Endoscopic Filter Changing Device With Simultaneous Gear Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filter changing devices for endoscopic cameras face issues such as limited space for multiple filters, increased assembly effort, high friction leading to wear and malfunctions, and complex, time-consuming filter changes due to coordinated movements of support arms.
Innovation Solution
A filter changing device with a rotatable drive gear engaging all filter holder arms simultaneously, allowing for quick, precise, and efficient switching between filters, minimizing wear and space requirements through parallel rotational axes and a single drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple filter holder arms are arranged with pivot axes closer to the housing wall to save space, then the housing space is utilized more efficiently, but the number of moving parts increases and frictional forces increase leading to wear and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional pivot axis mechanical system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. Magnets are used to hold and move the filter holder arms without physical pivot contacts, eliminating friction and wear while maintaining compact housing space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from mechanical pivot rotation to magnetic field actuation. This parameter change allows the filter holder arms to be positioned close to the housing wall without the detrimental effects of friction and wear associated with traditional pivot mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple guide elements and filter carriers are arranged in the groove to hold multiple filters, then multiple filters can be accommodated, but frictional forces increase causing the mechanism to jam and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the groove-based mechanical guide system with multiple guide elements and replaces it with a magnetic field actuation system. The magnets directly actuate the filter holder arms without requiring them to slide along grooves, eliminating friction and jamming while accommodating multiple filters.
3Productivity
If support arms are moved simultaneously with coordinated movements to switch filters quickly, then filter changing speed is improved, but the device complexity and assembly effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single magnetic actuation system that simultaneously controls multiple filter holder arms. This universal actuation mechanism simplifies the device by eliminating the need for separate coordinated control systems for each support arm, reducing complexity while maintaining fast filter changing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control of multiple filter holder arms into a single magnetic actuation system. Instead of having separate mechanisms for each arm, the magnetic field simultaneously actuates all filter holders, simplifying the overall device structure and reducing assembly effort.
4Device complexity
If a single drive gear is used to engage all filter holder arms simultaneously, then the device complexity is reduced and assembly effort is minimized, but the drive mechanism must be precisely designed to engage multiple gears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical drive gear system with a magnetic field actuation system. This substitution eliminates the need for precisely meshing gears and mechanical linkages, reducing the manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining the benefit of simultaneous actuation of multiple filter holder arms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a filter changing device for an endoscopic camera, wherein the filter changing device comprises a housing with at least a first housing part, an optical passage along an optical axis, a rotatable drive gear and at least two filter holder arms, each with a filter receptacle for an optical filter with a filter center axis, wherein the at least two filter holder arms are each rotatably arranged on the first housing part by means of a rotary shaft with a rotation axis, wherein the respective rotation axis is spaced from the filter center axis of the respective filter holder arm and the rotation axes are arranged parallel to one another, wherein on each filter holder arm a filter gear is arranged around the respective rotation shaft and the rotatable drive gear is engageable with the respective filter gear,Such that, when the rotatable drive gear is driven solely by engaging the filter gears, the at least two filter holder arms can be rotated simultaneously and/or pivoted into and/or out of the optical passage. Furthermore, the invention relates to a camera head and a retrofit kit for retrofitting a camera head and/or an endoscope.