ENDOSCOPYRIGHT: 20100236663 A1 - Patent application

Abstract

The present invention relates to an endoscope comprising a circuit board (10) having a light source (12) disposed thereon, and a light guide (20) extending through the endoscope for receiving light from the light source (12) and directing it to an illumination system for the endoscope. The endoscope further comprises a holder (30) having a light guide hole (32) for inserting a light guide (20), the cross-section of which corresponds to the cross-section of the light source (12) for optimizing light transmission.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope that includes a circuit board on which a light source is disposed, and a light guide that extends within the endoscope to receive light from the light source and direct it to an illumination device of the endoscope. [Background technology]

[0002] The light guide is arranged in the light emitting area of ​​the LEDs and provides for the transmission of light from a light source configured as an LED to the light guide, which is usually arranged on a circuit board. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the light guide must be precisely positioned relative to the circuit board.

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope in which the light guide is conveniently located on the same circuit board on which the light source is located.

[0005] This object is achieved by an endoscope having the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, an endoscope comprises a circuit board on which a light source is disposed, and a light guide extending within the endoscope for receiving light from the light source and directing it to an illumination device of the endoscope, the endoscope further comprising a holder having a light guide hole for inserting the light guide, the cross section of the light guide corresponding to the cross section of the light source for optimizing the transmission of light.

[0008] Because the cross section of the light guide corresponds to the cross section of the light source, the entire cross section of the light guide can be used to receive light when the light guide hole is properly positioned relative to the light source. Even the edges of the light guide can receive light from the light source without the light source having to have a cross section larger than the cross section of the light guide.

[0009] In this endoscope, the light guide lumen, and therefore the light guide, can be positioned opposite the light source to optimize light transmission.

[0010] The free cross section of the light guide hole can be approximately equal to the cross section of the light guide, so that the light guide can be placed in the light guide hole such that the light guide maintains its position in the light guide hole, and when the light guide is immobile in the light guide hole, the distance of the light guide to the light source can be set to a selected convenient distance and this distance remains unchanged.

[0011] The relationship of the cross-section of the light guide hole to the cross-section of the light guide may be selected to provide a slight press fit of the light guide into the light guide hole.

[0012] The light guide hole can have an opening for such insertion of the light guides in a plurality of pieces facing the light sources arranged on the circuit board, such that the total cross section of the light guides in a plurality of pieces and the total cross section of the light source are approximately equal. Thus, the incidence of light from the light source into the light guide is advantageously designed. Not only the individual light guides located in the center of the light guide hole, but also the individual light guides located at the edges of the light guide hole can receive light from the light source. Nevertheless, the cross section of the light source does not have to be larger than the total cross section of the individual light guides.

[0013] The light source may be an LED. Alternatively, the light source may be a collection of LEDs. In the collection of LEDs, the LEDs may be positioned adjacent to each other. Alternatively, in the collection of LEDs, the LEDs may be positioned apart from each other. Furthermore, the light source may include one or more further light guides.

[0014] The light guide hole may have a square cross section, in which case the light source also has an equally sized square cross section.

[0015] The side of the holder facing the circuit board can be spaced from the light source at the portion around the light guide hole. The portion of the holder around the light guide hole faces the light source. By spacing the portion of the holder around the light guide hole from the light source, contact with the light source can be prevented when the holder is attached. This prevents displacement or even damage to the light source. Unintended displacement of the light source can therefore be prevented in a simple and reliable manner.

[0016] The holder can have spacer elements that protrude towards the circuit board and define the distance to the light source on the side of the light guide hole facing the circuit board, thereby ensuring the safety of the light source against contact with the holder in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0017] The holder may include an engagement device that protrudes toward the circuit board and engages with a mating part of the circuit board so that the holder is integrally located on the circuit board. As a result, the attachment of the holder to the circuit board can be performed quickly, easily, and accurately. Mass production is possible.

[0018] The holder can have a light guide hole surrounding portion at the light guide hole, the light guide hole surrounding portion can have a flat surface facing towards the light source, and the light guide can be positioned in the light guide hole such that the end of the light guide facing towards the light source is aligned with the surface of the light guide hole surrounding portion facing towards the light source.

[0019] The flat surface of the holder facing the light source provides a reference for predefining the distance to the opposing light source. The light guide can simply be inserted into the light guide hole such that the end of the light guide facing the light source is aligned with the surface of the light guide hole periphery facing the light source. This positions the light guide in the holder such that the distance between the light guide and the light source corresponds to the desired, predefined dimension.

[0020] The light guide hole can be centered on the light source. Optimized light entry into the light guide can be achieved when the light guide hole, and therefore the light guide, is centered on the light source, with the edge of the light guide exactly facing the edge of the light source.

[0021] The above-mentioned aspects of the present invention can be combined as appropriate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic side view of a holder with a circuit board according to the invention in a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 shows a schematic perspective view from below of the holder from FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] 1 shows a schematic plan view of a holder. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic perspective view from above of the holder. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the holder without the circuit board. [Figure 6] 1 shows a schematic perspective view from below, in which the holder is assembled to the circuit board. [Figure 7] 1 shows a schematic side view with the holder attached to the circuit board. [Figure 8] 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a holder attached to a circuit board, where the holder and circuit board are cut longitudinally at the center of the holder. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a circuit board. [Figure 10] 1 shows a schematic side view of the placement of a light guide on a circuit board, with the holder omitted, and indicates the distance from the light guide to the light source. [Figure 11] 13 shows another schematic side view of a holder including a circuit board with a power supply. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which the figures are not necessarily to scale and may be shown distorted for clarity.

[0024] First embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0025] The endoscope according to the invention preferably has at its distal part an illumination device (not shown) capable of illuminating the surroundings of the endoscope. The illuminated view can be captured by a camera (not shown), which is arranged at the distal end of the endoscope. In this embodiment, the light for the illumination device is provided by a light source configured as an LED 12. The light is guided from the LED 12 to the illumination device via a light guide 20.

[0026] For this purpose, the endoscope according to the invention comprises a circuit board 10 on which an LED 12 is arranged at a suitable position inside, for example in a control body (not shown).

[0027] In this embodiment, the LEDs 12 are placed on the circuit board 10 and appropriately fixed and positioned, for example, by soldering to the circuit board 10. The LEDs 12 are positioned on the circuit board 10 such that the light output surface of the LEDs 12 faces the light guide 20.

[0028] To couple out the light emitted from the LEDs 12, the light guide 20 is held by a holder 30. The holder 30 holds the light guide 20 such that a desired distance dimension is guaranteed between a light guide input face of the light guide 20 facing the LEDs 12 and a light output face of the LEDs 12 facing the light guide 20. In particular, the holder 30 holds the end of the light guide 20 facing towards the LEDs 12 as shown in FIG.

[0029] The holder 30 will now be described in further detail with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0030] In this embodiment, the holder 30 has an elongated shape and extends parallel to the circuit board 10, which is also elongated. The holder 30 and the circuit board 10 are not limited to the elongated shape and details shown in the figures. The holder 30 has a holder body 31. The holder body 31 has a light guide hole 32 extending through the holder body 31 in which the light guide 20 is disposed as described below. In this embodiment, the light guide hole 32 forms a central through hole in the holder body 31. The position of the light guide hole 32 in the holder body 31 can be appropriately selected as desired.

[0031] Thereby, the holder body 31 has two faces on which the light guide hole 32 opens in the holder body 31. In particular, the holder body 31 has orifices (openings) 310, 330 of the light guide hole 32 on the outer surface of the holder body 31. One orifice (opening) 310 is located on the face 301 of the holder body 31 facing the circuit board 10 (see FIG. 2), and one orifice (opening) 330 is located on the face 302 of the holder body 31 facing away from the circuit board 10 (see FIG. 4). In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the face 301 of the holder body 31 facing the circuit board 10 forms the lower face of the holder 30, and the face 302 of the holder body 31 facing away from the circuit board 10 forms the upper face of the holder 30. The bottom surface of the holder 30 is also referred to as the circuit board side 301, and the top surface of the holder 30 is also referred to as the light guide side 302. In this embodiment, the circuit board side 301 and the light guide side 302 form opposite faces of the holder 30.

[0032] The holder body 31 has at least a protrusion 34 on the circuit board side 301, which protrudes from the holder body 31 to the circuit board 10. In this embodiment, the protrusion 34 is provided on the circuit board side 301 at each longitudinal end of the holder body 31, as shown in FIG. 2. The protrusion 34 has a surface 340 on the circuit board side 301 that functions as a contact surface. When the holder 30 is fixed to the circuit board 10, the circuit board 10 contacts (abuts) the contact surface 340. Preferably, the contact surface 340 is flat to achieve good contact (abutment) with the circuit board 10 (see FIG. 1). When viewed from the side (FIG. 5), the contact surface 340 is spaced apart from the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32 on the circuit board side 301 in a direction perpendicular to the circuit board 10 (perpendicular to the circuit board 10).

[0033] The protrusion 34 functions as a spacer element that defines the distance of the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32 on the circuit board side 301 to the circuit board 10 .

[0034] Furthermore, the holder body 31 has an elastic engagement hook 35 as an engagement device on the circuit board side 301. In this embodiment, two engagement hooks 35 are provided protruding from the holder body 31 to the circuit board 10. In this embodiment, each of the engagement hooks 35 is located between the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32 and the protrusion 34. The engagement hooks 35 are fixed to the holder body 31. The engagement hooks 35 are movable (pivotable) relative to the holder body 31 due to their elasticity. In this embodiment, the engagement hooks 35 have a nose facing away from the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32, and the nose can engage with the circuit board 10 as described below.

[0035] The holder body 31 further has an insertion protrusion 37 on the circuit board side 301. In this embodiment, two insertion protrusions 37 are provided, which are located on the contact surface 340 of the protrusion 34. The insertion protrusions 37 may be tapered (so that the overall dimensions are reduced) at the end facing away from the holder 30. The insertion protrusions 37 may be rounded at the end facing away from the holder 30. The insertion protrusions 37 serve to accurately position the holder 30 with respect to the circuit board 10.

[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, each of the engagement hooks 35 is located between the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32 and the insertion protrusion 37 .

[0037] The light guide hole 32 penetrates the holder body 31 from the light guide side 302 to the circuit board side 301. In this embodiment, the light guide hole 32 has a square cross section. The light guide hole 32 has a peripheral wall 320. The light guide hole 32 has an orifice (opening) 310 on the circuit board side 301 and an orifice (opening) 330 on the light guide side 302.

[0038] The orifice (opening) 330 on the light guide side 302, referring to FIG. 4, is beveled (chamfered) to facilitate insertion of the light guide 20 from the light guide side 302 and to avoid damage to the end face of the light guide 20 facing the LED 12.

[0039] The orifice (opening) 310 on the circuit board side 301 is not beveled (chamfered) (see FIG. 2). The orifice (opening) 310 on the circuit board side 301 is surrounded by a flat (uniform) surface portion 350 that forms the light guide hole periphery. The light guide hole 32 extends perpendicularly (at a 90 degree angle) to the surface portion 350 at the orifice (opening) 310. The surface portion 350 faces the LED 12. In this embodiment, the surface portion 350 extends between the two protrusions 34 on the circuit board side 301 (see FIG. 2). The surface portion 350 has a flat surface facing the light source 12.

[0040] Next, the arrangement of the light guide 20 in the holder 30 will be described.

[0041] Prior to mounting the holder 30 to the circuit board 10 , the light guide 20 is inserted into the holder 30 .

[0042] The light guide 20 is inserted into the light guide hole 32 from the light guide side 302 and pushed through the light guide hole 32 until the light guide 20 protrudes from the orifice (opening) 310 of the surface portion 350 on the circuit board side 301 towards the LED 12.

[0043] Then, using a suitable pushing device or manually, the light guide 20 protruding from the orifice (opening) 310 of the surface portion 350 is pushed back into the light guide hole 32 until the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 is aligned with the flat surface of the surface portion 350 directed towards the LED 12.

[0044] This allows the relative position of the light guide input face of the light guide 20 with respect to the holder 30 to be accurately determined.

[0045] Therefore, when the holder 30 is subsequently attached to the circuit board 10, the relative position and distance of the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 to the LEDs 12 disposed on the circuit board 10 is accurately determined.

[0046] The circuit board 10 is described in further detail below.

[0047] The circuit board 10 is shown in greater detail in FIG.

[0048] The circuit board 10 has a circuit board body 11 on which the LEDs 12 are disposed at appropriate positions. The circuit board body 11 has an upper surface 101 facing the holder 30 and a lower surface 102 opposite the holder 30 (see FIG. 9).

[0049] Suitable conductive paths (not shown) are also provided on the circuit board body 11. Furthermore, a supply cable 121 is provided on the circuit board body 11 (see FIG. 6). The supply cable 121 is used to supply power and can be led from a processor (not shown) to the circuit board body 11 and through to the socket 120. This can be used, among other things, to supply power to the LEDs 12.

[0050] The circuit board 10 can be used for other purposes. Additionally, the circuit board body 11 can be provided with a camera cable 19 coming from a camera located at the distal end. The camera cable 19 can be used to supply power to the camera via a supply cable 121 and a socket 120.

[0051] On the circuit board body 11, an engagement hole 16 is formed at a position corresponding to the engagement hook 35 as an engagement partner. The engagement hole 16 is formed so that the engagement hook 35 can be inserted and engaged. The shape of the engagement hole 16 is matched to the cross-sectional shape of the engagement hook 35. The engagement hole 16 is large enough to allow the engagement hook 35 to be inserted and its nose to engage with the underside 102 (see Figures 6 and 8).

[0052] Furthermore, centering holes 17 are formed on the circuit board body 11 at positions corresponding to the insertion protrusions 37. The insertion protrusions 37 of the holder 30 are inserted into the centering holes 17 to ensure the desired positioning of the holder 30 relative to the circuit board 10.

[0053] In this manner, the two engagement holes 16 and the two centering holes 17 are formed in the circuit board body 11 so that the desired positioning of the holder 30 relative to the circuit board 10 can be obtained.

[0054] The desired positioning of holder 30 relative to circuit board 10 is such that the light guide input face of light guide 20 is centered over LED 12, as shown in FIGS.

[0055] The light guide 20 is described in further detail below.

[0056] In this embodiment, the light guide 20 is formed as a body with a substantially square cross section, the cross section of the light guide 20 corresponding to the cross section of the LED 12. The light guide 20 is formed as a bundle of four parallel individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204. The four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204 are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204 can have, for example, a circular or square cross section, although the exact shape of the cross section is not limited. Fig. 7 shows a side view of the holder 30, with the two individual light guides 203 and 204 arranged on one (front, i.e. facing the viewer) longitudinal side of the holder 30. Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal cross section through the centre of the holder 30, with the two individual light guides 201 and 202 arranged on the other (rear) longitudinal side of the holder 30. Each of the four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204 has the same diameter and is adjacent to and in contact with one another, such that two of each of the four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204 are in contact with one another. Thus, when viewed in cross section, a generally square body results from the four individual cross sections of the four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204.

[0057] The light guide holes 32 are selected to be sized such that the bodies of the four individual light guides 201, 202, 203, and 204 are slidable, but not free, within the light guide holes 32. The light guides 20 must not be able to slip out of the light guide holes 32 without external influence.

[0058] According to the present invention, the relative position of the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 with respect to the LED 12 can be precisely determined. The light guide 20 is centered with respect to the LED 12, and the desired distance between the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 and the light output surface of the LED 12 is predetermined by the holder 30 at a known height of the LED 12 from the top surface 101 of the circuit board 10.

[0059] The relative cross sections of the light guide 20 (one light guide or multiple individual light guides) and the LEDs 12 are approximately equal to optimize light transmission.

[0060] As a result, for light emitted by LED 12, there is very low loss of light incident on the light guide input face of light guide 20.

[0061] Because the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 and the light output surface of the LED 12 are separated by the holder 30, there is no possibility that the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 will contact the light output surface of the LED 12, even if some tolerance occurs.

[0062] Therefore, the structure of the present invention including the holder 30 can be suitably used for mass production.

[0063] Correct insertion of the light guide 20 into the holder 30 is simple and quick. Alignment of the light guide input faces when using several individual light guides can be ensured in a simple and safe manner.

[0064] The shape and size of the light guide aperture 32 for the light guide 20 or a plurality of individual light guides ensures that the light guide 20 is seated sufficiently firmly and securely in the light guide aperture 32 .

[0065] The engagement feature allows holder 30 to be easily and securely attached to circuit board 10.

[0066] The predetermined distance between the light guide input face of the light guide 20 and the light output face of the LED 12 may be in the range of 0.001 mm to 10 mm, for example.

[0067] Alternative examples In this embodiment, the holder 30 is shown in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The shape of the holder 30 is not limited and can be selected as desired.

[0068] In this embodiment, the circuit board side 301 and the light guide side 302 form opposite faces of the holder 30, but the invention is not limited thereto. In an alternative example, the light guide side 302, which is the side where the light guide hole 32 has the orifice (opening) 330 for inserting the light guide 20, may be a side face of the holder 30, and the circuit board side 301 forms the bottom face of the holder 30, as in this embodiment. In this variant, the light guide hole 32 has the shape of an arc, rather than extending straight as in this embodiment.

[0069] The protrusions 34 as spacer elements can be omitted if the LEDs 12 are embedded in the circuit board 10. The dimension of the separation between the light guide input surface of the light guide 20 facing the LEDs 12 and the light output surface of the LEDs 12 facing the light guide 20 can be adjusted by the embedding depth of the LEDs 12 in the circuit board 10.

[0070] In this embodiment, the contact surface 340 is flat so that the circuit board 10 contacts (abuts) it. Alternatively, the contact surface 340 may be uneven (having convex and concave portions). In this case, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the circuit board 10, the distance between the LED 12 and the end of the light guide 20 facing the LED can be adjusted based on the setting of the distance dimension between the point of the surface 340 that protrudes furthest toward the circuit board and the light guide hole surrounding portion adjacent to the light guide hole 32.

[0071] In this embodiment, the light guide 20 is spaced apart from the light output surface of the LED 12. In the alternative, the light guide 20 can contact (abut) the light output surface of the LED 12 by appropriately selecting the protrusion amount of the protrusion 34 from the holder body 31.

[0072] The number and structure of the engaging hooks 35 and the engaging holes 16 can be selected arbitrarily.

[0073] The number and structure of the insertion projections 37 and centering holes 17 can be selected arbitrarily.

[0074] In this embodiment, each of the engagement hooks 35 is located between the orifice (opening) 310 of the light guide hole 32 and the protrusion 34, and the insertion protrusions 37 are respectively formed on the protrusions 34. The exact positions of both the engagement hooks 35 and the insertion protrusions 37 can also be selected at other positions on the holder body 31.

[0075] In this embodiment, the surface portion 350 extends between the two protrusions 34 on the circuit board side 301. Alternatively, the surface portion 350 can protrude from the lower surface 301 of the holder 30 towards the LED 12. In this variant, the protrusion protruding towards the LED 12 is formed on the lower surface 301 of the holder 30, and the light guide hole 32 extends into the protrusion and opens towards the LED 12. The side of this protrusion facing towards the LED 12 therefore includes an orifice (opening) 310 and a flat surface surrounding the orifice (opening) 310.

[0076] There is no limitation on the number of individual light guides in light guide 20. Light guide 20 may comprise only one individual light guide or a suitable plurality of individual light guides. A suitable plurality of individual light guides may be obtained when the individual light guides arranged parallel to one another form an approximately square shape in overall cross section that matches the shape of light guide aperture 32. For example, a suitable plurality of individual light guides may comprise a matrix arrangement of individual light guides, each having an equal number of rows and columns. If light guide 20 is a single individual light guide, its cross section may be square or circular.

[0077] The expression "a cross-section of the light guide corresponds to a cross-section of the light source" also includes the case where the light guide has a circular cross-section that corresponds in size to a square cross-section of the light source. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 10 Circuit Board 11 Circuit board body 12 LED (light source) 16 Engagement hole (engagement partner) 17 Centering hole 19 Camera cable 20 Light Guide 30 Holder 31 Holder body 32 Light guide hole 34 Protrusion (spacer element) 35 Engagement hook (engagement device) 37 Insertion protrusion 101 Top of the circuit board 102 Underside of circuit board 120 Sockets 121 Supply Cable 201 Individual Light Guides 202 Individual Light Guide 203 Individual Light Guide 204 Individual Light Guides 301 Bottom surface of holder (circuit board side) 302 Top surface of holder (light guide side) 310 Orifice (opening) of the light guide hole 32 on the circuit board side 301 320 Surrounding wall of light guide hole 330 Orifice (opening) of light guide hole 32 on light guide side 302 340 Contact surface 350 Surface adjacent to the light guide hole and facing the LED (surface portion) (surface portion surrounding the light guide hole)

Claims

1. An endoscope comprising: A circuit board (10) on which a light source (12) is disposed; a light guide (20) extending within the endoscope, receiving light from the light source (12) and directing it to an illumination device of the endoscope; It is equipped with The endoscope further comprises a holder (30) having a light guide hole (32) for inserting the light guide (20), the cross section of the light guide (20) corresponding to the cross section of the light source (12) for optimizing light transmission; The holder (30) is a spacer element (34) protruding toward the circuit board (10) at a longitudinal end and defining a distance to the light source (12) on the side of the light guide hole (32) facing the circuit board (10); an insertion protrusion (37) provided on the spacer element (34) for positioning the holder (30) relative to the circuit board (10); an engagement device (35) that is provided between the light guide hole (32) and the spacer element (34) and protrudes toward the circuit board (10), and engages with an engagement partner of the circuit board (10) so that the holder (30) is integrally positioned on the circuit board (10); having An endoscope characterized by:

2. The cross section of the light guide hole (32) is approximately equal to the cross section of the light guide (20). The endoscope according to claim 1 .

3. The light guide hole (32) has openings for such insertion of the plurality of light guides (201-204) such that the plurality of light guides (201-204) face the light source (12) arranged on the circuit board (10) such that the overall cross section of the plurality of light guides (201-204) is approximately equal to the overall cross section of the light source (12).

3. An endoscope according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The light source (12) is an LED. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The light guide hole (32) has a square cross section. The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The side of the holder (30) facing the circuit board (10) is spaced from the light source (12) in a portion around the light guide hole (32). The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. In the light guide hole (32), the holder (30) has a light guide hole surrounding portion (350) surrounding the light guide hole (32), The light guide hole surrounding portion (350) has a flat surface facing the light source (12), The light guide (20) is placed in the light guide hole (32) such that an end of the light guide (20) facing the light source (12) is aligned with a surface of the light guide hole periphery (350) facing the light source (12). The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The light guide hole (32) is centered on the light source (12). The endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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