Outdoor Camera Assembly With Sensor Heating and Sun-Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems face challenges in maintaining temperature stability, especially for outdoor use, where temperature fluctuations affect image quality, and in withstanding environmental conditions like rain and direct sunlight, while also requiring flexible mounting and secure attachment.
Innovation Solution
The development of a compact all-weather camera assembly with active heating and passive cooling mechanisms, waterproofing, impact resistance, and a concave front face to prevent water accumulation and direct sunlight exposure, along with a mount that encloses wires and offers wide rotational freedom, enabling stable and flexible placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the camera is equipped with high-powered processing components, then computing capability is improved, but heat generation increases which affects temperature stability
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly divides thermal management into separate zones: active heating elements (heating coil, heating element) are positioned near the image sensor, while passive cooling features (finned structure, heat dissipation fins) are located on the housing. This segmentation allows simultaneous heating and cooling operations in different regions to maintain overall thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts thermal parameters by controlling the activation and intensity of heating and cooling mechanisms based on ambient temperature conditions. The heating coil and heating element can be activated when temperatures drop, while the finned structure provides passive cooling when temperatures rise, maintaining the image sensor within optimal operating temperature ranges.
2Volume of moving object
If the camera housing is made compact, then device size is reduced, but heat dissipation capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil is nested within the housing structure, and the heating element is integrated into the camera assembly. The finned cooling structure is incorporated as part of the housing design rather than as a separate external component. This nesting allows thermal management components to be embedded within the compact housing volume without increasing overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The passive cooling mechanism utilizes the vertical dimension with finned structures that extend outward from the housing. This three-dimensional heat dissipation approach maximizes surface area for thermal exchange without proportionally increasing the camera's footprint, allowing effective cooling within a compact form factor.
3Illumination intensity
If the camera is exposed to direct sunlight, then outdoor visibility is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The concave front face, which might seem to reduce light intake, actually converts harmful direct sunlight into beneficial diffuse reflection. The curved surface scatters intense sunlight, preventing it from forming concentrated beams that would cause glare or overexposure, while still allowing sufficient ambient light to reach the image sensor for clear outdoor imaging.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is mounted in unsecure locations, then installation flexibility is improved, but security against appropriation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The concave front face design creates a distinctive curved profile that serves as a visual deterrent and makes the camera less appealing for theft compared to conventional flat-faced cameras. The unique aesthetic may signal advanced technology or monitoring capabilities, while the curved surface also provides structural strength to resist impact attempts.
5Ease of manufacture
If the camera front face is flat, then manufacturing is simplified, but water accumulation and sunlight exposure are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The concave front face replaces the flat surface with a curved geometry that naturally sheds water through gravity and surface tension, preventing water accumulation that could cause condensation or electrical damage. The curved surface also distributes sunlight more evenly across the sensor area, reducing hot spots and glare while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molding processes.
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 solution ensures reliable temperature control, improved image quality, and enhanced durability in harsh environments, allowing for continuous operation and secure, flexible camera placement.
Implementation Method 1
a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature
Implementation Method 2
a concave front face to prevent water accumulation and direct sunlight exposure
Data Source
AI summary
The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.