Endoscope Connector Ground Timing for Residual Charge Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic endoscope apparatuses face issues with residual charge discharge after power supply cutoff, leading to potential malfunctions due to floating grounds and inadequate insulation, which compromises the protection of electronic devices during signal and power transmission.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a connector design with coils for electromagnetic induction and capacitive coupling to maintain insulation while ensuring the ground connection between the electronic endoscope and processor device, allowing for controlled discharge of residual charge through a contact mechanism that maintains electrical connection until electromagnetic coupling is released.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If insulation between electronic endoscope and processor device is maintained using electromagnetic coupling without terminal groups, then waterproof treatment is unnecessary and ease of operation is improved, but ground connection is lost and reliability deteriorates due to floating ground causing improper residual charge discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate contact parts: a first contact part for signal transmission and a second contact part for ground connection. This segmentation allows the ground connection to be maintained independently through mechanical contact while signal transmission occurs through electromagnetic coupling, resolving the contradiction between waterproofing and ground stability.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated ground contact part acts as an intermediary element that provides mechanical electrical contact between the electronic endoscope and processor device. This intermediary component ensures stable ground connection while allowing the signal transmission to occur through insulation-maintaining electromagnetic coupling.
2Reliability
If terminal groups are used for power and signal transmission, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but waterproof treatment becomes necessary and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection function is segmented into two parts: ground connection through direct mechanical contact and signal transmission through electromagnetic coupling. This segmentation eliminates the need for waterproof treatment of terminal groups while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical terminal group system is replaced by combining mechanical ground contact with electromagnetic field-based signal transmission. This substitution maintains reliable electrical connection while eliminating the complexity of waterproofing mechanical terminals.
3Loss of time
If ground terminals are disconnected immediately with power cutoff, then response time is improved, but residual charge discharges along unintended paths and harmful effects occur causing electronic device damage
Solution Approach 1:
The ground contact part is designed to maintain mechanical contact and provide a discharge path even after electromagnetic coupling is released. This preliminary maintained connection ensures residual charge discharges along the intended ground path rather than through unintended paths that could damage electronic devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground contact part serves as an intermediary that remains connected longer than the signal transmission path, providing a controlled discharge route for residual charge. This intermediary element mediates between the power cutoff timing and the residual charge discharge timing, preventing harmful effects.
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 design effectively prevents malfunctions by ensuring residual charge is discharged along an assumed path and timing, reducing noise interference and enhancing the protection of electronic devices during operation and disconnection.
Implementation Method 1
transmits and receives power and signals by the connection of a pair of coils which are electromagnetically coupled to each other
Implementation Method 2
residual charge is discharged along an assumed path and at an assumed timing
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an electronic-endoscope-apparatus in which the protection of an electronic device mounted on an electronic-endoscope is enhanced. An electronic-endoscope-apparatus 1 comprises an electronic-endoscope 2 and a processor device 3 that transmits and receives power and signals between the electronic-endoscope 2 and itself. The electronic-endoscope 2 and the processor device 3 have connectors 13 and 14 that are connected to each other, respectively. The connectors 13 and 14 include input/output units 31 and 33 that transmit and receive power and signals, and contact parts 32 and 34 that electrically connect a ground of the electronic-endoscope 2 to a ground of the processor device 3. When connection between the connectors 13 and 14 is released, contact between the contact parts 32 and 34 is released after coupling between the input/output units 31 and 33 is released and the transmission and reception of power become impossible.