Movable Camera Heating Arrangement for Energy-Efficient Window Defrosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera heating solutions for outdoor monitoring cameras are either bulky, energy-consuming, or both, making them inefficient for powering multiple camera heads with large viewing windows, especially those using Power over Ethernet (PoE).
Innovation Solution
A camera with a movable heating arrangement that includes an electrical conductor on the viewing window and a movement device synchronized with the camera head, allowing only the portion of the viewing window needed for image capture to be heated, reducing power consumption and eliminating the need for bulky fans or heaters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire viewing window is heated using conventional heating arrangements, then ice or dew formation is prevented across the whole window, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The heating arrangement applies heating locally only to the specific area where the camera head is positioned, rather than heating the entire viewing window. This is achieved by positioning the heating arrangement close to the camera head and activating it only when needed, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective ice prevention at the critical location.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating arrangement is made movable and is positioned dynamically according to the camera head's position. The heating arrangement moves together with the camera head, allowing the heated area to follow the active camera head. This dynamic positioning ensures that heating energy is always applied where needed, optimizing both effectiveness and energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If bulky fans or heaters are used for heating the viewing window, then effective ice removal is achieved, but the camera housing becomes larger and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The heating arrangement is extracted from the main camera housing and positioned separately close to the camera head. This separation allows the heating function to be implemented without increasing the volume of the main camera housing. The heating arrangement can be positioned in the space between the camera head and the viewing window, utilizing available space efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating arrangement is nested within or close to the camera head structure, utilizing the existing spatial arrangement. By positioning the heating arrangement in proximity to the camera head and integrating it into the overall camera structure, the solution achieves effective heating without requiring additional bulky components in the main housing.
3Reliability
If heating is applied continuously across the entire viewing window, then ice prevention is maintained, but available power for other camera functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating arrangement is activated periodically or on-demand based on the presence of ice or dew, rather than operating continuously. The system can detect ice formation and activate heating only when needed, reducing overall power consumption and leaving more power available for image processing and other camera functions while maintaining effective ice prevention when required.
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
This approach reduces total power consumption by heating only the necessary portion of the viewing window, allowing for efficient ice or dew removal without increasing the camera's overall energy usage, even in panoramic setups with multiple camera heads.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical contact device for contacting the conductor and applying an electric current to the conductor in a portion of the viewing window, thereby heating the conductor in the portion of the viewing window
Data Source
AI summary
A camera comprising a movable camera head, a transparent viewing window through which the camera head is arranged to capture images, and a heating arrangement for heating the viewing window is disclosed. The viewing window comprises an electrical conductor. The heating arrangement comprises an electrical contact device for contacting the conductor and applying an electric current to the conductor in a portion of the viewing window, thereby heating the conductor in the portion of the viewing window, and a movement device for movement of the heating arrangement in coordination with a movement of the camera head. A method of heating a viewing window of a camera is also disclosed.