Image detecting capsule device and manufacturing thereof

• US 10,588,496 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Banpil Photonics, Inc.
• Inventors: Dutta, Achyut, Olah, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P
• Application Number:
  US15/213,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20170188801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00025 characterised by power management
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply

Abstract

Autonomous/self-powering image detecting systems and their manufacturing technologies are disclosed. An antenna is used to communicate signals. A first energy harvester is used to harvest energy from blackbody radiation, RF signals, movement/vibration, or combination thereof. A power management system is used which controls the energy flow to and from the energy-storage. An image sensor to take the image, a lens, and a transmitter to transmit the images to an outside device are also used in this invention. According to this preferred embodiment, an energy harvester harnessing energy from blackbody radiation from and within the body, is used to extract enough energy to increase the operation time and also to make precision of the image detecting system.

Claims

1. An imaging capsule system comprising:

a capsule shell, and;

an electro-optical system,

wherein the electro-optical system comprises;

a first energy harvester,

wherein said energy harvester is designed to harvest energy from surrounding vibration, movement, body heat or combination thereof;

an image sensor,

wherein said image sensor detects non-visible light;

a first lens;

wherein the first lens is a part of the capsule shell, wherein the first lens focuses the non-visible light to the image sensor;

a second energy harvester,

wherein the second energy harvester harvests energy from an infrared radiation, wherein the second energy harvester comprises of more than one diode connected in series and wherein the second energy harvester supplies the energy to the electro-optical system, and;

a second lens, and;

wherein the second lens is designed to focus the infrared radiation to the second energy harvester;

a signal processing electronics,

wherein the signal possessing electronics comprises an antenna and a transmitter;

wherein the electro-optical system is housed in the capsule shell, and wherein the capsule shell is swallowable.

2. The electro-optical system according to claim 1, further comprising an additional image sensor designed to detect visible radiation.

3. The electro-optical system according to claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device that is a battery or a capacitor.

4. The electro-optical system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one light emitter.

5. An imaging capsule system comprising:

a capsule shell, and;

an electro-optical system,

wherein the electro-optical system comprises;

a first energy harvester,

wherein said energy harvester is designed to harvest energy from surrounding vibration, movement, body heat or combination thereof;

an image sensor,

wherein said image sensor detects non-visible light;

a first lens;

wherein the first lens is a part of the capsule shell, wherein the first lens focuses the non-visible light to the image sensor;

a second energy harvester,

wherein the second energy harvester harvests energy from an infrared radiation, wherein the second energy harvester comprises of more than one diode connected in series and wherein the second energy harvester supplies the energy to the electro-optical system, and;

a second lens;

wherein the second lens is designed to focus the infrared radiation to the second energy harvester;

a signal processing electronics,

wherein the signal possessing electronics comprises an antenna and a transmitter, and;

a power management system,

wherein the power management system controls the flow of energy to the signal processing electronics and image sensor,

wherein the electro-optical system is housed in the capsule shell, and wherein the capsule shell is swallowable.

6. The electro-optical system according to claim 5, further comprising an additional image sensor designed to detect visible radiation.

7. The electro-optical system according to claim 5, further comprising an energy storage device that is a battery or a capacitor.

8. The electro-optical system according to claim 5, further comprising at least one light emitter.

9. An imaging capsule system comprising:

a capsule shell, and;

all electro-optical system,

wherein the electro-optical system comprises;

a first energy harvester,

wherein said energy harvester is designed to harvest energy from surrounding vibration, movement, body heat or combination thereof;

an image sensor,

wherein said image sensor detects non-visible light;

a first lens;

wherein the first lens is a part of the capsule shell, wherein the first lens focuses the non-visible light to the image sensor;

a second energy harvester,

wherein the second energy harvester harvests energy from an infrared radiation, wherein the second energy harvester comprises of more than one diode connected in series and wherein the second energy harvester supplies the energy to the electro-optical system, and;

a second lens;

wherein the second lens is designed to focus the infrared radiation to the second energy harvester;

a signal processing electronics,

wherein the signal possessing electronics comprises an antenna and a transmitter;

a power management system, and;

an energy storage device,

wherein the energy storage device is located between the energy harvester and the image sensor, wherein the power management system controls the flow of energy to the signal processing electronics and image sensor, wherein the power management system comprising of a battery controller and a dc-dc converter;

wherein the electro-optical system is housed in the capsule shell, and wherein the capsule shell is swallowable.

10. The electro-optical system according to claim 9, further comprising at least one light emitter and an additional image sensor designed to detect visible radiation.

11. The imaging capsule system according to claim 9, further comprising an additional energy harvester that harvests RF radiation.

12. The electro-optical system according to claim 9, further comprising an energy storage device that is a battery or a capacitor.