Endoscope Tip Optical Well Stray Light Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopes face issues with poor vision quality due to undesirable light distribution, stray light causing optical artefacts, and the need for cost-effective and watertight manufacturing of the tip part, especially for disposable models.
Innovation Solution
The tip part incorporates a window with an integral optical well to trap stray light and a cylindrical exterior housing with a light shield to improve image quality, while also simplifying assembly and ensuring a watertight seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light source is positioned close to the vision sensor to illuminate the field of vision, then illumination intensity is improved, but stray light enters the vision sensor causing optical artefacts and reducing image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light shield as an intermediary component positioned between the light source and the vision sensor. This light shield acts as a mediator that allows useful illumination to reach the field of vision while blocking stray light from directly entering the vision sensor, thereby resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and stray light interference
Solution Approach 2:
The light shield creates local quality differentiation by allowing light to pass in certain directions (toward the field of vision) while blocking it in other directions (toward the vision sensor). This directional selectivity enables the same space to have different optical properties for different purposes
2Ease of manufacture
If the tip part is designed with separate components for light source, vision sensor, and housing, then assembly flexibility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light shield with the exterior housing to form an integrated tip part structure. This combination reduces the number of separate components that need to be assembled, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the functional benefits of having both light source and vision sensor as distinct elements
3Reliability
If the tip part is made waterproof by adding sealing components, then reliability in wet environments is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light shield is merged with the exterior housing to form an integrated structure that inherently provides waterproofing. This integration eliminates the need for additional separate sealing components, thereby achieving reliable watertight sealing while minimizing device complexity and manufacturing costs
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 solution enhances image quality by reducing stray light and simplifies manufacturing, while maintaining a watertight seal to protect delicate electronics.
Implementation Method 1
A portion of light emitted from the light source may ingress into the vision sensor without being reflected by an outside object to be investigated. This type of light may be known as stray light. The optical well may improve the image quality of the vision receptor by trapping stray light being internally reflected in the window
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A tip part for an endoscope, comprising: a vision receptor; a first light source; an exterior housing accommodating the vision receptor and the first light source; the exterior housing comprising a window positioned at a distal end of the tip part, the window being of a transparent material, the window comprising an exterior front surface positioned at least partly in front of the vision receptor and the first light source, wherein the window integrally comprises a first optical well of the transparent material, the first optical well being an interior protrusion positioned between the first light source and the vision receptor so that a portion of light emitted from the first light source and reflected from the exterior surface enters the first optical well, whereby stray light is at least partially prevented from entering the vision receptor.