Endoscope Distal End Flexible Circuit Board Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face challenges in efficiently integrating image pickup devices and light-emitting units within the distal end portion, particularly in minimizing size and simplifying configuration while maintaining optimal positioning and alignment.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flexible printed circuit board with specific mounting sections and protruding portions to accommodate both the light-receiving and light-emitting units, allowing for easy adjustment and alignment on the same board, thereby simplifying the assembly process and maintaining optimal optical axis alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the image pickup device and light-emitting unit are mounted on separate flexible printed circuit boards, then each component can be independently positioned, but the overall device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image pickup device and light-emitting unit onto a single flexible printed circuit board. The FPC includes a light-receiving unit mounting section for the image pickup device and a light-emitting unit mounting section for the light-emitting unit, both integrated on the same board. This merging approach reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining precise positioning through dedicated mounting sections and alignment features such as the stand and protruding portion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used in the distal end portion, then functional flexibility is improved, but the size and volume of the distal end portion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional components including the image pickup device, light-emitting unit, and their mounting structures onto a single flexible printed circuit board. This consolidation reduces the overall volume of the distal end portion while maintaining functional flexibility through the modular design of mounting sections that can accommodate different component configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a flexible printed circuit board as the base structure allows for compact integration of components. The FPC can be bent and shaped to fit within the constrained space of the distal end portion, enabling efficient spatial arrangement of components without increasing volume. The flexibility of the FPC allows optimization of component placement to minimize the overall footprint.
3Manufacturing precision
If the light-receiving unit and light-emitting unit are positioned at different heights, then optical alignment is simplified, but the structural complexity of the mounting structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the light-receiving unit and light-emitting unit at different heights along the optical axis direction. The light-receiving unit is mounted on the light-receiving unit mounting section while the light-emitting unit is mounted on the light-emitting unit mounting section at a lower height. This height difference in the vertical dimension simplifies optical alignment by naturally separating the optical paths and reducing interference, while the structured design of the FPC and stand maintains overall structural simplicity.
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 enables efficient integration of image pickup devices and light-emitting units on the same flexible printed circuit board, simplifying the distal end portion's structure and allowing for precise positioning without increasing the number of boards, thus enhancing the endoscope's functionality and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a light-receiving unit (30) having a first height
Implementation Method 2
a light-emitting unit (35) having a second height lower than the first height
Data Source
AI summary
A distal end portion of an endoscope includes: a flexible printed circuit board on which a light-receiving unit mounting section, a first extending section, a light-emitting unit mounting section, and a second extending section are formed continuously; a stand on which the light-receiving unit mounting section is disposed in contact with the stand; a protruding portion including an inner wall surface, a protruding end surface, and an outer wall surface, in which the first extending section is disposed in contact with the inner wall surface, the light-emitting unit mounting section is disposed in contact with the protruding end surface, and the second extending section is disposed in contact with the outer wall surface; and a distal end cover that covers the stand and the protruding portion, with the second extending section being sandwiched between the distal end cover and the protruding portion.