Camera Window Heater with Thermal Expansion Insulator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Monitoring cameras in outdoor environments face obstructions and operational issues due to weather conditions, such as snow and ice buildup, and temperature extremes, which can hinder their functionality and field of view.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring camera with a heating arrangement that includes a thermally conductive member and a thermally insulating member, which adjusts its extension to control heat distribution between the camera window and housing, ensuring the window is heated while preventing excessive heating of the housing once a temperature threshold is reached, thereby maintaining optimal operation in cold conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a heater is used to heat the camera window to melt snow and ice, then the field of view is maintained, but the housing may overheat causing electronic components to operate suboptimally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow and ice obstructionVSAvoidhousing temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into different thermal zones: a heated zone around the camera window containing the heater, and an unheated zone where electronic components are located. This segmentation allows selective heating of only the window area while keeping the housing temperature suitable for electronics operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A thermally insulating member is introduced as an intermediary between the heater and the housing. This insulator prevents heat from the heater from transferring to the housing, thereby protecting electronic components from overheating while allowing the window to be heated effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the heater heats the housing to protect electronic components from cold, then component operation is maintained, but the camera window may not receive sufficient heat to clear snow and ice

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic component operationVSAvoidwindow obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the housing have different thermal properties: the window area is designed to be heated by the heater, while the areas containing electronic components are designed to remain unheated or less heated. This local differentiation of thermal quality ensures each zone receives appropriate temperature treatment for its function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the heater continuously heats both window and housing, then snow and ice are prevented, but energy is wasted heating the housing excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow and ice buildupVSAvoidheater energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of heating the entire housing, only the necessary portion (the window area) is heated to the required temperature. The insulating member ensures heat is concentrated where needed rather than being wasted on heating the entire housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 effectively melts snow and ice on the camera window, maintains the camera's field of view, and ensures electronic components, like the CPU, can operate within their temperature range, even in very low ambient temperatures, by selectively heating the window and housing as needed.

Implementation Method 1

a heater arranged to supply heat to a camera window

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

the heater will always supply heat to the camera window when the heater is in operation. The heating of the camera window will melt possible snow and ice buildup

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

The monitoring camera comprises a thermally conductive member having a first contacting surface and a second contacting surface. The first contacting surface is arranged in contact with a housing of the camera and the second contacting surface is arranged in contact with a contacting surface of the heating arrangement when a local temperature at the thermally conductive member is below a local temperature threshold, thereby arranged to transfer heat supplied by the heating arrangement to the housing.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the monitoring camera comprises a thermally insulating member having a first contacting surface arranged in close proximity with the housing and a second contacting surface arranged in close proximity with the contacting surface of the heating arrangement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 5

At least one out of the thermally conductive member and the thermally insulating member is configured to, when the local temperature at the thermally conductive member and the thermally insulating member increases above the local temperature threshold during operation of the heater, change its extension in a direction perpendicular to the contacting surface of the heating arrangement

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11454806B2Monitoring camera having a heater

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 AXIS

AI summary

A camera having a heating arrangement comprising a heater arranged to supply heat to a window. A thermally conductive member is arranged in contact with a housing and with the heating arrangement, when a temperature at the conductive member is below a threshold, to transfer heat supplied by the heater to the housing. A thermally insulating member is arranged in proximity with the housing and the heating arrangement. The conductive and/or insulating member is configured to, when the temperature increases above the threshold during heater operation, change its extension to enable contact between the insulating member and the housing and between the insulating member and the heating arrangement, and to disable contact between the conductive member and the housing and between the conductive member and the heating arrangement, thereby thermally insulate the housing from the heater.