Housing with access passage

Abstract

To properly protect a device such as a microphone from the surrounding environment.SOLUTION: A housing for a device 2 includes an exterior and an interior, and an access passage 5 for accessing a component 6 of the device 2 inside the housing from the exterior. The access passage 5 includes an outer opening 4 and an internal drainage passage 7 arranged below the outer opening. The outer opening 4 has a plurality of vertical side walls 9 extending inward from the outside of the housing, and each of the side walls has a bottom width (W) close to the drainage passage 7 at the bottom of the side wall and a top width (W) narrower than the bottom width (W) at the top of the side wall. The plurality of side walls 9 provide a guide surface for liquid entering the access passage 5 such that the liquid is guided towards the drainage passage 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing for a device, and more particularly to a housing having an access passage from the exterior of the housing to components of the device within the housing. [Background technology]

[0002] Various devices, particularly electronic devices, are provided with housings that contain the components of the device. Such housings may serve several purposes. The housing may protect the components of the device from the environment surrounding the device. The housing is particularly important when the device is deployed or used outdoors. The housing may also protect the user from possible hazards associated with the components of the device, for example from electric shock or from injury from moving parts. The housing may also serve an aesthetic purpose, giving the device a pleasing appearance. Balancing all these needs is a difficult task when designing a device and its housing.

[0003] Some devices require access to one or more parts of the device from the outside while at the same time providing adequate protection for the parts from the environment around the device. For example, door stations are often mounted on the outside of a building door and allow communication between a person wanting to enter the building and a person inside the building to determine whether the visitor should be allowed in. Such door stations may include a microphone to allow the visitor to talk to the person inside the building. The microphone needs to be accessible by sound waves from outside the housing. This can be achieved by placing the microphone on the outside of the housing or by providing a large opening in the housing in front of the microphone. However, the microphone also needs to be protected from external elements, including dirt. This can be achieved by placing the microphone inside the housing and using a housing that does not have a large opening. Balancing these demands is a challenge for door station designers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] A particular object is to provide a housing for a device which contains components which need to be accessible yet protected from harmful external influences.

[0006] It is also an object to provide a housing which ensures that any liquid that enters the housing will not damage components of the device and will be drained from the housing.

[0007] Another object is to provide a device having a housing that allows access to the parts of the device while ensuring that the parts are protected.

[0008] Yet another object is to provide a device which is protected from the accumulation of liquids entering the device. Yet another object is to provide a device which does not allow liquids entering the device to interfere with external interaction with the components of the device.

[0009] According to a first aspect, these and other objects are achieved, in whole or at least in part, by a housing for a device, the housing having an exterior and an interior, the housing further having an access passage for accessing a component of the device within the housing from the exterior of the housing, the access passage comprising an exterior opening and an interior drainage channel disposed within the housing below the exterior opening, the exterior opening generally having a number of vertical side walls extending inwardly from the exterior of the housing, each side wall having a bottom width at the bottom of the side wall close to the drainage channel and a top width at the top of the side wall narrower than the bottom width, the vertical side walls providing a guide surface for liquid entering the access passage such that the liquid is guided towards the drainage channel. Such a housing allows for protecting the component of the device within the housing from water and other influences for the exterior while allowing access to the component. The shape of the side walls ensures that water entering the housing through the exterior opening is guided inwardly and downwardly towards the drainage channel.

[0010] As used herein, the term "access" includes various kinds of intangible physical access. Examples of access are sonic access to a part in the form of a microphone, or audio access such as a sound emitted by a pager or speaker, or optical access such as light hitting a part in the form of a light sensor, or light emitted by a part in the form of a light source. However, as used herein, "access" is not intended to include tangible access, such as access by a screw driver to a part in the form of a screw. Furthermore, "access" does not include non-physical logical access. Nevertheless, tangible or non-physical access to a part is permitted within the scope of the present invention, so long as non-tangible physical access is possible.

[0011] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the drain is smaller than the cross-section of the outer opening. The reduced cross-section increases the likelihood that water will move in the correct direction towards the drain. Surface tension and gravity work together to move water away from the outer opening.

[0012] The housing may further comprise a guide groove arranged to guide liquid from the outer opening to the drainage channel, thereby allowing liquid to be directed to the drainage channel even when the drainage channel is not located directly below the outer opening.

[0013] Furthermore, the cross section of the guide groove may be smaller than the cross section of the outer opening and larger than the cross section of the drainage channel, in which case the liquid is drained towards the drainage channel by a continuous decrease in cross section.

[0014] In some embodiments, the drainage channel has a rectangular cross section, which reduces the risk of air bubbles blocking the channel and improves liquid drainage.

[0015] Each side wall may be provided by a wedge shaped wall, which is a practical way of providing the desired shape of the side walls.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the above object is achieved completely or at least partly by a device comprising a housing according to the first aspect and a component arranged within the housing, the component being accessible via an access passage. In such a device, the component is well protected within the housing, whilst being accessible to the extent necessary for its use. Any water or other liquid that enters the housing is safely drained from the housing, reducing the risk of the liquid blocking the outer opening.

[0017] A component may be an input component or an output component.

[0018] In some embodiments, the input component is a microphone. The microphone needs to be protected from rain, dirt, etc., and also needs to be acoustically accessible from outside the device. By equipping the device with a housing according to the first aspect, both of these requirements can be met.

[0019] The component may be positioned above the outer opening, reducing the risk that the component will be adversely affected by liquid that enters the outer opening, even if the liquid does not immediately drain out of the housing via the drainage channel.

[0020] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description set forth below. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0021] As such, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular components of the device described, or the steps of the method described, as such devices and methods may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. It should be noted that, as used herein and in the appended claims, the articles "a," "an," and "the," "said" are intended to mean that there is one or more elements, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "an object" or "the object" may include several objects, and so forth. Furthermore, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps.

[0022] The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a door station having a housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the housing of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the housing portion of FIG. 2, showing a portion of a device within the housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] 1 shows a housing 1. In the example shown, the housing 1 is the housing of a door station. The door station is generally designated by the reference number 2, and only some parts of the door station 2 will be discussed here.

[0025] The door station 2 has a number of buttons 3 for initiating communication with a person within the building in which the door station 2 is used. Additionally, the door station 2 has an outer opening 4. As shown in Figure 3, the outer opening 4 is part of an access passage 5 through which a microphone 6 within the housing 1 of the door station 2 is accessible. This allows sound to reach the microphone 6 from outside the door station 2.

[0026] If the door station 2 is mounted outdoors, there is a risk of rain or snow falling on the door station 2 and thus water may enter the outer opening 4. It should be noted that even if the door station 2 is mounted indoors, water may still enter the outer opening 4, for example when cleaning the housing with a wet cloth or sponge. In the following, water entering the housing is discussed, but those skilled in the art will understand that this may be equally relevant for other liquids entering the housing.

[0027] It is important to avoid water and other liquids from accumulating within the housing 1, as they can be harmful to the components within the housing 1. To prevent water from accumulating, the access passageway 5 is provided with an internal drainage channel 7 that extends downwardly from the exterior opening 4 through the bottom 8 of the housing 1. Additionally, even a small amount of water entering the housing 1 can cause droplets to accumulate at the exterior opening 4 unless the water is properly drained. If water remains at the exterior opening, it can block the access passageway 5 so that sounds from outside the door station 2 cannot reach the microphone 6, thereby making communications difficult.

[0028] As can be seen partially in Figure 2, and more clearly in Figure 3, the outer opening 4 has a number of vertical sidewalls 9 that extend from the exterior of the housing 1 to the interior of the housing 1. Although only one such sidewall 9 is shown in the drawings, in this embodiment the access passage 5 is generally symmetrical such that a sidewall 9 is formed on the inside of each side of the outer opening 4. The sidewalls 9 have a bottom width W B , i.e. the bottom width W close to the drainage channel 7 B The top width W of the top of the side wall 9 is narrower than T The side wall 9 may be described as a wedge shaped portion of the wall surrounding the outer opening 4.

[0029] The side walls 9 provide a guide surface for water and other liquids entering the access passage 5. When a drop of water enters the outer opening 4, surface tension and gravity, in combination with the shape of the side walls, direct the water downwards towards the drainage channel 7. This prevents the water from blocking the outer opening 4, thereby ensuring that sounds from outside the door station 2 can reach the microphone 6. At the top of the side walls 9, any water that adheres to the outer opening 4 is likely to form a thin layer that is easily broken up under the action of forces such as gravity. Furthermore, the wider the side walls 9 are at the bottom, the thicker a layer of water will form there, dragging any water that adheres to the outer opening 4 downwards and overcoming the surface tension at the top of the side walls 9.

[0030] A guide groove 10 is formed below the side wall 9 of the outer opening 4. The guide groove 10 is intended to guide water away from the side wall 9 towards the drainage channel 7. To enhance the guiding performance, the guide groove 10 has a cross section smaller than the cross section of the outer opening 4. In this way, surface tension and gravity pull the water away from the outer opening 4 towards the drainage channel 7.

[0031] Similarly, to ensure that water is guided from the guide groove 10 to the drainage channel 7, the cross section of the drainage channel 7 is smaller than the cross section of the guide groove 10. The drainage channel 7 is rectangular, or preferably square, in cross section. This reduces the risk of air bubbles filling the entire cross section of the drainage channel 7. Because the air bubbles are round and therefore do not fill the entire rectangular cross section, liquid can still drain through the corners of the rectangular cross section and pass around the air bubbles. This improves the drainage capacity of the drainage channel 7.

[0032] The microphone 6 is disposed above the outer opening 4. This allows the microphone 6 to be adequately protected even in the event that a large amount of water unexpectedly enters the outer opening 4, causing a long time for water to drain and resulting in temporary accumulation of water in the access passage 5.

[0033] The surfaces of the outer opening 4, side walls 9, guide groove 10, and drainage channel 7 are preferably formed from a non-hydrophobic material. The use of a non-hydrophobic material increases the tendency for water to enter the drainage channel 7 and be drained from the housing 1. Additionally, hydrophobic materials can be expensive, and the configuration of the outer opening 4, side walls 9, guide groove 10, and drainage channel 7 makes hydrophobic materials unnecessary or even undesirable.

[0034] It will be understood that a person skilled in the art can modify the above embodiment in many ways and still utilize the advantages of the invention as shown in the above embodiment. As an example, in the embodiment shown, the outer opening has a rectangular cross section, but it may instead be, for example, circular. In such a case, the shape of the side wall must be adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the outer opening.

[0035] Although the side walls have been described as being vertical, one skilled in the art will appreciate that they need not be precisely vertical, but rather vertical enough to allow water droplets to flow down the side walls.

[0036] The housing may be formed without a guide groove, in which case the drainage channel is located directly below the side wall of the outer opening.

[0037] In the example shown, the drain has a square cross-section. The drain may have other rectangular cross-sections, or other non-circular cross-sections that allow liquid to drain even in the possible presence of air bubbles. The cross-section may, for example, be polygonal or generally circular, but if circular, may have rectangular sub-portions along its length to allow liquid to drain unhindered by air bubbles.

[0038] The above description has been primarily directed to a door station, where an accessible microphone needs to be protected. In the door station, the microphone is protected from water, ensuring that water does not block the access passage. However, the same solution can be applied to other components and devices. For example, the component may be another input device (input component), such as a light sensor that needs to be accessed by light, a PIR detector that needs to be accessed by infrared, an image sensor that needs to be accessed by visible or infrared light, etc. The component may also be an output device (output component), such as a light source that needs to emit light outside the housing, or a sound-emitting component that needs to transmit sound outside the housing.

[0039] The device may be any type of device that must be capable of being used or installed in a location where it may be subject to harmful influences such as moisture, rain, snow, sunlight, dirt, etc. The device may be, for example, a surveillance camera, a speaker, a physical access controller, a card reader, a lighting fixture, or a traffic light.

[0040] Multiple components can be disposed within the same exterior opening. Additionally, a device may have two or more components, each disposed within a separate exterior opening.

[0041] Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to the illustrated embodiments, but should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A housing (1) for a device (2), said housing (1) having an exterior and an interior, said housing (1) further comprising an access passage (5) for accessing a component (6) of said device (2) within said housing (1) from said exterior of said housing (1); The access passage (5) An outer opening (4); an internal drainage channel (7) located within the housing (1) below the outer opening (4); The outer opening (4) has a plurality of vertical side walls (9) extending inwardly from the exterior of the housing (1); Each side wall (9) has a bottom width (W Ｂ ) and the bottom width (W Ｂ ) narrower than the top width (W Ｔ ) and The side walls (9) provide guide surfaces for liquid entering the access passage (5) such that the liquid is guided towards the drain (7). The part (6) is arranged above the outer opening (4). housing.

2. 2. The housing according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the drainage channel (7) is smaller than the cross section of the outer opening (4).

3. 3. The housing of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a guide groove (10) arranged to guide the liquid from the outer opening (4) to the drainage channel (7).

4. 4. The housing according to claim 3, wherein the cross section of the guide groove (10) is smaller than the cross section of the outer opening (4) and larger than the cross section of the drainage channel (7).

5. A housing according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross section of the drainage channel (7) is rectangular.

6. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each side wall (9) is provided by a wedge-shaped wall.

7. A housing (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a component (6) arranged in the housing (1), The device, wherein the part (6) is accessible via the access passage (5).

8. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the component (6) is an input component or an output component.

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the input component is a microphone (6).

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