Endoscopic Light Source Control for Wavelength Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopic devices using semiconductor light sources with nonlinear light intensity characteristics face challenges in precisely controlling the light intensity ratio, affecting the quality of special light observation images.

Innovation Solution

An endoscopic device with a light source control module that uses pulse driving and modulation to precisely control the light intensity ratio of LED and laser diode sources, maintaining the desired wavelength balance and image quality during special light observation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If semiconductor light sources (LED and laser diode) are used to enable special light observation, then the light sources can be minutely controlled and wavelength balance can be precisely set, but it becomes difficult to maintain high precision in light intensity ratio control due to nonlinear characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewavelength balance precisionVSAvoidlight intensity ratio control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the relationship between drive signals and light output intensities in a lookup table before actual operation. During narrow band observation, the system directly retrieves pre-computed drive signal ratios that maintain the desired light intensity balance, avoiding real-time complex calculations and compensating for nonlinear characteristics through advance preparation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the control parameter from direct light intensity control to drive signal ratio control based on pre-stored relationships. By storing multiple sets of drive signal parameters corresponding to different observation conditions in the lookup table, the system can switch between different parameter sets to maintain optimal light intensity ratios despite nonlinear light source characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If pulse driving and modulation are used to control light intensity ratios, then high-precision control is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensity ratio control precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces control system complexity by performing the complex calculation work in advance and storing results in a lookup table. During actual operation, the control device simply retrieves pre-computed drive signal ratios from the table based on the selected observation mode, replacing complex real-time computation with simple table lookup and signal generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a lookup table that stores copied and pre-processed control parameter sets for different observation conditions. Instead of calculating optimal drive signal ratios in real-time, the system copies appropriate parameter sets from the table that were previously computed and stored, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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

Enables high-precision control of light intensity ratios, improving the quality of observation images by maintaining the desired light intensity balance between nonlinear LED and linear laser diode sources, enhancing image quality in narrow band and fluorescent observations.

Implementation Method 1

a light source configured by combining a light emitting diode (LED) having long life span and low output variation and a fluorescent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emitting diode effect: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

a light source configured by combining a light emitting diode (LED) having long life span and low output variation and a fluorescent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 3

narrow band light from a semiconductor light source such as a laser diode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser diode effect: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP2561798B1Endoscopic apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP2561798B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2561798B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2561798B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an aspect of the invention, an endoscopic apparatus outputs illuminating light from a tip of an endoscope inserting module to a subject and detects a reflected light from the subject to obtain an image signal of the subject. The endoscopic apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a target light intensity setting module, a light intensity ratio setting module, an information storing module, an amplitude value setting module, a driving signal generating module, a signal supplying module.