Endoscope Tip Light Guide Integration for Optical Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized endoscope tip parts face challenges in maintaining consistent optical performance and light source illumination due to increased variability in power and alignment issues, especially when trying to inspect smaller bodily ducts.
Innovation Solution
The endoscope tip part design incorporates a light guide component with a directly attached light source, positioned proximally relative to the image sensor, and an electrical circuit for transmitting image signals, which reduces power loss and variance by eliminating intermediate connectors and adhesive-related issues, allowing for a more compact and efficient assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the endoscope tip part is miniaturized to inspect smaller bodily ducts, then the outer diameter is reduced, but the optical performance consistency and light source illumination become variable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source and light guide component into an integrated assembly where the light source is directly attached to the light guide component. This integration eliminates intermediate connectors and reduces the number of interfaces, thereby minimizing power loss and variance while maintaining consistent optical performance in the miniaturized tip part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specifically designed interface structure between the light source and light guide component that acts as an intermediary to optimize light coupling. This interface is engineered to minimize reflection losses and maximize light transmission efficiency, ensuring consistent optical performance despite the miniaturized dimensions.
2Loss of energy
If intermediate connectors and adhesive layers are eliminated by directly attaching the light source to the light guide component, then power loss and variance are reduced, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source and light guide component are merged into a single integrated assembly, eliminating the need for intermediate connectors and adhesive layers. This direct attachment reduces the number of components and interfaces, thereby minimizing power loss and variance in light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is pre-positioned and attached to the light guide component during the manufacturing process, creating a pre-assembled unit. This preliminary action ensures optimal alignment and coupling before the entire assembly is integrated into the endoscope tip part, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining low power loss.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned proximally relative to the image sensor, then illumination consistency is improved, but the space requirements for component placement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spatial arrangement by positioning the light source proximally to the image sensor along the longitudinal axis of the tip part. This dimensional arrangement allows the light to illuminate the field of view from the front while the integrated light guide component efficiently directs light, maximizing illumination consistency within the constrained volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide component is designed to nest efficiently within the tip part housing, with the light source positioned proximally. The integrated assembly allows the light guide to wrap around or adjacent to the image sensor assembly, optimizing space utilization while maintaining the proximal positioning of the light source for consistent illumination.
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 configuration enhances optical performance by minimizing power loss and variance, ensuring consistent illumination and reducing the risk of optical performance degradation, while facilitating easier assembly in miniaturized designs.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide component comprising a first light guide having a light entry surface and a light exit surface, the first light guide being configured for propagating light received through the light entry surface out through the light exit surface
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope tip part for an endoscope for visually inspecting inaccessible places, including a tip housing enclosing a sealed interior space and including a transparent portion; an image sensor viewing in an optical direction through the transparent portion of the tip housing; a light guide component having a light entry surface and a light exit surface; a first light source having a light-emitting surface and being configured to emit light from the light-emitting surface in a central illumination direction; and an electrical circuit in electrical communication with the image sensor and the first light source, wherein the first light source, the image sensor, and the electrical circuit are accommodated in the sealed interior space of the tip housing, wherein the first light source is attached to the light guide component.