JP5941308B2 - Endoscope light adjustment mechanism - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a light amount adjustment mechanism provided in a light source device of an endoscope.

  Conventionally, in a portable endoscope, a light source device including a light amount adjustment mechanism is known (Patent Document 1). The adjustment of the light quantity in this light quantity adjustment mechanism is performed by controlling the electric circuit. This electric circuit is provided with components such as a variable resistor, a plurality of filaments, and a current path switch. For example, by turning a light amount adjustment dial, the resistance value of the variable resistor is changed and the light amount is adjusted. As an adjustment mechanism that does not use an electric circuit, there is an adjustment mechanism that includes a mechanically-throttle mechanism.

JP 2000-171725 A

  However, the light amount adjustment mechanism using such an electric circuit requires many electronic parts, and the diaphragm mechanism has a complicated mechanical configuration and a small number of parts. For this reason, there existed a fault that a manufacturing process increased. Further, the light amount adjustment dial is turned when adjusting the light amount, but it is difficult to immediately stop the small operation dial at an appropriate position during the treatment.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a light amount adjustment mechanism with a simple configuration and good operability.

  In the endoscope light amount adjusting apparatus according to the present invention, the first and second flat plates, which are polarizing plates, and the first or second flat plate are rotated around the optical axis on the optical path. And a light amount adjusting means for adjusting the amount of light transmitted through the two flat plates.

  In the endoscope light amount adjusting apparatus according to the present invention, the first and second flat plates in which light transmitting portions and light blocking portions that block light are alternately formed on the optical path in stripes, And a light amount adjusting means for adjusting a light amount transmitted through the first and second flat plates by rotating the second flat plate around the optical axis.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a 1st flat plate is provided in the light source device of an endoscope, and a 2nd flat plate is provided in the scope of an endoscope.

  More preferably, by rotating the entire light source device, the first flat plate rotates in conjunction with the rotation.

  Moreover, it is preferable that a 2nd flat plate is provided in the connection part of a scope and a light source device.

  More preferably, a second flat plate is provided at the distal end of the scope.

  Further, it is preferable that the first and second flat plates are provided in the light source device of the endoscope.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light amount adjusting mechanism with a simple configuration and good operability.

1 is a schematic diagram of a portable endoscope to which a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. In 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a fragmentary broken view of the light source device of the portable endoscope which applied embodiment of this invention, (b) is along the circular arc guide groove of a support part. It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected, (c) is an expanded view which shows the guide groove part of a supporting member. In the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure when the guide pin of a polarizing plate exists in an initial position, (b) is a figure when the guide pin of a polarizing plate exists in a maximum light quantity position. . In the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (a) is a figure when the guide pin of a polarizing plate exists in an initial position, (b) is a figure when the guide pin of a polarizing plate exists in a maximum light quantity position. .

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, the portable endoscope 10 includes a light source device 12 and a scope 13. The scope 13 includes a scope main body 15, a connecting part fixing part 36, and a connecting part 16. The main body portion 20 which is the main body portion of the light source device 12 is connected to the scope main body 15 at the connecting portion fixing portion 36, and the connecting portion 16 is fitted thereto. The light emitted from the light source device 12 passes through a light guide (not shown) in the scope main body 15 and irradiates the observed portion from the scope distal end portion 18. The light source device 12 has an LED 22 (see FIG. 2) connected to a battery (not shown) in the main body 20, and the LED 22 is turned on or off when the power switch 24 is pressed.

  The mechanical structure of the light source device 12 will be described with reference to FIG. A battery (not shown) is accommodated in the main body 20. The LED 22 is provided on the opposite side of the main body 20 from the connecting portion fixing portion 36. The intermediate member 26 fixed to the connecting portion fixing portion 36 side stores a terminal that contacts the battery and the terminal of the LED 22. A lens unit storage member 28 is bonded and fixed to the intermediate member 26. A cylindrical member 30 is fitted and fixed to the lens unit storage member 28, and the lens unit is attached to the inner wall surface of the cylindrical member 30.

  The connecting portion fixing portion 36 has a cylindrical shape and is fixed to the scope body 15. The support portion 34 having the light guide 32 is fitted into the connecting portion fixing portion 36. The connecting portion 16 is fitted to protect the joint between the support portion 34 and the connecting portion fixing portion 36.

  Next, the attachment structure of the lens unit storage member 28 with respect to the support part 34 is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, an arcuate guide groove SR of about 160 degrees is formed along the circumferential direction of the support portion 34. A linear guide groove SL is continuously provided at the end of the arcuate guide groove SR, and opens at the end of the support portion 34 on the main body 20 side. The guide pin 40 provided on the storage member 28 is inserted into the linear guide groove SL and inserted into a position where the guide pin 40 contacts the arcuate guide groove SR, whereby the support portion 34 and the lens unit storage member 28 are attached. .

  The main body 20 is integrally coupled to the intermediate member 26, the storage member 28, and the cylindrical member 30. Therefore, when the main body 20 is rotated, the guide pins 40 provided on the lens unit storage member 28 are rotated along the arcuate guide groove SR. The guide pin 40 is rotatable until it abuts on the guide groove end SE of the arcuate guide groove SR. That is, when the initial position P is set to 0 degree, the guide pin 40 comes into contact with the guide groove end SE at the movement position Q rotated about 160 degrees. The rotation angle of the guide pin 40 can be confirmed by an angle display unit 41 marked along the arcuate guide groove SR.

  Next, the light amount adjusting device (light amount adjusting means) in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. A first polarizing plate 42 (first flat plate) and a second polarizing plate 44 (second flat plate) are provided on the optical path of light from the LED 22. The first polarizing plate 42 is in close contact with the lens at the tip of the lens group provided in the cylindrical member 30. The second polarizing plate 44 is fitted to the support member 34 at a position where the connecting portion fixing portion 36 is provided. In other words, the first polarizing plate 42 rotates with the main body 20, but the second polarizing plate 44 does not rotate.

  The first and second polarizing plates 42 and 44 are disposed on the optical path L of the light from the LED 22 as shown in FIG. When the main body 20 is in the initial position, the guide pin 40 is in the initial position P as shown by the solid line in FIGS. At the initial position P, as shown in FIG. 3A, the first and second polarizing plates 42 and 44 are provided so that the wave fronts of the transmitted lights are perpendicular to each other. That is, the first polarizing plate 42 passes only horizontal light RH that is horizontally polarized, and the second polarizing plate 44 passes only vertical light RV that is vertically polarized. Therefore, the light from the LED 22 passes through the first polarizing plate 42 and becomes only the horizontal light RH, and then blocked by the second polarizing plate 44. As a result, the amount of light reaching the light guide 32 is substantially zero. That is, the amount of light irradiated from the scope tip 18 is the smallest, and the observed part is in the darkest state.

  When the main body portion 20 is rotated 90 degrees, the guide pin 40 is stopped at the maximum light amount position R indicated by a broken line in FIGS. In conjunction with the rotation of the main body 20, the first polarizing plate 42 rotates 90 degrees. At the maximum light amount position R, as shown in FIG. 3B, the polarizing plates 42 and 44 have their transmitted light wavefronts parallel to each other. At this time, the light from the LED 22 passes through the first polarizing plate 42 to become only the vertical light RV, and then all of the vertical light RV passes through the second polarizing plate 44. As a result, the amount of light reaching the light guide 32 is maximized. That is, the amount of light emitted from the scope tip 18 is the largest, and the observed part is in the brightest state.

  While the main body 20, that is, the guide pin 40 is rotated from the initial position P to the maximum light amount position R, the light amount reaching the light guide 32 gradually increases from the minimum to the maximum. In other words, if the arcuate guide groove SR is provided at least 90 degrees in the circumferential direction, the amount of light can be adjusted from the minimum to the maximum. In the present embodiment, a groove of about 160 degrees is provided in the circumferential direction. This is because play is provided assuming that the maximum amount of light cannot be obtained at just 90 degrees for some reason.

  As described above, the first embodiment has a simple configuration in which the polarizing plates 42 and 44 are simply added to the conventional portable endoscope. In addition, even if a light amount adjustment dial is not provided separately, the light amount can be adjusted by rotating the main body unit 20, so that the operability is good. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a light amount adjusting device with a simple configuration and good operability.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that the polarizing plates 42 and 44 are replaced with slit plates 72 and 74. As shown in FIG. 4, the first slit plate 72 (first flat plate) and the second slit plate 74 (second flat plate) have alternating light transmitting portions 76 and light blocking portions 78 that block light. It is formed in stripes. In this embodiment, the area of the transmission part 76 and the light shielding part 78 is equal, and the slit plates 72 and 74 each transmit 50% of the incident light.

  When the main body 20, that is, the guide pin 40 is at the initial position P, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first slit plate 72 is provided so that the light shielding portion 78 is horizontal, and the second slit The plate 74 is provided so that the light shielding portion 78 is vertical.

  At this time, the light quantity in the initial virtual plane RO between the LED 22 and the first slit plate 72 is set to 100. The light from the LED 22 is blocked by 50% by the first slit plate 72 and becomes light as represented in the intermediate virtual plane RI between the first slit plate 72 and the second slit plate 74. That is, the amount of light in the intermediate virtual plane RI is 50. Next, this light is blocked by 50% by the second slit plate 74 and becomes light as represented in the final virtual plane RL on the opposite side of the LED 22. That is, the light amount on the final virtual plane RL is 25.

  Thus, when the direction of the light shielding portion 78 of the first slit plate 72 and the second slit plate 74 is vertical, the area where the light emitted from the LED 22 is blocked by the light shielding portion 78 is relatively largest. . As a result, the amount of light reaching the light guide 32 (see FIG. 2) is relatively minimal. That is, the amount of light irradiated from the scope tip 18 is the smallest, and the observed part is in the darkest state.

  Next, when the main body 20 is rotated 90 degrees, the guide pin 40 is stopped at the maximum light amount position R. At the maximum light amount position R, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first slit plate 72 is stopped so that the light shielding portion 78 is vertical. Since the second slit plate 74 is fixed, the light shielding portion 78 of the second slit plate 74 remains vertical.

  At this time, the light from the LED 22 is blocked by 50% by the first slit plate 72, and the light as expressed in the intermediate virtual plane RI between the first slit plate 72 and the second slit plate 74. Become. That is, the amount of light in the intermediate virtual plane RI is 50.

  Next, this light passes through the second slit plate 74, and here, the directions of the light shielding portions 78 of the first slit plate 72 and the second slit plate 74 are the same. Therefore, the light becomes light as shown in the final virtual plane RL on the opposite side of the LED 22 while maintaining the light amount on the intermediate virtual plane RI. That is, the light amount on the final virtual plane RL is equal to the light amount on the intermediate virtual plane RI and is 50.

  Thus, when the direction of the light-shielding part 78 of the 1st slit board 72 and the 2nd slit board 74 is the same, the area shielded by the light-shielding part 78 is relatively smallest. As a result, the amount of light reaching the light guide 32 (see FIG. 2) is relatively large. That is, the amount of light emitted from the scope tip 18 is the largest, and the observed part is in the brightest state. As in the first embodiment, the light amount reaching the light guide 32 gradually increases from the minimum to the maximum while the main body 20, that is, the guide pin 40 is rotated from the initial position P to the maximum light amount position R. To do.

  As described above, the configuration in the second embodiment is also a simple configuration in which the slit plates 72 and 74 are added to the conventional portable endoscope. With this configuration, a light amount adjustment mechanism with a simple configuration and good operability can be provided, as in the first embodiment. Further, the second embodiment has an advantage that the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained without using a special member called a polarizing plate.

  In addition, instead of the polarizing plate in the first embodiment, a polarizing film, or a film in which light transmitting portions and light shielding portions that block light are alternately printed in stripes may be used. Thereby, the same effect as the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

  Further, the second polarizing plate 44 in the first embodiment may be provided at the distal end portion 18 of the scope. This is because the same effect can be obtained if the light from the LED 22 passes through the first polarizing plate 42 and the second polarizing plate 44 before the light is emitted from the tip end portion 18. For example, both the first and second polarizing plates 42 and 44 may be provided in the light source device 12. Similarly, also in the second embodiment, the second slit plate 74 may be provided at the distal end portion 18 of the scope, and the first and second slit plates 72 and 74 are both provided in the light source device 12. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable endoscope 12 Light source device 13 Scope 16 Connection part 18 Scope tip part 20 Main body part (main body)
22 LED
36 connecting portion fixing portion 42 first polarizing plate (first flat plate)
44 Second polarizing plate (second flat plate)
72 First slit plate (first flat plate)
74 Second slit plate (second flat plate)
76 Transmission part 78 Light-shielding part L Optical path (optical axis)

Claims (6)

A first flat plate, which is a polarizing plate provided on the light source side, and a second flat plate, which is a polarizing plate provided on the scope side, disposed on an optical path through which light emitted from the light source is guided to the distal end of the scope ;
The rotational operation of rotating the first or second flat plate around the optical axis regulates the movement of the light source in the optical axis direction with respect to the scope and adjusts the amount of light transmitted through the first and second flat plates. A light amount adjusting device for a portable endoscope, comprising: a light amount adjusting means capable of adjusting the light amount. A first flat plate provided on the light source side disposed on an optical path through which light emitted from the light source is guided to the distal end of the scope; a second flat plate provided on the scope side;
The rotational operation of rotating the first or second flat plate around the optical axis regulates the movement of the light source in the optical axis direction with respect to the scope and adjusts the amount of light transmitted through the first and second flat plates. A portable light endoscope characterized in that the first and second flat plates are alternately formed in a stripe shape with a light-transmitting part and a light-shielding part blocking the light. Light quantity adjustment device. The first flat plate is provided in front Symbol light source, the light quantity adjusting device of a portable endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second flat plate is characterized in that it is provided in front kiss Coop. Wherein by rotating the body of the light source, the portable endoscopic light quantity adjusting device according to claim 3, wherein the first flat plate in conjunction with the rotation, characterized in that the rotating. The light quantity adjusting device of a portable endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the second flat plate is provided in a connecting part between the light source and the scope.   The light amount adjusting device for a portable endoscope according to claim 3, wherein the second flat plate is provided at a distal end portion of the scope.

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