Endoscope lighting system and endoscope

Abstract

The invention relates to an endoscope lighting system and an endoscope, the endoscope lighting system comprises a first lighting module, a beam splitter and a second lighting module, the first lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a first light path, the second lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a second light path, and the beam splitter is obliquely arranged relative to the first light path and the second light path; light rays irradiated to the beam splitter by the first illumination module along the first light path and light rays irradiated to the beam splitter by the second illumination module along the second light path are combined to form a first illumination light path and a second illumination light path. By means of the light splitting characteristic of the beam splitter, the light irradiated to the beam splitter is partially reflected, the remaining light is transmitted, the light irradiated to the beam splitter by the first illumination module and the second illumination module can be fully utilized, waste of light energy is avoided, and the illumination efficiency is improved. When the first illumination module or the second illumination module adopts a multi-color light source such as a narrow-band light source, spectral beam combination of multiple wavelengths can be realized, the utilization rate of light energy is improved, and a high color rendering index effect is obtained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of endoscopes, and in particular to an endoscope lighting system and an endoscope. Background Art

[0002] Endoscope light sources can be used to provide illumination for lumen inspection. In related technologies, endoscope light sources have evolved from single white light sources to five-color narrow-band light sources, and with the development of technology, the number of light sources is expected to continue to increase.

[0003] At present, the multi-color light source used for endoscopes generally adopts the solution disclosed in patent CN112515615B, which combines the light paths of multiple light sources through multiple dichroic mirrors and then couples them into a single optical fiber bundle, which is then divided into two or three to achieve dual or triple illumination points.

[0004] The transmittance of a dichroic mirror is 90%-95%. When the same beam of light passes through the dichroic mirror multiple times, the light energy will be greatly reduced. This disadvantage is particularly obvious when more light sources are used for beam combining. In addition, there is a semi-reflective and semi-transmissive wavelength range of 10-30nm between the reflection wavelength and the transmission wavelength of the dichroic mirror. When the dichroic mirror is used alone for beam combining, the light in the above wavelength range will be lost due to reflection or transmission, resulting in the loss of some wavelengths of light in the visible light band used for lighting, resulting in a decrease in the illumination light rendering index and a reduction in the overall lighting efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0005] The embodiment of the present invention provides an endoscope lighting system and an endoscope to improve the display index and lighting efficiency of the lighting light.

[0006] An endoscope lighting system, comprising:

[0007] A first lighting module, a beam splitter, and a second lighting module, wherein the first lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a first optical path, and the second lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a second optical path, and the beam splitter is tilted relative to the first optical path and the second optical path, respectively; the light irradiated from the first lighting module to the beam splitter along the first optical path is combined with the light irradiated from the second lighting module to the beam splitter along the second optical path to form the first lighting optical path and the second lighting optical path.

[0008] In one of the embodiments, the light irradiated by the first lighting module along the first light path to the beam splitter and transmitted by the beam splitter is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module along the second light path to the beam splitter and reflected by the beam splitter to form a first lighting light path; the light irradiated by the first lighting module along the first light path to the beam splitter and reflected by the beam splitter is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module along the second light path to the beam splitter and transmitted by the beam splitter to form a second lighting light path.

[0009] In one of the embodiments, the first illumination module includes at least two first light sources and at least one first dichroic mirror, wherein one of the first light sources and all the first dichroic mirrors are located on the first light path, and the remaining first light sources are located on one side of the first light path and correspond one-to-one to the first dichroic mirrors; the first dichroic mirror is arranged obliquely relative to the first light path, and the light from the first light source on the first light path irradiates the first dichroic mirror, after being combined with the light from the remaining first light sources irradiating the corresponding first dichroic mirrors, is irradiated to the beam splitter.

[0010] In one embodiment, at least two first dichroic mirrors are arranged at intervals along the first optical path, the first light source includes a first light-emitting element located on the first optical path, and a second light-emitting element and a third light-emitting element arranged at intervals from the first optical path, the third light-emitting element being closer to the beam splitter than the second light-emitting element; the first dichroic mirror is located between the first light-emitting element and the beam splitter, the sum of the number of the second light-emitting elements and the third light-emitting elements is equal to the number of the first dichroic mirrors and are arranged correspondingly, the light emitted by the first light-emitting element is transmitted through all the first dichroic mirrors in sequence and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the second light-emitting element is reflected by the corresponding first dichroic mirror, and then transmitted through the corresponding first dichroic mirror between the second light-emitting element and the beam splitter and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the third light source is reflected by the corresponding first dichroic mirror to the beam splitter.

[0011] In one embodiment, the second lighting module includes a second light source and a second dichroic mirror, at least two of the second dichroic mirrors are arranged at intervals along the second optical path, and the second dichroic mirrors are arranged obliquely relative to the second optical path; the second light source includes a fifth light-emitting element located on the second optical path, and a sixth light-emitting element and a seventh light-emitting element arranged at intervals from the second optical path, the seventh light-emitting element being closer to the beam splitter than the sixth light-emitting element; the second dichroic mirror is located between the fifth light-emitting element and the beam splitter, the sum of the number of the sixth light-emitting element and the seventh light-emitting element is equal to the number of the second dichroic mirrors and are arranged correspondingly, the light emitted by the fifth light-emitting element is transmitted through all the second dichroic mirrors in sequence and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the sixth light-emitting element is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror, and then transmitted through the corresponding second dichroic mirror between the second dichroic mirror and the beam splitter, and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the seventh light-emitting element is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror to the beam splitter.

[0012] In one embodiment, the endoscope illumination system includes a first light-guiding optical fiber arranged in the first illumination light path, a second light-guiding optical fiber arranged in the second illumination light path, a first coupling mirror group arranged between the beam splitter and the first light-guiding optical fiber, and a second coupling mirror group arranged between the beam splitter and the second light-guiding optical fiber, the first coupling mirror group is used to couple the light of the first illumination light path into the first light-guiding optical fiber, and the second coupling mirror group is used to couple the light of the second illumination light path into the second light-guiding optical fiber.

[0013] In one embodiment, at least two split mirrors are arranged in the first illumination optical path, and the split mirrors are beam splitters. The transmission-reflection ratio of any of the split mirrors is (n+1):1, wherein n is the number of the split mirrors between the corresponding split mirror and the first light-guiding optical fiber.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first light path is orthogonal to the second light path, the first illumination light path is coaxial with the first light path, and the second illumination light path is orthogonal to the first illumination light path.

[0015] In one embodiment, the endoscope lighting system includes any of the following solutions:

[0016] The first lighting module is the same as the second lighting module;

[0017] The first illumination module includes an X-polarized light source, and the second illumination module includes a Y-polarized light source;

[0018] The first lighting module includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths, and the second lighting module includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths.

[0019] An endoscope comprises an imaging module and any one of the endoscope lighting systems described above, wherein at least one of the first lighting light path and the second lighting light path is used to illuminate the imaging module.

[0020] In one embodiment, the endoscope includes a first light output portion and a second light output portion, the first light output portion and the second light output portion are arranged around the periphery of the imaging module, and the light of the first illumination light path is coupled to the first light output portion, and the light of the second illumination light path is coupled to the second light output portion, and the first light output portion and the second light output portion respectively include at least one of an optical fiber filament and an optical fiber bundle.

[0021] The above endoscope lighting system can be used for the lighting of an endoscope. The endoscope lighting system includes a first lighting module, a beam splitter, and a second lighting module. The first lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a first optical path, and the second lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a second optical path, and the beam splitter is tilted relative to the first optical path and the second optical path respectively; the light irradiated to the beam splitter by the first lighting module along the first optical path is combined with the light irradiated to the beam splitter by the second lighting module along the second optical path to form the first lighting optical path and the second lighting optical path. By utilizing the light splitting characteristics of the beam splitter, part of the light irradiated to the beam splitter is reflected, and the remaining light is transmitted. The light irradiated to the beam splitter by the first lighting module and the second lighting module can be fully utilized to avoid the waste of light energy and improve the lighting efficiency. Since the reflected light and the transmitted light of the beam splitter have the same spectral components, when the first lighting module and the second lighting module use the same light source and one of them fails unexpectedly, the first lighting light path and the second lighting light path can still illuminate normally, thereby acting as a backup light source and improving the working reliability of the entire endoscope; when the first lighting module and the second lighting module are in normal use, the lighting brightness can be increased. When the first lighting module or the second lighting module uses a multi-color light source such as a narrow-band light source, compared to the prior art solution of using a dichroic mirror for beam combining, more spectral beam combining of multiple wavelengths can be achieved, thereby improving the utilization rate of light energy and obtaining a high rendering index effect. When the first lighting module and the second lighting module use different polarized light sources, the above-mentioned endoscope lighting system can also achieve beam combining of light of different polarizations, thereby improving the convenience of use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0023] Figure 1is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an endoscope lighting system of the present application;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the positions of the first light emitting part, the second light emitting part and the imaging module of the endoscope of the present application;

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an endoscope lighting system of the present application;

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of an endoscope lighting system of the present application;

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an endoscope lighting system in the related art;

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of an endoscope lighting system of the present application;

[0029] Figure 7 is a curve diagram of the transmittance of a dichroic mirror in the related art;

[0030] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of another endoscope lighting system in the related art;

[0031] Fig. 9 for Figure 8 Spectrum diagram of combined light beam of the endoscope illumination system shown;

[0032] Fig.10 for Figure 6 The output spectrum of the first lighting module of the endoscope lighting system shown;

[0033] Fig.11 for Figure 6 The output spectrum of the second lighting module of the endoscope lighting system shown;

[0034] Fig.12 for Figure 6 The total spectrum of the combined light of the endoscope illumination system shown;

[0035] Fig.13 It is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of the endoscope lighting system of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the relevant drawings. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are provided in the drawings. However, the present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present invention more thorough and comprehensive.

[0037] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0039] First embodiment

[0040] refer to Figure 1 In the first embodiment of the present application, an endoscope lighting system 10 is disclosed. As a part of an endoscope (not shown), the endoscope lighting system 10 can provide lighting during the internal cavity inspection. Figure 2 The endoscope may include an imaging module C0 and the above-mentioned endoscope lighting system 10. The light emitted by the endoscope lighting system 10 can be irradiated to physiological tissues, thereby providing an illumination light source for the imaging of the imaging module C0. The endoscope lighting system 10 includes a first illumination module 11, a beam splitter 12, and a second illumination module 13. The first illumination module 11 and the beam splitter 12 are arranged along a first optical path 10a, and the second illumination module 13 and the beam splitter 12 are arranged along a second optical path 10b, and the beam splitter 12 is tilted relative to the first optical path 10a and the second optical path 10b, respectively. The light emitted by the first illumination module 11 along the first optical path 10a and the light emitted by the second illumination module 13 along the second optical path 10b are combined to form a first illumination optical path 10c and a second illumination optical path 10d.

[0041] Specifically, the light irradiated by the first lighting module 11 along the first optical path 10a to the beam splitter 12 and transmitted by the beam splitter 12 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 13 along the second optical path 10b to the beam splitter 12 and reflected by the beam splitter 12 to form a first lighting optical path 10c; the light irradiated by the first lighting module 11 along the first optical path 10a to the beam splitter 12 and reflected by the beam splitter 12 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 13 along the second optical path 10b to the beam splitter 12 and transmitted by the beam splitter 12 to form a second lighting optical path 10d.

[0042] The beam splitter 12 has the characteristic of partially reflecting the incident light and transmitting the remaining light. Exemplarily, its transmission-reflection ratio is 1:1, that is, 50% of the incident light is reflected and 50% is transmitted. In other embodiments, the beam splitter 12 may have a different transmission-reflection ratio.

[0043] The first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 can be the same, for example, both include a white light source. In this embodiment, since the reflected light and the transmitted light of the beam splitter 12 have the same spectral components, when one of the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 fails unexpectedly, the first lighting optical path 10c and the second lighting optical path 10d can still illuminate normally, thereby playing a redundant role and improving the working reliability of the entire endoscope. When the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 are working normally, since the loss of light energy by the beam splitter 12 is negligible, the brightness of the lighting can be improved.

[0044] Of course, in other embodiments, the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 may be different. For example, the first lighting module 11 includes an X-polarized light source, and the second lighting module 13 includes a Y-polarized light source. In this embodiment, the endoscope lighting system 10 can achieve beam combination of different polarized lights, thereby improving the convenience of use.

[0045] In other embodiments, the first lighting module 11 includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths, and the second lighting module 13 includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths. For example, the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 each include at least two narrow-band light sources. Exemplarily, the first lighting module 11 includes a purple light source (central wavelength 405-425nm) and a blue light source (central wavelength 440-490nm), and the second lighting module 13 includes a green light source (central wavelength 500-580nm) and an orange light source (central wavelength 580-610nm). Different biological tissues have different reflectivity, transmittance, absorption parameters, scattering coefficients, etc. for light of different wavelengths. After the multi-color narrow-band light sources of the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 are combined by the beam splitter 12, they can be coupled into the light-guiding optical fiber, which is suitable for the illumination scenes of more physiological tissues.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the first optical path 10a is orthogonal to the second optical path 10b, the first illumination optical path 10c is coaxial with the first optical path 10a, and the second illumination optical path 10d is coaxial with the second optical path 10b, or the second illumination optical path 10d is orthogonal to the first illumination optical path 10c. The endoscope illumination system 10 may further include a first coupling lens group 14 and a first light guide fiber 15 arranged on the first illumination optical path 10c, and a second coupling lens group 16 and a second light guide fiber 17 arranged on the second illumination optical path 10d. The first coupling lens group 14 couples the light of the first illumination optical path 10c into the first light guide fiber 15, and the second coupling lens group 16 couples the light of the second illumination optical path 10d into the second light guide fiber 17. The first coupling lens group 14 may include one or more lenses, and the second coupling lens group 16 may also include one or more lenses to couple the light into the light guide fiber, so that the first light guide fiber 15 and the second light guide fiber 17 can realize dual illumination point illumination. By dividing any one of the first light-guiding optical fiber 15 and the second light-guiding optical fiber 17 into two or three, three-illumination-point illumination or more-illumination-point illumination can be realized.

[0047] In other embodiments, more beam splitters 12 may be provided, for example, more than three beam splitters. The reflected light and the transmitted light of each beam splitter 12 may respectively form an illumination light path, and multi-illumination point illumination may be obtained through a coupling lens group and a light-guiding optical fiber.

[0048] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments, the endoscope includes a first light exit portion C1 and a second light exit portion C2, the first light exit portion C1 and the second light exit portion C2 are arranged around the periphery of the imaging module C0, and the light of the first illumination light path 10c is coupled to the first light exit portion C1, and the light of the second illumination light path 10d is coupled to the second light exit portion C2, and the first light exit portion C1 and the second light exit portion C2 respectively include at least one of an optical fiber and an optical fiber bundle. The first light exit portion C1 may be the end of the first light guide optical fiber 15, and the second light exit portion C2 may be the end of the second light guide optical fiber 17, that is, the first light exit portion C1 is a part of the first light guide optical fiber 15, and the second light exit portion C2 is a part of the second light guide optical fiber 17. Of course, in other embodiments, the first light guide portion C1 may be an optical fiber or an optical fiber bundle connected to the first light guide optical fiber 15, and the second light guide portion C2 may be an optical fiber or an optical fiber bundle connected to the second light guide optical fiber 17. Figure 2 The difference in cross-sectional dimensions between the first light guide portion C1 and the second light guide portion C2 is only for schematic distinction. In actual applications, the cross-sectional dimensions of the first light guide portion C1 and the second light guide portion C2 may be the same, for example, the first light guide portion C1 and the second light guide portion C2 are the same optical fiber filament or optical fiber bundle.

[0049] By utilizing the light splitting characteristics of the beam splitter 12, part of the light irradiated to the beam splitter 12 is reflected, and the remaining light is transmitted. The light irradiated to the beam splitter 12 by the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 can be fully utilized to avoid the waste of light energy and improve the lighting efficiency. Since the reflected light and the transmitted light of the beam splitter 12 have the same spectral components, when the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 use the same light source and one of them fails unexpectedly, the first lighting light path 10c and the second lighting light path 10d can still illuminate normally, thereby playing a redundant role and improving the working reliability of the entire endoscope; when the first lighting module 11 and the second lighting module 13 work normally, the lighting brightness can be increased. When the first lighting module 11 or the second lighting module 13 uses a multi-color light source, the spectrum of multiple wavelengths can be combined, the light energy utilization rate can be improved, and a high color rendering index effect can be obtained, that is, the endoscope lighting system 10 can achieve a color reproduction effect close to that of a standard light source.

[0050] Second embodiment

[0051] refer to Figure 3 In a second embodiment of the present application, an endoscope lighting system 20 is disclosed that can be used to illuminate an endoscope (not shown) of an endoscope, and includes a first lighting module 21, a beam splitter 22, and a second lighting module 23. The first lighting module 21 and the beam splitter 22 are arranged along a first optical path 20a, and the second lighting module 23 and the beam splitter 22 are arranged along a second optical path 20b, and the beam splitter 22 is tilted relative to the first optical path 20a and the second optical path 20b, respectively. The first lighting module 21 irradiates the beam splitter 22 along the first optical path 20a, and the light transmitted through the beam splitter 22 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 23 along the second optical path 20b to the beam splitter 22 and reflected by the beam splitter 22 to form a first lighting optical path 20c; the first lighting module 21 irradiates the beam splitter 22 along the first optical path 20a, and the light reflected by the beam splitter 22 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 23 along the second optical path 20b to the beam splitter 22 and transmitted by the beam splitter 22 to form a second lighting optical path 20d.

[0052] In the second embodiment, the light of the first illumination light path 20c can be coupled into the first light guide fiber 25 through the first coupling lens group 24, and the light of the second illumination light path 20d can be coupled into the second light guide fiber 27 through the second coupling lens group 26, which will not be repeated here.

[0053] The transmission-reflection ratio of the beam splitter 22 may be 1:1, or other transmission-reflection ratios.

[0054] The first lighting module 21 and the second lighting module 23 may be the same or different. For details, please refer to the first embodiment, which will not be described again.

[0055] The difference from the first embodiment is that the first illumination optical path 20c of the second embodiment is provided with at least two split mirrors 28, the split mirrors 28 are beam splitters, and the transmission-reflection ratio of any split mirror 28 is (n+1):1, where n is the number of split mirrors 28 between the corresponding split mirror 28 and the first light guide fiber 25. Exemplarily, when the number of split mirrors 28 on the first illumination optical path 20c is 2, along the direction of the first illumination optical path 20c pointing to the first light guide fiber 25, the transmission-reflection ratios of each split mirror 28 are 2:1 and 1:1, respectively. Exemplarily, when the number of split mirrors 28 on the first illumination optical path 20c is 3, along the direction of the first illumination optical path 20c pointing to the first light guide fiber 25, the transmission-reflection ratios of each split mirror 28 are 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1, respectively. This arrangement can make the brightness of the illumination optical path corresponding to each split mirror 28 basically consistent, thereby achieving more uniform illumination and reducing the light energy loss and process complexity when splitting the illumination optical path. In particular, in this embodiment, the splitter mirror 28 can be arranged between the first coupling lens group 24 and the first light-guiding optical fiber 25, without having to provide a coupling lens group for each light-guiding optical fiber, thereby reducing the number of optical devices and lowering the cost of the endoscope lighting system 10.

[0056] In the related art, the multi-point illumination of the endoscope is generally achieved by coupling the light emitted by the light source into a single glass or quartz fiber bundle through a dichroic mirror, and then dividing the single fiber bundle into two or at least two sub-fibers, one sub-fiber corresponding to one illumination point, thereby obtaining double illumination points or more illumination points. A glass or quartz fiber bundle is generally formed by combining a large number of glass or quartz fiber filaments. When the glass or quartz fiber filaments are divided into two or more groups, the grouping process is relatively complicated and the cost is relatively high. However, in this embodiment of the present application, each illumination light path split from the first illumination light path 20c can use an independent light-guiding optical fiber, such as a single plastic optical fiber, or a single bundle of glass or quartz optical fibers, so as to simplify the light path process and reduce the cost of the endoscope illumination system 20. Of course, the second illumination light path 20d can also be split into multiple illumination light paths using this principle, which will not be repeated here.

[0057] By utilizing the light splitting characteristics of the beam splitter 22, part of the light irradiated to the beam splitter 22 is reflected, and the remaining light is transmitted. The light irradiated to the beam splitter 22 by the first lighting module 21 and the second lighting module 23 can be fully utilized to avoid the waste of light energy and improve the lighting efficiency. Since the reflected light and the transmitted light of the beam splitter 22 have the same spectral components, when the first lighting module 21 and the second lighting module 23 use the same light source and one of them fails unexpectedly, the first lighting light path 20c and the second lighting light path 20d can still illuminate normally, thereby playing the role of a backup light source and improving the working reliability of the entire endoscope; when the first lighting module 21 and the second lighting module 23 are used normally, the lighting brightness can be increased. When the first lighting module 21 or the second lighting module 23 uses a multi-color light source, compared with the solution of using a dichroic mirror for beam combining in the prior art, more wavelengths of spectral beam combining can be achieved, the light energy utilization rate can be improved, and a high rendering index effect can be obtained, that is, the endoscope lighting system 20 can achieve a color reproduction effect close to that of a standard light source.

[0058] Third embodiment

[0059] refer to Figure 4 The endoscope lighting system 30 of the third embodiment of the present application also includes a first lighting module 31, a beam splitter 32 and a second lighting module 33. The first lighting module 31 and the beam splitter 32 are arranged along the first optical path 30a, and the second lighting module 33 and the beam splitter 32 are arranged along the second optical path 30b, and the beam splitter 32 is tilted relative to the first optical path 30a and the second optical path 30b. The first lighting module 31 irradiates the beam splitter 32 along the first optical path 30a, and the light transmitted by the beam splitter 32 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 33 along the second optical path 30b and reflected by the beam splitter 32 to form a first lighting optical path 30c; the first lighting module 31 irradiates the beam splitter 32 along the first optical path 30a, and the light reflected by the beam splitter 32 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 33 along the second optical path 30b and transmitted by the beam splitter 32 to form a second lighting optical path 30d.

[0060] The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the first illumination module 31 may include at least two first light sources 311 and at least one first dichroic mirror 313, wherein one first light source 311 and all first dichroic mirrors 313 are located on the first light path 30a, and the remaining first light sources 311 are located on one side of the first light path 30a and correspond one to one with the first dichroic mirrors 313. The first dichroic mirrors 313 are arranged obliquely relative to the first light path 30a, and the light irradiated by the first light source 311 on the first light path 30a to the first dichroic mirror 313 is irradiated to the beam splitter 32 after being reflected or transmitted.

[0061] Specifically, in Figure 4In the illustrated embodiment, the first lighting module 31 includes three first light sources 311 and two first dichroic mirrors 313. The two first dichroic mirrors 313 are arranged at intervals along the first light path 30a. The first light source 311 may include a first light emitting member 3111 located on the first light path 30a, and a second light emitting member 3113 and a third light emitting member 3115 arranged at intervals from the first light path 30a. The third light emitting member 3115 is closer to the beam splitter 32 than the second light emitting member 3113. The first dichroic mirror 313 is located between the first light emitting member 3111 and the beam splitter 32, and the sum of the number of the second light emitting members 3113 and the third light emitting members 3115 is equal to the number of the first dichroic mirrors 313 and is arranged correspondingly.

[0062] Exemplarily, the first light emitting element 3111 is a purple light source (central wavelength 405-425nm), the second light emitting element 3113 is a green light source (central wavelength 500-580nm), and the third light emitting element 3115 is a red light source (central wavelength 610-640nm). The two first dichroic mirrors 313 are arranged between the first light emitting element 3111 and the beam splitter 32, and the second light emitting element 3113 and the third light emitting element 3115 correspond to the two first dichroic mirrors 313 one by one. The light emitted by the first light-emitting element 3111 is transmitted through all (here two) first dichroic mirrors 313 in sequence and then irradiates the beam splitter 32; the light emitted by the second light-emitting element 3113 is reflected by the corresponding first dichroic mirror 313, and then transmitted through the first dichroic mirror 313 between the corresponding second light-emitting element 3113 and the beam splitter 32, and then irradiates the beam splitter 32; the light emitted by the third light-emitting element 3115 is reflected through the corresponding first dichroic mirror 313 to the beam splitter 32, thereby forming a first illumination light path 30c and a second illumination light path 30d, and can be further coupled to the first light-guiding optical fiber 35 through the first coupling mirror group 34, and coupled to the second light-guiding optical fiber 37 through the second coupling mirror group 36.

[0063] In this embodiment, the second lighting module 33 may include a second light source 331 and a second dichroic mirror 333, and the second light source 331 may further include a fourth light emitting element 3311 and a fifth light emitting element 3313 corresponding to the second dichroic mirror 333. Exemplarily, the fourth light emitting element 3311 is a blue light source (central wavelength 440-490nm), and the fifth light emitting element 3313 is an orange light source (central wavelength 580-610nm). The light emitted by the fourth light emitting element 3311 is transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 333 and then irradiated to the beam splitter 32, and the light emitted by the fifth light emitting element 3313 is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror 333 and then irradiated to the beam splitter 32. The reflected light of the second lighting module 33 through the beam splitter 32 and the transmitted light of the first lighting module 31 through the beam splitter 32 can be combined to form a first lighting optical path 30c, and can be further coupled to the first light guide fiber 35 through the first coupling lens group 34. The transmitted light of the second illumination module 33 through the beam splitter 32 and the reflected light of the first illumination module 31 through the beam splitter 32 can be combined to form a second illumination light path 30 d , and can be further coupled to the second light guide fiber 37 through the second coupling lens assembly 36 .

[0064] refer to Figure 5 In the related art, when the beam splitter 32 is not used, the first light emitting element 3111, the second light emitting element 3113, the third light emitting element 3115, the fourth light emitting element 3311 and the fifth light emitting element 3313 need to act on the first dichroic mirror 313 four times, and each action will cause light energy loss. Figure 4 After the beam splitter 32 is implemented, the first light emitting element 3111 (purple light) only needs to act on the first dichroic mirror 313 twice, and the fourth light emitting element 3311 (blue light) only needs to act on the second dichroic mirror 333 once, thereby significantly reducing the light energy loss of each light source.

[0065] Fourth embodiment

[0066] refer to Figure 6The endoscope lighting system 40 of the fourth embodiment of the present application also includes a first lighting module 41, a beam splitter 42 and a second lighting module 43. The first lighting module 41 and the beam splitter 42 are arranged along the first optical path 40a, and the second lighting module 43 and the beam splitter 42 are arranged along the second optical path 40b, and the beam splitter 42 is tilted relative to the first optical path 40a and the second optical path 40b. The first lighting module 41 irradiates the beam splitter 42 along the first optical path 40a, and the light transmitted by the beam splitter 42 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 43 along the second optical path 40b to the beam splitter 42 and reflected by the beam splitter 42 to form a first lighting optical path 40c; the first lighting module 41 irradiates the beam splitter 42 along the first optical path 40a, and the light reflected by the beam splitter 42 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 43 along the second optical path 40b to the beam splitter 42 and transmitted by the beam splitter 42 to form a second lighting optical path 40d.

[0067] The difference from the third embodiment is that the first light source 411 of the first lighting module 41 is set to 4, which are the first light-emitting element 4111, the second light-emitting element 4113, the third light-emitting element 4115, and the fourth light-emitting element 4117, which are arranged in sequence, and the fourth light-emitting element 4117 is closer to the beam splitter 42 than the third light-emitting element 4115. Exemplarily, the first light-emitting element 4111 is a purple light source (central wavelength 400-420nm), the second light-emitting element 4113 is a blue light source (central wavelength 440-460nm), the third light-emitting element 4115 is a wide-spectrum green light source (central wavelength 530-550nm), and the fourth light-emitting element 4117 is a red light source (central wavelength 620-640nm). The first dichroic mirrors 413 are arranged in three numbers and arranged side by side between the first light-emitting element 4111 and the beam splitter 42. The three first dichroic mirrors 413 are arranged at intervals along the first optical path 40a and are inclined relative to the first optical path 40a. The three first dichroic mirrors 413 correspond one-to-one to the second light-emitting element 4113, the third light-emitting element 4115, and the fourth light-emitting element 4117.

[0068] The second light-emitting element 431 of the second lighting module 43 is set to three, which are the fifth light-emitting element 4311, the sixth light-emitting element 4313, and the seventh light-emitting element 4315, which are arranged in sequence. The seventh light-emitting element 4315 is closer to the beam splitter 42 than the sixth light-emitting element 4313. Exemplarily, the fifth light-emitting element 4311 is a purple light source (central wavelength 420-440nm), the sixth light-emitting element 4313 is a blue light source (central wavelength 460-490nm), and the seventh light-emitting element 4315 is a red light source (central wavelength 600-620nm). The second dichroic mirror 433 is correspondingly set to two and arranged between the fifth light-emitting element 4311 and the beam splitter 42. The sum of the number of the sixth light-emitting element 4313 and the seventh light-emitting element 4315 is equal to the number of the second dichroic mirror 433 and is arranged accordingly. Specifically, the two second dichroic mirrors 433 are spaced apart along the second optical path 40 b and are tilted relative to the second optical path 40 b . The two second dichroic mirrors 433 correspond to the sixth light emitting element 4313 and the seventh light emitting element 4315 one by one.

[0069] The light emitted by the fifth light-emitting component 4311 is transmitted through all the second dichroic mirrors 433 in sequence and then irradiates the beam splitter 42. The light emitted by the sixth light-emitting component 4313 is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror 433 and then transmitted through the second dichroic mirror 433 corresponding to the seventh light-emitting component 4315 and then irradiates the beam splitter 42. The light emitted by the seventh light-emitting component 4315 is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror 433 to the beam splitter 42.

[0070] In the scheme of combining multi-color light sources, as shown in the fourth embodiment, when the dichroic mirror combines the spectrum, the transmittance of light of different wavelengths is different. There is a 10-20nm transition zone outside the transmission spectrum and the reflection spectrum. The overall transmittance is as follows: Figure 7 shown.

[0071] Figure 8 An endoscope lighting system in the related art is shown, wherein the first light emitting element 4111 is a violet light source (central wavelength 400-420nm), the second light emitting element 4113 is a blue light source (central wavelength 440-460nm), the third light emitting element 4115 is a wide-spectrum green light source (central wavelength 530-550nm), and the fourth light emitting element 4117 is a red light source (central wavelength 620-640nm). Three dichroic mirrors 483 are arranged between the first light emitting element 4111 and the coupling lens group 481, and the first light emitting element 4111, the second light emitting element 4113, the third light emitting element 4115 and the fourth light emitting element 4117 are coupled to the light guide fiber 485 through the coupling lens group 481 after being acted upon by the three dichroic mirrors 483. Since the transmittance of the transition zone of the dichroic mirror 483 is not high, the spectrum of the illumination light obtained from the light-guiding optical fiber 485 is concave and the number of spectra is also small. The beam combining optical path and the spectrum after beam combining are shown in FIG. Fig. 9 This kind of spectrum with a notch cannot achieve a high CRI, and the number of spectrum beam combinations is also limited.

[0072] And adopt Figure 6 After adding the beam splitter 42 in the fourth embodiment, more spectral beam combining and higher CRI can be achieved. The output spectrum of the first illumination module 41 is as follows: Fig.10 As shown, the output spectrum of the second lighting module 43 is as follows Fig.11 As shown, after the beams are combined by the beam splitter 42 with a transmission-reflection ratio of 1:1, the total spectrum is as shown in Fig.12 The CRI of the entire spectrum can reach over 97, and the number of combined spectra increases exponentially, which means that high CRI lighting is obtained.

[0073] Fifth embodiment

[0074] refer to Fig.13 The endoscope lighting system 50 of the fifth embodiment of the present application also includes a first lighting module 51, a beam splitter 52 and a second lighting module 53. The first lighting module 51 and the beam splitter 52 are arranged along the first optical path 50a, and the second lighting module 53 and the beam splitter 52 are arranged along the second optical path 50b, and the beam splitter 52 is tilted relative to the first optical path 50a and the second optical path 50b. The first lighting module 51 irradiates the beam splitter 52 along the first optical path 50a, and the light transmitted by the beam splitter 52 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 53 along the second optical path 50b and reflected by the beam splitter 52 to form a first lighting optical path 50c; the first lighting module 51 irradiates the beam splitter 52 along the first optical path 50a, and the light reflected by the beam splitter 52 is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module 53 along the second optical path 50b and transmitted by the beam splitter 52 to form a second lighting optical path 50d.

[0075] The difference from the fourth embodiment is that the first lighting module 51 is an X-polarized light source, and the second lighting module 53 is a Y-polarized light source. The first lighting module 51 may include a first light-emitting element 5111, a second light-emitting element 5113, a third light-emitting element 5115, a fourth light-emitting element 5117, and a fifth light-emitting element 5119. Exemplarily, the first light-emitting element 5111 is a purple light source (central wavelength 400-420nm), the second light-emitting element 5113 is a blue light source (central wavelength 440-460nm), the third light-emitting element 5115 is a wide-spectrum green light source (central wavelength 530-550nm), the fourth light-emitting element 5117 is an orange light source (central wavelength 580-610nm), and the fifth light-emitting element 5119 is a red light source (central wavelength 620-640nm). Four first dichroic mirrors 513 are arranged between the first light emitting element 5111 and the beam splitter 52, and the second light emitting element 5113, the third light emitting element 5115, the fourth light emitting element 5117 and the fifth light emitting element 5119 correspond to the four first dichroic mirrors 513. The second lighting module 53 may include a sixth light emitting element 5311, a seventh light emitting element 5313, an eighth light emitting element 5315, a ninth light emitting element 5317 and a tenth light emitting element 5319. Exemplarily, the sixth light emitting element 5311 is a purple light source (central wavelength 420-440nm), the seventh light emitting element 5313 is a blue light source (central wavelength 460-490nm), the eighth light emitting element 5315 is a green light source (central wavelength 500-580nm), the ninth light emitting element 5317 is an orange light source (central wavelength 580-610nm), and the tenth light emitting element 5319 is a red light source (central wavelength 600-620nm). Four second dichroic mirrors 533 are arranged between the sixth light-emitting element 5311 and the beam splitter, and the seventh light-emitting element 5313 , the eighth light-emitting element 5315 , the ninth light-emitting element 5317 and the tenth light-emitting element 5319 correspond to the four second dichroic mirrors 533 one by one.

[0076] The Y polarized light of the multi-wavelength combined beam passes through the beam splitter 52 with a transmission-reflection ratio of 1:1, enters the first light guide fiber 55 through the first coupling lens group 54, and enters the second light guide fiber 57 through the second coupling lens group 56; the X polarized light also passes through the beam splitter 52 with a transmission-reflection ratio of 1:1, enters the first light guide fiber 55 through the first coupling lens group 54, and enters the second light guide fiber 57 through the second coupling lens group 56. The first light guide fiber 55 and the second light guide fiber 57 both contain X polarized light and Y polarized light, which can provide uniform X polarized and Y polarized illumination for human tissue, which will not be described in detail here.

[0077] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0078] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. An endoscope lighting system, characterized in that: include: A first lighting module, a beam splitter, and a second lighting module, wherein the first lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a first optical path, and the second lighting module and the beam splitter are arranged along a second optical path, and the beam splitter is tilted relative to the first optical path and the second optical path, respectively; the light irradiated from the first lighting module to the beam splitter along the first optical path is combined with the light irradiated from the second lighting module to the beam splitter along the second optical path to form the first lighting optical path and the second lighting optical path.

2. The endoscope lighting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light irradiated by the first lighting module along the first optical path to the beam splitter and transmitted by the beam splitter is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module along the second optical path to the beam splitter and reflected by the beam splitter to form a first lighting optical path; the light irradiated by the first lighting module along the first optical path to the beam splitter and reflected by the beam splitter is combined with the light irradiated by the second lighting module along the second optical path to the beam splitter and transmitted by the beam splitter to form a second lighting optical path.

3. The endoscope lighting system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first illumination module includes at least two first light sources and at least one first dichroic mirror, wherein one of the first light sources and all the first dichroic mirrors are located on the first light path, and the remaining first light sources are located on one side of the first light path and correspond to the first dichroic mirrors one by one; the first dichroic mirror is arranged obliquely relative to the first light path, and the light from the first light source on the first light path irradiates the first dichroic mirror, after being combined with the light from the remaining first light sources irradiating the corresponding first dichroic mirrors, is irradiated to the beam splitter.

4. The endoscope lighting system according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least two of the first dichroic mirrors are arranged at intervals along the first optical path, the first light source includes a first light emitting member located on the first optical path, and a second light emitting member and a third light emitting member arranged at intervals from the first optical path, the third light emitting member being closer to the beam splitter than the second light emitting member; The first dichroic mirror is located between the first light-emitting component and the beam splitter, the sum of the number of the second light-emitting components and the third light-emitting components is equal to the number of the first dichroic mirrors and is arranged accordingly, the light emitted by the first light-emitting component is transmitted through all the first dichroic mirrors in sequence and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the second light-emitting component is reflected by the corresponding first dichroic mirror, and then transmitted through the corresponding first dichroic mirror between the second light-emitting component and the beam splitter, and then irradiates the beam splitter; the light emitted by the third light-emitting component is reflected by the corresponding first dichroic mirror to the beam splitter.

5. The endoscope lighting system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second illumination module comprises a second light source and a second dichroic mirror, at least two of the second dichroic mirrors are arranged at intervals along the second light path, and the second dichroic mirrors are arranged obliquely relative to the second light path; the second light source comprises a fifth light emitting element located on the second light path, and a sixth light emitting element and a seventh light emitting element arranged at intervals from the second light path, and the seventh light emitting element is closer to the beam splitter than the sixth light emitting element; The second dichroic mirror is located between the fifth light-emitting component and the beam splitter, the sum of the number of the sixth light-emitting component and the seventh light-emitting component is equal to the number of the second dichroic mirrors and is arranged accordingly, the light emitted by the fifth light-emitting component is sequentially transmitted through all the second dichroic mirrors and then irradiated to the beam splitter; the light emitted by the sixth light-emitting component is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror, and then transmitted through the corresponding second dichroic mirror between the second dichroic mirror and the beam splitter, and then irradiated to the beam splitter; the light emitted by the seventh light-emitting component is reflected by the corresponding second dichroic mirror to the beam splitter.

6. The endoscope lighting system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The endoscope lighting system includes a first light-guiding optical fiber arranged in the first lighting light path, a second light-guiding optical fiber arranged in the second lighting light path, a first coupling mirror group arranged between the beam splitter and the first light-guiding optical fiber, and a second coupling mirror group arranged between the beam splitter and the second light-guiding optical fiber, the first coupling mirror group is used to couple the light of the first lighting light path into the first light-guiding optical fiber, and the second coupling mirror group is used to couple the light of the second lighting light path into the second light-guiding optical fiber.

7. The endoscope lighting system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first illumination optical path is provided with at least two split mirrors, the split mirrors are beam splitters, and the transmission-reflection ratio of any of the split mirrors is (n+1):1, wherein n is the number of the split mirrors between the corresponding split mirror and the first light-guiding optical fiber.

8. The endoscope lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The first optical path is orthogonal to the second optical path, the first illumination optical path is coaxial with the first optical path, and the second illumination optical path is orthogonal to the first illumination optical path.

9. The endoscope lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Includes any of the following options: The first lighting module is the same as the second lighting module; The first illumination module includes an X-polarized light source, and the second illumination module includes a Y-polarized light source; The first lighting module includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths, and the second lighting module includes at least two light sources with different central wavelengths.

10. An endoscope, characterized in that: It comprises an imaging module and the endoscope lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least one of the first lighting light path and the second lighting light path is used to illuminate the imaging module.

11. The endoscope according to claim 10, characterized in that: The endoscope includes a first light output portion and a second light output portion, the first light output portion and the second light output portion are arranged around the periphery of the imaging module, and the light of the first illumination light path is coupled to the first light output portion, and the light of the second illumination light path is coupled to the second light output portion, and the first light output portion and the second light output portion respectively include at least one of an optical fiber filament and an optical fiber bundle.

Images