This application is related to the following co-pending U.S. patent applications filed on even date with the U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/060,523, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/137,307, titled “ANGLED DOORS WITH CONTINUOUS SEAL” and which is referred to here as the '307 Application;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/060,576, titled “L-SHAPED DOORS WITH TRAPEZOIDAL SEAL” and which is referred to here as the '576 Application;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/060,547, titled “COMBINATION EXTRUDED AND CAST METAL OUTDOOR ELECTRONICS ENCLOSURE” and which is referred to here as the '547 Application;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/060,584, titled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CABLE MANAGEMENT” and which is referred to here as the '584 Application;
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/137,322, titled “COMMUNICATION MODULES” and which is referred to here as the '322 Application; and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/060,581, titled “CAM SHAPED HINGES” and which is referred to here as the '581 Application.
In a communications system, such as a distributed antenna system and/or telecommunications infrastructure equipment, it is often necessary to place a remote unit in an outdoor area. For example, a remote unit may be placed in an outdoor stadium, park, etc. Placing a remote unit outdoors potentially exposes the unit to adverse weather conditions, such as rain, wind, etc. In order to protect the electronic components of the remote unit, the electronic components are typically placed in an enclosure which is sealed to be water-resistant. While enclosures protect the electronic components, conventional enclosures also make it difficult to access the components during installation or maintenance by blocking or providing small access areas to one or more sides of the electronic components.
In some cases, the telecommunications infrastructure equipment, which is housed in the outdoor electronic enclosures, emit electromagnetic fields that can cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) with electronic devices external to the outdoor electronic enclosures. Likewise, electromagnetic fields emitted by electronic devices external to the outdoor electronic enclosure can interfere with the telecommunications infrastructure equipment housed in the enclosure.
A water-resistant and electromagnetic interference shielded enclosure configured to enclose a plurality of electronic components is provided. The enclosure comprises a base having a channel, a first L-shaped door rotatably attached to a first side edge of the base, a second L-shaped door rotatably attached to a second side edge of the base, a door-to-door seal abutted to a flange on the first L-shaped door, and a compressible base-seal inserted into the channel. The compressible base-seal and the door-to-door seal form a three-surface seal when the first L-shaped door and the second L-shaped door are closed.
In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize features relevant to the present invention. Like reference characters denote like elements throughout figures and text.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that mechanical and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods that permit easy access to electronic equipment housed in water-resistant outdoor electronic enclosures and that prevent leakage of interfering electromagnetic fields from the electronic equipment housed in the outdoor electronic enclosure.
A continuous channel 230 (also referred to herein as “channel 230”) is formed along the exposed perimeter of base 214. When closed, the first L-shaped door 216 and second L-shaped door 218 abut the exposed perimeter 280 of base 214 in order to form the sealed, water-resistant enclosure 212. As defined herein, the exposed perimeter 280 of base 214 refers to the side edge 282 of back wall 220 that is adjacent to the first L-shaped door 216 in which a first portion of the channel 230 is formed, the edge 286 of second endplate 222 that does not abut the back wall 200 in which a second portion of the channel 230 is formed, side edge 284 of back wall 220 that is adjacent to the second L-shaped door 218 in which a third portion of the channel 230 is formed, and the edge 288 of the first endplate 224 that does not abut the back wall 220 in which a fourth portion of the channel 230 is formed. The first, second, third and fourth portions of the channel 230 together form a continuous channel 230. The exposed perimeter 280 of base 214 is completely exposed when the first L-shaped door and the second L-shaped door are attached to the base 214 in an open position as shown in
The continuous channel 230 is configured to hold a compressible base-seal 300. The first L-shaped door 216, the second L-shaped door 218, the base 214, the door-to-door seal 320, and the compressible base-seal 300 together form a water-resistant and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielded enclosure 212 configured to enclose a plurality of electronic components when the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218 are closed as is shown in
The inside-door-to-door seal section 324 has a length L1. Each wrap-around-flange section 323 has a length L3. The length of the door-to-door seal 320 is L2, which is equal to L1+2L3. The length L2 is equal to the height H (
The surfaces 410 (also referred to herein as “first surfaces 410”), surfaces 411 (also referred to herein as “second surfaces 411”), and contacting surface 310 form two three-surface seals between the base 214, the first L-shaped door 616, and the second L-shaped door 618 when the first L-shaped door 616 and the second L-shaped door 618 are closed. The three-surface seal provides a seal between the base 214, the first L-shaped door 216, and the second L-shaped door 218.
The surface 310 is the contacting surface 310 of the compressible seal 300 as described above with reference to
When the first L-shaped door 216 and second L-shaped door 218 are closed, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 (
The three-surface seals are in the regions represented generally at 510(1-2) where the portions of the first flange 330 encased by the wrap-around-flange sections 323 are positioned between the second flange 340 and the edges 288 and 286 (
Details about the embodiment of the enclosure 212 shown in
The first L-shaped door 216 includes a section 226 and a section 227 that form an approximately 90 degree angle (represented generally at θ1) to match the approximately 90 degree angle of the rectangular shape of the second endplate 222 and first endplate 224. Likewise, the second L-shaped door 218 includes a section 228 and a section 229 that form an approximately 90 degree angle (represented generally at θ2) to match the approximately 90 degree angle of the rectangular shape of the second endplate 222 and first endplate 224. Thus, when the first L-shaped door 216 is in the closed position, the first L-shaped door 216 conforms to the half of the edge 288 of the first endplate 224 that is closer to the side edge 282 (
The door-to-door seal 320 and the continuous compressible base-seal 300 function to prevent water from entering the enclosure 212, so that the contents of the enclosure 212 (such as, electronic components) remain dry regardless of the weather conditions outside of the enclosure 212. The overlap of the second flange 340 on the first flange 330 eliminates a direct path in the seam between first L-shaped door 216 and second L-shaped door 218 through which EMI could travel. By eliminating the direct path, EMI shielding is improved since the electromagnetic radiation, which can easily leak through a narrow slot, cannot as easily leak through a slot formed by overlapping flanges. Similarly, water is unable to leak through: 1) a sealant-filled slot formed by overlapping flanges 330 and 340 with inside-door-to-door seal section 324 of the door-to-door seal 320 there between; 2) a three-surface seal at regions 510(1-2); and 3) a seal formed by the first and second end plates 224 and 222 and the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218 with the compressible base-seal 300 there between.
In one implementation of this embodiment, the first endplate 224 and the second endplate 222 are configured to reduce leaking of EMI from the top and the bottom of the enclosure 212.
When the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218, are formed from a thermally-conductive material, the first L-shaped door 216 and second L-shaped door 218 can include heat sink fins, represented generally at 217 and 219 (
The continuous compressible base-seal 300 and the door-to-door seal 320 are comprised of any appropriate material for providing a water-resistant seal. For example, in one embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 and the door-to-door seal 320 are comprised of an open cell foam. In another implementation of this embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 and the door-to-door seal 320 are comprised of a closed cell material. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 and the door-to-door seal 320 are comprised of a modified closed cell material. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 is comprised of separate pieces which are bonded together to form one continuous seal. In another implementation of this embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 is manufactured as one continuous piece. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the continuous compressible base-seal 300 has a circular cross-section as shown in
In some embodiments, back wall 220, first endplate 224, and second endplate 222 are manufactured as separate segments, which are then coupled together to form base 214. In other embodiments, back wall 220, the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218 are each manufactured as one continuous segment. Base 214 and the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218 are comprised of any appropriate material for outdoor weather conditions including, but not limited to, plastics and metal. In particular, in this embodiment, base 214 and the first L-shaped door 216 and the second L-shaped door 218 are comprised of Aluminum.
Finally, some embodiments of the enclosure 212 reduce manufacturing costs by enabling the use of extrusion processes to manufacture the L-shaped doors and base as compared to conventional enclosures which use rigid components not conducive to extrusion processes. Extruding back wall 220, the first L-shaped door 216, and the second L-shaped door 218 enables the door and walls to be manufactured with varying lengths based on the needs of customers. In one implementation of this embodiment, the enclosures 212 are formed as described in the '547 application. In other embodiments, however, other manufacturing processes, such as die casting, are used to manufacture base 214, the first L-shaped door 216, the second L-shaped door 218, the first endplate 224, and/or the second endplate 222.
It is to be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not to be limited to L-shaped doors but can be V-shaped doors. For example, other angular aspects are possible between the section 226 and section 227 (
Hence, embodiments of the present invention enable easy access to modules located inside the electronics enclosure 212. In particular, this enables easier maintenance and installation of remote units in a distributed antenna system, such as the distributed antenna system 100 described in the '322 Application. In addition, the easy access is provided while maintaining and/or improving EMI shielding and the water-resistant seal of remote units as compared to conventional remote unit enclosures.
In one implementation of this embodiment, the compressible base-seal 300 is an o-ring. In another implementation of this embodiment, the compressible base-seal 300 is foam having at least one of a C-shaped profile, a solid round profile, a hollow round profile, a rectangular shaped profile, and a D-shaped profile. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the compressible base seal is a die cut foam or a custom extruded foam. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the compressible base-seal 300 is a continuous piece. In yet another implementation of this embodiment, the compressible base-seal 300 is formed from a plurality of pieces that contiguously fit together.
At block 1002, a first L-shaped door 216 is rotatably attached by a hinge 234 to a first side edge 282 of back wall 220 of a base 214. At block 1004, a second L-shaped door 218 is rotatably attached by a hinge 234 to a second side edge 284 of back wall 220 of the base 214.
At block 1006, a compressible base-seal 300 (
The shape of the flange 630 on the outer edge 627 of the first L-shaped door 616 differs from the flange 330 on the outer edge 327 of the first L-shaped door 216 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-7. The shape of the door-to-door seal 620 differs from the shape of the door-to-door seal 320 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-7. The outer edge 627 of the first L-shaped door 618 differs from the outer edge 327 of the first L-shaped door 216 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-7. The second L-shaped door 618 includes a flat surface 640 rather than the second flange 340 shown in
The door-to-door seal 620 is a long, thin, flat structure having two extended sections 623(1-2) (
The third surface 713 is attached, via glue, epoxy, or other adhesive material, to the surface 631 of the outer edge 627 of the first L-shaped door 616 so that the fourth surface 714 abuts the inner surface 632 of the flange 630 of the first L-shaped door 616. In one implementation of this embodiment, the fourth surface 714 is attached to the surface 632 of the flange 630 of the first L-shaped door 616 via some adhesive material. In another implementation of this embodiment, glue, epoxy, or other adhesive material is integrated on the third surface 713 and/or the fourth surface 714.
As shown in
The surface 711, extended-section surfaces 712(1-2) (only extended-section surface 712-1 is visible in
The door-to-door seal 620 is comprised of any appropriate seal material for providing a water-resistant seal. For example, in one embodiment, the door-to-door seal 620 is comprised of an open cell foam, a closed cell material, or a modified closed cell material. In embodiments, the seal comprises of any of a plethora of different organic and inorganic elastomers including, but not limited to rubber, plasticized rubber, polyurethane or silicone.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/060,523 filed on Jun. 11, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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