Optical Fiber Image Data Transfer for Endoscopy Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopy systems face limitations in bandwidth during image data transfer, leading to increased heat generation, complexity, and operational reliability issues due to the need for serializers, deserializers, encoders, and decoders when using coaxial cables, which can result in delayed video display and potential medical malpractice during surgeries.
Innovation Solution
The system employs optical fiber modules connected directly to image terminals without a serialization process, transferring image data in differential or single-ended modes, and includes additional sensors and modules for diverse wavelength data, clock signals, and synchronization confirmation, with a dummy module to handle abnormal conditions, reducing the need for complex encoding and decoding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coaxial cables with serialization processes are used for image data transfer, then the system can transfer image data, but bandwidth limitations and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the serialization process from the image data transfer path by using optical fiber modules that can directly transmit parallel image data signals. This removes the need for serializers, deserializers, encoders, and decoders, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining transfer reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical signal transmission system (coaxial cables with serialization) with an optical signal transmission system (optical fiber modules). This substitution eliminates the bandwidth limitations and heat generation associated with electrical serialization while preserving image data transfer functionality.
2Productivity
If serialization processes are used for image data transfer, then data can be transmitted over coaxial cables, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical signal transmission with optical signal transmission using optical fiber modules. This replacement eliminates the resistive heating caused by electrical serialization processes while maintaining high-speed image data transfer capability, thus reducing heat generation without sacrificing productivity.
3Reliability
If encoders and decoders are used in the transfer system, then image data can be processed, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes encoders and decoders from the image data transfer system by using optical fiber modules that can directly transmit raw image data signals. This extraction eliminates the complexity associated with encoding and decoding processes while maintaining video display reliability through direct optical transmission.
4Productivity
If optical fiber modules are used without serialization, then bandwidth limitations are overcome, but direct connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex electrical connection system with optical fiber modules that provide direct optical connections. This substitution enables high-bandwidth image data transfer without serialization while the modular optical fiber design simplifies the overall connection architecture, resolving the apparent complexity issue.
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
This approach overcomes bandwidth limitations, reduces heat generation and complexity, and ensures fast and reliable image data transfer, enabling real-time video display during surgeries without the delays and reliability issues associated with coaxial cables.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical fiber module and a second optical fiber module connected to the first image terminal and the second image terminal respectively
Implementation Method 2
the first optical fiber module and the second optical fiber module transfer the image data in a differential mode
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system according to the present disclosure includes an apparatus for transferring image data configured to include an image sensor which generates image data and which includes a first image terminal and a second image terminal for transferring at least a portion of the image data, and to include a first optical fiber module and a second optical fiber module which are connected with the first image terminal and the second image terminal respectively; an image data input unit configured to be connected with the apparatus for transferring image data and to transfer the image data output through the apparatus for transferring image data via a set path; and an image processing unit configured to perform an image processing for the image data transferred from the image data input unit under control of CPU.