Capsule Endoscope Thermal Management for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
The battery life of capsule endoscopes is limited, preventing them from performing complete gastrointestinal examinations due to the physical size constraints and high power requirements for image capture and transmission.
Innovation Solution
The capsule endoscope incorporates thermally conductive elements to efficiently transfer heat generated by the image acquisition and circuit control components to the battery component, enhancing thermal equilibrium and extending battery life without increasing structural complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wireless charging is used to remotely charge the battery in the capsule endoscope, then the battery power is sufficient, but the structural complexity and cost are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the image acquisition component and circuit control component into a beneficial resource by transferring it to the battery component. This thermoelectric conversion approach provides additional power to the battery without requiring wireless charging technology, thus resolving the contradiction between sufficient battery power and structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the battery by introducing thermally conductive elements that transfer heat from other components to the battery. This temperature parameter change increases the battery's output power, providing sufficient energy without adding complex wireless charging structures
2Measurement precision
If a stronger light source is used to capture higher resolution images, then the image quality is improved, but the battery power consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the heat waste from the image acquisition component into useful energy for the battery. This allows the system to maintain high-resolution imaging with stronger light sources while the generated heat is simultaneously utilized to extend battery power, resolving the contradiction between image quality and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the heat generated by the image acquisition component, the patent recovers this thermal energy and transfers it to the battery. This energy recovery mechanism allows high-resolution imaging to proceed without proportionally increasing battery power consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively extends the working time of the battery by utilizing thermally conductive elements to transfer heat to the battery, addressing the issue of insufficient battery power while maintaining the capsule endoscope's simplicity and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the capsule endoscope can timely and effectively transfer the heat generated by the image acquisition component and the circuit control component to the battery component
Implementation Method 2
the heat dissipation cavity is filled with a solid-state phase change material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a capsule endoscope, including: an enclosure; a battery component disposed in an accommodating space enclosed by the enclosure; a circuit control component electrically connected to the battery component and disposed adjacent to the battery component; an image acquisition component electrically connected to the circuit control component; a first thermally conductive element disposed between the battery component and the circuit control component; and a second thermally conductive element in contact with the image acquisition component and the battery component, respectively. The capsule endoscope can timely and effectively transfer heat generated by the image acquisition component and the circuit control component to the battery component, so that the battery component can reach a higher thermal equilibrium temperature, thereby extending working time of the battery component, solving the issue of insufficient battery power, and without significantly increasing structural complexity of the capsule endoscope.