Endoscope Heat Dissipation Member for Stereoscopic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscopes with two objective optical systems and imaging elements, heat dissipation is challenging, leading to increased temperature and dark current noise, which degrades the quality of stereoscopic images.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope design that includes a lens frame to hold the objective optical systems and an imaging unit with a heat dissipation member in contact with both the lens frame and the imaging unit, facilitating effective heat transfer and dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If two imaging elements are disposed close to each other to reduce endoscope size, then the device size is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes difficult and temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
A heat dissipation member is introduced as an intermediary component between the imaging elements and the lens frame. This heat dissipation member conducts heat away from the imaging elements through thermal conduction, acting as a thermal bridge to transfer heat to the lens frame which serves as a heat sink, thereby resolving the heat dissipation difficulty caused by close positioning of imaging elements
Solution Approach 2:
The lens frame itself is utilized as a heat sink to dissipate heat from the imaging elements. By integrating the heat dissipation function into the existing lens frame structure, the system uses its own components to solve the heat dissipation problem without requiring external cooling systems, thus maintaining compact size while managing thermal load
2Device complexity
If imaging elements are positioned close together for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but dark current noise increases due to heat
Solution Approach 1:
The heat dissipation member serves as a thermal intermediary that actively manages heat flow from the imaging elements. By providing a dedicated thermal conduction path to the lens frame heat sink, it prevents temperature rise that would otherwise generate dark current noise, thus eliminating the harmful thermal effect while maintaining the simple compact structure
Solution Approach 2:
The close positioning of imaging elements, which initially causes heat accumulation and dark current noise, is transformed into a beneficial configuration by introducing the heat dissipation member. The compact arrangement reduces overall device size, and the heat dissipation system converts the previously harmful heat into a manageable parameter, allowing the close positioning to become advantageous for miniaturization
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 improves the quality of stereoscopic images by reducing temperature and dark current noise, while also preventing condensation on the lenses and minimizing the endoscope's size and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a heat dissipation member in contact with each of the lens frame and the imaging unit
Data Source
AI summary
What is provided is an endoscope capable of improving the quality of a stereoscopic image of a subject.The endoscope includes a lens frame configured to hold each of a first objective optical system and a second objective optical system and to extend in an optical axis direction, an imaging unit having an imaging element, and a heat dissipation member in contact with each of the lens frame and the imaging unit.