Endoscope cable and endoscope system

Abstract

The utility model relates to an endoscope cable and an endoscope system, and the endoscope cable comprises a first end part which comprises a high-speed connector and an electric-to-optical module connected with the high-speed connector; the cable main body comprises an optical fiber, and one end of the optical fiber is connected to the electricity-to-light module; the second end part comprises a light-to-electricity module, a first FPGA and a golden finger which are connected in sequence, and the light-to-electricity module is connected to the other end of the optical fiber; the first FPGA comprises a high-speed video signal input channel and a plurality of low-speed video signal output channels, the high-speed video signal input channel is connected with the light-to-electricity conversion module, and each low-speed video signal output channel is connected with the golden finger. The golden finger on the endoscope cable transmits low-speed video signals with low speed, and the connector connected with the golden finger on the endoscope system host has small attenuation on the low-speed video signals, so that the golden finger on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host can be in plugging connection for more times.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of endoscopes, in particular to an endoscope cable and an endoscope system. Background Art

[0002] At present, the video definition of endoscopes is getting higher and higher, and the resolution of endoscopes on the market has risen from 1080P to 4K and 8K. This leads to the continuous increase of endoscope video stream data, the continuous increase of video signal rate, and the attenuation of endoscope cables to signals increases with the increase of video signal rate. At present, the common endoscope cables are pure electric cables. Such endoscope cables are no longer suitable for transmitting such high-speed video signals because of obvious signal attenuation. Endoscopes that use optical fiber to transmit high-speed video signals have begun to appear. However, the higher the rate of the video signal, the higher the rate requirement for the connector. At present, for endoscopes using optical fiber, after the number of plug-in connections between the gold finger on the cable and the connector on the host exceeds hundreds of times, the connector attenuates the high-speed video signal. In severe cases, the host back end cannot parse the video signal normally. Therefore, at present, for endoscopes using optical fiber, the number of plug-in connections between the gold finger on the cable and the connector on the host is limited to hundreds of times, which restricts the promotion and application of endoscopes using optical fiber. Utility Model Content

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide an endoscope cable and an endoscope system to address the above problems, which can increase the number of plug-in and unplug connections between the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the utility model provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] An endoscope cable, comprising:

[0006] The first end portion includes a high-speed connector and an electrical-to-optical module connected to the high-speed connector;

[0007] A cable body, comprising an optical fiber, one end of which is connected to the electrical-to-optical module; and

[0008] The second end includes an optical-to-electrical module, a first FPGA and a gold finger connected in sequence, wherein the optical-to-electrical module is connected to the other end of the optical fiber; the first FPGA includes a high-speed video signal input channel and multiple low-speed video signal output channels, wherein the high-speed video signal input channel is connected to the optical-to-electrical module, and each of the low-speed video signal output channels is connected to the gold finger.

[0009] The endoscope cable has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0010] The gold fingers on the endoscope cable transmit low-speed video signals with relatively low rates. The connector on the endoscope system host connected to the gold fingers has less attenuation on the low-speed video signals. Therefore, the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host can be plugged and unplugged more times, which increases the number of plug-and-unplug connections between the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host, which is conducive to the promotion and application of the above-mentioned endoscopes using optical fiber.

[0011] In one of the embodiments, the number of the low-speed video signal output channels is 4 or 5.

[0012] Such a setting, on the one hand, can make the rate of low-speed video signals much lower than that of high-speed video signals, thereby increasing the number of plug-in and unplug connections between the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host; on the other hand, this also prevents the size of the second end from being too large.

[0013] In one embodiment, the endoscope cable also includes a flexible body, a first circuit board is provided in the first end, and the electric-to-optical module is provided on the first circuit board; a second circuit board is provided in the second end, and the optical-to-electrical module is provided on the second circuit board, and the flexible body wraps the first circuit board, the optical fiber and the second circuit board.

[0014] With such an arrangement, the flexible body protects the optical fiber, can reduce the possibility of bending of the optical fiber during the assembly process, and is helpful to prevent the optical fiber from being damaged or scrapped.

[0015] In one of the embodiments, the flexible body is made of silicone.

[0016] With such a configuration, the flexible body has a certain elasticity and can provide a certain buffering effect, which is helpful in preventing the optical fiber from being damaged by bending.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, the cable body further includes a control cable for transmitting a control signal, and one end of the control cable is connected to the high-speed connector.

[0018] Such an arrangement makes it easy for medical staff to operate the endoscope conveniently.

[0019] In one embodiment, the control cable is a wire.

[0020] Such an arrangement is helpful to reduce the cost of endoscope cables.

[0021] In one embodiment, the control cable is a copper core wire.

[0022] With this arrangement, on the one hand, the copper core wire has excellent conductivity, and using the copper core wire as the control cable can reliably transmit the control signal; on the other hand, copper has good flexibility, and using the copper core wire as the control cable allows the endoscope cable to be more easily bent and adapted to the control requirements of the endoscope.

[0023] In one of the embodiments, the optical fiber and the control cable are arranged side by side.

[0024] Such an arrangement is conducive to making the endoscope cable structure compact.

[0025] In one embodiment, the endoscope cable includes a protective cover, and the optical fiber and the control cable are both inserted into the protective cover.

[0026] Such an arrangement is conducive to making the endoscope structure compact.

[0027] The utility model also provides an endoscope system, which includes a camera handle, a host and the above-mentioned endoscope cable, the input end of the high-speed connector is connected to the camera handle, the host includes a connector, a second FPGA and a display connected in sequence, the output end of the gold finger is connected to the connector, the second FPGA includes a low-speed video signal input channel and a high-speed video signal output channel, and there are multiple low-speed video signal input channels, each of which is connected to the connector, and the high-speed video signal output channel is connected to the display.

[0028] The endoscope system has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0029] In the endoscope system, the gold fingers on the endoscope cable transmit low-speed video signals with relatively low rate, and the connector on the host has less attenuation on the low-speed video signals. Therefore, the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host can be plugged and unplugged more times, which increases the number of plug-and-unplug connections between the gold fingers on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host, which is beneficial to the promotion and application of the endoscope system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an endoscope cable according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0031] Figure 2 The figure is a schematic diagram of the working process of an endoscope system according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0032] Reference numerals:

[0033] 1. First end; 11. High-speed connector; 12. Electrical-to-optical module;

[0034] 2. Cable body;

[0035] 3. Second end; 31. Light-to-electricity module; 32. Gold finger. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the utility model more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation methods of the utility model are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the utility model. However, the utility model can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the connotation of the utility model, so the utility model is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0037] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0038] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The utility model first provides an endoscope cable, which includes a first end 1, a cable body 2 and a second end 3. The first end 1 includes a high-speed connector 11 and an electric-to-optical module 12, the cable body 2 includes an optical fiber for transmitting high-speed video signals, and the second end 3 includes an optical-to-electrical module 31 and a gold finger 32. The high-speed connector 11, the electric-to-optical module 12, the optical fiber, and the optical-to-electrical module 31 are connected in sequence. The high-speed connector 11 is used to connect the camera handle of the endoscope to transmit the high-speed video signal output by the camera handle to the electric-to-optical module 12. The electric-to-optical module 12 converts the high-speed video signal into an optical signal and transmits it to the optical fiber. The optical fiber transmits the optical signal to the optical-to-electrical module 31, and the optical-to-electrical module 31 restores the optical signal to a high-speed video signal. The gold finger 32 is used to connect the connector on the host of the endoscope system to transmit the video signal to the host.

[0039] If the optical-to-electrical module 31 is directly connected to the gold finger 32 to transmit the high-speed video signal directly to the connector on the host, the number of plug-in and unplug connections between the gold finger 32 and the connector on the host will be reduced. Figure 2The second end 3 also includes a first FPGA (FPGA stands for Field-Programmable Gate Array, and its Chinese name is programmable array logic chip). The optical-to-electrical conversion module 31, the first FPGA, and the gold finger 32 are connected in sequence. The first FPGA is used to convert the high-speed video signal into a plurality of low-speed video signals whose rates are lower than the high-speed video signal. Specifically, the first FPGA includes a high-speed video signal input channel and a plurality of low-speed video signal output channels. The high-speed video signal input channel is connected to the optical-to-electrical conversion module 31, and each low-speed video signal output channel is connected to the gold finger 32. The optical-to-electrical conversion module 31 transmits the high-speed video signal to the high-speed video signal input channel of the first FPGA. The first FPGA converts the high-speed video signal into a plurality of low-speed video signals and outputs these low-speed video signals one by one from each low-speed video signal output channel to the gold finger 32. The gold finger 32 transmits these low-speed video signals to the connector on the host of the endoscope system.

[0040] In this way, the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable transmits a low-speed video signal with a relatively low rate, and the connector on the endoscope system host connected to the gold finger 32 has a smaller attenuation on the low-speed video signal. Therefore, the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host can be plugged and unplugged more times, which increases the number of plug-in and unplug connections between the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host, which is conducive to the promotion and application of the above-mentioned endoscopes using optical fiber.

[0041] The number of low-speed video signal output channels only needs to be greater than 2, and the number of low-speed video signal output channels can be determined according to user needs. If you want to reduce the rate of the low-speed video signal as much as possible, you can appropriately increase the number of low-speed video signal output channels. If you want the size of the second end 3 not to be too large, you can appropriately reduce the number of low-speed video signal output channels. Preferably, the number of low-speed video signal output channels is 4 or 5. On the one hand, this can greatly reduce the rate of the low-speed video signal compared to the rate of the high-speed video signal, thereby increasing the number of plug-in connections between the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host; on the other hand, this also prevents the size of the second end 3 from being too large.

[0042] See also Figure 2In some embodiments, because the manufacturer of the optical-to-electrical module keeps the decoding method of the high-speed video signal output by the optical-to-electrical module confidential, only a dedicated signal processor for decoding the high-speed video signal output by the optical-to-electrical module is provided, so the second end 3 also includes a first dedicated signal processor, the optical-to-electrical module 31, the first dedicated signal processor, the first FPGA and the gold finger are connected in sequence, and the first dedicated signal processor is used to decode the high-speed video signal output by the optical-to-electrical module. In other embodiments, if the decoding method of the high-speed video signal output by the optical-to-electrical module is public, the first dedicated signal processor can be omitted, so that the optical-to-electrical module 31 and the first FPGA are directly connected.

[0043] The optical fiber is thin and can be bent, but it cannot be folded, otherwise it is easily damaged or scrapped, causing damage to the entire endoscope cable. In order to reduce the possibility of bending of the optical fiber, the endoscope cable also includes a flexible body, a first circuit board is provided in the first end 1, and the electric-to-optical module 12 is provided on the first circuit board; a second circuit board is provided in the second end 3, and the optical-to-electrical module 31 is provided on the second circuit board, and the flexible body wraps the first circuit board, the optical fiber and the second circuit board.

[0044] Exemplarily, the flexible body is made of silicone. In this way, the flexible body has a certain elasticity and can provide a certain buffering effect, which is helpful to prevent the optical fiber from being bent and damaged. Optionally, in other embodiments, the flexible body can also be made of PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).

[0045] In some embodiments, in order to facilitate medical personnel to conveniently operate the endoscope, the cable body 2 also includes a control cable for transmitting control signals, and one end of the control cable is connected to the high-speed connector 11.

[0046] Preferably, the control cable is a wire. The control signal has a small amount of data and is suitable for transmission by electric cables, which is beneficial to reducing the cost of endoscope cables.

[0047] Preferably, the control cable is a copper core wire. On the one hand, the copper core wire has excellent conductivity, and the use of the copper core wire as the control cable can reliably transmit the control signal; on the other hand, copper has good flexibility, and the use of the copper core wire as the control cable allows the endoscope cable to be more easily bent and adapted to the control requirements of the endoscope.

[0048] Preferably, in order to make the endoscope cable structure compact, the optical fiber and the control cable are arranged side by side.

[0049] Preferably, the endoscope cable includes a protective sheath, and the optical fiber and the control cable are both inserted into the protective sheath. The optical fiber and the control cable share the protective sheath, which is also conducive to making the endoscope structure compact.

[0050] See also Figure 2 The utility model secondly provides an endoscope system, which includes a camera handle, a host and the above-mentioned endoscope cable, the input end of the high-speed connector 11 is connected to the camera handle, the host includes a connector, a second FPGA and a display, and the output end of the gold finger 32 is connected to the connector. The second FPGA is used to integrate multiple low-speed video signals into a single high-speed video signal containing complete video information. The second FPGA includes a low-speed video signal input channel and a high-speed video signal output channel. There are multiple low-speed video signal input channels, each of which is connected to the connector, and the high-speed video signal output channel is connected to the display, and the display is used to display the image corresponding to the high-speed video signal.

[0051] In the endoscope system, the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable transmits a low-speed video signal with a relatively low rate, and the connector on the host has a smaller attenuation on the low-speed video signal. Therefore, the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host can be plugged and unplugged more times, which increases the number of plug-in and unplug connections between the gold finger 32 on the endoscope cable and the connector on the host, which is beneficial to the promotion and application of the endoscope system.

[0052] It should be noted that the first FPGA has encoded each low-speed video signal in sequence during the process of converting the high-speed video signal into multiple low-speed video signals, and the second FPGA connects each low-speed video signal in sequence according to the encoding to integrate it into a high-speed video signal.

[0053] More specifically, see Figure 2 The camera handle includes an image sensor and a second dedicated signal processor, the image sensor, the second dedicated signal processor, and the high-speed connector 11 are connected in sequence, and the second dedicated signal processor is used to convert the multi-channel video signal transmitted by the image sensor into a single-channel high-speed video signal. Figure 2 In some embodiments, the camera handle further includes a control unit for sending a control signal, and the control unit, the high-speed connector 11 and the control cable are connected in sequence.

[0054] Exemplarily, the first FPGA and the second FPGA may be FPGAs of the Kintex UltraScale series or the LFCPNX series.

[0055] 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.

[0056] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the utility model, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be pointed out that for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the utility model, which all belong to the protection scope of the utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of the utility model patent shall be based on the attached claims.

Claims

1. An endoscope cable, characterized in that: include: A first end portion (1) comprises a high-speed connector (11) and an electrical-to-optical module (12) connected to the high-speed connector (11); The cable body (2) comprises an optical fiber, one end of which is connected to the electrical-to-optical module (12); and The second end (3) comprises an optical-to-electrical conversion module (31), a first FPGA and a gold finger (32) connected in sequence, wherein the optical-to-electrical conversion module (31) is connected to the other end of the optical fiber; the first FPGA comprises a high-speed video signal input channel and a plurality of low-speed video signal output channels, wherein the high-speed video signal input channel is connected to the optical-to-electrical conversion module (31), and each of the low-speed video signal output channels is connected to the gold finger (32).

2. The endoscope cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the low-speed video signal output channels is 4 or 5.

3. The endoscope cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The endoscope cable also includes a flexible body, wherein a first circuit board is provided in the first end portion (1), and the electric-to-optical module (12) is provided on the first circuit board; a second circuit board is provided in the second end portion (3), and the optical-to-electrical module (31) is provided on the second circuit board, and the flexible body wraps the first circuit board, the optical fiber and the second circuit board.

4. The endoscope cable according to claim 3, characterized in that: The flexible body is made of silicone.

5. The endoscope cable according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cable body also includes a control cable for transmitting a control signal, one end of the control cable being connected to the high-speed connector (11).

6. The endoscope cable according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control cable is a wire.

7. The endoscope cable according to claim 6, characterized in that: The control cable is a copper core conductor.

8. The endoscope cable according to claim 5, characterized in that: The optical fiber and the control cable are arranged side by side.

9. The endoscope cable according to claim 8, characterized in that: The endoscope cable comprises a protective cover, and the optical fiber and the control cable are both passed through the protective cover.

10. An endoscope system, characterized in that: It comprises a camera handle, a host and an endoscope cable according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the input end of the high-speed connector (11) is connected to the camera handle, the host comprises a connector, a second FPGA and a display connected in sequence, the output end of the gold finger (32) is connected to the connector, the second FPGA comprises a low-speed video signal input channel and a high-speed video signal output channel, there are multiple low-speed video signal input channels, each of the low-speed video signal input channels is connected to the connector, and the high-speed video signal output channel is connected to the display.

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