Endoscope Circuit Board Segmentation for Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic endoscopes with solid-state image pickup devices at the distal end face challenges in maintaining a compact size and preventing the increase of the insertion portion's diameter while achieving high-quality image acquisition, due to the need for larger composite cables and longer signal transmission paths that lead to signal attenuation and reduced image quality.
Innovation Solution
The electronic endoscope apparatus incorporates a circuit board portion within the operation portion, which serves as a relay for signal transmission, using a rigid frame member with ground layers and signal layers to establish electrical connections and reduce cable thickness, and employs a flexible printed board to wrap electronic parts, thereby shortening signal paths and maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an image pickup apparatus is mounted on the distal end portion of the insertion portion to acquire high-quality images, then image quality is improved, but the diameter of the insertion portion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal transmission path into segments by placing circuit boards at intermediate positions (operation portion and proximal end of insertion portion). This segmentation allows the use of thinner cables in the distal portion while maintaining signal quality, thus reducing the insertion portion diameter without compromising image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces circuit boards as intermediary devices that perform signal processing and regeneration at intermediate positions. These circuit boards act as mediators between the image pickup apparatus and the video processor, enabling the use of thinner cables by refreshing and retransmitting signals, thereby reducing the insertion portion diameter while maintaining high-quality image acquisition.
2Measurement precision
If composite cables are extended from the distal end to the video processor for signal transmission, then image acquisition is enabled, but signal attenuation occurs leading to reduced image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the long cable into multiple shorter sections with circuit boards placed at intermediate positions. Each segment transmits signals over a shorter distance, reducing attenuation. The circuit boards at each segment perform signal regeneration and retransmission, maintaining signal quality throughout the entire transmission path.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit boards serve as intermediary devices that actively regenerate and retransmit signals between segments. This intermediary function compensates for signal attenuation by refreshing the signal at each segment boundary, ensuring high-quality signal transmission over the entire length from the distal end to the video processor.
3Ease of operation
If the insertion portion diameter is reduced for better patient comfort and accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but signal transmission capability is reduced leading to poor image quality
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the signal transmission path with intermediate circuit boards, the patent enables the use of thinner cables that can fit within a reduced insertion portion diameter. The segmentation allows thin cables to maintain signal quality over distance through intermediate regeneration, thus enabling both reduced diameter and high image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameters by introducing active signal regeneration at intermediate points. This allows the system to use thinner cables with fewer conductors while maintaining signal quality, thereby enabling reduced insertion portion diameter without compromising image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic endoscope apparatus includes: an image pickup apparatus mounted at a distal end portion of an insertion portion; an operation portion provided consecutively at the insertion portion, with a frame member incorporated therein; and an electrical cable extended from the operation portion for connection with an external device. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, the frame member has a circuit board portion which establishes electrical connection between shields of the insertion portion and the electrical cable, and on which various electronic parts for exchanging signals with the image pickup apparatus are mounted. In spite of the arrangement of the image pickup apparatus that can acquire high-quality images at a distal end portion of the insertion portion, a size of the apparatus, in particular, a diameter of the insertion portion, can be prevented from being increased.