Endoscope Light Source Diaphragm for Optical Path Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscope light source devices face challenges in maintaining light-level balance as the optical path length varies, leading to degradation in light intensity and color balance due to peripheral light clipping by the focusing lens, especially when using light guides of different thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a diaphragm with adjustable aperture size and position between solid-state light sources and collimating lenses to block peripheral light, ensuring the diaphragm's aperture size satisfies the condition ϕ/L ≥ 1.5NAβ/√(1−(NAβ)², which adjusts the quantity of peripheral light entering the light guide, maintaining consistent light-level balance across varying optical path lengths and light guide thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the optical path length from solid-state light sources to the focusing lens is shortened, then the device structure is simplified, but peripheral light clipping increases causing degradation in light-level balance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing a diaphragm with specifically designed aperture characteristics at a particular location in the optical path. The diaphragm's aperture size and position are optimized to selectively block peripheral light from light sources with shorter optical paths while allowing light from light sources with longer optical paths to pass through. This local intervention corrects the light-level balance degradation without requiring changes to the overall optical path length or focusing lens design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If light guides of different thicknesses are used, then adaptability to different endoscope specifications is improved, but light-level balance and color balance vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by making the diaphragm's aperture parameters (size, shape, or position) variable based on the light guide thickness. The control unit adjusts the diaphragm opening degree according to the detected light guide thickness, thereby dynamically optimizing the light-level balance and color balance for each specific light guide configuration. This allows the system to maintain consistent illumination quality across different endoscope specifications.
3Illumination intensity
If the diaphragm aperture size is increased to allow more light through, then light intensity is improved, but peripheral light clipping increases causing color balance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using a light receiving element to detect the actual light output characteristics and a control unit to adjust the diaphragm opening degree accordingly. The system continuously monitors the light intensity and color balance, and dynamically adjusts the diaphragm aperture to maintain optimal performance. This closed-loop control ensures that the diaphragm opening is precisely regulated to prevent peripheral light clipping while maximizing light transmission, thereby maintaining accurate color balance.
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 prevents degradation of light-level balance and ensures uniform illumination, even with light guides of different diameters, thereby improving color reproducibility and suppressing color balance variations in endoscopic images.
Implementation Method 1
at least one diaphragm disposed between at least one of the plurality of solid-state light sources and a corresponding at least one of the plurality of collimating lenses, wherein the at least one diaphragm blocks more peripheral light as an optical path length from each of the plurality of solid-state light sources to the focusing lens becomes smaller
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of collimating lenses that respectively collimate light beams emitted from the plurality of solid-state light sources into substantially parallel light beams
Implementation Method 3
a multiplexing optical member that multiplexes the light beams that have been collimated into substantially parallel light beams by the plurality of collimating lenses
Implementation Method 4
a focusing lens that focuses light beams from the plurality of solid-state light sources multiplexed by the multiplexing optical member and causes the light beams to enter an end surface of a light guide of an endoscope
Implementation Method 5
causes the light beams to enter an end surface of a light guide of an endoscope
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope light source device includes: a plurality of solid-state light sources; a plurality of collimating lenses that respectively collimate light beams emitted from the plurality of solid-state light sources into substantially parallel light beams; a multiplexing optical member that multiplexes the light beams that have been collimated into substantially parallel light beams by the plurality of collimating lenses; at least one diaphragm disposed between at least one of the plurality of solid-state light sources and a corresponding at least one of the plurality of collimating lenses; and a focusing lens that focuses multiplexed light beams from the plurality of solid-state light sources and causes the light beams to enter an end surface of a light guide of an endoscope, wherein the at least one diaphragm blocks more peripheral light as an optical path length from each of the plurality of solid-state light sources to the focusing lens becomes smaller.