Modular sealed portable digital electronic controller

Abstract

An electronic digital controller, such as a load cell indicator, is disclosed in which a number of components, such as a circuit board, display, and keypad are placed within an enclosure, and the enclosure is bonded closed, such as using an adhesive, to render the enclosure watertight. The keypad is a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad with no moving parts, and it is housed behind a rigid panel. An optoelectronic transceiver allows for data exchange with an electronic memory device housed in the adhesively sealed enclosure and allows for data exchange and for updating or modification of software code housed therein. Other components, such as another circuit board, a power supply, and block connectors, are placed in an adjacent enclosure, and the circuit boards in the two enclosures are electrically connected. The power supply is preferably a potted AC power supply but may also include a battery.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a base;   a first cover bonded to the base to form a watertight first enclosure;   a second cover fastened to the base to form a water resistant second enclosure;   a first circuit board disposed within the first enclosure;   a first connector electrically connected to the first circuit board;   a display electrically connected to the first circuit board, the display being disposed within the first enclosure;   a keypad electrically connected to the first circuit board, the keypad being disposed within the first enclosure;   a second circuit board disposed within the second enclosure; and   a second connector electrically connected to the second circuit board, the first and second connectors being disposed to connect when the second cover is properly positioned on the base.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bond comprises a first adhesive bond; and   the base and the first cover are adapted so that a user may not gain physical entry to the first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing the base or first cover.   
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the keypad comprises a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cover comprises a clear front panel; and   a side panel bonded to the front panel; and further comprising a graphic legend, the graphic legend being bonded to the front panel, and the keypad being bonded to the graphic legend.   
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the front panel comprises a rigid, transparent plastic, the front panel having at least one area of reduced thickness adjacent the keypad. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a potted, AC power supply disposed in the second enclosure and electrically connected to the second circuit board. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a battery disposed within the second enclosure and electrically connected to the second circuit board. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an optoelectronic transceiver electrically connected to the first circuit board, the transceiver being disposed within the first enclosure. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the optoelectronic transceiver comprises an infrared optoelectronic transceiver. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of captive screw fasteners, captively retained by the base. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an erasable, programmable, electronic memory device electrically connected to the first circuit board, the erasable, programmable, electronic memory device being disposed within the first enclosure. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a measuring transducer, the measuring transducer being disposed outside of the first enclosure and the second enclosure and being electrically connected to the second circuit board. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the measuring transducer comprises a load cell. 
   
   
       14 . A load cell indicator, comprising:
 a housing defining a front enclosure and a rear enclosure, the front enclosure being permanently sealed to prevent fluid infiltration;   a first circuit board disposed within the front enclosure;   a first connector electrically connected to the first circuit board; a display electrically connected to the first circuit board, the display being disposed within the front enclosure;   a keypad electrically connected to the first circuit board, the keypad being disposed within the front enclosure;   a second circuit board disposed within the rear enclosure; and   a second connector electrically connected to the second circuit board, the first and second connectors being disposed to connect when the housing is assembled.   
   
   
       15 . The load cell indicator of  claim 14 , wherein the keypad comprises a touch sensitive, capacitive keypad. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a potted AC power supply disposed in the rear enclosure and electrically connected to the second circuit board. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising an optoelectronic transceiver electrically connected to the first circuit board, the transceiver being disposed within the front enclosure. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising an erasable, programmable, electronic memory device electrically connected to the first circuit board, the erasable, programmable, electronic memory device being disposed within the front enclosure. 
   
   
       19 . A method, comprising:
 (a) placing a first circuit board, a display, and a keypad in a first housing;   (b) bonding the first housing closed to form a first enclosure containing the first circuit board, the display, and the keypad so that a user may not gain physical access to the first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing the first housing;   (c) electrically connecting the first circuit board to a second circuit board; and   (d) electrically connecting the second circuit board to a measuring transducer.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: step (b) comprises adhesively sealing the first housing closed to form a first enclosure containing the first circuit board, the display, and the keypad so that a user may not gain physical access to the first enclosure without breaking, cutting, or otherwise piercing the first housing; and further comprising placing the second circuit board in a second housing and affixing the second housing to the first housing.