Movable Optical Unit Structure for Stronger Endoscope Bearing Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscope apparatuses face challenges in miniaturization and cost reduction while ensuring sufficient bonding strength and impact resistance, particularly with components like the bearing member and holding frame, which are subject to stress and potential breakage due to reduced adhesion area.

Innovation Solution

A movable optical unit with a fixed shaft, bearing, holding frame, and arm members, bonded to secure the bearing, and an electromagnetic drive unit to rotate the bearing around the shaft, allowing the optical member to switch between optical paths, enhancing impact resistance and miniaturization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the size and diameter of the endoscope apparatus are reduced, then miniaturization is achieved, but the adhesion area of components like the bearing member and holding frame is reduced, leading to insufficient bonding strength and impact resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of endoscope apparatusVSAvoidbonding strength of bearing member

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from planar bonding to three-dimensional sandwich bonding. The bearing member is bonded between the holding frame and a counterholding frame, utilizing the thickness dimension to create multiple bonding surfaces. This increases the total bonding area and distributes stress across multiple interfaces, resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the single bonding interface into multiple bonding interfaces by introducing a counterholding frame. The bearing member is bonded at two separate locations (between holding frame and counterholding frame), segmenting the bonding function across multiple surfaces. This segmentation increases total adhesion area and improves impact resistance while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the adhesion area of the bearing member is reduced due to size reduction, then miniaturization is achieved, but impact resistance and bonding strength become insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of bearing memberVSAvoidimpact resistance of bearing member

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the axial dimension (thickness direction) to create multiple bonding surfaces for the bearing member. By bonding the bearing between the holding frame and counterholding frame in the axial direction, the total bonding area increases while the radial dimensions remain small, maintaining impact resistance through distributed bonding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If the holding frame is made smaller to reduce apparatus size, then miniaturization is achieved, but the bonding strength between the holding frame and bearing member becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of holding frameVSAvoidbonding strength between holding frame and bearing member

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bonding function by introducing a counterholding frame that provides an additional bonding surface for the bearing member. This creates two separate bonding interfaces instead of one, effectively doubling the bonding area available for securing the bearing, thereby maintaining bonding strength despite the reduced size of individual components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 configuration provides enhanced impact resistance and maintains necessary bonding strength, preventing breakage and damage during size reduction, while enabling optical characteristics switching in endoscope apparatuses.

Implementation Method 1

a movable optical unit configured to be rotatable around an axis by an electromagnet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetism: Electromagnet

Data Source

PatentUS12453460B2Movable optical unit, optical adapter, and endoscope apparatus

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 EVIDENT CORP

AI summary

A movable optical unit configured to be rotatable around an axis by an electromagnet includes a fixed shaft, a bearing through which the fixed shaft is inserted and which is polarized in a direction orthogonal to a long axis of the fixed shaft, a holding frame that is provided to be rotatable around the fixed shaft and holds at least one optical member, and a pair of arm members extending outward from the holding frame in a direction orthogonal to the long axis of the fixed shaft, the pair of arm members being bonded to the bearing in a state of sandwiching the bearing in a direction along the long axis of the fixed shaft.