Stereo Endoscope Sensor Carriage Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical instruments, particularly stereoscopic endoscopes, face challenges in adjusting image sensors to compensate for imaging aberrations and focus due to limited installation space and the need for autoclavability, which restricts the transferability of conventional adjustment concepts.
Innovation Solution
The image sensors are mounted on carriages that are movable along predetermined paths, allowing for independent adjustment parallel to the optical axis, with a reflecting surface deflecting light by 90 degrees to facilitate focusing and aberration correction, enabling precise and compact adjustment within the instrument.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image sensors are mounted on movable carriages for independent adjustment, then imaging precision and aberration correction are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical instrument is divided into multiple independent adjustment units, each comprising an image sensor mounted on a separate movable carriage. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each sensor without affecting others, enabling precise aberration correction while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The carriages are designed to be movable along predetermined paths, transforming the static mounting of image sensors into a dynamic adjustment system. This allows the sensors to be repositioned during operation to correct imaging aberrations and focus on varying object distances, improving imaging precision adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If image sensors are adjusted independently for aberration correction, then manufacturing precision requirements increase, but adjustment flexibility improves
Solution Approach 1:
The movable carriage system enables self-adjustment of image sensor positions to correct imaging aberrations. The carriages can be independently positioned along predetermined paths to achieve optimal alignment, allowing the system to self-correct manufacturing tolerances rather than requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the positional parameters of image sensors during operation by moving carriages along predetermined paths. This dynamic parameter adjustment compensates for manufacturing variations and enables flexible adaptation to different imaging conditions without stringent manufacturing precision requirements
3Volume of moving object
If a reflecting surface is used to deflect light by 90 degrees, then the compactness of the instrument is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting surface is introduced to deflect the optical path by 90 degrees, changing the spatial dimension of light propagation. This allows the optical components to be arranged in a compact configuration where the light path folds back on itself, reducing the overall instrument volume while managing optical path complexity through controlled reflection
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 allows for easy and independent adjustment of image sensors, correcting optical aberrations and enabling the production of virtually aberration-free stereoscopic images while maintaining a compact and robust instrument design.
Implementation Method 1
Here, in particular, the light emanating from the optical device is deflected by 90 degrees by means of a reflecting surface
Data Source
AI summary
An optical instrument for capturing stereo images includes two optical devices for producing a real image in each case, two carriages, which are each movable along a predetermined path relative to one of the optical devices, two image sensors, each with a light-sensitive surface for capturing the respective real image, with one of the image sensors in each case being fastened to the carriage, and one reflecting surface in the beam path between the optical device and the image sensor in each case.