Abstract:
A waterproofing device installed on a distance sensor enables outdoor operations of a robot or operations in wet or adverse environments. The distance sensor includes a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The waterproofing device includes a protection member installed on the distance sensor, and covers installed on the protection member. The protection member includes sleeves aligning with the signal transmitter and the signal receiver. The cover includes a sieve plate covering one end of the sleeve to prevent liquid from entering into the sleeve and a drain plug to discharge any liquid incidentally entering.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610492374.9 filed on Jun. 29, 2016 the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to waterproofing devices, and more particularly to a water-excluding device for a distance sensor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Mobile robots can be equipped with a distance sensor. Relative positions of the robot and the surrounding environment can be calculated out according to the time difference between a signal transmitted and received, providing the basis of a determination of robot movement. However, when the distance sensor is exposed to water of other liquid false readings and interference signals may happen. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a waterproofing device and a distance sensor. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the waterproofing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the waterproofing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of the waterproofing device and the distance sensor of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of an object is contained within a boundary formed by another object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a waterproofing device  100  installed in a distance sensor  10 . The waterproofing device  100  is configured to prevent liquid entering into the distance sensor  10 . The waterproofing device  100  includes a protection member  20  and a cover  30  installed on an end of the protection member  20 . In at least one embodiment, the distance sensor  10  may be in a mobile robot. 
     The distance sensor  10  includes a circuit board  11 , a chip (not shown) installed on the circuit board  11 , a signal transmitter  13 , a signal receiver  14 , and a connector  15 . At least one securing hole  111  is defined on the circuit board  11 . The waterproofing is configured to be secured in the securing hole  111 . The chip is configured to control the signal transmitter  13  to transmit signal, and the signal receiver  14  is configured to receive the reflected signal. The chip calculates the time difference and distance accordingly and transfers the results to the other electronic devices (not shown) via the connector  15 . The signal transmitter  13  and the signal receiver  14  are installed on the same side of the circuit board  11  and a protection member  20  and a cover  30  for each of the transmitter  13  and the receiver  14  are installed as a single unit on the transmitter  13  and the receiver  14 . In at least one embodiment, the distance sensor  10  can be an ultrasonic distance sensor or a laser distance sensor. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate that the waterproofing device  100  includes a securing plate  21  and two sleeves  25  installed on the securing plate  21 . One or more securing members (not shown) pass through the limiting holes  211  and are inserted into the securing holes  111  of the circuit board  11  to secure the protection member  20  on the distance sensor  10 . The securing plate  21  further defines two openings  212 . The signal of the signal transmitter  13  can pass through one of the openings  212  and can return back to the signal receiver  14  via the other opening  212 . 
     The sleeve  25  is substantially cylindrical and a cross-section of the sleeve  25  is substantially circular. The inside of the sleeve  25  is hollow to define a passageway, the signal can pass through the passageway. One end of the sleeve  25  is secured on one side of the securing plate  21 . The openings  212  communicate with the passageway. In at least one embodiment, the sleeve can be secured on the securing plate  21  by soldering or gluing. The sleeve  25  defines a drain hole  251 . Any liquid within the sleeve  25  can be discharged by the drain hole  251 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 3  illustrate that each cover  30  includes a securing ring  31  and a sieve plate  35  secured in the securing ring  31 . The cross-section of the securing ring  31  is a substantially circular. The diameter of the inner wall of the securing ring  31  is substantially equal to the diameter of the outer wall of the sleeve  25 . The securing ring  31  is configured to be installed on the other end of the sleeve  25  to secure the cover  30  on the protection member  20 . The sieve plate  35  covers one end of the passageway. The sieve plate  35  defines a plurality of through holes  351 . The size of each through hole  351  can prevent the passage of any liquid but does not affect the passage of the signal of the signal transmitter  13 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate assembly. The chip, the signal transmitter  13 , the signal receiver  14 , and the connector  15  are installed on the circuit board  11 . One end of each sleeve  25  is secured on one side of the securing plate  21 . The passageway of the sleeve  25  communicates with the opening  212  of the securing plate  21 . The drain hole  251  is vertically at the bottom to conveniently discharge liquid. The cover  30  is installed on the other end of each sleeve  25 . The sieve plate  35  covers one end of the passageway. 
     The securing plate  21  is located on one side of the distance sensor  10 . The limiting holes  211  are aligned with the securing holes  111  of the circuit board  11 . The openings  212  align with the signal transmitter  13  and the signal receiver  14 . The securing members pass through the limiting holes  211  into the securing holes  111  to secure the waterproofing device  100  on the distance sensor  10 . 
     When the distance sensor  10  is operated out of doors or application environments subject to agitated liquids, the sieve plate  35  resists the ingress of liquid. Any small amount of liquid entering through the sieve plate  35  into the protection member  20  will be discharged through the drain hole  251  so as to provide an effective waterproofing effect for the distance sensor  10 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a waterproofing device and distance sensor using the same. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims.