Light Source Device With Prismatic Guide for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light source devices for endoscopes struggle to uniformly distribute illumination light across the effective irradiation range, leading to uneven illuminance, which affects the quality of in-vivo imaging.
Innovation Solution
A light source device comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources, a condenser lens, and a prismatic light guide that reflects light multiple times to uniformly distribute light intensity, with light sources positioned to emit light perpendicular to the reflecting surface of the light guide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are arranged on concentric circles and light is mixed by a rod, then illuminance uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source array is segmented into multiple light sources arranged on concentric circles, allowing independent control and optimization of light emission from different zones to achieve uniform illuminance distribution
Solution Approach 2:
A light-mixing rod is introduced as an intermediary component between the light sources and the illumination field, facilitating light mixing and uniformity improvement without requiring complex optical systems
2Power
If light is condensed by a condenser lens, then light intensity is improved, but illuminance uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the light source array emit light with different characteristics, and the light-mixing rod distributes this light with varying local properties to achieve uniform overall illuminance while maintaining high light intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The light mixing process transitions from a point-source condensation model to a distributed spatial model using concentric circular arrangements, adding dimensional complexity to achieve both intensity and uniformity
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 solution achieves uniform illuminance across the effective irradiation range, enhancing the quality of in-vivo imaging by suppressing light intensity unevenness, thereby improving the visibility of internal organ structures.
Implementation Method 1
a condenser lens configured to condense light emitted from the plurality of first semiconductor light sources
Implementation Method 2
the light guide guiding the light incident on the incident surface to the emission surface while reflecting the incident light in the light guide a plurality of times
Data Source
AI summary
A light source device includes: a plurality of first semiconductor light sources; a condenser lens; and a light guide having a prismatic shape in which an incident surface is on a first side of a central axis direction of the prismatic shape and an emission surface is on a second side of the central axis direction of the prismatic shape, a positional relationship between the plurality of first semiconductor light sources, the condenser lens, and the light guide is set such that a traveling direction of the light incident on the incident surface from the first semiconductor light sources via the condenser lens is perpendicular to a reflecting surface of the light guide in a plan view as viewed in the central axis direction of the prismatic shape, the incident light being reflected on the reflecting surface in the light guide.