Corner-Mounted Tip-Off Tube for Vacuum Package
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum package designs for infrared imaging devices require a residual tip-off tube to maintain the vacuum seal, leading to increased external dimensions and interference with other components due to protrusions.
Innovation Solution
A corner-mounted tip-off tube design where an aperture is formed at the corner of the vacuum package housing, allowing the tip-off tube to be sealed within a recess, reducing external protrusion and maintaining the vacuum without increasing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional tip-off tube design is used with the residual portion staying attached to maintain vacuum seal, then the vacuum seal is maintained, but the external dimensions of the device significantly increase due to protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The tip-off tube is repositioned from a conventional location to a corner aperture of the vacuum package housing. This dimensional relocation allows the tube to be oriented along the corner edge, enabling the residual portion to be contained within the housing boundaries rather than protruding externally, thus maintaining vacuum seal while reducing external dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The residual portion of the tip-off tube is nested within the corner recess of the vacuum package housing. The tube is positioned such that its sealed end resides inside the housing structure, effectively hiding the residual portion within the overall device envelope and eliminating external protrusion
2Reliability
If a residual tip-off tube protrudes from planar surfaces to maintain vacuum seal, then the vacuum seal is maintained, but the ability to add other components in close proximity is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the tip-off tube to the corner aperture, the design frees up the planar surfaces and areas adjacent to them for other component placements. The corner mounting utilizes the vertical and lateral space efficiently, leaving the main housing surfaces accessible for integrating additional components without interference from protruding tube portions
3Reliability
If the tip-off tube is sealed to maintain vacuum, then the vacuum is maintained, but the residual portion must stay attached increasing device size
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed residual portion of the tip-off tube is nested within the corner recess of the housing. The tube extends into the corner aperture and is sealed such that the bulk of the residual portion is contained within the housing volume rather than adding to external dimensions, effectively hiding the sealed end within the device envelope
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include a device comprising a vacuum package housing. The vacuum package housing comprises a base and a plurality of walls connected to the base and defining an interior cavity adapted to receive a focal plane array, wherein at least two of the walls meet to define a corner of the vacuum package housing. The vacuum package housing further comprises an aperture formed at the corner, wherein the aperture extends through the at least two of the walls to provide a channel between the interior cavity of the vacuum package and an external environment, and wherein the aperture is adapted to receive a tip-off tube configured to be changed from an open state to a closed state to maintain a vacuum within the interior cavity.