CN219921016U - Polarized illumination imaging device and endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a polarized illumination imaging device and an endoscope, which can eliminate the problems of high light and glare caused by specular reflection and improve the quality of endoscopic imaging. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus includes a polarized illumination assembly and a polarized imaging assembly. The polarized illumination assembly includes an illumination module and a first polarization element disposed in an illumination light path of the illumination module for converting illumination light provided via the illumination module into first polarization light to exit from a distal end of the insertion portion. The polarization imaging assembly comprises an imaging module and a second linear polarization element, wherein the second linear polarization element is arranged in an imaging light path of the imaging module, and the polarization direction of the second linear polarization element is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the first linear polarization element and is used for converting object light incident from the distal end of the insertion part into second linear polarization to be received and imaged by the imaging module.

Description

Polarized illumination imaging device and endoscope

Technical Field

The utility model relates to the technical field of endoscopes, in particular to a polarized illumination imaging device and an endoscope.

Background

In recent years, minimally invasive surgery, which is a mainstream treatment method advocated in modern therapeutics by virtue of its advantages of small trauma, light pain, quick recovery, etc., is generally performed directly in the human body through image guidance of endoscopes such as laparoscopes, thoracoscopes, etc. Since the inside of a human body is a dark environment, image information in the body needs to be acquired by means of an external light source, an existing electronic endoscope is generally configured with an illumination system and an imaging system, so that the imaging system photographs tissue in the body under a light environment provided via the illumination system to perform endoscopic imaging.

However, since the tissue and/or the metal instruments in the body generally have smooth surfaces, specular reflection phenomenon with very high brightness often occurs when the existing electronic endoscope is used for endoscopic detection, resulting in problems of high brightness and glare of the endoscopic image. In order to reduce the problems of high brightness and glare of images, the conventional endoscope scheme fuses a plurality of images, but the imaging speed is greatly influenced, so that the conventional electronic endoscope has larger time delay in endoscopic imaging, feedback cannot be displayed in time, and great inconvenience and safety risk are brought to endoscopic surgery.

Disclosure of Invention

An advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope that can eliminate problems of high light and glare due to specular reflection and improve the quality of endoscopic imaging.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope, wherein in one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus can substantially reduce the time delay of endoscopic imaging while removing the influence of specular reflection, so as to display feedback in time and better guide the endoscopic operation.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging device and an endoscope, in which in one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarized illumination imaging device can greatly reduce assembly difficulty, and improve consistency of binocular imaging and stability of assembly.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope in which, in one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus can effectively reduce the size of the endoscope and reduce the cost of the endoscope while achieving three-dimensional imaging of a target.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope in which, in one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus is capable of obtaining two or more polarized images with a single polarization sensor in order to further improve consistency of binocular imaging and reliability of assembly.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope in which, in one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus can acquire two or more polarized images using cooperation between a single conventional sensor and a linear polarizer, so as to effectively reduce costs.

Another advantage of the present utility model is to provide a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope in which expensive materials or complex structures are not required in the present utility model in order to achieve the above objects. The present utility model thus successfully and efficiently provides a solution that not only provides a simple polarized illumination imaging device and endoscope, but also increases the practicality and reliability of the polarized illumination imaging device and endoscope.

To achieve at least one of the above or other advantages and objects of the utility model, there is provided a polarized illumination imaging apparatus for setting up an insertion portion of an endoscope to perform endoscopic imaging, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus including:

a polarized illumination assembly including an illumination module and a first linear polarization element disposed in an illumination light path of the illumination module for converting illumination light provided via the illumination module into first linear polarization to exit from a distal end of the insertion portion; and

and the polarization imaging assembly comprises an imaging module and a second linear polarization element, wherein the second linear polarization element is arranged in an imaging light path of the imaging module, and the polarization direction of the second linear polarization element is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the first linear polarization element and is used for converting object light incident from the distal end of the insertion part into second linear polarization to be received and imaged by the imaging module.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the imaging module includes a photosensitive assembly, a polarization beam splitter assembly disposed between the photosensitive assembly and the second linear polarization element, and an imaging lens group disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive assembly and the polarization beam splitter assembly; the polarization beam splitting component is provided with a first incident light path, a second incident light path and an emergent light path, the first incident light path and the emergent light path respectively extend along the optical axis of the imaging lens group, and the second incident light path is parallel to the first incident light path; the polarization beam splitting component is used for modulating second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path into first linear polarization emergent along the emergent light path and reflecting the second linear polarization incident along the second incident light path to form second linear polarization emergent along the emergent light path.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarization beam splitter assembly includes a first X-prism providing the first incident light path and the exit light path, a reflection prism providing the second incident light path, a polarization conversion element for converting linear polarization light and circular polarization light to each other, and a reflection element; the first X prism and the imaging lens group are arranged with the same optical axis; the reflection prism and the reflection element are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the first X prism along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging lens group, and the polarization conversion element is disposed in an optical path between the first X prism and the reflection element.

According to an embodiment of the present utility model, the first X-prism includes a first right-angle prism facing the second linear polarization element, a second right-angle prism facing the reflection prism, a third right-angle prism facing the polarization conversion element, a fourth right-angle prism facing the imaging lens group, a first light-splitting film for reflecting the first linear polarization and transmitting the second linear polarization, and a second light-splitting film for reflecting the second linear polarization and transmitting the first linear polarization; the first light splitting film is positioned between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the first right-angle prism and the third right-angle prism and between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the second right-angle prism and the fourth right-angle prism; the second light splitting film is located between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the first right-angle prism and the second right-angle prism and between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the third right-angle prism and the fourth right-angle prism.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the reflecting prism is a right-angle prism with a slope coated with a high-reflection film; the polarization conversion element is a quarter wave plate; the reflecting element is a plane reflecting mirror.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the polarization beam splitter assembly further includes a first front lens disposed in the first incident light path and a second front lens disposed in the second incident light path; the first front lens is positioned in the light path between the second linear deflection element and the first right-angle prism; the second front lens is located in the optical path between the second line deflection element and the reflecting prism.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the photosensitive assembly includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, and a light splitting element disposed at an image side of the imaging lens group, and the first image sensor and the second image sensor are respectively located at different sides of the light splitting element for respectively receiving the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light split by the light splitting element to image.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the light splitting element is a second X-prism, and the first image sensor and the second image sensor are respectively located on two reflection sides of the second X-prism.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the photosensitive member is a polarized imaging sensor disposed on an image side of the imaging lens group for simultaneously receiving the first linear polarization light and the second linear polarization light shaped by the imaging lens group to image respectively.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the photosensitive assembly includes an imaging sensor and a linear polarizer, the imaging sensor is disposed at an image side of the imaging lens group, and the linear polarizer is rotatably disposed in an optical path between the imaging sensor and the imaging lens group for adjusting a polarization direction of the linear polarizer by rotating the linear polarizer.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the first linear polarization element is one of a P-polarizer and an S-polarizer; the second linear polarization element is the other of the P-polarizer and the S-polarizer.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the illumination module is an illumination fiber bundle comprising a plurality of illumination fibers arranged in an annular configuration, the plurality of illumination fibers being arranged to surround the polarized imaging assembly at a distal end of the insertion portion to conduct illumination light.

According to another aspect of the present utility model, there is further provided an endoscope including:

an operation unit;

an insertion portion, a proximal end of which is connected to the operation portion; and

the polarized illumination imaging device according to any one of the above, wherein the polarized illumination imaging device is disposed in the insertion portion, and is configured to perform endoscopic imaging on a target to be observed.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic view of the distal end face of a polarized illumination imaging device in an endoscope according to the above-described embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 3 shows a first example of a polarized imaging assembly in a polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to the above-described embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 4 shows a second example of a polarized imaging assembly in a polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to the above embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 5 shows a third example of a polarized imaging assembly in a polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to the above embodiment of the utility model;

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a polarized illumination imaging method according to one embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 7 shows a schematic flow chart of a polarization imaging step in the polarization illumination imaging method according to the above embodiment of the present utility model.

Description of main reference numerals: 1. a polarized illumination imaging device; 10. a polarized illumination assembly; 11. a lighting module; 110. an illumination fiber bundle; 111. an illumination fiber; 12. a first bias element; 20. a polarization imaging assembly; 21. an imaging module; 211. a photosensitive assembly; 2111. a first image sensor; 2112. a second image sensor; 2113. a spectroscopic element; 21130. a second X prism; 2114. a polarization type imaging sensor; 2115. an imaging sensor; 2116. a linear polarizer; 212. a polarization beam splitting component; 2101. a first incident light path; 2102. a second incident light path; 2103. an exit light path; 2121. a first X prism; 21211. a first right angle prism; 21212. a second right angle prism; 21213. a third right angle prism; 21214. a fourth right angle prism; 21215. a first light-splitting film; 21216. a second light splitting film; 2122. a reflecting prism; 2123. a polarization conversion element; 2124. a reflective element; 2125. a first front lens; 2126. a second front lens; 2127. a diaphragm; 213. an imaging lens group; 22. a second wire bias element; 2. an insertion section; 3. an operation section.

The foregoing general description of the utility model will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings and detailed description.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present utility model will be made clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is apparent that the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present utility model, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the utility model without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the utility model.

It is noted that when an element is referred to as being "mounted to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "disposed on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "secured to" another element, it can be directly secured to the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this utility model belongs. The terminology used herein in the description of the utility model is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the utility model. The term "or/and" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In order to solve the problems of high light and glare caused by specular reflection, the conventional endoscope scheme generally adopts a plurality of images for fusion, but the imaging speed is greatly influenced, so that the conventional electronic endoscope has larger time delay during endoscopic imaging, feedback cannot be displayed in time, and great inconvenience and safety risk are brought to an endoscopic operation. Accordingly, the present utility model provides a polarized illumination imaging apparatus and an endoscope capable of eliminating problems of high light and glare due to specular reflection, and improving the quality of endoscopic imaging.

Specifically, referring to fig. 1 to 5, an embodiment of the present utility model provides an endoscope, which may include a polarized illumination imaging device 1, an insertion portion 2, and an operation portion 3 connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion 2, the polarized illumination imaging device 1 being disposed at the insertion portion 2 to perform endoscopic imaging of an object to be observed. It will be appreciated that the objects to be observed referred to in the present utility model may be, but are not limited to, implemented as in vivo tissues and/or metallic instruments, etc.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, the polarized illumination imaging apparatus 1 may include a polarized illumination assembly 10 and a polarized imaging assembly 20. The polarized illumination assembly 10 comprises an illumination module 11 and a first polarization element 12, the first polarization element 12 being arranged in an illumination light path of the illumination module 11 for converting illumination light provided via the illumination module 11 into first polarization light for exiting from the distal end of the insertion portion 2. The polarization imaging assembly 20 includes an imaging module 21 and a second linear polarization element 22, wherein the second linear polarization element 22 is disposed in an imaging light path of the imaging module 21, and a polarization direction of the second linear polarization element 22 is perpendicular to a polarization direction of the first linear polarization element 12, for converting object light incident from a distal end of the insertion portion 2 into second linear polarization for being received for imaging by the imaging module 21. It is understood that the polarization state of the first line polarized light is opposite to the polarization state of the second line polarized light, for example, when the first line polarized light is implemented as P light or S light, and the second line polarized light is implemented as S light or P light, respectively.

Notably, since object light reflected back from the surface of the object to be observed includes specular reflected light that is generally capable of maintaining the polarization state of incident light (i.e., first-line polarization) and diffuse reflected light that is generally cluttered, including multiple polarization states; therefore, the polarized illumination assembly 10 of the present utility model projects only the first linear polarized light to the object to be observed under the action of the first linear polarization element 12, and the object light reflected by the object to be observed includes both the first linear polarized light reflected by the mirror surface and the second linear polarized light reflected by the diffuse reflection and other polarized light; the polarization imaging assembly 20 of the present utility model can only receive the diffusely reflected second linear polarization for imaging under the action of the second linear polarization element 22, so that the polarization illumination imaging device 1 of the present utility model can effectively filter the highlight light caused by the specular reflection, thereby effectively avoiding the occurrence of the highlight light and the glare light, and effectively improving the endoscopic imaging quality.

In addition, compared with the existing endoscopic scheme of fusing multiple images, the polarized illumination imaging device 1 does not need to fuse multiple images, so that the imaging speed is greatly improved, the polarized illumination imaging device 1 can remove the influence of specular reflection, and meanwhile, the time delay of endoscopic imaging is greatly reduced, so that feedback is displayed in time, and the endoscopic operation is better guided.

Illustratively, the first polarization element 12 of the present utility model may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a P-polarizer for absorbing S-light and transmitting P-light; meanwhile, the second linear polarization element 22 of the present utility model is correspondingly implemented as an S-polarizing plate for absorbing P-light and transmitting S-light. For example, as shown in fig. 3, the first linear polarization is implemented as P light, and the second linear polarization is implemented as S light. It is understood that in other examples of the present utility model, the first linear polarization element 12 and the second linear polarization element 22 may also be implemented as an S-polarizer and a P-polarizer, respectively, which are not described in detail herein.

Alternatively, the insert 2 generally has an illumination channel for mounting the polarized illumination assembly 10 and an imaging channel for mounting the polarized imaging assembly 20; the first linear polarization element 12 in the polarized illumination assembly 10 may cover the distal face of the illumination channel; a second wire bias element 22 in the polarized imaging assembly 20 may cover the distal face of the imaging channel.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2, the illumination module 11 of the present utility model may be implemented as, but is not limited to, an illumination fiber bundle 110, the illumination fiber bundle 110 extending through an illumination channel of the insertion portion 2 for conducting illumination light emitted from an external light source to a distal end of the insertion portion 2 to provide polarized illumination for endoscopic imaging after passing through the first polarization element 12. It is understood that, in other examples of the present utility model, the lighting module 11 may be implemented as various light emitting elements, which will not be described in detail herein.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 2, the illumination fiber bundle 110 may include a plurality of illumination fibers 111 arranged in an annular shape, the plurality of illumination fibers 111 being configured to surround the polarization imaging assembly 20 at the distal end of the insertion portion 2 to conduct illumination light so as to provide a better illumination condition. In other words, the illumination channel of the insert 2 of the present utility model may be implemented as an annular channel to accommodate a plurality of illumination fibers 111 arranged in an annular shape.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the distal end portions of the plurality of illumination fibers 111 are uniformly arranged at the distal end face periphery of the insertion portion 2, so that a region to be observed can obtain more uniform and wider illumination.

It is noted that in some examples of the present utility model, the imaging module 21 in the polarization imaging assembly 20 may be implemented as a two-dimensional imaging module to obtain a two-dimensional planar image of the object to be observed. In other examples of the utility model, the imaging module 21 in the polarization imaging assembly 20 may also be implemented as a three-dimensional imaging module in order to directly obtain real 3D information of the object to be observed.

However, the mainstream three-dimensional endoscope in the current market is usually realized based on the binocular stereoscopic vision principle, that is, two identical imaging systems are utilized to shoot images of an object to be observed from different angles, and three-dimensional information of the object to be observed is obtained by calculating position parallax between corresponding points in the images, which has high requirements on consistency of an imaging system and precision of an image sensor, and two identical optical systems are required during imaging, so that the size and cost of the endoscope are more than twice that of a common endoscope, and the endoscope is not friendly to patients.

Therefore, in order to reduce the size and cost of the endoscope, as shown in fig. 3 to 5, the imaging module 21 in the polarization imaging module 20 of the present utility model may preferably include a photosensitive assembly 211, a polarization beam splitter assembly 212 disposed between the photosensitive assembly 211 and the second linear polarization element 22, and an imaging lens group 213 disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive assembly 211 and the polarization beam splitter assembly 212; the polarization beam splitter 212 has a first incident light path 2101, a second incident light path 2102 and an exit light path 2103, the first incident light path 2101 and the exit light path 2103 respectively extend along the optical axis of the imaging lens group 213, and the second incident light path 2102 is parallel to the first incident light path 2101. The polarization beam splitter 212 is configured to modulate the second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path 2101 into a first linear polarization exiting along the exiting light path 2103 and reflect the second linear polarization incident along the second incident light path 2102 to form a second linear polarization exiting along the exiting light path 2103. The imaging lens group 213 is configured to simultaneously shape the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light emitted along the emission light path 2103; the photosensitive assembly 211 is used for respectively receiving and imaging the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light shaped by the imaging lens group 213 so as to obtain three-dimensional information of the object to be observed.

Thus, light reflected back through the object to be observed passes through the second linear polarization element 22 to form second linear polarized light that is incident on the polarization beam splitter 212 along the first incident light path 2101 and the second incident light path 2102, respectively; next, the second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path 2101 and the second incident light path 2102 respectively forms a first linear polarization and a second linear polarization which are emitted along the emitting light path 2103 after passing through the polarization beam splitter 212; finally, the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light emitted along the emitting light path 2103 respectively pass through the imaging lens group 213 to be received by the photosensitive member 211 to be imaged respectively, thereby obtaining an image with a fixed parallax to obtain three-dimensional information of an object to be observed.

It can be appreciated that the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light emitted along the light emitting path 2103 not only have different polarization states, but also have fixed parallaxes, which is beneficial to shaping the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light by using the same imaging lens group 213, and is convenient to separate the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light at the photosensitive assembly 211 after shaping so as to respectively image the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light, thereby obtaining two target images with fixed parallaxes, and reconstructing three-dimensional image information of the target through a parallax fusion algorithm. In other words, compared with the existing binocular imaging module in the three-dimensional endoscope, the polarization imaging module 20 of the present utility model uses the polarization beam splitting characteristic, so that two paths of target light can be shaped as required only by using a single optical path system (i.e. sharing the same imaging lens group 213), so as to obtain the three-dimensional image information of the target according to the binocular vision principle, and two independent imaging lens groups are not required to be shaped respectively, which is helpful for simplifying the module optical path and reducing the module cost.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 3 to 5, the polarization beam splitter 212 includes a first X-prism 2121 providing the first incident light path 2101 and the emergent light path 2103, a reflective prism 2122 providing the second incident light path 2102, a polarization conversion element 2123 for converting linear polarization light and circular polarization light into each other, and a reflective element 2124; the first X-prism 2121 is arranged coaxially with the imaging lens group 213; the reflection prism 2122 and the reflection element 2124 are disposed on opposite sides of the first X-prism 2121 along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging lens group 213, respectively, and the polarization conversion element 2123 is disposed in the optical path between the first X-prism 2121 and the reflection element 2124.

In this way, the second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path 2101 is reflected by the first X-prism 2121 to pass through the polarization conversion element 2123 for the first time, and then reflected by the reflection element 2124 to pass through the polarization conversion element 2123 for the second time to be converted into the first linear polarization, and then forms the first linear polarization reflected by the first X-prism 2121 to exit along the exit light path 2103. Meanwhile, the second linear polarized light incident along the second incident light path 2102 is reflected by the reflecting prism 2122 and then reflected by the first X prism 2121 to form the second linear polarized light exiting along the exiting light path 2103.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3 to 5, the first X prism 2121 may include a first right angle prism 21211 facing the second linear polarization element 22, a second right angle prism 21212 facing the reflection prism 2122, a third right angle prism 21213 facing the polarization conversion element 2123, a fourth right angle prism 21214 facing the imaging mirror group 213, a first light splitting film 21215 for reflecting the first linear polarization and transmitting the second linear polarization, and a second light splitting film 21216 for reflecting the second linear polarization and transmitting the first linear polarization; the first light splitting film 21215 is disposed between two adjacent right angle surfaces of the first right angle prism 21211 and the third right angle prism 21213 and between two adjacent right angle surfaces of the second right angle prism 21212 and the fourth right angle prism 21214; the second light splitting film 21216 is located between two adjacent right angle faces on the first right angle prism 21211 and the second right angle prism 21212 and between two adjacent right angle faces on the third right angle prism 21213 and the fourth right angle prism 21214.

Thus, the second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path 2101 is first incident from the inclined surface of the first right angle prism 21211 and then reflected by the second light splitting film 21216 to be emitted from the inclined surface of the third right angle prism 21213; then, the second linear polarization light emitted from the inclined surface of the third rectangular prism 21213 passes through the polarization conversion element 2123 for the first time, and then passes through the polarization conversion element 2123 for the second time after being reflected by the reflection element 2124 to be converted into the first linear polarization light emitted from the inclined surface of the third rectangular prism 21213; finally, the first linear polarization incident from the inclined surface of the third right angle prism 21213 is reflected by the first light splitting film 21215 to be emitted from the inclined surface of the fourth right angle prism 21214 and propagated to the imaging lens group 213 along the outgoing optical path 2103. Meanwhile, the second linear polarized light incident along the second incident light path 2102 is reflected by the reflecting prism 2122 to enter from the inclined plane of the second right angle prism 21212, and then reflected by the second light splitting film 21216 to exit from the inclined plane of the fourth right angle prism 21214 to propagate along the emergent light path 2103 to the imaging lens group 213. It will be appreciated that the optical paths traversed by the second linear polarization incident along the first incident optical path 2101 and the second linear polarization incident along the second incident optical path 2102 in the polarizing beam splitter 212 may be identical, which facilitates achieving a binocular optical path with exactly uniform optical paths, facilitating effectively improving binocular consistency.

Alternatively, the reflecting prism 2122 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a right angle prism with a highly reflective film coated on the inclined surface; the polarization conversion element 2123 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a quarter wave plate; the reflective element 2124 may be implemented as, but is not limited to, a planar mirror.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 3-5, the polarization beam splitter assembly 212 may further include a first front lens 2125 disposed in the first incident light path 2101 and a second front lens 2126 disposed in the second incident light path 2102; the first front lens 2125 is located in the optical path between the second linear polarization element 22 and the first right angle prism 21211 for modulating the second linear polarization incident along the first incident optical path 2101 to be incident from the inclined plane of the first right angle prism 21211; the second front lens 2126 is located in the optical path between the second linear polarization element 22 and the reflecting prism 2122 for modulating the second linear polarization incident along the second incident optical path 2102 to be incident from the right angle surface of the reflecting prism 2122.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 3 to 5, the polarization beam splitter 212 may further include a diaphragm 2127 disposed in the outgoing light path 2103, where the diaphragm 2127 is located in the light path between the fourth rectangular prism 21214 and the imaging lens group 213, for filtering stray light and improving imaging quality.

It should be noted that the imaging lens group 213 in the imaging module 21 may be formed by coaxially arranging a plurality of lenses for shaping the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light emitted along the emitting light path 2103 at the same time, so as to control imaging aberration and optimize imaging effect. In addition, the photosensitive element 211 in the imaging module 21 needs to image the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light shaped by the imaging lens group 213 respectively to obtain a binocular image with a fixed parallax to obtain depth information of the object to be observed.

Illustratively, in a first example of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 3, the photosensitive assembly 211 may include a first image sensor 2111, a second image sensor 2112, and a spectroscopic element 2113, the spectroscopic element 2113 being disposed at an image side of the imaging lens group 213, and the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 being respectively located at different sides of the spectroscopic element 2113 for respectively receiving the first linear polarization light and the second linear polarization light split through the spectroscopic element 2113 for imaging. In this way, the first linear polarization light and the second linear polarization light shaped by the imaging lens group 213 are split by the light splitting element 2113 to propagate to the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112, respectively, and are received, so that the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 acquire two images with fixed parallax, and the two images are fused into one three-dimensional stereoscopic image by a parallax fusion method.

Alternatively, as shown in fig. 3, the spectroscopic element 2113 may be implemented as a second X-prism 21130, the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 being located on two reflection sides of the second X-prism 21130, respectively. In this way, the first and second linear polarized lights shaped by the imaging lens group 213 are reflected by the second X-prism 21130 to propagate to the first and second image sensors 2111 and 2112, respectively, to be received. It is to be understood that, in the above first example of the present utility model, the second X-prism 21130 in the photosensitive assembly 211 and the first X-prism 2121 in the polarization splitting assembly 212 have the same structure, and the present utility model will not be repeated. Further, in other examples of the present utility model, the spectroscopic element 2113 may also be implemented as a polarization spectroscopic plate disposed obliquely with respect to the optical axis of the imaging lens group 213, the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 being located on the reflection side and the transmission side of the polarization spectroscopic plate, respectively.

Alternatively, in the above-described first example of the present utility model, the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 are each implemented as a CCD chip. It will be appreciated that the first image sensor 2111 and the second image sensor 2112 in the above first example of the present utility model may be conventional unpolarized type imaging sensors or polarized type imaging sensors.

It is worth noting that, since the polarized imaging sensor has a unique pixel arrangement design, namely, metal wire grids with mutually perpendicular polarization directions or wiener structures with similar polarization modulation functions are etched on the surfaces of adjacent pixels, light in two polarization states can be imaged on one sensor at the same time; therefore, the polarized imaging sensor can simultaneously image two beams of light with different polarization states so as to collect two beams of imaging light with fixed parallax at the same time, and finally, the two images are fused into a three-dimensional stereoscopic image through a parallax fusion algorithm. For example, in the second example of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 4, the photosensitive member 211 is implemented as a polarization type imaging sensor 2114, and the polarization type imaging sensor 2114 is disposed at the image side of the imaging lens group 213 for simultaneously receiving the first linear polarization and the second linear polarization shaped by the imaging lens group 213 to image respectively.

It will be appreciated that in the above-described second example of the present utility model, the imaging module 21 in the polarization imaging assembly 20 replaces the conventional non-polarization type imaging sensor with the polarization type imaging sensor 2114 having the polarization imaging function, and two or more polarization state images can be obtained by a single sensor, so as to further improve consistency of binocular imaging and reliability of assembly.

It is noted that, in the third example of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 5, the photosensitive assembly 211 may include an imaging sensor 2115 and a linear polarizer 2116, the imaging sensor 2115 being disposed at the image side of the imaging mirror group 213, and the linear polarizer 2116 being rotatably disposed in the optical path between the imaging sensor 2115 and the imaging mirror group 213 for adjusting the polarization direction of the linear polarizer 2116 by rotating the linear polarizer 2116. Thus, at the previous frame time, the polarization direction of the linear polarizer 2116 is vertical (i.e., the linear polarizer 2116 is disposed vertically), and the imaging sensor 2115 can only receive polarized light in the vertical direction (i.e., the second linear polarization, such as S light); at the next frame time, the polarization direction of the linear polarizer 2116 is horizontal (i.e., the linear polarizer 2116 is disposed horizontally), and the imaging sensor 2115 can only receive polarized light in the horizontal direction (i.e., the first linear polarization, such as P-light); therefore, the front frame image and the rear frame image are fused to obtain images with fixed parallax, and a three-dimensional stereo image is obtained through a parallax fusion algorithm.

It will be appreciated that in the third example of the present utility model described above, the imaging sensor 2115 may be implemented as a conventional unpolarized imaging sensor, so that collection of two or more polarized light rays can be achieved with a single conventional sensor, contributing to a substantial cost reduction.

It should be noted that, according to another aspect of the present utility model, as shown in fig. 6, an embodiment of the present utility model further provides a polarized illumination imaging method, which may include the steps of:

s100: converting illumination light provided via the illumination module into first linear polarization by the first linear polarization element to exit from the distal end of the insertion portion for polarized illumination; and

s200: and the object light incident from the distal end of the insertion part is converted into second linear polarized light by a second linear polarization element with the polarization direction perpendicular to the first linear polarization element so as to be received and imaged by the imaging module.

It should be noted that, as shown in fig. 7, step S200 in the polarized illumination imaging method of the present utility model may include the steps of:

s210: absorbing, by the second linear polarization element, the first linear polarization light reflected back via the mirror surface of the object to be observed, and transmitting the second linear polarization light diffusely reflected back via the object to be observed to propagate along the first incident light path and the second incident light path parallel to each other;

s220: modulating, by a polarization beam splitting assembly, the second linear polarization propagating along the first incident light path into a first linear polarization propagating along an exit light path, and reflecting the second linear polarization propagating along the second incident light path to form a second linear polarization propagating along the exit light path;

s230: shaping the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light propagating along the emergent light path respectively through an imaging lens group; and

s240: and receiving the first linear polarized light and the second linear polarized light which are shaped by the imaging lens group through the photosensitive component so as to respectively image.

The technical features of the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined, and all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are not described for brevity of description, however, as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features, they should be considered as the scope of the description.

The foregoing examples illustrate only a few embodiments of the utility model, which are described in detail and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. It should be noted that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the utility model, which are all within the scope of the utility model. Accordingly, the protection scope of this patent shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. A polarized illumination imaging device for setting up in the insertion portion of endoscope in order to carry out endoscopic imaging, its characterized in that, polarized illumination imaging device includes:

a polarized illumination assembly including an illumination module and a first linear polarization element disposed in an illumination light path of the illumination module for converting illumination light provided via the illumination module into first linear polarization to exit from a distal end of the insertion portion; and

and the polarization imaging assembly comprises an imaging module and a second linear polarization element, wherein the second linear polarization element is arranged in an imaging light path of the imaging module, and the polarization direction of the second linear polarization element is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the first linear polarization element and is used for converting object light incident from the distal end of the insertion part into second linear polarization to be received and imaged by the imaging module.

2. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging module comprises a photosensitive assembly, a polarization splitting assembly disposed between the photosensitive assembly and the second linear polarization element, and an imaging lens group disposed in an optical path between the photosensitive assembly and the polarization splitting assembly; the polarization beam splitting component is provided with a first incident light path, a second incident light path and an emergent light path, the first incident light path and the emergent light path respectively extend along the optical axis of the imaging lens group, and the second incident light path is parallel to the first incident light path; the polarization beam splitting component is used for modulating second linear polarization incident along the first incident light path into first linear polarization emergent along the emergent light path and reflecting the second linear polarization incident along the second incident light path to form second linear polarization emergent along the emergent light path.

3. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the polarization beam splitting assembly comprises a first X-prism providing the first incident light path and the exit light path, a reflection prism providing the second incident light path, a polarization conversion element for converting linear polarization and circular polarization to each other, and a reflection element; the first X prism and the imaging lens group are arranged with the same optical axis; the reflection prism and the reflection element are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the first X prism along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging lens group, and the polarization conversion element is disposed in an optical path between the first X prism and the reflection element.

4. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first X prism includes a first right angle prism facing the second linear polarization element, a second right angle prism facing the reflection prism, a third right angle prism facing the polarization conversion element, a fourth right angle prism facing the imaging lens group, a first light splitting film for reflecting the first linear polarization and transmitting the second linear polarization, and a second light splitting film for reflecting the second linear polarization and transmitting the first linear polarization; the first light splitting film is positioned between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the first right-angle prism and the third right-angle prism and between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the second right-angle prism and the fourth right-angle prism; the second light splitting film is located between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the first right-angle prism and the second right-angle prism and between two adjacent right-angle surfaces on the third right-angle prism and the fourth right-angle prism.

5. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the reflecting prism is a right angle prism with a slant surface coated with a highly reflective film; the polarization conversion element is a quarter wave plate; the reflecting element is a plane reflecting mirror.

6. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus of claim 4, wherein the polarized light splitting assembly further comprises a first front lens disposed in the first incident light path and a second front lens disposed in the second incident light path; the first front lens is positioned in the light path between the second linear deflection element and the first right-angle prism; the second front lens is located in the optical path between the second line deflection element and the reflecting prism.

7. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the photosensitive assembly comprises a first image sensor, a second image sensor, and a spectroscopic element, the spectroscopic element being disposed on an image side of the imaging lens group, and the first image sensor and the second image sensor being located on different sides of the spectroscopic element, respectively, for receiving the first linear polarization and the second linear polarization split by the spectroscopic element, respectively, for imaging.

8. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the light splitting element is a second X-prism, and the first image sensor and the second image sensor are located on both reflection sides of the second X-prism, respectively.

9. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the photosensitive assembly is a polarized imaging sensor disposed on an image side of the imaging lens group for simultaneously receiving the first linear polarization and the second linear polarization shaped by the imaging lens group for respective imaging.

10. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the photosensitive assembly comprises an imaging sensor and a linear polarizer, the imaging sensor being disposed on an image side of the imaging lens group, and the linear polarizer being rotatably disposed in an optical path between the imaging sensor and the imaging lens group for adjusting a polarization direction of the linear polarizer by rotating the linear polarizer.

11. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first linear polarization element is one of a P-polarizing plate and an S-polarizing plate; the second linear polarization element is the other of the P-polarizer and the S-polarizer.

12. The polarized illumination imaging apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the illumination module is an illumination fiber bundle comprising a plurality of illumination fibers arranged in an annular configuration, the plurality of illumination fibers being configured to surround the polarized imaging assembly at a distal end of the insertion portion to conduct illumination light.

13. An endoscope, comprising:

an operation unit;

an insertion portion, a proximal end of which is connected to the operation portion; and

the polarized illumination imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, which is provided to the insertion portion for endoscopic imaging of an object to be observed.