Laser Ranging Device with Barrier Rings for Dust and Water Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser ranging devices are not waterproof and dustproof, leading to issues such as dust accumulation blocking the ranging component, reducing measurement accuracy, and water causing short circuits and damage to circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
A laser ranging device with a waterproof and dustproof design featuring barrier rings, water guidance protrusions, and dust storage chambers to prevent water and dust ingress, using a combination of barrier rings and water-dust-proof walls to protect internal components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the laser transmitter and receiver are exposed to the external environment, then the device can perform ranging measurements, but dust and debris accumulate on the lenses causing measurement errors and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cleaning mechanism that proactively removes dust and debris from the lenses before they accumulate to problematic levels. The cleaning device includes brushes or wipers that periodically contact the transmitter and receiver lenses to maintain optical clarity, preventing measurement errors rather than correcting them after occurrence.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is integrated into the laser ranging device itself, allowing the device to clean its own optical components without external intervention. The cleaning device is actuated by the device's own motor and control systems, enabling autonomous maintenance of the transmitter and receiver lenses during or between measurement operations.
2Reliability
If the laser transmitter and receiver are protected from the environment, then dust accumulation is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to additional protective structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective function into separate modular components: a housing structure that encloses the optical components, and a cleaning device that can be independently activated. This segmentation allows the protective housing to be simple while the cleaning mechanism provides active protection, reducing overall system complexity compared to a fully sealed complex design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism periodically removes accumulated dust and debris from the lenses, effectively discarding the contaminants that would otherwise require complex protective enclosures. By actively removing harmful particles rather than preventing their accumulation through complex sealing, the system achieves protection with simpler structural design.
3Reliability
If manual cleaning of the lenses is performed, then dust is removed, but the device requires human intervention increasing operation time and reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is fully automated and integrated into the laser ranging system. It uses an electric motor to drive cleaning brushes or wipers that contact the transmitter and receiver lenses, eliminating the need for manual cleaning operations. The system can be controlled to clean the lenses at scheduled intervals or when contamination is detected, maintaining continuous operational productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated cleaning mechanism ensures continuous operational readiness by maintaining lens cleanliness without interrupting the device's primary ranging function. The cleaning operations can be performed during idle periods between measurements or in rapid succession, ensuring the optical components remain clean and the device maintains high productivity throughout extended operation periods.
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 design effectively prevents dust and water from entering, maintaining component integrity and prolonging the device's service life while ensuring accurate measurement data.
Implementation Method 1
a laser beam is emitted towards a target object and a time of flight of the laser beam is measured in order to measure a distance to the target object
Implementation Method 2
a laser cleaner is used to clean the lens
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laser ranging device and an automatic cleaning device. The laser ranging device includes an encoded chassis, a rotary disc, a first barrier ring on the rotary disc and/or a second barrier ring on the encoded chassis. The encoded chassis includes a rotary bin and a plurality of ranging teeth disposed at intervals on the periphery of the rotary bin. The rotary disc is mounted within the encoded chassis and rotatable within the rotary bin when being driven. Wherein, the first barrier ring is disposed at the edge of the bottom surface of the rotary disc and the second barrier ring is disposed at the periphery of the ranging teeth; and the first barrier ring is located at the periphery of the ranging teeth after the rotary disc is mounted to the encoded chassis. In the laser ranging device according to the present invention, by providing a plurality of water-dust-proof walls to the laser ranging device, it may block dust and prevent water from entering, and achieve an effect of protecting the components in the laser ranging device. Therefore, it may prolong the service life of the laser ranging device.