Coaxial Transmissive-Refractive Optical System for Endoscope Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source devices for endoscopes and surgical microscopes face inefficiencies in light collection due to the small numerical aperture of light guides, leading to scattered direct light and reduced incidence efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A light collective optical system comprising a first transmissive-refractive surface, a second reflecting surface, a first reflecting surface, and a second transmissive-refractive surface, coaxially arranged along the light ray path, with specific curvature and refractive index conditions to effectively collect light with both narrow and wide divergence angles, ensuring efficient transmission to light guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a reflecting mirror is placed only behind a light source lamp, then the structure is simple, but direct light from the light source lamp is scattered and incidence efficiency on the light guide deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single reflecting mirror is segmented into multiple reflecting surfaces (first reflecting surface and second reflecting surface) with different orientations. The first reflecting surface reflects light in a first direction while the second reflecting surface reflects light in a second direction, allowing systematic collection of scattered light from different angles and improving overall light incidence efficiency on the light guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-dimension reflection approach (one mirror behind the light source) to a multi-dimensional reflection system. By arranging reflecting surfaces in different spatial orientations and directions, the system captures light rays propagating in multiple dimensions, thereby improving light collection efficiency without significantly increasing structural complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If the numerical aperture of the light guide is small, then the light guide is compact, but direct light from the light source lamp is scattered and transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple reflecting surfaces are positioned to preliminarily collect and redirect light rays from the light source before they reach the light guide. By pre-organizing light paths through strategic reflection, the system ensures that even light rays that would otherwise scatter are directed toward the light guide entrance, improving transmission efficiency while maintaining the compact light guide structure.
3Area of stationary object
If light with wide divergence angle is used, then the light source illuminates a wider area, but light collection efficiency deteriorates due to scattering
Solution Approach 1:
Different reflecting surfaces are designed with local quality variations - the first reflecting surface is optimized for reflecting light in a first direction while the second reflecting surface is optimized for a second direction. Each surface's geometry, orientation, and position are locally tailored to handle specific ranges of divergence angles, enabling efficient collection of wide-angle light while maintaining overall illumination coverage.
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 configuration enhances light collection and illumination efficiency, even with wide divergence light sources, by optimizing the light path and reducing losses, allowing for brighter illumination of observation objects.
Implementation Method 1
a first transmissive-refractive surface, a second reflecting surface, a first reflecting surface, and a second transmissive-refractive surface which are coaxially arranged along the traveling direction of a light ray
Implementation Method 2
a first transmissive-refractive surface, a second reflecting surface, a first reflecting surface, and a second transmissive-refractive surface which are coaxially arranged along the traveling direction of a light ray
Data Source
AI summary
A light collective optical system includes a single optical member having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. In this case, the first reflecting surface partly has a first transmissive-refractive surface and the second reflecting surface partly has a second transmissive-refractive surface. The first transmissive-refractive surface and the second transmissive-refractive surface are nearly coaxially arranged. Whereby, it is possible to provide the light collective optical system which is capable of illuminating an object to be illuminated with high illuminance and is compact and a light source device using the light collective optical system.