Endoscope Signal Processing System Reducing Cable Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscope systems require multiple signal lines for transmitting power, ground, imaging signals, control signals, and reference clock signals, leading to a bulky transmission cable and inefficient data communication.
Innovation Solution
A signal processing system utilizing a pair of signal lines for bi-directional data communication, where a common-mode signal is used for uplink transmission and differential mode for downlink, reducing the number of signal lines and enabling full-duplex transmission with high-frequency accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple signal lines are used for transmitting power, ground, imaging signals, control signals, and reference clock signals, then reliable signal transmission is achieved, but the transmission cable becomes bulky and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal transmission functions into a single transmission cable by implementing full-duplex communication using differential signaling. The transmission cable transmits both uplink signals (from endoscope to processor) and downlink signals (from processor to endoscope) simultaneously bidirectionally, eliminating the need for separate cables for different signal types and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission cable is designed as a universal multi-functional medium that handles multiple signal types (imaging signals, control signals, power, ground) and bidirectional communication (uplink and downlink) through a single interface. The differential signaling architecture enables the same physical medium to carry multiple functions simultaneously, replacing the need for dedicated cables for each signal type.
2Loss of information
If multiple signal lines are used for transmitting various signals, then complete data communication is achieved, but the transmission cable diameter increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple signal transmission channels into a single transmission cable by implementing full-duplex bidirectional communication. The differential signaling architecture allows simultaneous transmission of uplink and downlink signals through the same physical medium, significantly reducing the cable diameter compared to using separate cables for each signal type while maintaining complete data communication capability.
3Length of stationary object
If bi-directional data communication is implemented using a single transmission channel, then the transmission cable diameter is reduced, but clock synchronization accuracy becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference clock signal as an intermediary element that serves as a common timing reference for both uplink and downlink communications. The reference clock signal is transmitted through the differential signaling channel and used to synchronize data transmission and reception, ensuring accurate clock synchronization even in bi-directional full-duplex mode. This intermediary clock signal acts as a timing coordinator that resolves synchronization challenges in the reduced-cable configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic reference clock signals with specific frequencies to maintain synchronization in bidirectional communication. The reference clock provides periodic timing references that enable both the endoscope and processor to align their data transmission and reception operations, ensuring accurate sampling and data integrity despite the challenges of single-channel full-duplex operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A signal processing system includes: a transmission channel; a common-mode signal transmitting circuit configured to output an uplink signal to the transmission channel in a common mode; a common-mode signal detecting circuit configured to detect a common-mode signal from the uplink signal transmitted by the transmission channel; a downlink reference clock signal generating circuit configured to generate a downlink reference clock signal at a second frequency with reference to the first clock edge of the common-mode signal detected by the common-mode signal detecting circuit; a downlink data generating circuit configured to generate downlink data; a differential signal transmitting circuit configured to output, as a downlink signal, the downlink data generated by the downlink data generating circuit to the transmission channel in a differential mode; and a differential signal receiving circuit configured to extract a differential signal from the downlink signal.