Scanning Endoscope Drive Signal Correction for Actuator Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning endoscope apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a consistent two-dimensional scan pattern due to individual differences in dielectric actuators, leading to fluctuations in illumination range and image quality, especially when inserted into body cavities.
Innovation Solution
A scanning endoscope apparatus equipped with a dielectric actuator driven by a correction system that adjusts drive signals based on correlation information stored in a memory, ensuring consistent displacement and illumination patterns by detecting and correcting drive signals to match predetermined values, thereby minimizing the impact of actuator individual differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a dielectric actuator is used to drive the distal end of the optical fiber for scanning, then the insertion portion diameter can be reduced, but individual differences in the actuator cause fluctuations in displacement amount and scan pattern consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of the actual displacement amount of the dielectric actuator before scanning operations. The correction coefficient is calculated and stored in advance based on the ratio between the commanded displacement amount and the actually measured displacement amount. This preliminary characterization allows the system to compensate for individual actuator differences without requiring physical adjustments or recalibrations during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameter (drive signal amplitude) of the dielectric actuator based on the calculated correction coefficient. By multiplying the commanded displacement amount by the correction coefficient, the system adjusts the drive signal to achieve the desired actual displacement amount, thereby compensating for actuator individual differences and maintaining scan pattern consistency.
2Manufacturing precision
If the drive signal amplitude is increased to compensate for actuator individual differences, then displacement consistency improves, but energy consumption and actuator stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the actual displacement amount of the dielectric actuator is measured and used to calculate a correction coefficient. This correction coefficient is then applied to adjust the drive signal amplitude, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy consumption while maintaining displacement consistency. The feedback ensures that the actuator receives only the necessary drive signal amplitude required to achieve the desired displacement.
3Measurement precision
If correction coefficients are calculated and stored for each actuator, then scan pattern accuracy improves, but device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing complex hardware adjustment mechanisms for each actuator, the system creates a digital copy or representation of the actuator's characteristics in the form of a correction coefficient stored in memory. This digital model allows the system to compensate for individual actuator differences through software-based signal adjustment, significantly reducing hardware complexity while maintaining scan pattern accuracy.
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 solution stabilizes the illumination range and image quality by correcting drive signals to maintain consistent displacement amounts, preventing fluctuations in the scan pattern and ensuring a consistent display area, thus enhancing the reliability of endoscopic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric actuator disposed in the endoscope, the dielectric actuator being configured to drive the distal end of the optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning endoscope apparatus includes: a light source unit; an illumination fiber inserted inside an insertion portion of an endoscope, the illumination fiber being configured to guide illuminating light from a proximal end to a distal end; an actuator configured to drive the distal end of the optical fiber so that the illuminating light outputted from the illumination fiber is scanned on a subject; a memory configured to store correlation coefficient information on a correlation coefficient between a drive signal for driving the actuator and a displacement amount of the actuator; and a controller, and the controller detects a current of the drive signal for driving the actuator and corrects the drive signal for driving the actuator based on the correlation coefficient information and a value of the detected current so that the displacement amount of the actuator becomes a predetermined value.