Endoscope Light Source Apparatus with Leak Light Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light source apparatuses using LEDs for endoscopes face challenges in maintaining color balance over time due to changes in light emission intensities of red, green, and blue LEDs, which can lead to decreased illumination efficiency and accuracy when sensors are fixedly arranged on the optical path.
Innovation Solution
A light source apparatus with illuminance sensors arranged to detect leak lights not used for illumination, allowing for continuous monitoring of light emission intensities and adjustment of color balance without reducing the illumination light reaching the subject, using a configuration that includes collimator lenses, dichroic filters, and a control section to adjust LED driving based on sensor inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are fixedly arranged on the optical path of illumination light to detect light emission intensity, then color balance can be adjusted, but the light amount reaching the subject is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light detection function into two separate paths: one for illumination light (to subject) and one for leak light (to sensor). By segmenting the optical path, the sensor can detect light emission intensity without being in the main illumination path, thus not reducing the light amount reaching the subject.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses leak light as an intermediary to transfer information about light emission intensity to the sensor. Instead of directly placing the sensor in the illumination path, the leak light serves as a mediator that carries the intensity information while allowing the main illumination path to remain unobstructed.
2Illumination intensity
If light emission intensity is detected using leak light only, then illumination light amount is maintained, but detection accuracy may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two light sources for detection: leak light (which does not affect illumination) and reflected light from the optical element (which provides additional intensity information). By merging these two light paths, the system achieves both maintenance of illumination quality and enhanced detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element serves multiple functions: it transmits illumination light to the subject and simultaneously reflects light back to the sensor for detection. This multi-functionality allows the same component to contribute to both illumination and detection without requiring additional separate components.
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 enables accurate and continuous adjustment of light emission intensities, maintaining optimal color balance and illumination efficiency while preventing a decrease in the light amount reaching the subject, thereby improving detection efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting element that emits light
Implementation Method 2
a light emitted from the light-emitting element and reflected by an optical element
Data Source
AI summary
A light source apparatus that generates a light to be supplied to an endoscope, which includes: LEDs of respective colors that emit lights; collimator lenses that receive emitted lights and emit the received lights; and illuminance sensors arranged at positions where the illuminance sensors can receive both of leak lights of the lights emitted from the LEDs of respective colors, which are not used as illumination lights, and lights emitted from the LEDs of respective colors and reflected by the collimator lenses.