Folding Image Pickup Board for Endoscope Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopes, particularly electronic rigid scopes, face challenges in displaying high-quality images during laparoscopic surgeries due to the complexity and cost of image pickup units, and the need for precise assembly in flexible endoscopes to minimize insertion pain and enhance operability.
Innovation Solution
An image pickup unit with a board featuring first and second terminal portions and a folding or cut portion, allowing for flexible configuration between endoscopes with and without bending portions, enabling easier signal connection and reduced assembly steps, and using a flexible board to reduce the rigid portion length and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If an image pickup unit with a folding portion is used in endoscopes with bending portions, then the rigid portion length is reduced and operability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the folding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The board is divided into multiple portions (first board portion, second board portion) connected by a folding portion, allowing the rigid portion length to be reduced by folding the second board portion toward the first board portion when a bending portion is present in the endoscope
Solution Approach 2:
The folding portion enables dynamic adjustment of the board configuration - it can be folded when a bending portion is present and unfolded when no bending portion is present, adapting to different endoscope types while maintaining optimal rigid portion length
2Adaptability or versatility
If a common board design with multiple terminal portions is used for both endoscope types, then the adaptability is improved and cost is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single board design incorporates both a first terminal portion (for endoscopes with bending portions) and a second terminal portion (for endoscopes without bending portions), enabling the same board to be used with both endoscope types by selectively folding and connecting appropriate terminals
Solution Approach 2:
Different terminal portions are designed with different specifications (first terminal portion with certain characteristics, second terminal portion with different characteristics) to match the specific requirements of each endoscope type, allowing precise local adaptations within a universal board design
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of terminals in the second terminal portion is increased, then the adaptability to endoscopes without bending portions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second terminal portion includes multiple terminals (first through fourth terminals) that can accommodate various connection configurations for endoscopes without bending portions, providing versatile adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall board structure
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup unit includes a board to which an image pickup device is electrically connected, the board is provided with a first terminal portion which includes a plurality of terminals and is used when a first endoscope is configured, and a second terminal portion which includes a plurality of terminals and is used when a second endoscope is configured, a folding portion is provided between the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion of the board, when the board is used as an image pickup unit of the second endoscope, the board is folded at the folding portion, and a signal transmission member is connected to the second terminal portion, and at least one of a terminal size and a space between terminals in the second terminal portion is set to be larger than at least one of a terminal size and a terminal space in the first terminal portion.