Endoscope Cable Connector Segmented Land Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope apparatuses face difficulties in connecting a high number of electric lines to control units due to close proximity of conductive lands and wiring patterns, leading to issues like breakage, short-circuiting, and low operability in mounting the cable structure within the flexible tube device.
Innovation Solution
A cable connector with a circuit board featuring discrete first and second land patterns and a terminal group, where the terminal group is positioned between the land patterns for electrical conduction, allowing for safe and simplified connection of multiple electric lines, and a wiring pattern that couples the land patterns to the terminal group, facilitating easy passage through the elongated tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If all electric lines are connected to a single concentrated land pattern, then the cable connector structure is simplified, but the conductive lands are disposed extremely close to each other causing difficulty in coupling and high risk of breakage and short-circuiting
Solution Approach 1:
The single concentrated land pattern is segmented into multiple separate land patterns (first land pattern, second land pattern, third land pattern, etc.). Each land pattern connects to a specific group of electric lines, distributing the connection points across the circuit board. This segmentation increases the spacing between conductive lands, reducing the risk of short-circuiting and breakage while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the number of electric lines for connection is reduced to safely dispose conductive lines or land patterns, then the risk of breakage and short-circuiting is reduced, but the operability in mounting the cable structure in the flexible tube device is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board is configured with land patterns arranged in multiple dimensions and orientations. The first, second, third, and fourth land patterns are positioned at different locations and orientations on the circuit board, utilizing two-dimensional space efficiently. This dimensional arrangement allows all electric lines to be connected without excessive crowding, maintaining both reliability and ease of mounting operations.
3Device complexity
If the conductive lines in the wiring pattern are disposed extremely near to each other to connect all electric lines, then the cable connector structure is simplified, but breakage of lines, short-circuiting and electric noise are likely to occur seriously
Solution Approach 1:
The wiring pattern is designed with varying line spacing and routing strategies in different local regions. In areas where electric lines are densely packed, the wiring pattern uses wider spacing, different routing paths, or shielding techniques to prevent short-circuiting and reduce electric noise. This localized optimization maintains structural simplicity while preventing harmful effects in critical areas.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable connector includes a circuit board, having a predetermined width in a manner passable through an elongated tube of an endoscope apparatus, disposed to extend in an axial direction. A terminal group is formed on the circuit board, for electrically contacting a socket connector. First and second land patterns are formed on the circuit board, arranged in the axial direction so that the terminal group is disposed therebetween, wherein a front end of a first electric line group having lines among electric lines of a cable structure is electrically coupled to the first land pattern, and a front end of a second electric line group having lines among the electric lines is coupled to the second land pattern. A wiring pattern is formed on the circuit board, for electrically coupling the first land pattern to the terminal group and coupling the second land pattern to the terminal group.