Dome Camera Heat Management via Sealed Sub-Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dome cameras face challenges in maintaining clear lenses due to space restrictions within the dome, which can lead to obstruction of light and issues with heat management, affecting performance and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A camera device with a heat-emitting film arranged around the lens unit to radiate heat and maintain the dome bubble member, ensuring a sealed sub-chamber for heat containment and efficient heat distribution, allowing for rotational and displacement movements of the imaging unit while maintaining a clear optical path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the imaging unit is housed within the dome to provide protection and concealment, then the camera structure is compact and protected, but the space for heat management is restricted and light paths may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit is nested within the dome chamber, with the lens positioned to project through the dome surface. The heating element is nested within the sealed sub-chamber surrounding the lens, creating a compact hierarchical structure that maximizes space utilization while maintaining protection and heat management functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The dome interior is segmented into a sealed sub-chamber containing the lens and heating element, and an outer chamber containing the imaging sensor. This segmentation allows independent optimization of heat management in the sub-chamber while maintaining the overall compact structure within the dome.
2Reliability
If a heating element is added to prevent condensation and ice formation on the dome, then image quality is improved by maintaining a clear optical path, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Heating is applied locally only in the sealed sub-chamber surrounding the lens, rather than heating the entire dome. The heat-emitting film is positioned specifically where condensation would form on the dome interior, providing targeted heat management that maintains optical clarity without requiring a complex system-wide heating solution.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealing member creates an intermediate sealed sub-chamber between the lens and the dome interior, allowing the heating element to be contained in this intermediate space. This mediator structure enables efficient heat containment and directs thermal energy precisely where needed to prevent condensation on the dome surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging unit is made rotatable to enhance surveillance coverage, then the camera versatility is improved, but the mechanical complexity and space requirements for rotation mechanisms increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit is made dynamically rotatable about a central axis within the dome chamber. The rotation mechanism is designed to operate within the existing dome space, with the imaging unit rotating on its mounting axis rather than requiring additional space for complex multi-axis mechanisms. This dynamic capability enhances surveillance coverage while maintaining relative simplicity.
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 heats the dome bubble member to prevent condensation and ice formation, ensuring a clear optical path and improved image quality by efficiently managing heat within the camera's space constraints.
Implementation Method 1
a heat-emitting film arranged about the lens unit and being adapted to radiate heat for heating the dome bubble member
Implementation Method 2
a sealing member adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the dome bubble member and the imaging unit, thereby defining a sealed sub-chamber containing the lens unit, and a heat-emitting element housed within the sealed sub-chamber, the heat radiated from the heat-emitting element being substantially contained within the sealed sub-chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device has a dome bubble member and an imaging unit housed within the camera chamber. A heat-emitting element, such as a film, may be arranged about the lens unit and is adapted to radiate heat for heating the dome bubble member. The camera device may include a sealing member adapted to sealingly engage a portion of the dome bubble member, whereby the heat radiated from the heat-emitting element is substantially contained within the sealed sub-chamber. The imaging unit may be rotatable about a first axis and a second axis in which the second axis is offset from the center of the dome bubble member and is displaceable in at least one direction transverse to itself. The camera device may have a shroud member that is pivotal about a third axis. The camera device may also have a shroud member that is transmissive to infra-red light.