Monitoring Camera Condensation Suppression via Air Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional monitoring cameras face challenges in effectively suppressing condensation and icing while maintaining cost efficiency, as they often rely solely on heating to prevent condensation, leading to increased manufacturing and running costs, and inadequate discharge of water vapor.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring camera design featuring a housing with a gap between the camera unit and the light-transmissive cover, incorporating a fan for air circulation, a ventilation hole with a waterproof air-permeable film, and an infrared light irradiation device to efficiently radiate heat and dehumidify, controlled by a temperature sensor and controller to activate or stop heating and ventilation based on temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is driven to heat the internal space to suppress condensation, then condensation suppression is improved, but running cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the heat generated by the imaging device itself to warm the internal space and prevent condensation, rather than relying on an external heater. The imaging device's operational heat is redirected to serve the dual purpose of image capture and condensation prevention, eliminating the need for additional heating energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device performs multiple functions: capturing images and simultaneously generating heat to prevent condensation. This multi-functionality allows the same component to serve both imaging and thermal management purposes, reducing overall system energy requirements and running costs.
2Reliability
If the internal space is partitioned into first and second closed spaces with a heater driving only the first closed space, then condensation suppression is improved, but air discharge capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The internal space is divided into multiple sealed compartments (first and second closed spaces) with controlled air flow paths between them. This segmentation allows differential temperature and humidity management in different zones while maintaining overall hermeticity, enabling condensation suppression without compromising water vapor discharge capability.
Solution Approach 2:
An air-permeable water-proof film acts as an intermediary between the first and second closed spaces, allowing controlled air and moisture vapor transmission while maintaining sealed compartments. This intermediary enables the system to manage humidity gradients and facilitate water vapor discharge without compromising the hermetic sealing required for condensation prevention.
3Temperature
If a blowing fan is driven to cool the image pickup device, then cooling is improved, but heat radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces active mechanical cooling systems with passive thermal management utilizing the device's own heat generation characteristics. By strategically positioning air-permeable water-proof films and utilizing natural convection currents created by the imaging device's operational heat, the system achieves thermal equilibrium without requiring energy-intensive mechanical cooling, thereby reducing heat radiation losses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively suppresses condensation and icing while reducing manufacturing and running costs by utilizing internal heat generation and dehumidification, ensuring clear image capture across varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a fan that is disposed in the gap and circulates an air in the gap
Implementation Method 2
a heater that is provided facing the gap and heats the air
Implementation Method 3
an infrared light irradiation device that is provided facing the gap and emits infrared light to the outside through the cover and radiates heat into the air
Implementation Method 4
a water-proof air-permeable film that covers the ventilation hole
Data Source
AI summary
A monitoring camera includes a camera unit that has a lens, a housing that has an opening facing a light incident surface of the lens and surrounds the camera unit with a gap which is formed between the housing and the camera unit, a light-transmissive cover that is attached to the opening with spaced apart from the lens to seal off the housing, a fan that is disposed in the gap and circulates an air in the gap, a ventilation hole that is bored in the housing and causes the gap to be open to an outside, a water-proof air-permeable film that covers the ventilation hole, a heater that is provided facing the gap and heats the air, and an infrared light irradiation device that is provided facing the gap and emits infrared light to the outside through the cover and radiates heat into the air.