Endoscope Illumination Optical Systems Flare Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with multiple illumination optical systems face challenges in achieving balanced light distribution and preventing flare and halation, particularly when trying to illuminate a wide angle of view efficiently while maintaining sufficient brightness and avoiding optical undesirable phenomena like flare and halation.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope design incorporates a configuration where one illumination optical system with a narrow light distribution is positioned closer to the observation optical system, and another with a wider light distribution is positioned farther away, with specific focal length and lens diameter ratios optimized to satisfy conditional expressions that ensure balanced light distribution and prevent flare and halation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple illumination optical systems are provided to illuminate a wide angle of view, then illumination coverage is improved, but flare and halation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination optical system is divided into multiple independent illumination units (first and second illumination optical systems), each with different light distribution characteristics. This segmentation allows each unit to contribute differently to the overall illumination, enabling wide coverage while controlling flare and halation through selective positioning and optical design of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the illumination system are given different light distribution properties. The first illumination optical system provides one type of light distribution while the second provides another, with each optimized for specific spatial zones. This local quality differentiation ensures that illumination is tailored to specific areas, achieving wide coverage without uniform flare across the entire field.
2Illumination intensity
If illumination optical systems are positioned to achieve wide light distribution, then illumination intensity is improved, but optical undesirable phenomena increase
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into multiple optical systems with different brightness characteristics. By distributing the illumination function across multiple segments rather than using a single high-intensity source, the system achieves overall sufficient brightness while each segment operates at lower intensity levels that reduce flare and halation.
Solution Approach 2:
The light distribution parameters (such as numerical aperture, focal length, and illumination angle) are changed between different illumination optical systems. The first system uses one set of parameters optimized for certain regions, while the second system uses different parameters for other regions, allowing brightness optimization without excessive flare in any single area.
3Device complexity
If a single illumination optical system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but light distribution balance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single complex illumination system, the patent segments the function into multiple simpler optical systems. Each system has a relatively simple structure, but their combined arrangement achieves balanced light distribution that would be difficult to obtain from a single system, thus reducing overall device complexity while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple illumination optical systems are merged into a single integrated illumination architecture. The first and second illumination systems work together in combination, with their light paths and distribution patterns coordinated to achieve balanced illumination. This merging allows the system to achieve light distribution balance that exceeds what a single system could provide.
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 allows for a desired observation with sufficient light distribution and brightness, preventing flare and halation by ensuring the right balance of light intensity and distribution across the field of view.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of illumination optical systems which direct illumination light radiated from a light source toward the object so that the same angle of view is irradiated by the plurality of illumination optical systems
Data Source
AI summary
This endoscope has an observation optical system provided in a distal end of an inserted portion of the endoscope, for observation of an object, and plural illumination optical systems provided in the inserted portion, for illuminating a certain angle of view, wherein one illumination optical system having the widest light distribution is distant from the observation optical system relative to another illumination optical systems having the narrowest light distribution, and the following conditional expression is satisfied,0.6≦|φS·fW/φW·fS|≦1.0 (1)wherein fW is a focal length of the widest light distribution optical system, fS is a focal length of the narrowest light distribution optical system, φW is an outer diameter of the lens nearest to the object within the widest light distribution optical system, and φS is an outer diameter of the lens nearest to the object within the narrowest light distribution optical system.