Endoscope Plug Aligning Image and Light Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope light source devices require separate frames and packing to prevent rattling between the connector receiver and light guide connector, leading to a complex structure and difficulty in accurately aligning image and light guides during connection.
Innovation Solution
A plug with integrated image and light guide rods, along with a socket design featuring distinct insertion holes for precise alignment, allows for simple attachment and detachment of both guides, ensuring accurate positioning and preventing rattling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate frames and packing are used to prevent rattling between connector receiver and light guide connector, then rattling is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the light guide connector and image guide connector into a single unified plug structure, and combines the connector receiver and socket into an integrated socket assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate frames and packing components while maintaining connection stability, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the same connector receiver is used for both image guide and light guide, then device complexity is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single plug into distinct light guide connector and image guide connector sections, each with dedicated insertion holes and alignment features. The socket is similarly segmented with separate receiving cavities for each guide type. This segmentation enables precise alignment of both guides within the same connector assembly without requiring separate connectors, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and alignment precision.
3Ease of operation
If base ends of image guide and light guide are arranged inside the same connector, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the light guide connector and image guide connector in parallel spatial dimensions within the same plug body, with distinct insertion holes positioned at different locations. The socket provides corresponding separate receiving cavities. This dimensional arrangement allows both guides to be connected simultaneously in a single operation while maintaining accurate positioning through dedicated alignment features for each guide type.
Data Source
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AI summary
A plug in which the base end portions of an image guide comprise an image guide fiber and an image guide rod. A light guide comprising a light guide fiber and a light guide rod are fixed to a plug main body in a parallel state. The plug and a socket can be connected. The diameter of a position-aligning hole portion into which the base end of the image guide rod is inserted is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the image guide rod, while the diameter of a position-aligning hole portion into which the base end of the light guide rod is inserted is set to be greater than the outer diameter of the light guide rod.