Prism Support Member for Endoscope Image Capturing Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development of ultra-small image capturing modules for endoscopes faces challenges in manufacturing and maintaining good optical characteristics due to the difficulty in accurately positioning small prisms, which affects the optical path length and overall performance.
Innovation Solution
The use of a support member with an adhesion surface parallel to the prism's reflection surface and an abutment surface perpendicular to the wiring board's principal surface, which is bonded to the prism and held in abutment against a side surface of a layered element, facilitates precise positioning and stable attachment of the prism, ensuring accurate optical alignment and easy manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the prism size is reduced to make the image capturing module ultra-small, then the endoscope becomes minimally invasive, but the manufacturing precision and optical characteristics deteriorate due to difficulty in accurately positioning the small prism
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the prism and the wiring board. The support member includes a holding portion that holds the prism and a positioning portion that positions the holding portion, thereby mediating the positioning process and enabling accurate placement of ultra-small prisms without requiring direct manual positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is divided into distinct functional portions: a holding portion for the prism, a positioning portion for locating the holding portion, and an abutment portion for mechanical support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the positioning portion ensuring accurate prism placement while the holding portion secures the ultra-small prism
2Reliability
If the prism is positioned forwardly or rearwardly to adjust optical path length, then the optical characteristics are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for precise positional control
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with pre-formed positioning portions and abutment portions that establish the correct optical path length before the prism is mounted. The positioning portion includes features that automatically locate the prism at the correct position, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly adjustments and simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable optical characteristics
3Temperature
If the prism is held in contact with the reflection surface to transmit heat, then the thermal management is improved, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to contact-induced displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is segmented into a holding portion, positioning portion, and abutment portion. The abutment portion provides thermal contact with the wiring board for heat dissipation, while the positioning portion maintains the precise optical position of the prism. This segmentation allows thermal management and positioning functions to be performed at different locations without interfering with each other
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 solution enables the creation of minimally invasive endoscopes with good optical characteristics and easy manufacturing, as it allows for precise alignment and stable attachment of ultra-small prisms, improving the optical path length and overall performance of the image capturing module.
Implementation Method 1
a support member having an adhesion surface parallel to the reflection surface of the prism
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscope system includes an endoscope having an insertion portion. The endoscope is attached to the proximal end of the insertion portion. An image capturing module is attached to the distal-end portion of an insertion portion. The image capturing module includes a wiring board having a principal surface including first electrodes and second electrodes disposed thereon. An image capturing element includes respective photodetection and reverse surfaces. The reverse surface includes external electrodes and is connected to the first electrodes on the wiring board. A prism having an entrance surface to which light is applied, a reflection surface, and an exit surface in which the exit surface being bonded to the photodetection surface of the image capturing element. A support member is used to support the prism. A layered element including a plurality of elements is layered together and having an upper surface, a lower surface with element electrodes disposed thereon.