Endoscope Abnormality Detection Using Segmented Judgment Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting abnormalities in actuators and driving circuits due to varying types and configurations, leading to inconsistent voltage and current thresholds, which affect the reliability of abnormality detection.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope apparatus includes a processor-connected endoscope with a lens actuator, a driving circuit, and separate memories for storing judgement information specific to the actuator and driving circuit, allowing the processor to judge abnormalities based on signal thresholds stored in both the endoscope and processor memories, ensuring accurate detection regardless of actuator or driving circuit type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single type of judgement threshold is used for all actuators and driving circuits, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of abnormality detection deteriorates due to variability in actuator and driving circuit configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the judgement information into two separate segments: first judgement information stored in the endoscope and second judgement information stored in the processor. This segmentation allows each segment to contain thresholds optimized for specific actuator types or driving circuit configurations, thereby improving detection accuracy without requiring a single complex unified threshold system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal abnormality detection system that can handle multiple types of actuators and driving circuits by selecting appropriate judgement information from the stored sets. The system universally applies the selected thresholds regardless of the specific actuator or processor type, enabling accurate detection across diverse configurations
2Reliability
If separate judgement information is stored for different actuator and driving circuit types, then the reliability of abnormality detection is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple memory storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage burden by placing first judgement information in the endoscope's memory and second judgement information in the processor's memory. This distribution reduces the memory complexity at each individual component while maintaining the reliability benefits of having type-specific thresholds available at both locations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing multiple sets of judgement information corresponding to different actuator and driving circuit types before actual operation. This allows the system to quickly select the appropriate thresholds during operation without performing complex real-time calculations, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope having a lens, an actuator, and an endoscope memory, and a processor having a driving circuit and a processor memory and connected to the endoscope. The processor judges whether there is abnormality or not in at least one of the actuator or the driving circuit by using information on a signal transmitted from the driving circuit to the actuator, first judgement information read from the endoscope memory, and second judgement information read from the processor memory.