignment; and

compressing the seal bead of the elastomeric gasket with the flat peripheral edge of the second housing section.

11. The method of claim 10, further including polishing the flat.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein injection molding of the elastomeric gasket is effected in a different mold than injection molding of the first housing section.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein—

the housing sections each include a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall,

first and second tubular structures protrude upwardly from at least one of the top walls, and

a ridge extends upwardly from the top, first, and second side walls to create a cavity when the first and second housing sections are cooperatively coupled.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the waterproof enclosure further comprises a cover having a body portion and at least first and second tubular cover portions, wherein the first tubular cover portion covers the first tubular structure, the second tubular cover portion covers the second tubular structure and at least a portion of the body portion of the cover is received in the cavity.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the at least first and second cover tubular portions includes an annular protrusion on an interior thereof sized to compressibly contact an exterior surface of a tubular structure covered thereby.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein first and second tubular structures protrude upwardly from at least one of the housing sections.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the waterproof enclosure further comprises a cover having a body portion and at least first and second tubular cover portions, wherein the first tubular cover portion covers the first tubular structure, the second tubular cover portion covers the second tubular structure.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the at least first and second cover tubular portions includes an annular protrusion on an interior thereof sized to compressibly contact an exterior surface of a tubular structure covered thereby.