Sealed, waterproof digital electronic camera system and method of fabricating same

• US 7,920,163 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nan Chang O-Film Optoelectronics Technology, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tessera International Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kossin, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Misleh; Justin P
• Application Number:
  US11/332,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 348/81, 348/211.2, 348/373, 396/25
• US Class Current: 348/81
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/06 Hermetically-sealed casings specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A hermetically sealed digital electronic camera that is designed to operate both on land and underwater to great depths, and method of making same. The present invention is a camera which is hermetically sealed by being totally encapsulated, preferably by being cast in plastic, with no seals, holes, joints, penetrating pins, wires or other objects. Wireless means are used for communicating information, electrical power and control signals. The invention is impervious to atmospheric contamination and absolutely incapable of leaking under water to great depths and pressures. In an alternate embodiment camera optics are not encapsulated but are immersed in water when the encapsulated digital camera is placed in water.

Claims

1. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure, said means for recharging including;

i) a connector;

ii) an electrical connection electrically connecting said connector to said rechargeable power source; and

iii) a normally open magnetic switch in said electrical connection operable under the influence of a magnet exterior to the system to close a circuit that transmits power to a contact exposed at an exterior surface of the system; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure.

2. An assembly comprising the waterproof digital electronic camera system according to claim 1 and a mating connector, said mating connector including said magnet and designed to mate with said connector.

3. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure, said means for downloading including;

i) a connector;

ii) an electrical connection electrically connecting said connector to said signal interface; and

iii) a normally open magnetic switch in said electrical connection operable under the influence of a magnet exterior to the system to close a circuit that transmits a signal to a contact exposed at an exterior surface of the system.

4. An assembly comprising the waterproof digital electronic camera system according to claim 3 and a mating connector, said mating connector including said magnet and designed to mate with said connector.

5. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure, said means for recharging including;

i) a set of contacts on the exterior of said enclosure means;

ii) a set of electrical connections connecting said set of electrical contacts with said rechargeable power source; and

iii) a normally open magnetic switch in one of said electrical connections operable under the influence of a magnet exterior to the system to close a circuit that transmits power to a contact exposed at an exterior surface of the system; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure.

6. An assembly comprising the waterproof digital electronic camera system according to claim 5 and a set of mating contacts, said set of mating contacts including said magnet and designed to mate with said set of contacts.

7. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure, said means for downloading including;

i) a set of contacts on the exterior of said enclosure means;

ii) a set of electrical connections connecting said set of electrical contacts with said signal interface; and

iii) a normally open magnetic switch in one of said electrical connections operable under the influence of a magnet exterior to the system to close a circuit that transmits a signal to a contact exposed at an exterior surface of the system.

8. An assembly comprising the waterproof digital electronic camera system according to claim 7 and a set of mating contacts, said set of mating contacts including said magnet and designed to mate with said set of contacts.

9. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure, wherein said means for downloading includes an optical converter operable to convert first electrical signals to first optical signals and to transmit said first optical signals to a device external to the system, said optical converter further being operable to receive second optical signals from said device external to the system and to convert said second optical signals to second electrical signals.

10. A waterproof digital electronic camera system comprising:

a) a digital electronic camera having a lens, a charge coupled device, a rechargeable power source, an electronic storage device for storing pictures taken by said digital electronic camera in digital electronic form, control electronics, and a signal interface for downloading said pictures from said electronic storage device;

b) an enclosure means for hermetically sealing water and air tight and supporting said digital electronic camera within said enclosure means so that said lens is positioned normal to one wall of said enclosure means;

said enclosure means being transparent in at least an area of said lens so that pictures may be taken through said enclosure means;

said enclosure means comprising a plurality of sides, wherein at least one side of said plurality of sides comprises a lid and at least three sides of said plurality of sides are seamlessly formed, such that the lid is permanently and securely attached to the at least three sides and said enclosure means being filled with dry air;

c) means for recharging said power source from a charger external to said enclosure; and

d) means for downloading pictures from said electronic storage device via said signal interface to a remote storage device external to said enclosure, wherein said means for downloading includes an optical converter operable to convert first electrical signals to first optical signals and to transmit said first optical signals to a device external to the system through a wall of said enclosure means, said optical converter further being operable to receive second optical signals from said device external to the system through said wall and to convert said second optical signals to second electrical signals;

wherein said signal interface and means for downloading conform to the United Serial Bus (USB) protocol.