Machine Vision Camera Enclosure With Integrated Sealed Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cord grips are excessively large, costly, and damaging to cables, causing signal degradation, humidity leakage, and mechanical stress, which is particularly problematic for high-speed data cabling and machine vision cameras operating in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
The development of a compact, IP67-compliant enclosure system that integrates cable connectors directly into the enclosure body, eliminating the need for cord grips and incorporating heat-dissipation features, lightweight materials, and adjustable designs for machine vision cameras, along with end-effectors for versatile mounting and lighting integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cord grips are used to seal around cables, then watertight protection is achieved, but the cord grips become excessively large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The cord grip is divided into multiple segments that can be compressed independently around the cable. This segmentation allows the cord grip to achieve effective sealing with reduced overall size, as each segment contributes to the sealing function rather than requiring a single large structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cord grip design incorporates a nested structure where internal sealing elements are positioned within the outer housing. This nesting allows multiple functional layers to be compacted into a smaller overall volume while maintaining the watertight sealing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cord grips are made extra-giant to accommodate connectors, then connector accommodation is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase due to rubbering up
Solution Approach 1:
The cord grip incorporates flexible, dynamically adjustable elements that can adapt to different connector sizes and shapes. This dynamic adaptability eliminates the need for oversized fixed structures, allowing the same cord grip design to accommodate various connectors without requiring expensive custom manufacturing or rubbering up for each variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The cord grip is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple types of connectors and cable configurations. This multi-functionality is achieved through adjustable sealing surfaces and flexible elements that adapt to different geometries, eliminating the need for separate oversized cord grips for each connector type and reducing manufacturing costs.
3Reliability
If cord grips squeeze down on cables, then sealing is achieved, but the cable is damaged physically and electrically
Solution Approach 1:
The cord grip applies sealing force locally at specific contact points rather than uniformly across the entire cable circumference. This localized sealing approach maintains effective waterproofing while minimizing overall compression on the cable, preventing the physical and electrical damage that results from excessive uniform squeezing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cord grip incorporates soft intermediary sealing elements positioned between the rigid housing and the cable. These intermediary elements deform to create the seal while absorbing compression forces, preventing direct transmission of damaging forces to the cable and protecting both the physical integrity and electrical properties of the cable.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If cord grips are used for high-speed data cabling, then cable protection is attempted, but signal degradation and cross-talk occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cord grip uses flexible sealing shells and thin film elements that conform to the cable surface without creating rigid compression points. This flexible approach provides protection while maintaining the electrical characteristics of high-speed data cables, preventing signal degradation, reflection, and cross-talk that would result from rigid squeezing structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of enclosures for machine-vision cameras are disclosed. The enclosures are designed to fit\hug the camera to be as small as physically possible, and also integrate other features such as better cabling, IP-67 compliance, and end-effectors. Further, the embodiments herein have also integrated a way to mount extra lights as part of the design. The embodiments herein accommodate the specific need of the particular application. The embodiments herein can accommodate numerous shapes and sizes of cameras, including square, cylindrical, or cubical cameras, and encompass either rectangular or round enclosures.