Electronic Endoscope Processor Cooling With Direct Outside-Air Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electronic endoscope processors with built-in light source devices suffer from inefficient cooling due to air being drawn from a housing with higher-than-room-temperature air, leading to poor cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electronic endoscope processor design that includes an exhaust fan, a blowing fan, and a heat transfer structure with an intake hole for introducing outside air directly to the light source unit, along with a temperature sensor to control fan speeds for optimal cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the fan draws air through an aperture on the opposite side of the fan in the housing, then the light source device can be cooled, but the cooling efficiency is poor because the air temperature is higher than room temperature due to other heat sources in the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a light source device housing and a processor housing. The light source device housing is configured to introduce outside air through an intake hole and exhaust air through an exhaust hole, separating the cooling path for the light source device from the general processor air circulation. This segmentation allows the light source device to be cooled by room-temperature air rather than warm air from other heat sources in the processor.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated air flow path acts as an intermediary between the outside environment and the light source device. The air flow path includes an intake hole for introducing outside air, a blowing fan to push the air, and an exhaust hole for exhausting the air. This intermediary system ensures that the light source device is cooled by fresh air rather than being directly exposed to the warm air circulation within the processor housing.
2Device complexity
If the light source device is built in the processor housing, then the device can be integrated, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to the higher temperature environment created by other heat sources
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into distinct functional zones: a light source device housing that is thermally isolated from the processor housing. The light source device housing includes its own intake hole, blowing fan, and exhaust hole, creating an independent thermal zone that prevents the processor's internal heat from affecting the light source device's operating temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source device housing is designed with specific local cooling features including an intake hole positioned to receive outside air, a blowing fan located to direct air flow, and an exhaust hole positioned to discharge warm air. These local features ensure that the light source device maintains optimal cooling conditions despite being integrated into the larger processor system.
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
The design efficiently cools the light source device by directly introducing room-temperature air and using controlled fan speeds, enhancing cooling performance and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a blowing fan that is provided near the light source unit in the housing and sends air in the periphery of the light source unit to the exhaust fan
Implementation Method 2
a heat transfer structure portion that is connected to the light source unit in the housing, has an internal space, and transfers heat generated by the light source unit
Implementation Method 3
an exhaust fan that is attached to the housing and exhausts air in an internal space of the housing to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present invention is an electronic endoscope processor including: a housing; an exhaust fan that is attached to the housing and exhausts air in an internal space of the housing to the outside; a light source unit that is arranged in the housing and emits illumination light for illuminating a living tissue; and a blowing fan that is provided near the light source unit in the housing and sends air in the periphery of the light source unit to the exhaust fan, An intake hole through which outside air is introduced toward the periphery of the light source unit is formed in the housing.