Thermoelectric Sensor Housing for Stable Camera Image Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera housings fail to maintain consistent image quality across extreme temperature variations, leading to unreliable defect detection in testing environments.
Innovation Solution
A sensor housing with a thermal electric device, such as a Peltier module, is used to maintain a constant temperature for the camera, incorporating an insulated enclosure and a controller for temperature regulation, ensuring stable operation across varying environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera is exposed to extreme temperature variations in a climatic chamber, then the testing environment covers a wide operating range, but the image quality degrades due to thermal noise, color shifts, and saturation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the camera into an isolated thermal environment using an enclosure with insulated walls, dividing the testing system into an external climatic chamber and an internal controlled camera zone. This segmentation allows the camera to operate in a stable thermal environment while the external chamber undergoes extreme temperature variations.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermoelectric device (Peltier element) acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the camera, actively regulating the camera's temperature. The device transfers heat between the camera and the external environment, maintaining a constant operating temperature despite external temperature changes.
2Device complexity
If a conventional housing is used without active temperature control, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of defect detection fails under extreme temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A controller receives temperature information from a temperature sensor and adjusts the thermoelectric device accordingly. This feedback loop continuously monitors and regulates the camera's temperature, ensuring it remains within the optimal operating range even when external temperatures fluctuate dramatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by introducing active temperature control through the thermoelectric device, transitioning from a passive housing to an actively regulated thermal environment. This parameter change enables reliable defect detection across extreme temperature ranges.
3Reliability
If dedicated solutions for extreme environment cameras are used, then the camera performs adequately at specified extreme temperatures, but it cannot maintain unified image quality across the full operating range from high to low temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static temperature adaptation (dedicated solutions for specific extreme temperatures) to dynamic temperature control. The thermoelectric device can actively adjust the camera's temperature in real-time, allowing the camera to maintain optimal performance across the entire temperature range from extreme cold to extreme heat.
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 maintains consistent image quality by regulating temperature, allowing reliable defect detection and visual inspection regardless of external temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
the solution is based on the Peltier effect wherein a first side of the Peltier module is thermally coupled with the camera module and the second side may be coupled with an external radiator. This arrangement provides the possibility to alternatively cool or heat the housing and enclosed camera according to need by changing the direction of the current flow through the Peltier module.
Implementation Method 2
an enclosure formed of insulated walls configured for accommodating a sensor module
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor housing for a sensor module. The sensor housing includes an insulated internal volume and a thermal electric device. The insulated internal volume is configured for accommodating the sensor module therein. The thermal electric device is configured for alternatively heating and cooling the internal volume and/or the sensor module.