Flared Elastomer Gasket for Multi-Headed Camera Light Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foam gaskets are ineffective in shielding multi-headed cameras from unwanted light interference, as they fail to provide a reliable light seal against irregularly shaped protective shields, leading to total internal reflection and interference with the camera lens.
Innovation Solution
A resiliently deformable and flared gasket with a tapered thickness, made from elastomer materials like silicone, is designed to create a closed light seal path with the protective shield, reducing surface roughness and friction through treatment with substances like the SL-030-5 series coating, and is integrated with a camera lens cover to maintain a light seal across varying observation angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a foam gasket is used for shielding a camera lens, then light interference is reduced, but the gasket is ineffective against irregularly shaped protective shields in multi-headed cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is made from a resiliently deformable elastomer material that can flex and conform to irregular surfaces. The flared sealing portion extends outward to contact the protective shield, and the material's elasticity allows it to adapt to non-uniform shield geometries while maintaining continuous contact for effective light sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket thickness is varied continuously from the gasket base to the sealing portion, creating a tapered profile. This gradual thickness change allows the gasket to deform smoothly and conform to irregular shield surfaces, improving adaptability while maintaining sealing effectiveness across different shield shapes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the gasket thickness is reduced to allow deformation, then adaptability to irregular shields improves, but structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket has non-uniform thickness distribution, with greater thickness at the gasket base providing structural support and strength, and reduced thickness at the sealing portion allowing deformation and conformability. This local variation in geometry optimizes both strength and adaptability in their respective locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is made from elastomer material, which combines the properties of rubber and plastic to provide both resilience for deformation and sufficient structural strength. The material's viscoelastic properties allow it to deform under compression while maintaining integrity and returning to its original shape.
3Ease of operation
If the sealing portion surface is made smooth to reduce friction, then ease of operation improves, but sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket features a flared sealing portion with a specific geometry that concentrates sealing force at the contact edge with the shield. This localized sealing mechanism ensures effective light blocking even if the overall surface is smooth, as the sealing action occurs at the constrained interface rather than requiring surface roughness.
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 gasket effectively prevents light from reaching the camera lens by maintaining a consistent light seal across the camera's observation angles, reducing the risk of total internal reflection and interference, while ensuring the gasket does not fold over due to low friction forces.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deformable and flared gasket positioned around the camera lens and extending toward the shield
Implementation Method 2
the gasket contacts the shield about a closed light seal path for preventing light from passing between the shield and the gasket, and reaching the camera lens
Implementation Method 3
The sealing portion may be treated with a substance for reducing a surface roughness of the sealing portion... decreasing the surface roughness of the sealing portion correspondingly increases the 'smoothness' of the surface of the sealing portion, and decreases the coefficient of friction between the sealing portion and the shield
Data Source
AI summary
There is described a multi-headed camera comprising a camera base, multiple camera heads coupled to the camera base, each camera head comprising a camera lens defining an observation angle, each camera head being configured to pivot such that the observation angle may vary between a minimum observation angle and a maximum observation angle, and a protective shield attached to the camera base, extending over the camera heads and shaped such that for each camera head a distance between the shield and the camera head varies as a function of the observation angle. Attached to each camera head is a resiliently deformable and flared gasket positioned around the camera lens and extending toward the shield. The gasket is configured such that, for any observation angle between the minimum and maximum observation angles, the gasket contacts the shield about a closed light seal path for preventing light from passing between the shield and the gasket, and reaching the camera lens.