Endoscope Light Source Color Correction via Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscope systems using mixed laser lights for illumination struggle with maintaining a consistent color rendering and light quantity ratios, especially when laser light quantities change due to temperature variations, affecting the quality of observations.
Innovation Solution
An endoscope system with a light source that emits a plurality of narrow-band lights with independently controllable light quantities, combined using an optical combiner and adjusted by a light quantity ratio adjustment circuit based on color component ratios measured by a color component ratio measurement section, ensuring the illumination light maintains a desired color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If laser light sources are used for illumination, then high brightness and narrow-band light output are achieved, but color consistency deteriorates due to temperature-induced light quantity changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a color component ratio measurement section that continuously monitors the actual color composition of the illumination light and feeds this information back to a light quantity ratio adjustment circuit. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of temperature-induced color shifts and automatic correction by adjusting the output of individual laser light sources to maintain desired color consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the operating parameters (light quantity ratios) of multiple laser light sources based on measured color component ratios. By independently adjusting the intensity of each laser wavelength component, the system compensates for temperature-induced variations and maintains consistent color rendering despite environmental changes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple laser light sources with different wavelengths are used, then color rendering is improved, but system complexity increases due to need for precise light quantity control
Solution Approach 1:
The color component ratio measurement section serves multiple functions: it measures the color composition of illumination light, determines the actual light quantity ratios of individual lasers, and provides feedback data for control. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate measurement and control systems, thereby simplifying the overall system despite using multiple laser light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own illumination light to perform self-diagnosis of color composition through the measurement section. By monitoring its own output characteristics and automatically adjusting its performance, the system reduces external calibration equipment and manual intervention, simplifying operation and maintenance.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing imager pixels are used for color measurement, then measurement cost is reduced, but observation image quality may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The imager's pixel array is segmented into two distinct functional regions: one area dedicated to observation image capture and another area dedicated to color component ratio measurement. This spatial segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other, using the same hardware resources efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the color measurement function with the existing imager device, combining two functions (observation and measurement) into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate measurement hardware, reducing production costs while maintaining measurement capability through the imager's inherent spectral sensitivity.
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 solution allows for precise color correction and stable illumination, even with changes in laser light quantities, enhancing observation quality and reducing production costs by utilizing existing imager pixels for measurement, while providing efficient light coupling and guidance through thin optical fibers.
Implementation Method 1
a light source which sequentially or simultaneously radiates an illumination light being a plurality of narrow-band lights having wavelengths different from each other
Implementation Method 2
a color component ratio measurement section which measures a color component ratio of the illumination light
Implementation Method 3
a light quantity ratio adjustment circuit which adjusts a light quantity ratio of the narrow-band lights based on an output from the color component ratio measurement section and performs color correction
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes an illumination section, a color component ratio measurement section and a light quantity ratio adjustment circuit. The illumination section including a light source sequentially or simultaneously radiates an illumination light being a plurality of narrow-band lights having wavelengths different from each other and having light quantities which are independently controllable each other, on an observation object. The color component ratio measurement section measures a color component ratio of the illumination light. The light quantity ratio adjustment circuit adjusts a light quantity ratio of the narrow-band lights based on an output from the color component ratio measurement section and performs color correction to cause the illumination light to be a desired color.