Flexible Circuit Board for Endoscope Assembly and Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional endoscopes face difficulties in assembly due to the rigid circuit board, which increases the device's volume and makes it challenging to fit into small body cavities, and often require a light shield, adding complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A flexible circuit board integrated with a base mounting frame, allowing for easier assembly and reduced volume, eliminating the need for a light shield by aligning light emitting elements with the camera's lens, thus improving applicability and reducing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid circuit board is used, then the structural stability is improved, but the volume increases and assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid circuit board with a flexible circuit board that can be bent and folded to fit around the camera lens. This flexible circuit board maintains electrical connectivity while adapting to the curved geometry of the endoscope, thereby reducing the overall volume without compromising structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, flexible structure that can change its shape during assembly and operation. This allows the circuit board to conform to the curved path around the camera lens, optimizing space utilization while maintaining mechanical integrity through its flexible design.
2Reliability
If a rigid circuit board is arranged around the camera, then the electrical connectivity is ensured, but the assembly difficulty increases and volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible circuit board can be bent and folded to wrap around the camera lens, allowing for easy assembly in the curved configuration required by the endoscope. The flexibility enables the circuit board to adapt to the geometry without requiring complex rigid structures, significantly improving assembly ease while maintaining reliable electrical connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible circuit board is designed with segmented traces and flexible joints that allow it to be folded into the required shape. This segmentation enables the circuit board to conform to the curved path around the camera lens while maintaining electrical connectivity, making assembly much easier compared to a rigid board.
3Volume of moving object
If the endoscope is made very small and compact, then the applicability for body cavity insertion is improved, but the assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible circuit board allows the endoscope to maintain a compact size by conforming to the curved geometry around the camera lens. Its flexibility enables it to be assembled in the tight space without requiring additional clearance that would be needed for a rigid board, thus maintaining small overall dimensions while improving assembly ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic flexibility of the circuit board allows it to be manipulated into the required compact configuration during assembly. This dynamic adaptability enables the assembly process to accommodate the small size requirements for body cavity insertion without increasing assembly difficulty, as the flexible board can be easily shaped and positioned.
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 flexible circuit board enhances assembly efficiency, reduces the endoscope's volume, and eliminates the need for a light shield, resulting in lower labor and material costs while improving the device's ability to fit within small spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible circuit board is formed by a mounting portion and an electric connecting portion connected to the mounting portion and includes a mounting surface and a connecting surface. The connecting surface of the flexible circuit board is fixed against the inner surface of the base mounting frame
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of LED (light emitting diode) elements 14 mounted on a circuit board 15 and located around the periphery of the camera 12
Implementation Method 3
The photosensitive element is electrically connected to the mounting portion of the flexible circuit board and mounted on the mounting surface and located in alignment with the connecting portion of the base mounting frame
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope with a flexible circuit board comprises: a base mounting frame, a flexible circuit, a photosensitive element, a plurality of light emitting elements and a camera. The flexible circuit board, the photosensitive element, the light emitting elements and the camera can be mounted on the mounting frame, and then the mounting frame can be assembled in a pipe to form the endoscope, which greatly improves the ease of assembly, and consequently reducing the labor cost required for assembly. Furthermore, the flexibility of the circuit board reduces the volume of the endoscope and improves applicability.