Infrared Camera Housing Metalized Surface EMI Shielding

Solution Overview

Problem

Infrared imaging devices face performance degradation due to environmental conditions such as undesired radiation and non-uniform heating, which affect thermographic accuracy and introduce low spatial frequency non-uniformities, especially in small form factor implementations.

Innovation Solution

A housing for an infrared camera module with a substantially non-metal cover and a metal layer on interior and exterior surfaces is used to enclose components, along with conductive traces for signal passing and fiducial markers for alignment, to mitigate environmental effects and improve performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a non-metal housing is used to reduce thermal conduction, then thermal management is improved, but electromagnetic interference shielding is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal managementVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference shielding

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The housing uses a composite structure combining non-metallic material (for thermal management) with integrated metal shielding layers (for EMI protection). The non-metal housing body is combined with metal shielding layers to simultaneously achieve thermal management benefits and electromagnetic interference shielding, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If metal surfaces are used for EMI shielding, then electromagnetic interference shielding is improved, but non-uniform heating and thermal conduction are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic interference shieldingVSAvoidnon-uniform heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

Metal shielding layers are applied only to specific regions where EMI protection is needed, rather than using metal throughout the entire housing. This localized approach provides EMI shielding where required while minimizing thermal conduction and non-uniform heating in other areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The housing combines non-metallic material with integrated metal shielding layers to simultaneously achieve thermal management benefits and electromagnetic interference shielding, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Measurement precision

If a sealed housing is used to block radiation, then thermographic accuracy is improved, but cooling efficiency is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermographic accuracyVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into sealed portions for radiation blocking and vented portions for thermal management. This segmentation allows the housing to simultaneously provide thermographic accuracy through radiation blocking while maintaining cooling efficiency through strategic venting locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces the impact of environmental conditions on infrared imaging devices, enhancing thermographic accuracy and uniformity by minimizing the effects of out-of-field radiation and non-uniform heating, while also providing effective electromagnetic interference shielding and improved cooling.

Implementation Method 1

A housing for an infrared camera module with a substantially non-metal cover and a metal layer on interior and exterior surfaces is used to enclose components, along with conductive traces for signal passing and fiducial markers for alignment, to mitigate environmental effects and improve performance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

The solution reduces the impact of environmental conditions on infrared imaging devices, enhancing thermographic accuracy and uniformity by minimizing the effects of out-of-field radiation and non-uniform heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS9473681B2Infrared camera system housing with metalized surface

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 TELEDYNE FLIR LLC

AI summary

A housing for an infrared camera module may be implemented with a substantially non-metal cover configured to substantially or completely enclose various components of an infrared imaging device. A metal layer may be disposed on various interior and/or exterior surfaces of the cover. Such implementations may be used to reduce the effects of various environmental conditions which may otherwise adversely affect the performance of the infrared imaging device. In addition, one or more conductive traces may be built into the housing and/or on interior surfaces of the housing to facilitate the passing of signals from components of the infrared imaging device such as infrared sensors, read out circuitry, a temperature measurement component, and/or other components. One or more fiducial markers may be provided to align various components of the infrared camera module during manufacture.