Endoscope LED Duty Ratio Control for Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes with varying heat dissipation characteristics require precise control of LED light source duty ratios to prevent excessive temperature rise, but existing systems lack a standardized method for determining and limiting these ratios, leading to potential overheating issues.
Innovation Solution
A light source system with a detachable illumination control section that includes a type information generating section, an endoscope type discriminating section, and a limiting section to determine and enforce permissible duty ratios for the LED drive pulses based on the endoscope type, ensuring safe operation by limiting the duty ratio to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the duty ratio of drive pulses is increased to improve light emission intensity, then illumination intensity is improved, but temperature rise of the LED increases causing heat dissipation problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the duty ratio adjustable and adaptable based on real-time temperature feedback. The control section modifies the drive pulse duty ratio dynamically according to temperature sensor readings, allowing the system to optimize between illumination intensity and heat management rather than using a fixed duty ratio
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using a temperature sensor to continuously monitor LED temperature and feeding this information back to the control section. The control section then adjusts the drive pulse duty ratio based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that automatically balances illumination needs with thermal management
2Device complexity
If a fixed duty ratio is used for all endoscope types to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates because different endoscope types have different heat dissipation characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static fixed duty ratio to a dynamic adaptive duty ratio that changes based on endoscope type. The control section automatically selects appropriate duty ratio values from stored patterns corresponding to different endoscope types, enabling heat dissipation optimization without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The control section performs self-service by automatically detecting the endoscope type and selecting the appropriate drive pulse duty ratio pattern without requiring manual configuration. The system uses stored type information and automatically matches it with corresponding duty ratio patterns to optimize performance for each specific endoscope type
3Temperature
If the duty ratio is reduced to prevent overheating, then temperature control is improved, but light emission intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty ratio based on actual temperature conditions and endoscope type characteristics. Rather than using a uniformly low duty ratio, the system selects from multiple stored patterns that optimize the balance between temperature control and illumination intensity for each specific endoscope configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the duty ratio parameter adaptively based on temperature feedback and endoscope type. By storing multiple duty ratio patterns and selecting the appropriate one based on temperature conditions and endoscope characteristics, the system optimizes both temperature control and illumination intensity through parameter variation
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 system effectively controls the light emission and heat generation of LEDs in endoscopes by determining the permissible duty ratio for each type of endoscope, preventing excessive heat buildup and ensuring reliable operation even in cases of erroneous type discrimination or component failures.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting portion such as an LED may be provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope. Such an LED emits light by drive pulses from a video processor for driving the endoscope.
Implementation Method 2
measures for heat dissipation are taken in the endoscope such as adopting a ceramic substrate having high heat conductivity, for example, in order to prevent the temperature rise of the LED
Data Source
AI summary
A light source system includes an endoscope having an illumination section and an illumination control section connected to the endoscope and provided with a drive circuit that generates drive pulses for driving the light source, the light source system including: a type information generating section that generates type information regarding the endoscope; a signal generating section generates a signal indicative of a duty ratio of the drive pulses which is permitted to the illumination section; a light adjusting section that outputs light-adjusted drive pulses having a duty ratio not greater than a permissible duty ratio based on the type information and a limiting section that limits the light-adjusted drive pulses to have a duty ratio not greater than a duty ratio based on the signal from the signal generating section, and provides limited pulses to the drive circuit.