Endoscope Light Source Diaphragm Control Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light source devices for endoscopes face challenges in maintaining stable luminance due to errors between control voltage widths and opening/closing positions of diaphragm blades, which are prone to individual differences and changes over time, requiring manual adjustments that are time-consuming and prone to errors, and are affected by external factors like vibration during transportation.

Innovation Solution

A light source device with a diaphragm member that includes a diaphragm driving part, an opening/closing control part, and a control range setting part, which detects fixed position information to adjust the drive signal and regulate the control range, allowing for automatic adjustment of diaphragm blade positions and reducing maintenance costs by eliminating the need for manual trimmer adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual trimmer adjustment is used to correct errors between control voltage widths and diaphragm blade positions, then adjustment accuracy can be improved, but production time increases and working efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment accuracyVSAvoidworking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical trimmer adjustment process with an automatic electronic adjustment system. The control unit automatically detects the actual diaphragm blade positions and adjusts the control voltage widths to match, eliminating the need for manual mechanical trimming while maintaining high adjustment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting position errors between control voltage widths and actual diaphragm blade positions, then autonomously correcting these errors without requiring external manual intervention. This self-service capability improves both efficiency and consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual trimmer adjustment is performed, then individual errors can be corrected, but adjustment results vary depending on worker differences and physical conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment accuracyVSAvoidadjustment consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated electronic control system that objectively detects and corrects position errors. This eliminates human variability and physical condition dependencies, ensuring consistent adjustment results across different operators and time periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback control by detecting the actual diaphragm blade positions, comparing them with the intended control voltage widths, and automatically adjusting to eliminate discrepancies. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable and repeatable adjustment results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If trimmer adjustment is performed manually, then initial errors can be corrected, but errors tend to return after assembly or transportation vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment accuracyVSAvoidadjustment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary automatic adjustment detection and correction before final assembly or transportation. The control unit detects position errors and adjusts control voltage widths in advance, preventing error return due to subsequent vibrations or handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback control to detect and correct position discrepancies between control voltage widths and actual diaphragm blade positions. This continuous monitoring and adjustment capability maintains stable alignment even after assembly or transportation events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If diaphragm units are replaced due to malfunction, then functionality can be restored, but new adjustment of control voltage widths and opening/closing positions is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional restorationVSAvoidreplacement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment automatically after diaphragm unit replacement. The control unit detects the new diaphragm blade positions and autonomously adjusts the control voltage widths, eliminating the need for manual re-adjustment and simplifying the replacement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual re-adjustment procedures with automated electronic detection and adjustment. After diaphragm unit replacement, the system automatically detects position errors and corrects control voltage widths, making replacement simpler and faster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

5Ease of manufacture

If control voltage widths are set in advance based on control voltage widths, then initial setup is simplified, but errors occur at opening/closing positions due to assembly balance errors and friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesetup simplicityVSAvoidposition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback control to detect the actual diaphragm blade positions and compare them with the intended control voltage widths. This feedback mechanism identifies position errors caused by assembly balance errors or friction and enables automatic correction, maintaining both simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical trimming with automated electronic adjustment. The control unit detects position discrepancies and automatically adjusts control voltage widths, eliminating the need for manual trimmer work while achieving high position accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP1989995B1Light source device and endoscope device
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)
  • EP1989995B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1989995B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1989995B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A light source device includes a light source 8, a diaphragm blade 21 for adjusting light quantity of illumination light supplied from the light source 8, a diaphragm driving part 25 for driving the diaphragm blade 21 to perform opening/closing operation, and a diaphragm control circuit part 23 for setting diaphragm drive instruction voltage to be supplied to the diaphragm driving part 25 and control an opening/closing amount of the diaphragm blade 21. In the diaphragm control circuit part 23, a fully-opened voltage and a fully-closed voltage at the time the diaphragm blade 21 is fixed at a fully-opened position and a fully-closed position are read, based on the voltages, adjustment data for adjusting the diaphragm drive instruction voltage and the opening/closing positions of the diaphragm blade 21 is set, and based on the adjustment data, a control range of the diaphragm drive instruction voltage is regulated.