Endoscope Illumination Unit Light Guide Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes face challenges in achieving uniform illumination due to light leakage through gaps in the annular light guide sections, leading to illumination unevenness and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope illumination unit with a light guide body featuring an annular section and a scattering section formed by a reflective sheet attached to its inner peripheral surface, where the sheet's opposite end portions are positioned to minimize light leakage by being located at a remote area from the incident part, thereby reducing illumination unevenness and maintaining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If an annular light guide section is used to provide illumination, then illumination coverage is improved, but light leakage through gaps causes illumination unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful light leakage through gaps into a beneficial feature by positioning the gaps at locations where they do not affect illumination uniformity. The gaps are strategically placed in regions where light intensity is already low or where leakage does not create noticeable unevenness, thus maintaining high illumination uniformity while allowing for easier manufacturing and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different parts of the annular light guide section. Specifically, the gaps are localized to specific angular positions rather than being uniformly distributed, and the light guide structure may have varying thickness or refractive index in different regions to compensate for potential leakage effects, ensuring uniform illumination overall.
2Ease of manufacture
If gaps are introduced in the annular light guide section for assembly ease, then ease of manufacture is improved, but light leakage reduces illumination efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of light leakage through gaps into a benefit by strategically positioning these gaps in regions where they do not significantly impact illumination efficiency. The gap locations are chosen where light intensity is naturally lower or where leakage does not create noticeable unevenness, thus maintaining high illumination efficiency while enabling easier assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes parameters such as gap position, gap size, and light guide geometry to minimize light leakage losses. By carefully selecting the angular positions of gaps and adjusting the light guide dimensions, the system achieves a balance between assembly ease and illumination efficiency, reducing energy loss while maintaining manufacturability.
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
The solution effectively suppresses illumination unevenness and maintains high illumination efficiency by strategically positioning the reflective sheet's end portions to minimize light leakage, enhancing the quality of the illuminated subject images.
Implementation Method 1
a scattering section provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular section or the partly annular section, the scattering section scattering the illuminating light, having entered the light guide body, within the annular section or the partly annular section
Implementation Method 2
the scattering section being formed by bending a sheet, having opposite end portions, in conformity to the inner peripheral surface, wherein the sheet is wound in conformity to the inner peripheral surface of the annular section or the partly annular section
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope illumination unit includes: an incident part into which illuminating light guided via a light guide enters; a light guide body that includes an annular section having an inner peripheral surface and that guides the illuminating light having entered via the incident part and emits the illuminating light from an outer surface of the annular section; and a reflective sheet that has opposite end portions and that is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular section and scatters the illuminating light, having entered the light guide body, within the annular section. The opposite end portions of the reflective sheet bent in conformity to the inner peripheral surface of the annular section is positioned at a portion of the inner peripheral surface remote from the incident part.