Endoscope Illumination Lens Ray Dispersion Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current illumination lenses for endoscopes have limited light distribution characteristics and high heat generation due to concentrated illumination, necessitating a design that enhances ray dispersion and reduces size and cost.
Innovation Solution
An illumination lens comprising two lenses with specific curvature and refractive index relationships, optimized to achieve a wide light distribution angle and increased ray dispersion, while minimizing heat generation and maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional illumination lenses are used, then the structure is simple, but the ray dispersion is insufficient and light distribution is concentrated causing high heat generation
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination lens is divided into two separate positive lenses (first lens and second lens) arranged in sequence from the light source side toward the irradiation target side. This segmentation allows each lens to be optimized independently for ray dispersion while maintaining overall system simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies specific conditional expressions to control the radii of curvature of the lens surfaces. By precisely adjusting these geometric parameters, the lens system achieves enhanced ray dispersion and wide-angle light distribution without increasing complexity or cost.
2Device complexity
If the number of lenses is reduced to two, then the cost and size are reduced, but the light distribution characteristics and ray dispersion are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spherical convex surfaces for both lenses, with specific curvature radius relationships defined by conditional expressions. These curved surfaces are essential for achieving wide-angle light distribution and effective ray dispersion while maintaining a compact two-lens structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination lens system uses a composite configuration of two positive lenses with different curvature characteristics. This composite design combines the advantages of both lenses to achieve superior light distribution and ray dispersion that would not be possible with a single lens of equivalent complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If illumination light is concentrated to improve intensity, then the light distribution is focused, but heat generation increases due to local concentration
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the illumination path through two separate positive lenses, the system distributes light more uniformly across the irradiation target. This segmentation prevents local concentration of light energy, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining adequate illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of light concentration into a benefit by using the two-lens system to deliberately disperse rays in a controlled manner. The conditional expressions on surface curvatures ensure that light is distributed wide-angle, transforming what would be harmful concentration into beneficial uniform illumination that reduces heat generation.
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 provides an endoscope with improved light distribution and reduced heat generation, achieving a wide-angle illumination with suppressed heat formation and cost-effectiveness by optimizing the lens configuration.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination lens used for an illumination optical system of an endoscope, and consists of a first lens and a second lens that are arranged in this order from a light source side toward an irradiation target side
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination lens consists of a first lens and a second lens that are arranged in this order from a light source side toward an irradiation target side. The surface of the first lens close to the light source side and the surface of the first lens close to the irradiation target side are spherical convex surfaces, and the surface of the second lens close to the light source side is a spherical convex surface. Conditional expression determined in advance about the radii of curvature of the surfaces of the first and second lenses is satisfied.