Camera Enclosure Sealing System and Method

• US 20090003811A1
• Filed: 06/24/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microscan Systems Inc (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Driscoll, Thomas J., Greenberg, Michael Philip, Berend, Cynthia
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/27
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a sealing system and method. More particularly, the invention encompasses a method and a system for a camera enclosure sealing. The invention meets or exceeds the IP67 International Standard. The inventive camera enclosure sealing system provides an enclosure which is dust-proof and water-proof.

Claims

1. A camera enclosure apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first housing, wherein said first housing has a first base, and wherein a base end of a first side wall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, is connected to said first base to form a first content cavity, and wherein said first sidewall is opposite said third sidewall and wherein said second sidewall is opposite said fourth sidewall such that said second sidewall and said fourth sidewall form a diagonal plane so that said third sidewall is at the bottom of said diagonal plane and said first sidewall is at the top of said diagonal plane;

(b) a second housing, wherein said second housing has a second base, and wherein a base end of a first side wall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, is connected to said second base to form a second content cavity, and wherein said first sidewall is opposite said third sidewall and wherein said second sidewall is opposite said fourth sidewall such that said second sidewall and said fourth sidewall form a diagonal plane so that said third sidewall is at the bottom of said diagonal plane and said first sidewall is at the top of said diagonal plane;

(c) upper surface of said four sidewalls of said first housing having at least one peripheral groove to accommodate at least one sealing insert;

(d) at least one sealing insert in said peripheral groove in said upper surface of said first housing;

(e) said first housing is secured to said second housing such that said sidewall at the bottom of said diagonal plane in said first housing is mated with said sidewall at the top of said diagonal plane in said second housing, and that said sidewall at the bottom of said diagonal plane in said second housing is mated with said sidewall at the top of said diagonal plane in said first housing, and wherein said first housing is secured to said second housing via a plurality of fastening devices, such that said sealing insert is securely held in place between the upper surface of said four side walls of said first housing and the upper surface of said four side walls of said second housing;

(f) at least one optical assembly secured to at least one optoelectronic housing;

(g) said at least one optoelectronic housing is secured to said sidewall having said top of said diagonal plane in said first housing, such that said at least one optical assembly projects out of the plane of said sidewall; and

(h) at least one electronic connector secured to said sidewall having said top of said diagonal plane in said second housing, such that said at least one electronic connector projects out of the plane of said sidewall, and is at the opposite end from said at least one optoelectronic housing, thereby forming said camera enclosure apparatus.

2. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one optical lens housing protects said at least one optical assembly.

3. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one optoelectronic housing has at least one peripheral groove to accommodate at least one sealing insert.

4. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, having at least one sealing insert between said at least one optoelectronic housing and said sidewall of said first housing.

5. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first cavity in said first housing contains at least one optoelectronic interfaces and said second cavity in said second housing contains at least one electronic component.

6. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one cable connector electrically connects said at least one optoelectronic interface with said at least one electronic component.

7. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastening device is selected from a group consisting of screw, rivet and bolt.

8. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a hermetic seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity.

9. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a dust-proof seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity.

10. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a water-proof seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity, such that ingress of water is prevented when said camera enclosure is immersed in water at room temperature to a depth of about 1 meter for about 30 minutes.

11. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a hermetic seal to said optical assembly.

12. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a dust-proof seal to said optical assembly.

13. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a water-proof seal to said optical assembly, such that ingress of water is prevented when said camera enclosure is immersed in water at room temperature to a depth of about 1 meter for about 30 minutes.

14. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sealing insert is selected from a group consisting of an O-ring and gasket.

15. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sidewall having said at least one connector further having an extension area, wherein said extension area having at least one opening for passage of a fastening device.

16. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one thermally conductive compliant material secures at least one electronic component inside said camera enclosure apparatus.

17. The camera enclosure apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an axis of said at least one optical assembly is parallel to at least a portion of an axis of said at least one electronic connector.

18. A method of forming a camera enclosure sealing, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a first housing in mating contact with a second housing, wherein said first housing has a first base, and wherein a base end of a first side wall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, is connected to said first base to form a first content cavity, and wherein said first sidewall is opposite said third sidewall and wherein said second sidewall is opposite said fourth sidewall such that said second sidewall and said fourth sidewall form a diagonal plane so that said third sidewall is at the bottom of said diagonal plane and said first sidewall is at the top of said diagonal plane, and wherein said second housing has a second base, and wherein a base end of a first side wall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, is connected to said second base to form a second content cavity, and wherein said first sidewall is opposite said third sidewall and wherein said second sidewall is opposite said fourth sidewall such that said second sidewall and said fourth sidewall form a diagonal plane so that said third sidewall is at the bottom of said diagonal plane and said first sidewall is at the top of said diagonal plane; and

wherein upper surface of said four sidewalls of said first housing has at least one peripheral groove to accommodate at least one sealing insert,

(b) placing said at least one sealing insert in said peripheral groove in said upper surface of said first housing;

(c) securing first housing to said second housing such that said sidewall at the bottom of said diagonal plane in said first housing is mated with said sidewall at the top of said diagonal plane in said second housing, and that said sidewall at the bottom of said diagonal plane in said second housing is mated with said sidewall at the top of said diagonal plane in said first housing, and wherein said first housing is secured to said second housing via a plurality of fastening devices, such that said sealing insert is securely held in place between the upper surface of said four side walls of said first housing and the upper surface of said four side walls of said second housing;

(d) securing at least one optical assembly to at least one optoelectronic housing;

(e) securing said at least one optoelectronic housing to said sidewall having said top of said diagonal plane in said first housing, such that said at least one optical assembly projects out of the plane of said sidewall; and

(f) securing at least one electronic connector to said sidewall having said top of said diagonal plane in said second housing, such that said at least one electronic connector projects out of the plane of said sidewall, and is at the opposite end from said at least one optoelectronic housing, thereby forming said camera enclosure apparatus.

19. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein at least one optical lens housing protects said at least one optical assembly.

20. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said at least one optoelectronic housing has at least one peripheral groove to accommodate at least one sealing insert.

21. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, having at least one sealing insert between said at least one optoelectronic housing and said sidewall of said first housing.

22. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said first cavity in said first housing contains at least one optoelectronic interfaces and said second cavity in said second housing contains at least one electronic component.

23. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein at least one cable connector electrically connects said at least one optoelectronic interface with said at least one electronic component.

24. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said fastening device is selected from a group consisting of screw, rivet and bolt.

25. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a hermetic seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity.

26. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a dust-proof seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity.

27. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a water-proof seal to contents in said first cavity and said second cavity, such that ingress of water is prevented when said camera enclosure is immersed in water at room temperature to a depth of about 1 meter for about 30 minutes.

28. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a hermetic seal to said optical assembly.

29. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a dust-proof seal to said optical assembly.

30. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said camera enclosure apparatus provides a water-proof seal to said optical assembly, such that ingress of water is prevented when said camera enclosure is immersed in water at room temperature to a depth of about 1 meter for about 30 minutes.

31. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said sealing insert is selected from a group consisting of an O-ring and gasket.

32. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein said sidewall having said at least one connector further having an extension area, wherein said extension area having at least one opening for passage of a fastening device.

33. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein at least one thermally conductive compliant material securely secures at least one electronic component inside said camera enclosure apparatus.

34. The method of forming a camera enclosure sealing of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of an axis of said at least one optical assembly is parallel to at least a portion of an axis of said at least one electronic connector.