JPH07140330A - Wide angle illuminating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a wide angle illuminating device having wide illuminating angle, capable of obtaining uniform illuminance, and capable of making the diameter of an irradiating part small and capable of simplifying the irradiating part, with respect to an irradiating device used in the observation device of an endoscope, etc. CONSTITUTION:The device is constituted of a light guide 3 consisting of an optical fiber; a curve part 5, a bend part 20, a coil part 35 or a tapered part 40 are provided on the leading edge of the light guide 3, and illumination is performed by light leaking from the curve part 5, the bend part 20, the coil part 35 or the tapered part 40 and projected light from the leading edge and face of the light guide 3. Since the leaking light is utilized, illumination at the wide angle can be realized even when the projection angle of the light guide itself is small, and the device can be manufactured just by performing a simple working on the tip part of the light guide; therefore, material cost and manufacturing cost can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminating device used in an observing device such as an endoscope, and in particular, it has a large irradiation angle and can obtain a uniform illuminance, and the irradiation part has a small diameter and simplification. Wide-angle lighting device capable of

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an observation apparatus using an optical fiber, such as an endoscope widely used in the medical field, starts observation of a minute portion in a living body and narrows the inside of a duct or the like. Part or
It is possible to easily obtain image information of a place that humans cannot approach, such as a radioactively contaminated area, and it is expected to be applied to remote operation based on the image information and surgery with minimal invasiveness.
Generally, such an observation device is
Alternatively, it is roughly configured by an observation unit including an image receiving element such as a CCD camera that directly detects image information, and an illumination device that supplies light to an observed region.

Conventionally, as an illuminating device used for such an observing device, a system of irradiating a site to be observed with light from an external light source through an optical fiber has been used.
However, according to this method, there is a problem in that the area irradiated with light is limited by the emission angle of the light from the optical fiber, and when the observed region deviates from that area, the light is not irradiated and observation becomes impossible. . Therefore, as a wide-angle illumination device for observing at a wider field angle than the emission angle from the optical fiber,
The one in which a light bulb is attached to the tip of the observation device, the one in which the light emitted from the optical fiber is widened by a lens, and the like are used.

[0004]

However, in a wide-angle irradiation device using a light bulb, the size of the illuminating device itself becomes large, and the diameter of the observation device becomes large. There is a problem particularly when used for medical purposes, such as a possibility of adversely affecting the observation part and the observed part and a risk of breaking the light bulb. On the other hand, in a wide-angle illuminating device using a lens, the structure of the distal end portion of an endoscope or the like becomes complicated and the diameter becomes large.If the lens is widened to a wide angle too much, the density of the optical fiber irradiated per unit area will decrease. There are problems that the illuminance may be insufficient, and that the cost is high because an expensive microlens is used.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is an irradiation device used in an observation device such as an endoscope, which has a wide irradiation angle and can obtain a uniform illuminance, and the irradiation part can be made small in diameter and simple. It is to provide a wide-angle lighting device that can be realized.

[0006]

This problem is constituted by a light guide made of an optical fiber, and a wide-angle illuminating device in which the tip of the light guide is curved in the direction of the observation part or in the direction opposite to the observation part, and its light. A wide-angle illuminator in which the tip of the guide is bent at least twice or more, a wide-angle illuminator in which the tip of the light guide is coiled in a plane parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light guide, or This can be solved by a tapered wide-angle lighting device in which the tip end portion of the light guide is tapered toward the tip end direction of the light guide.

The wide-angle illumination device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a wide-angle illumination device according to claim 1. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an observation apparatus main body, and the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention constituted by 16 light guides 3 is arranged on the outer peripheral side surface of the observation section 2. Each of the light guides 3 forming this wide-angle illuminating device is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and the tip portion 4 thereof has the observing portion 2 described above.
Curved in the direction. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the light guides 3. A tip portion 4 of the light guide 3 is curved downward in the drawing, that is, toward the observation portion to form a curved portion 5, and a tip end face 6 is polished. Further, the light guide 3 is extended to an external light source (not shown), and light is supplied from the external light source into the light guide 3.

Light supplied from an external light source is transmitted through the light guide 3 and reaches the tip 4. A part of the light further passes through the light guide 3 and is emitted from the tip end face 6. The irradiation range of the emitted light 10 is limited by the emission angle of the optical fiber forming the light guide 3. On the other hand, the other part of the light reaching the tip 4 is
Since the curved portion 5 is provided on the side, the leakage occurs in the outer peripheral direction of the curved portion 5. The irradiation range of the leaked light 11 is determined by the intensity of light transmitted through the light guide 3, the curvature of the curved portion 5, and the like. It overlaps with each other so that no blind spot can be made in the entire irradiation range. Therefore, the range illuminated by the wide-angle illuminator is the light guide 3
It is the sum of the irradiation range of the emitted light 10 from and the irradiation range of the leaked light 11.

The above description merely shows one embodiment of the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention described in claim 1, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above description, the 16 light guides 3 are evenly arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the observation unit 2, but the number of light guides may be at least larger than this, and appropriately selected so that necessary light can be supplied. To be done. Further, for example, a light guide may be arranged only on one side of the observation section, and only a part of the observed section may be selectively irradiated with light, so that the light guide may be changed according to the use and purpose. However, in any case, the tip portion of the light guide is curved toward the observation portion. Furthermore, the curvature of the light guide is not particularly limited as long as light leaks at the curved portion.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a light guide which constitutes the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention according to claim 2. The tip portion 4 of the light guide 3 is provided with a curved portion 5 that is curved in the upper side in the figure, that is, in the direction opposite to the observation portion.
The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide, emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3, and from the curved portion 5. Leaked. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including the light guide 3 is the irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3 and the irradiation range of the leaked light at the curved portion 5. It will be a combination of and. However, it is mainly the leaked light from the curved portion that irradiates the observation portion side.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention having the above-mentioned light guide, the number and arrangement of the light guides are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed as necessary. However, the curvature of the curved portion is set so that leaked light of a required amount and intensity can be obtained, and all the light guides are curved in the direction opposite to the observation portion.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention according to claim 3. The tip portion 4 of the light guide 3 is provided with a bent portion 20 that is bent substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3, and the bent light guide 3 is again provided on the tip end side. The light guide 3 is bent substantially at a right angle, and the tip end face 6 is open in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3. The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted inside the light guide, emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3, and from the bent portion 20. Leaked. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including such a light guide 3 is the irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3 and the irradiation range of the leaked light at the bent portion 20. And is added.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention as defined in claim 3, which is constituted by such a light guide, the number of light guides, the arrangement, the curvature of the bent portion, etc. are not particularly limited.
It can be changed as needed. Further, in the above description, the light guide is bent twice, but the number of times of bending may be two or more, and the light is widely irradiated by the leaked light at the bent portion and the light emitted from the tip end face of the light guide. Good. However, it is preferable that the number of times of bending is at least twice, and the tip end face of the light guide is oriented in the same direction as the visual field of the observation section.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention according to claim 4. The tip portion 4 of the light guide 3 is wound in a coil in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3, and the tip end surface 6 thereof is opened in the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3. is doing. The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide and emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3. Also, this light guide 3
In the coil portion 30 provided at the tip portion 4 of the light guide 3, since the light guide 3 is wound in a coil shape and curved, light is leaked toward the outer peripheral direction of the coil. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including the light guide 3 is the irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3 and the irradiation range of the leakage light from the coil portion 30. And is added.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention having the above-mentioned light guide, the number and arrangement of the light guides are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed as necessary. Further, in FIG. 5, the light guide is wound twice and a half in a coil shape, but the number of turns may be at least larger than this. For example, when light of the same intensity is used, the leakage light increases as the number of turns of the coil portion increases. Furthermore, although the size of the coil portion is not particularly limited, for example, when the diameter of the coil portion is increased, the curvature of the light guide is reduced and the leaked light is reduced. Further, it is preferable that the tip end face of the light guide is oriented in the same direction as the visual field of the observation section.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention according to claim 5. The light guide 3 is wound into a coil at a tip portion 4 thereof in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light guide 3 and then extended in the longitudinal direction again. 3 is opened in the longitudinal direction. The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide and emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3. Further, in the coil portion 35 provided at the tip portion 4 of the light guide 3, since the light guide 3 is coiled and curved, light is leaked toward the outer peripheral direction of the coil. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including the light guide 3 is the irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3,
The irradiation range of the leaked light from the coil portion 35 is added.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention, which is constituted by such a light guide, the number and arrangement of the light guides, the number of windings of the coil portion, the diameter of the coil portion, etc. are not particularly limited and are necessary. Can be changed as appropriate. For example, if the coil portion 35 is formed so as to wind the observation portion, the visual field direction of the observation portion is irradiated with the light emitted from the light guide, and the outer peripheral direction of the observation portion is irradiated with the leakage light from the coil portion. You can Further, it is preferable that the tip end face of the light guide is oriented in the same direction as the visual field of the observation section.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a light guide which constitutes the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention according to claim 6. The light guide 3 has a taper shape in which a diameter is reduced at a tip portion 4 thereof toward a tip direction of the light guide. The light guide 3 is composed of a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, and light supplied from an external light source (not shown) is transmitted through the light guide and emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3. Further, at the taper portion 40 provided at the tip portion 4 of the light guide 3, light leaks toward the outer peripheral direction. Therefore, the range of light irradiation by the wide-angle illumination device of the present invention including the light guide 3 is the irradiation range of the light emitted from the tip end face 6 of the light guide 3,
The irradiation range of the leaked light from the tapered portion 40 is added.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention having the above-mentioned light guide, the number and arrangement of the light guides are not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed as necessary. Also, this light guide 3
The curvature and length of the tapered portion 40 can also be set according to the required light amount, light irradiation range, and the like.

In order to manufacture the light guide forming the wide-angle lighting device of the present invention as described above, for example, the light guide is heated, plastically deformed, and bent or stretched to obtain a desired shape. You may get a light guide. Further, the light guide used in the present invention may be a bundle of a plurality of optical fibers, or may be a guide using an optical waveguide conforming to the optical fibers.

The wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention positively limits the light irradiation range, which was conventionally limited by the emission angle of the light guide, to the leakage light of the light guide. It is a wide-angle illuminator that can be used for wide-angle irradiation, and the invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as long as it is in line with the idea.

In the wide-angle illuminating device of the present invention, since the leaked light from the curved portion, the bent portion, the coil portion, the taper portion, etc. provided at the tip of the light guide is used, the light guide itself has a small emission angle. However, wide-angle lighting is possible. Further, the light guide can be manufactured by simply performing a bending process, a drawing process, or the like on the tip portion of the light guide, and a light bulb, a lens, or the like is not required, so that the material cost and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the wide-angle illuminator of the present invention has a simplified structure, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the entire observation device using the illuminator, which improves usability and can be safely applied to the medical field.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a wide-angle illumination device according to claim 1.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to claim 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to claim 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to claim 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to claim 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a light guide forming the wide-angle illumination device according to claim 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Observation device main body, 2 ... Observation part, 3 ... Light guide, 4
... tip portion, 5 ... curved portion, 6 ... tip end surface, 20 ... bent portion,
30, 35 ... Coil part, 40 ... Tapered part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein a front end portion of the light guide is curved toward the observation portion. 2. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein a tip portion of the light guide is curved in a direction opposite to an observation portion. 3. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein a tip portion of the light guide is bent at least twice. 4. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein a tip portion of the light guide is wound in a coil in a plane parallel to a longitudinal direction of the light guide. 5. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein the tip of the light guide is wound in a coil in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light guide. 6. A wide-angle illuminating device comprising a light guide made of an optical fiber, wherein a tip end portion of the light guide is tapered so as to reduce its diameter in a tip end direction of the light guide.