Submersible Camera Drainage Channels for Microphone Moisture Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submersible camera systems face audio performance issues when emerging from water due to moisture accumulation around microphones, which existing drainage systems fail to effectively address.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a drainage channel system within the camera system, featuring multiple drainage ports and channels that utilize capillary forces and hydrophobic coatings to efficiently drain moisture from the microphone area, ensuring sound wave propagation while preventing water ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is submerged in water, then the camera can capture audio underwater, but moisture accumulates around the microphone and degrades audio performance
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage system is divided into multiple drainage ports positioned at different locations (front surface and side surface) to provide multiple drainage paths. This segmentation allows water to be effectively removed from various angles, preventing moisture accumulation around the microphone while maintaining underwater audio capture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage ports are positioned on multiple surfaces (front and side) rather than a single plane, creating a three-dimensional drainage configuration. This multi-dimensional approach ensures comprehensive water removal from the microphone area regardless of the camera's orientation in water, resolving the contradiction between underwater operation and audio performance.
2Reliability
If drainage ports are added to the camera housing, then water can be drained from the microphone area, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage ports serve multiple functions: they drain water from the microphone area, maintain pressure equalization, and can be integrated into the existing housing structure without requiring separate complex drainage mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while ensuring reliable microphone protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system utilizes natural water flow and pressure differentials to automatically drain water from the microphone area without requiring active pumping or control mechanisms. The system self-regulates based on water pressure and gravity, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining effective drainage.
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
The drainage channel system effectively clears water from the microphone, allowing the camera to resume normal acoustic performance after submersion, enhancing audio quality and reliability in wet environments.
Implementation Method 1
drainage channels configured to drain water from the microphone area
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system with six faces and a front housing is configured to capture images and audio content from external the camera body. The camera system includes an interior audio assembly protected from external environments by a waterproof membrane. The camera system includes drainage ports on the bottom face and the left face of the camera system to encourage moisture to drain from the system. A first drainage channel couples the internal audio assembly to the first drainage port on left face of the camera system and a second drainage channel couples the drainage port on the left face of the camera system to the drainage port on the bottom face of the camera system. A third drainage channel exists between the front face of the camera system and the front housing, the third drainage channel coupling the first and second drainage channels.