Endoscope Eyepiece Filter Alignment to Prevent Ghosting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filter devices between the eyepiece portion of an endoscope and the camera head suffer from ghosting due to misalignment, leading to increased costs when anti-reflection coatings are used to mitigate this issue.

Innovation Solution

A filter device with a frame and connector system that ensures the filter is parallel to the cover glass by using an elastic region to press the frame against the cover glass circumference, eliminating the need for anti-reflection coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If anti-reflection coating is provided on cover glass and filter to reduce ghosting, then ghosting is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveghostingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is pre-positioned and fixed in a specific location on the cover glass before final assembly. The connector structure includes a positioning portion that ensures the filter is correctly aligned with the cover glass optical path, preventing ghosting through proper initial positioning rather than requiring anti-reflection coatings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A connector structure with a positioning portion acts as an intermediary between the filter and the cover glass. This positioning portion ensures precise alignment and parallel positioning of the filter relative to the cover glass, eliminating the need for expensive anti-reflection coatings while preventing ghosting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If filter is not arranged parallel to cover glass, then assembly is simpler, but reflected light occurs and ghosting occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidghosting

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is pre-positioned and fixed in a specific location on the cover glass before final assembly. The connector structure includes a positioning portion that ensures the filter is correctly aligned with the cover glass optical path, preventing ghosting through proper initial positioning rather than requiring anti-reflection coatings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A connector structure with a positioning portion acts as an intermediary between the filter and the cover glass. This positioning portion ensures precise alignment and parallel positioning of the filter relative to the cover glass, eliminating the need for expensive anti-reflection coatings while preventing ghosting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Reduces ghosting effectively while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design, ensuring high-quality image capture without the need for expensive anti-reflection coatings.

Implementation Method 1

The connector includes an elastic region that presses the filter or the frame to an outer circumference of an effective optical path of the cover glass or to a circumference of the cover glass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260013708A1Filter device and endoscope system

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

A filter device includes a filter configured to attenuate light with a predetermined wavelength from emitted light emitted through a cover glass of an eyepiece portion of an endoscope along an optical axis, a frame configured to hold the filter, and a connector configured to hold the frame, and attach the frame to a camera head including an image pickup device configured to receive light passed through the filter. The connector includes an elastic region that presses the filter or the frame to an outer circumference of an effective optical path of the cover glass or to a circumference of the cover glass, in a state where the camera head is attached to the eyepiece portion.