Integrated Sensor-Lens Mounting Structure for Watertight Camera Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image capture devices face challenges with complex and cumbersome assembly processes due to the integration of optical elements and image sensors, which can lead to difficulties in forming watertight seals and maintaining a secure internal environment.
Innovation Solution
A housing assembly for image capture devices featuring a front and rear housing portion with a mounting structure and sealing members that form watertight seals, allowing for simplified assembly and improved positional accuracy of components, including a discrete mounting structure separate from the housing portions and heatsink, and multiple sealing members to facilitate watertight connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical elements and image sensors are integrated into a single unit, then image capture functionality is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into front and rear portions that can be assembled separately, with the ISLA integrated into the front housing portion. This segmentation allows the complex ISLA to be prepared as a pre-assembled unit, reducing the overall assembly complexity while maintaining integrated functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A mounting structure serves as an intermediary component between the ISLA and the housing. This mounting structure simplifies the assembly process by providing a standardized interface that connects the integrated sensor-lens assembly to the front housing portion, reducing the complexity of directly integrating multiple components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple internal components are integrated, then device functionality is improved, but forming watertight seals becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into front and rear portions, with the ISLA integrated into the front portion. This segmentation creates distinct sealing zones, allowing watertight seals to be formed at specific interfaces (between front and rear housing portions) rather than attempting to seal around multiple individual components throughout the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure acts as an intermediary that facilitates watertight sealing. By providing a dedicated mounting interface with integrated sealing features, it simplifies the formation of watertight seals compared to attempting to seal around multiple separate internal components.
3Ease of manufacture
If a discrete mounting structure is used, then assembly simplicity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is integrated into the front housing portion, merging two previously separate components (mounting structure and housing) into a single piece. This reduces the total number of discrete components while maintaining the assembly simplicity provided by the dedicated mounting interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of assembling an image capture device that includes: positioning a first sealing member between a front housing portion and a mounting structure; connecting the mounting structure to the front housing portion such that the first sealing member forms a watertight seal therebetween; positioning a second sealing member between the mounting structure and an integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA); orienting the second sealing member such that a locating feature extending rearwardly from the mounting structure is aligned with a notch defined by the second sealing member to facilitate proper relative orientation of the mounting structure and the second sealing member; connecting the ISLA to the mounting structure such that the locating feature is positioned within the notch and the second sealing member forms a watertight seal between the ISLA and the mounting structure; and connecting a rear housing portion to the front housing portion.