# US 10,374,297 B2 · Antenna assemblies having sealed cameras > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,297 B2 - Document ID: US10374297B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/725,676 - Filed: 2017-10-05 - Published: 2019-03-14 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-12 - Applicants: Laird Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Hasan Yasin; Wassim Borchani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374297B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/3233: {particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems} - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings - G03B 29/00: Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects (combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03) - H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - B60R 1/12: Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks - B60R 2001/1253: {with cameras, video cameras or video screens} - B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle} - G02B 7/022: {lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread} - H01Q 1/3275: {mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An antenna assembly includes a radome, a camera, and a plug assembly. The radome defines an opening. The camera is positionable at least partially within the opening. The camera and the radome define a passage when the camera is positioned at least partially within the opening of the radome. The plug assembly is positionable at least partially within the passage. The plug assembly includes a plug having one or more first coupling structures and a seal having one or more second coupling structures. At least one of the first coupling structures and at least one of the second coupling structures are mateable to detachably couple the seal to the plug to substantially prevent contaminants from passing into the radome via the opening of the radome. Other antenna assemblies, plug assemblies, and methods relating to assembling antenna assemblies and/or plug assemblies are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna assembly comprising: a radome configured to house one or more antennas, the radome including an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing the interior surface, the radome defining an opening extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface; a camera positionable at least partially within the opening of the radome, the camera and the radome defining a passage between the radome and the camera when the camera is positioned at least partially within the opening of the radome; and a plug assembly positionable at least partially within the passage, the plug assembly including a plug having one or more first coupling structures and a seal having one or more second coupling structures, at least one of the first coupling structures and at least one of the second coupling structures mateable to detachably couple the seal to the plug to substantially prevent or inhibit contaminants from passing into the radome via the opening of the radome when the plug assembly is positioned at least partially within the passage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug includes a base, wherein the one or more first coupling structures of the plug include one or more protrusions extending from the base of the plug, and wherein the one or more second coupling structures of the seal include one or more openings defined by the seal for receiving at least one of the one or more protrusions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the seal includes a base and a ridge extending from the base, and wherein the openings are defined in the ridge of the seal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the number of protrusions extending from the base is equal to the number of openings in the seal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more protrusions of the plug and each of the one or more openings defined by the seal are substantially aligned when the plug and the seal are detachably coupled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more protrusions are resilient to allow a snap fit engagement between the one or more protrusions and the radome. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the plug is ring-shaped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The antenna assembly of claim 7, wherein the one or more protrusions are equally spaced about the ring-shaped plug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein: the one or more protrusions include three protrusions, and the one or more openings include three openings; or the one or more protrusions include five protrusions, and the one or more openings include five openings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more protrusions each include a width, and wherein the width of at least one of the one or more protrusions is different than the width of at least one other of the one or more protrusions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the passage defined by the camera and the radome extends substantially about the camera. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna assembly is configured such that the seal is compressed between the plug and the radome longitudinally along the camera's axis and between the plug and the camera radially. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna assembly is configured to couple to a vehicle. ### Claim 14 A method of coupling a plug assembly to an antenna assembly, the plug assembly including a seal and a plug, the antenna assembly including a camera and a radome defining an opening, the method comprising: coupling at least one of one or more first coupling structures of the plug with at least one of one or more second coupling structures of the seal to detachably couple the seal to the plug; and coupling the plug assembly to the radome such that the plug assembly is at least partially within the opening of the radome and at least partially surrounding the camera to substantially prevent or inhibit contaminants from passing into the radome via the opening of the radome. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the plug includes a base, wherein the first coupling structures of the plug include one or more protrusions extending from the base of the plug, and wherein the second coupling structures of the seal include one or more openings defined by the seal for receiving at least one of the one or more protrusions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling the radome to a chassis of the antenna assembly such that the camera extends at least partially in the opening of the radome. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the radome to the chassis occurs before coupling the plug assembly to the radome. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more first coupling structures are resilient, wherein the radome defines one or more additional openings, and wherein coupling the plug assembly to the radome includes snap fitting the one or more resilient first coupling structures to the radome. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the plug assembly to the radome includes coupling the plug assembly to the radome such that the plug is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the radome. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the plug assembly to the radome includes detachably coupling the plug assembly to the radome, and/or wherein the method includes compressing the seal between the plug and the radome longitudinally along the camera's axis and between the plug and the camera radially.