Cylindrical Camera Housing Sealing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable communication devices with video capabilities are not suitable for public safety environments due to issues with size, weight, manufacturability, sealing, ruggedness, and user interface, particularly when exposed to harsh conditions like water and dust, which can damage camera lenses and lead to leakage.
Innovation Solution
A portable communication device with a camera module featuring a unitary cylindrical housing and replaceable lens caps that provide a full spherical field of view, assembled using an outside-to-inside approach for retention and sealing, and equipped with heat sinks for heat dissipation, allowing for hands-free operation and easy maintenance in harsh environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a camera module is integrated into a portable communication device for public safety use, then video recording capability is improved, but the device becomes more vulnerable to damage from harsh conditions such as water, dust, and physical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is divided into separable components: a replaceable lens cap and a housing containing the camera sensor. This segmentation allows the lens cap to be easily removed or replaced without damaging the internal components, maintaining video recording capability while protecting against harsh conditions through replaceable protective elements.
Solution Approach 2:
A lens cap is pre-installed on the camera module to provide preliminary protection against water, dust, and physical contact before the device is deployed in harsh public safety environments. The lens cap serves as a first line of defense that can be easily attached or removed as needed.
2Reliability
If the camera module is sealed to prevent leakage and protect against water and dust, then reliability in harsh environments is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed housing is designed as a separate, self-contained unit with integrated sealing features. This segmentation allows the housing to be manufactured and sealed independently, then assembled with other device components, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable sealing against water and dust.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into the housing: structural support, sealing against water and dust, and mounting for the camera sensor. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the number of separate parts is reduced, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If the camera module is designed with a compact form factor for portability, then device portability is improved, but heat dissipation from camera sensors becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Heat dissipation is addressed by extending in a different dimension (length) rather than increasing volume. The housing includes an extended section or fin structure that increases surface area for heat dissipation without significantly increasing the overall compact form factor of the camera module.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the camera lens is made protruding to provide wide field of view, then video capture capability is improved, but the lens becomes more susceptible to scratches and damage
Solution Approach 1:
A lens cap is pre-installed on the protruding lens to provide preliminary protection against scratches and damage. The lens cap can be easily attached or removed as needed, allowing the lens to maintain its protruding position for wide field of view while being protected when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens protection system is segmented into a separate, replaceable lens cap rather than being integrated into the lens itself. This allows the lens to maintain its optical design for wide field of view while the protective function is provided by a separate component that can be easily replaced if damaged.
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 solution provides a rugged, sealed, and portable video communication device suitable for public safety applications, enabling hands-free video recording with improved edge analytics processing and easy lens replacement, maintaining clear video capture even in harsh conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The camera module is sealed to prevent leakage and protect against water and dust
Implementation Method 2
equipped with heat sinks for heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
A camera mounting mechanism for a portable communication device provides a unitary cylindrical camera housing having an opening for receiving a hemispherical camera lens of an optical sub-assembly. A heat sink wall is fitted into a base opening of the housing. Another heat sink dissipates heat from a microprocessor. A replaceable lens cap assembles to the exterior surface of the unitary cylindrical camera housing to retain and seal the camera module. The mounting of the threaded lens cap to the outside of the camera housing negates leak paths.