Endoscope camera and endoscope system

Abstract

The utility model provides an endoscope camera and an endoscope system. The endoscope camera comprises a shell, an image sensor, a lens assembly, a focusing assembly, a driving assembly and a switching assembly, the lens assembly and the image sensor are arranged along a first axis, the focusing assembly comprises a focusing gear, and the driving assembly is in transmission connection with the focusing gear and converts rotation of the focusing gear into movement of the lens assembly along the first axis; the image sensor, the lens assembly, the focusing assembly and the driving assembly are arranged in the shell, the shell is provided with a through hole, and at least part of the switching assembly penetrates through the through hole; the switching assembly comprises a transmission part, the transmission part has a separation state separated from the focusing gear and a connection state connected to the focusing gear, and the transmission part in the connection state drives the focusing gear to rotate under the action of external force. According to the utility model, automatic focusing or manual focusing can be selected according to requirements, so that the automatic focusing can be switched to the manual focusing in time when the automatic focusing fails, and the influence on the use is avoided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to medical equipment technical field, specifically, an endoscope camera and endoscope system. BACKGROUND

[0002] Compared with traditional surgery, endoscopic surgery has the advantages of small surgical trauma, fast postoperative recovery of patients, light postoperative pain of patients and small incision and small scar area. Endoscopic surgery usually needs to use an endoscope camera, which can be connected to a hard mirror body through a connecting mechanism and can be provided with a lens assembly and an image sensor inside. When the endoscope camera is used, the hard mirror body often needs to be inserted into the human body for observation. Since the internal structure of the human body is complex and the requirements under different use conditions may be different, medical workers hope that the endoscope camera can be conveniently focused when used to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

[0003] The existing endoscope camera usually has two types of manual focusing and automatic focusing. For the endoscope camera with manual focusing, the user needs to drive the internal lens assembly to move by using an adjusting hand wheel to achieve the purpose of focusing. Manual focusing is usually slow, inefficient, troublesome to operate and prolongs the operation time. For the endoscope camera with automatic focusing, the user can control the internal motor through a button to drive the lens assembly to move by the internal motor to achieve the purpose of focusing. However, the endoscope camera with automatic focusing usually has more components such as a motor, a control circuit and transmission parts, and the overall structure is very complex, which has a great risk of failure. During the operation, the failure of automatic focusing of the endoscope camera will have very serious consequences. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an endoscope camera with simple and convenient focusing and better focusing stability. SUMMARY

[0004] In order to at least partially solve the problems existing in the prior art, according to one aspect of the utility model, an endoscope camera is provided. The endoscope camera comprises a shell, an image sensor, a lens assembly, a focusing assembly, a driving assembly and a switching assembly. The lens assembly and the image sensor are arranged along a first axis. The focusing assembly comprises a focusing gear. The driving assembly is in transmission connection with the focusing gear and converts the rotation of the focusing gear into the movement of the lens assembly along the first axis. The image sensor, the lens assembly, the focusing assembly and the driving assembly are arranged in the shell. The shell is provided with a through hole. At least part of the switching assembly is arranged in the through hole. The switching assembly comprises a transmission member. The transmission member has a separated state spaced apart from the focusing gear and a connected state connected to the focusing gear. The transmission member in the connected state drives the focusing gear to rotate under the action of an external force.

[0005] The endoscopic camera provided by this invention can achieve electric automatic focusing through a drive component. Furthermore, by switching the transmission component from a separated state to a connected state, manual focusing can be achieved by controlling the transmission component with external force. Thus, automatic or manual focusing can be selected according to needs. In use, the endoscopic camera of this invention can first automatically focus, followed by manual focusing to fine-tune the focusing result, making the overall focusing process simpler and more convenient, and improving the accuracy of the final focusing result. Moreover, it facilitates timely switching to manual focusing when automatic focusing fails, thus avoiding interference with the surgery, greatly reducing the risks to the patient, and significantly improving the stability and safety of use.

[0006] For example, the transmission element passes through the through hole.

[0007] For example, the transmission component includes a gear, and the switching assembly also includes a wheel axle connected to the gear. The housing is provided with a guide groove, and the wheel axle is disposed in the guide groove and movable between a first position and a second position along the direction of passing through the through hole. When the wheel axle is in the first position, the gear and the focusing gear are in a separated state; when the wheel axle is in the second position, the gear and the focusing gear are in a connected state.

[0008] For example, the transmission component includes a bevel gear.

[0009] For example, the bevel gear is movable between a third position and a fourth position along the direction of passing through the through hole. When the bevel gear is in the third position, it is in a disengaged state from the focusing gear; when the bevel gear is in the fourth position, it is in a connected state with the focusing gear.

[0010] For example, the through hole has a length along the surface of the housing, and the bevel gear is movable along the length direction between a fifth position and a sixth position. When the bevel gear is in the fifth position, it is in a disengaged state from the focusing gear; when the bevel gear is in the sixth position, it is in a connected state with the focusing gear.

[0011] For example, a first elastic element is provided between the transmission element and the housing, and the first elastic element applies an elastic force to the transmission element to maintain it in a separated state.

[0012] For example, the switching component includes a first operating member connected to the transmission member, the through hole includes a first through hole, the first operating member passes through the first through hole, and the first operating member is movable between a seventh position and an eighth position along the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole, wherein the transmission member is in a disengaged state when the first operating member is in the seventh position, and the transmission member is in a connected state when the first operating member is in the eighth position.

[0013] For example, the through hole includes a second through hole, and the switching component includes a second operating member fixedly connected to the transmission member. The second operating member passes through the second through hole and has an operating end located outside the housing. The second operating member is slidable along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole and drives the focusing gear to rotate when the transmission member is in the connected state.

[0014] For example, a second elastic member is connected between the housing and the first operating member, and the second elastic member applies an elastic force to the first operating member to hold the first operating member in the seventh position.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, an endoscope system is provided. The endoscope system includes any of the endoscope cameras described above.

[0016] This utility model description introduces a series of simplified concepts, which will be further explained in detail in the detailed description section. This utility model description is not intended to limit the key features and essential technical features of the claimed technical solution, nor is it intended to determine the scope of protection of the claimed technical solution.

[0017] The advantages and features of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The following drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference as part of this invention, are provided for understanding the invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and their descriptions, serving to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,

[0019] Figure 1 A perspective view of an endoscope camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of a portion of the structure of an endoscope camera;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an endoscope camera is shown, in which the transmission components are disengaged; and

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Another cross-sectional view of the endoscope camera shown, in which the transmission components are in a connected state;

[0023] Figure 5 A perspective view of an endoscope camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 5The image shown is a 3D view of the endoscope camera behind the concealed housing.

[0025] Figure 7 for Figure 5 The image shows a cross-sectional view of an endoscope camera, with the transmission components in a disengaged state;

[0026] Figure 8 for Figure 5 Another cross-sectional view of the endoscope camera shown, in which the transmission is in the connected state.

[0027] The above figures include the following reference numerals:

[0028] 110. Transmission component; 111. Operating part; 112. Wheel axle; 120. First operating component; 130. Second operating component; 131. Operating end; 200. Focusing gear; 300. Lens assembly; 400. Drive assembly; 500. Housing; 510. Through hole; 511. First through hole; 512. Second through hole; 520. Guide groove; 530. First elastic element. Detailed Implementation

[0029] In the following description, numerous details are provided to enable a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, which may be practiced without one or more of these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion with the present invention, some technical features well-known in the art have not been described in detail.

[0030] According to one aspect of the present invention, an endoscope camera is provided, which can be applied to any suitable device. Therefore, according to another aspect of the present invention, an endoscope system is provided. The endoscope system may include any of the endoscope cameras described below.

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 8 The endoscope camera may include a housing 500, an image sensor, a lens assembly 300, a focusing assembly, a driving assembly 400, and a switching assembly. The image sensor may include any existing or future image sensor.

[0032] The lens assembly 300 can be positioned along a first axis (the XX axis in the diagram) with the image sensor. One or more lenses can be disposed within the lens assembly 300; these lenses can have the same form, and the lens assembly 300 can also be formed by combining multiple lenses of various forms. To obtain a clearer image, the image sensor may require the lens assembly 300 to be located at different positions along the first axis XX; therefore, the lens assembly 300 is typically movable along the first axis XX to facilitate focusing.

[0033] The focusing assembly may include a focusing gear 200. A drive assembly 400 may be connected to the focusing gear 200 and convert the rotation of the focusing gear 200 into movement of the lens assembly 300 along the first axis XX. The drive assembly 400 may have an output shaft with an output gear. The output gear meshes with the focusing gear 200, and when the output shaft of the drive assembly 400 rotates, it drives the focusing gear 200 to rotate. The drive assembly 400 may also drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate in various other suitable ways. Under the action of the drive assembly 400, the lens assembly 300 can move along the first axis XX through the rotation of the focusing gear 200, thus achieving automatic focusing.

[0034] The rotation of the focusing gear 200 can also be converted into the movement of the lens assembly 300 along the first axis XX in any suitable manner. For example, the focusing assembly may include a transmission mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear motion, and the focusing gear 200 can be connected to the lens assembly 300 through the transmission mechanism, so that when the focusing gear 200 rotates, the lens assembly 300 will move along the first axis XX.

[0035] The image sensor, lens assembly 300, focusing assembly, and drive assembly 400 can be housed within the housing 500. The housing 500 may have a through hole 510. At least a portion of the switching assembly can pass through the through hole 510. The housing 500 can protect the image sensor, lens assembly 300, focusing assembly, and at least a portion of the switching assembly, and can prevent them from being interfered with by external factors. Exemplarily, the focusing assembly can be entirely located within the housing 500. Exemplarily, at least a portion of the switching assembly can be located outside the housing 500 to facilitate the application of external force and user operation.

[0036] The switching assembly may include a transmission member 110, which may have a separated state spaced apart from the focusing gear 200 and a connected state connected to the focusing gear 200. When in the connected state, the transmission member 110 can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate under external force. The switching assembly can have any suitable form, such as including only the transmission member 110 or including the transmission member 110 combined with multiple structural components. The transmission member 110 can have any suitable form, such as a rack, worm gear, or turbine. The switching of the transmission member 110 between the separated and connected states can be achieved through any suitable form, such as automatic or manual. Several such forms will be described in detail below. As long as the transmission member 110 is spaced apart from the focusing gear 200, it can be considered to be in a separated state; therefore, the separated state of the transmission member 110 can correspond to multiple positions of the transmission member 110. For example, the switching between the disengaged and connected states of the transmission member 110 can be achieved by an external force, such as manually changing the position of the transmission member 110 to switch between the disengaged and connected states. When the transmission member 110 is switched between the disengaged and connected states by an external force, the external force can act directly on the transmission member 110 or indirectly on the transmission member 110 through any suitable means. It is understood that when the transmission member 110 can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate under the action of an external force, the transmission member 110 is considered to be in the connected state. Here, the transmission member 110 in the connected state is not limited to being at least partially engaged with the focusing gear 200, as long as the transmission member 110 can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate when in the connected state.

[0037] The endoscopic camera provided by this invention can achieve electric automatic focusing through the drive component 400. Furthermore, by switching the transmission component 110 from a separated state to a connected state, external force can control the transmission component 110 to achieve manual focusing. Thus, automatic or manual focusing can be selected according to needs. In use, the endoscopic camera of this invention can first automatically focus, followed by manual focusing to fine-tune the autofocus result, making the overall focusing process simpler and more convenient, and improving the accuracy of the final focusing result. Moreover, it facilitates timely switching to manual focusing when autofocus fails, thus avoiding interference with the surgery, greatly reducing the risks to the patient, and significantly improving the stability and safety of use.

[0038] For example, the transmission member 110 may pass through the through hole 510. The transmission member 110 may have a portion located inside the housing 500 for engaging with the focusing gear 200. The transmission member 110 may also have a portion located outside the housing 500, thereby facilitating the application of external force by the user. This allows for convenient switching of the transmission member 110 between a disengaged and engaged state via external force. Figure 1 As shown, the transmission member 110 can pass through the through hole 510 and has an operating part 111 located outside the housing 500. The operating part 111 refers to the portion of the transmission member 110 located outside the housing 500, and is not limited to a specific part of the transmission member 110. For example, when the transmission member 110 is in the connected state, the transmission member 110 can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate by rotation. At this time, the portion of the transmission member 110 located outside the housing 500 will continuously change. Applying an external force to the operating part 111 can directly apply an external force to the transmission member 110, and under the action of the external force, the transmission member 110 can be switched between the disconnected state and the connected state. Such an endoscope camera has a simpler overall structure and is easier to implement.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 4 The transmission component 110 may include a gear. The switching assembly may also include a shaft 112 connected to the gear. The housing 500 may be provided with a guide groove 520. The shaft 112 may be disposed in the guide groove 520 and movable between a first position and a second position along a direction passing through the through hole 510 (YY direction shown in the figure). When the shaft 112 is in the first position, the gear and the focusing gear 200 may be in a disengaged state. When the shaft 112 is in the second position, the gear and the focusing gear 200 may be in a connected state. It is worth noting that the movement trajectory of the shaft 112 between the first position and the second position can be arbitrary, and it is not limited that the shaft 112 must move strictly along the direction passing through the through hole 510 between the first position and the second position. The first position of the shaft 112 may be further away from the focusing gear 200 than the second position. Guided by the guide groove 520 and the axle 112, the drive member 110 can move between the first and second positions via any suitable path. The guide groove 520 can be adapted to the path of movement of the drive member 110 between the first and second positions. The guide groove 520 can extend along the direction passing through the through hole 510, or it can be any other suitable form. The axle 112 slides within the guide groove 520, thus making the switching between the connected and disconnected states of the drive member 110 more stable, and improving the overall stability of the endoscope camera structure. In this way, the entire endoscope camera has a simple structure, lower cost, and is easier to assemble or repair. Of course, the guide groove 520 can also be replaced by any other suitable form, such as a slide rail.

[0040] In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the transmission component 110 may include a bevel gear. The bevel gear can cooperate with the focusing gear 200, enabling precise focusing and providing a compact structure suitable for applications with smaller endoscopic camera structures.

[0041] For example, the bevel gear is movable between a third position and a fourth position along the direction passing through the through hole 510. When in the third position, the bevel gear can be disengaged from the focusing gear 200. When in the fourth position, the bevel gear can be engaged with the focusing gear 200. The bevel gear can have a portion located outside the housing 500, and it can also have a portion located inside the housing 500. Applying a pulling or pushing force to the portion of the bevel gear outside the housing 500 can switch the portion of the bevel gear inside the housing 500 between a disengaged state and an engaged state. Such an endoscope camera has a simpler overall structure and is easier to implement.

[0042] Exemplarily, the through hole 510 may have a length along the surface of the housing 500. The bevel gear may be movable along its length between a fifth position and a sixth position. When the bevel gear is in the fifth position, it may be in a disengaged state from the focusing gear 200. When the bevel gear is in the sixth position, it may be in a connected state with the focusing gear 200. Applying an external force to the portion of the bevel gear located outside the housing 500 along the length of the through hole 510 can switch the portion of the bevel gear located inside the housing 500 between a disengaged state and a connected state. Such an endoscope camera has a simpler overall structure and is easier to implement.

[0043] See Figures 2 to 4 A first elastic element 530 can be provided between the transmission component 110 and the housing 500. The first elastic element 530 can apply an elastic force to the transmission component 110 to maintain it in a separated state. Such an endoscope camera has a simple overall structure, is easy to implement, and is very simple and convenient to enable and disable manual focus during use, making it easy to enable manual focus in time when automatic focus fails.

[0044] Specifically, see Figures 2 to 4In embodiments where the transmission component 110 includes a gear, a first elastic element 530 may be disposed within a guide groove 520. The first elastic element 530 may be connected to the axle 112, and the first elastic element 530 may apply an elastic force to the gear to hold it in a first position. The first elastic element 530 may be in the form of a spring, with one end connected to the axle 112 and the other end connected to the end of the guide groove 520 near the focusing gear 200. In this case, the first elastic element 530 may be in a pre-compressed state to apply an elastic force to the axle 112 to move it away from the focusing gear 200. This elastic force acts on the axle 112, meaning the elastic force acts on the gear through the axle 112, which can be considered as the elastic force acting on the gear to hold it in the first position. When this type of endoscope camera is in use, applying external force to the operating part 111 to move the axle 112 from the first position to the second position further compresses the first elastic element 530, allowing the gear to mesh with the focusing gear 200. Rotating the operating part 111 then drives the focusing gear 200 to rotate, thereby moving the lens assembly 300 along the first axis XX, thus achieving manual focusing. Alternatively, when the axle 112 moves from the second position to the first position, simply releasing the pressure on the operating part 111 (removing the external force) will automatically reset the gear to the first position under the action of the first elastic element 530. This simplifies the operation of moving the axle 112 between the first and second positions.

[0045] In embodiments where the transmission component 110 includes a bevel gear, one end of the first elastic element 530 can be connected to the bevel gear, and the other end of the first elastic element 530 can be connected to the housing 500. The first elastic element 530 can apply an elastic force to the bevel gear to hold it in a third or fifth position. The first elastic element 530 can be in the form of a spring, and can be in a pre-compressed state to apply an elastic force to the bevel gear to move it away from the focusing gear 200. Such an elastic force acting on the bevel gear can be considered as the elastic force acting on the bevel gear to hold it in a third or fifth position. When the bevel gear moves along the direction through the through hole 510, in use, when a thrust is applied to the bevel gear to move it from the third position to the fourth position, the first elastic element 530 can be further compressed, allowing the bevel gear to mesh with the focusing gear 200. Rotating the bevel gear can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate, thereby driving the lens assembly 300 to move along the first axis XX, thus achieving manual focusing. No manual focusing is required. When the bevel gear moves from the fourth position to the third position, simply releasing the pressure on the bevel gear (removing the pushing force) will automatically reset the bevel gear to the third position under the action of the first elastic element 530. This simplifies the operation of moving the bevel gear between the third and fourth positions. When the bevel gear moves along the length of the through hole 510, in use, when an external force is applied to the bevel gear to move it from the fifth to the sixth position, the first elastic element 530 can be further pressed, allowing the bevel gear to mesh with the focusing gear 200. Rotating the bevel gear then drives the focusing gear 200 to rotate, thereby moving the lens assembly 300 along the first axis XX, thus achieving manual focusing. No manual focusing is required. When the bevel gear moves from the sixth position to the fifth position, simply removing the external force will automatically reset the bevel gear to the fifth position under the action of the first elastic element 530. This simplifies the operation of moving the bevel gear between the fifth and sixth positions.

[0046] In one embodiment of this utility model, see Figures 5 to 8The switching assembly may include a first operating member 120 connected to the transmission member 110. The first operating member 120 may be a rod-shaped structure as shown in the figure, or any other suitable form. At least a portion of the first operating member 120 may be located outside the housing 500, and the first operating member 120 may pass through the first through hole 511. Specifically, the first operating member 120 may pass through the first through hole 511 and has a portion located outside the housing 500. By operating the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500, the transmission member 110 can be moved. For example, an external force can be applied to the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500 to push or pull, which is equivalent to indirectly applying an external force to the transmission member 110, thereby realizing the switching of the transmission member 110 between a separated state and a connected state. The first operating member 120 is movable between a seventh position and an eighth position along the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511 (the direction YY in the figure). When the first operating member 120 is in the seventh position, the transmission member 110 can be in a disengaged state; when the first operating member 120 is in the eighth position, the transmission member 110 can be in a connected state. Since the first operating member 120 is connected to the transmission member 110, when the first operating member 120 is in the seventh and eighth positions, the transmission member 110 will be in corresponding positions. Along the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511, the eighth position can be closer to the focusing gear 200 than the seventh position. When the first operating member 120 moves along the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511, the transmission member 110 can follow the first operating member 120 in the same direction. When the first operating member 120 is in the seventh position, the transmission member 110 is in the corresponding position, at which time the transmission member 110 can be spaced apart from the focusing gear 200; when the first operating member 120 is in the eighth position, the transmission member 110 is in the corresponding position, at which time the transmission member 110 can be connected to the focusing gear 200. Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the transmission member 110, which moves along the direction of the first operating member 120 in and out of the first through hole 511, can switch between a separated state and a connected state. For example, when the wall thickness of the housing 500 is thin, the first through hole 511 can only provide a positioning function for the first operating member 120, and cannot limit the first operating member 120 to move only along the direction of the first through hole 511. In this case, the first operating member 120 can still achieve small-amplitude oscillations in other directions, so the transmission member 110 connected to the first operating member 120 can move in other directions. Figure 8As shown, when the transmission component 110 is in the connected state, the first operating component 120 can swing ZZ in the direction shown. As the first operating component 120 swings, the transmission component 110 will also move ZZ in the direction shown, thereby driving the focusing gear 200 to rotate. In turn, the focusing assembly can move the lens assembly 300 along the first axis XX, thus achieving focusing. In such an endoscope camera, since a first operating member 120 is provided, the first operating member 120 passes through the first through hole 511 and has a portion located outside the housing 500. The portion of the first operating member 120 located inside the housing 500 through the first through hole 511 is connected to the transmission member 110. Therefore, by applying an external force to the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500, an external force can be indirectly applied to the transmission member 110. For example, by pushing and pulling the first operating member 120 in the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511, the first operating member 120 can be moved between the seventh position and the eighth position in the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511, and the transmission member 110 can be switched between a separated state and a connected state. When using this type of endoscope camera, positioning the first operating member 120 in the eighth position along the direction of entering the first through hole 511 switches the transmission member 110 to the connected state, enabling manual focusing. When manual focusing is not required, positioning the first operating member 120 in the seventh position along the direction of pulling out of the first through hole 511 switches the transmission member 110 to the disconnected state. This endoscope camera has a very simple overall structure and is easy to implement. Switching between manual focusing and automatic focusing is very simple and convenient, allowing for timely activation of manual focusing in case of sudden autofocus failure to avoid affecting the surgery.

[0047] For example, the through hole 510 may include a second through hole 512. (See also...) Figure 7 and Figure 8The switching assembly may include a second operating member 130 fixedly connected to the transmission member 110. The second operating member 130 may pass through the second through hole 512 and has an operating end 131 located outside the housing 500. The second operating member 130 is slidable along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512 (ZZ direction in the figure) and drives the focusing gear 200 to rotate when the transmission member 110 is in the connected state. The second through hole 512 may have a length along the surface of the housing 500. The length direction of the second through hole 512 may be in the same direction as the direction of the first operating member 120 entering and exiting the second through hole 512 (i.e., both can be YY direction in the figure). Since the second operating member 130 is fixedly connected to the transmission member 110, and the transmission member 110 is connected to the first operating member 120, when the first operating member 120 is in the seventh position and the eighth position, the transmission member 110 is driven to separate and connect with the focusing gear 200, and the second operating member 130 will be in the corresponding two positions. When the first operating member 120 moves to the eighth position along the direction of entering the first through hole 511, the transmission member 110 is driven to connect with the focusing gear 200, and the second operating member 130 subsequently moves to the corresponding position along the length direction of the second through hole 512. When the second operating member 130 moves to the seventh position along the direction of pulling out of the first through hole 511, the transmission member 110 is driven to separate from the focusing gear 200, and the second operating member 130 subsequently moves to the corresponding position along the length direction of the second through hole 512. When the second operating member 130 slides along the length direction of the second through hole 512, the operating end 131 on the second operating member 130 can always be located outside the housing 500. Of course, when the second operating member 130 slides along the length direction of the second through hole 512, the second operating member 130 can also drive the transmission member 110 to separate and connect with the focusing gear 200. When the length of the first operating member 120 is short, after the first operating member 120 moves from the seventh position to the eighth position along the direction of entering the first through hole 511, the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500 may be too small. In this case, it is difficult to move the first operating member 120 from the eighth position to the seventh position along the direction of pulling out the second through hole 512. Since the operating end 131 is always located outside the housing 500, the second operating member 130 facilitates the switching of the transmission member 110 from the connected state to the disconnected state. Since manual focusing is not always active, the second operating member 130 can be considered to facilitate the reset of the transmission member 110. Therefore, the second operating member 130 makes it more convenient for the transmission member 110 to switch between the disconnected and connected states.

[0048] The second operating member 130 is movable along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512. The direction of the second operating member 130 entering and exiting the second through hole 512 can be perpendicular to the first axis XX, and the direction can also be perpendicular to the length direction of the second through hole 512. When the transmission member 110 is in the connected state, the second operating member 130 can move along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, causing the transmission member 110 to drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate. When the transmission member 110 moves with the second operating member 130 along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, it can move along the tangential direction of the focusing gear 200, such as... Figure 8 As shown, for the focusing gear 200 with the central axis as the first axis XX, when the rack-type transmission member 110 moves along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512 with the second operating member 130, the transmission member 110 moves in the tangential direction of the focusing gear 200. The movement of the transmission member 110 can drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate around the first axis XX, thereby driving the lens assembly 300 to move along the first axis XX through the focusing assembly to achieve focusing.

[0049] For example, the first operating member 120 can be rotatably connected to the transmission member 110, and the first operating member 120 can be rotatably connected to the transmission member 110 by hinge or other suitable means. The length of the first operating member 120 can be relatively short. The first operating member 120 passes through the housing 500 through the first through hole 511. The first through hole 511 can only provide a positioning function for the first operating member 120, but cannot restrict the swing of the first operating member 120. After the first operating member 120 moves from the seventh position to the eighth position along the direction of entering and exiting the first through hole 511, the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500 may be too small, making it difficult to swing the first operating member 120 by applying an external force to the portion of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500, and thus it is difficult to realize the movement of the transmission member 110 in other directions. Since the second operating member 130 can always have an operating end 131 located outside the housing 500, it will be simpler and more convenient to apply an external force to the operating end 131. Therefore, by applying an external force to the operating end 131, the second operating member 130 can move along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, causing the transmission member 110 to drive the focusing gear 200 to rotate. The first operating member 120 is rotatably connected to the transmission member 110. When the second operating member 130 drives the transmission member 110 to move along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, since the movement range of the transmission member 110 is usually relatively small, the transmission member 110 is not restricted by the first operating member 120. At this time, the first operating member 120, rotatably connected to the transmission member 110, can swing slightly relative to the first through hole 511. When the transmission member 110 follows the second operating member 130 in the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, the angle between the transmission member 110 and the first operating member 120 can change. That is, the first operating member 120, rotatably connected to the transmission member 110, can position the transmission member 110 without restricting its movement along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512. When using such an endoscope camera, an external force can be applied to the part of the first operating member 120 located outside the housing 500 to move the first operating member 120 in the direction of entering the first through hole 511, thereby driving the transmission member 110 to move in the direction of entering the first through hole 511 (i.e., the direction close to the focusing gear 200), so that the transmission member 110 switches from a separated state to a connected state. When the transmission member 110 is in the connected state, the user can apply an external force to the operating end 131 to move the second operating member 130 in the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512. The transmission member 110 follows the second operating member 130 in the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512, thereby driving the focusing gear 200 to rotate, and then driving the lens assembly 300 to move along the first axis XX, so that manual focusing can be achieved.When manual focusing is not required, an external force can be applied to the operating end 131 to move the second operating member 130 along the length of the second through hole 512. At this time, the transmission member 110 can move a distance with the second operating member 130 and be separated from the focusing gear 200. To further ensure that the transmission member 110 is in a more stable separated state, the first operating member 120 can be moved along the direction of pulling out the first through hole 511. The transmission member 110 moves a distance along the direction of pulling out the first through hole 511 with the first operating member 120, thereby ensuring that there is a sufficient gap between the transmission member 110 and the focusing gear 200, and the transmission member 110 can be in a more stable separated state. In this type of endoscope camera, by applying an external force to the operating end 131 of the second operating member 130, the transmission member 110 can move along the length direction of the second through hole 512 following the second operating member 130. This assists the first operating member 120 in switching the transmission member 110 between the separated state and the connected state. When the transmission member 110 is in the connected state, only an external force needs to be applied to the operating end 131 of the second operating member 130 to make the transmission member 110 move along the direction of entering and exiting the second through hole 512 following the second operating member 130, thereby driving the focusing gear 200 to rotate to achieve focusing. This type of endoscope camera is simpler and more convenient to operate, and it is also easier to temporarily activate the manual focusing function when the automatic focusing fails.

[0050] For example, see Figure 7 and Figure 8 The transmission member 110 may include a rack extending along the direction of the second operating member 130 into and out of the second through hole 512. When the transmission member 110 is in the connected state, at least a portion of the rack can mesh with the focusing gear 200. The rack-and-pinion transmission member 110 has a simpler structure, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the endoscope camera and making it easier to implement. It is worth noting that in the illustrated embodiment, the length of the rack-and-pinion transmission member 110 along the direction of the second operating member 130 into and out of the second through hole 512 is less than the diameter of the focusing gear 200. In other embodiments not shown, the length of the rack-and-pinion transmission member 110 along the direction of the second operating member 130 into and out of the second through hole 512 may be greater than or equal to the diameter of the focusing gear 200. This application does not limit the specific dimensions of the rack-and-pinion transmission member 110.

[0051] For example, a second elastic member (not shown in the figure) may be connected between the housing 500 and the first operating member 120. The second elastic member can apply an elastic force to the first operating member 120 to hold the first operating member 120 in a seventh position. See also Figure 7 and Figure 8The second elastic element can be in the form of a spring. This spring-type second elastic element can be sleeved on the first operating member 120, with one end connected to the housing 500 and the other end connected to the first operating member 120. This second elastic element can be in a pre-opened state to apply an elastic force to the first operating member 120, holding it in the seventh position. When an external force is applied to the first operating member 120 to move it from the seventh position to the eighth position, the second elastic element can be further opened. When it is necessary for the first operating member 120 to move from the eighth position to the seventh position, simply removing the external force will cause the first operating member 120 to automatically return to the seventh position under the action of the second elastic element. This makes moving the first operating member 120 from the eighth position to the seventh position much simpler. This avoids the situation where, when the first operating member 120 is in the eighth position, the portion of the first operating member 120 passing through the housing 500 and extending outside the housing 500 is too small, making it difficult to apply an external force to move the first operating member 120 from the eighth position to the seventh position. Such an endoscope camera is simpler and more convenient to use.

[0052] In some embodiments, in addition to the automatic reset of the transmission member 110 by the first elastic member 530 or the second elastic member as described above, the structure for automatically resetting the transmission member 110 can be any suitable form, such as a magnetic structure, a steel rope structure, etc.

[0053] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional terms such as "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", "right", "horizontal", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", and "bottom" indicate the orientation or positional relationship, which are usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this utility model. The directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of each component itself.

[0054] For ease of description, relative terms such as "above," "over," "on the upper surface of," and "above" are used here to describe the regional positional relationship of one or more components or features shown in the figures to other components or features. It should be understood that relative terms include not only the orientation of the component as depicted in the figure but also different orientations during use or operation. For example, if the components in the figures are inverted as a whole, "above" or "above other components or features" will include cases where the component is "below" or "under" other components or features. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." Furthermore, these components or features may also be positioned at other different angles (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or other angles), and this document intends to include all such cases.

[0055] It should be noted that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present invention. As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, parts, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0056] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this utility model are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this utility model described herein can be implemented in sequences other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0057] This utility model has been described through the above embodiments. However, it should be understood that the above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the utility model to the described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments, and many more variations and modifications can be made based on the teachings of this utility model, all of which fall within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An endoscope camera, characterized by, The camera includes a housing, an image sensor, a lens assembly, a focusing assembly, a driving assembly and a switching assembly, the lens assembly and the image sensor are arranged along a first axis; The focusing assembly includes a focusing gear, the driving assembly is in transmission connection with the focusing gear and converts rotation of the focusing gear into movement of the lens assembly along the first axis; The image sensor, the lens assembly, the focusing assembly and the driving assembly are arranged in the housing, the housing is provided with a through hole, at least part of the switching assembly is arranged in the through hole; The switching assembly includes a transmission member, the transmission member has a separated state spaced apart from the focusing gear and a connected state connected to the focusing gear, and the transmission member in the connected state drives the focusing gear to rotate under external force.

2. The endoscopic camera of claim 1, wherein, The transmission member is arranged in the through hole.

3. The endoscopic camera of claim 2, wherein, The transmission member includes a gear, the switching assembly further includes an axle connected to the gear, the housing is provided with a guide groove, the axle is arranged in the guide groove and is movable between a first position and a second position along a direction through the through hole, the gear and the focusing gear are in the separated state when the axle is in the first position, and the gear and the focusing gear are in the connected state when the axle is in the second position.

4. The endoscopic camera of claim 2, wherein, The transmission member includes a bevel gear.

5. The endoscopic camera of claim 4, wherein, The bevel gear is movable between a third position and a fourth position along the direction through the through hole, the bevel gear and the focusing gear are in the separated state when the bevel gear is in the third position, and the bevel gear and the focusing gear are in the connected state when the bevel gear is in the fourth position.

6. The endoscopic camera of claim 4, wherein, The through hole has a length along a surface of the housing, the bevel gear is movable between a fifth position and a sixth position along the length, the bevel gear and the focusing gear are in the separated state when the bevel gear is in the fifth position, and the bevel gear and the focusing gear are in the connected state when the bevel gear is in the sixth position.

7. The endoscopic camera of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein, A first elastic member is arranged between the transmission member and the housing, the first elastic member applies an elastic force to the transmission member to keep the transmission member in the separated state.

8. The endoscopic camera of claim 1, wherein, The switching assembly includes a first operating member connected to the transmission member, the through hole includes a first through hole, the first operating member is arranged in the first through hole, the first operating member is movable between a seventh position and an eighth position along a direction into or out of the first through hole, Wherein, the transmission member is in the separated state when the first operating member is in the seventh position, and the transmission member is in the connected state when the first operating member is in the eighth position.

9. The endoscopic camera of claim 8, wherein, The through hole includes a second through hole, the switching assembly includes a second operating member fixedly connected to the transmission member, the second operating member is arranged in the second through hole and has an operating end located outside the housing, the second operating member is slidable along a direction into or out of the second through hole and drives the focusing gear to rotate when the transmission member is in the connected state.

10. The endoscopic camera of claim 9, wherein, A second elastic member is connected between the housing and the first operation member, and the second elastic member applies an elastic force to the first operation member to keep the first operation member in the seventh position.

11. An endoscope system characterized by comprising: An endoscope camera comprising the endoscope camera head of any one of claims 1-10.

Images