Remote imaging apparatus having an adaptive lens

• US 20070156021A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allan Krauter, Bradford Morse, Dongmin Yang, Ervin Golfain, Raymond Lia, Richard Newman, Thomas Karpen, Vivian Hunter, William Havens, Ynjiun Wang
• Original Assignee: Allan Krauter, Bradford Morse, Dongmin Yang, Ervin Golfain, Raymond Lia, Richard Newman, Thomas Karpen, Vivian Hunter, William Havens, Ynjiun Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Ynjiun, Hunter, Vivian, Newman, Richard, Krauter, Allan, Karpen, Thomas, Morse, Bradford, Yang, Dongmin, Lia, Raymond, Havens, William, Golfain, Ervin
• Application Number:
  US11/521,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00101 the distal tip features being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00108 characterised by self-sufficient functionality for stand-alone use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0019 characterised by variable lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00193 adapted for stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0692 head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/726 using Wavelet transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0068 having means for controlling the degree of correction, e.g. using phase modulators, movable elements controlling the phase of light using moving or deformable elements G02B26/06
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0075 with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/028 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes

Abstract

Systems and methods for making and using endoscopes comprising one or more fluid lenses. An endoscope or bore-scope for various highly accurate imaging, visual inspection and measurement applications is equipped with an adaptive lens operated based on the electrowetting or electro-capillarity phenomenon. The adaptive lens is digitally controlled and is able to provide auto-focusing and optical zooming functions while remaining in a stationary position relative to a distal end section of the endoscope. Endoscopes equipped with these adaptive lenses provide a simpler, more compact design and a faster response while providing high quality images. Several functions needed in a variety of endoscopic imaging, inspection and measurement applications are further enhanced through the addition of a number of improvements of the adaptive lens itself and of the systems incorporating the adaptive lens.

Claims

1. A method of visualizing and measuring a remote object comprising the steps of:

providing an endoscope including a display, a hand set, an insertion tube, an optical system and an image sensor, wherein the optical system and the image sensor are located in a distal end of the insertion tube, said optical system comprising at least one adaptive lens;

visualizing on said display at least a portion of a portion of a remote object by placing said insertion tube proximate said object;

adjusting a focal length of said adaptive lens; and

controlling automatically a focus of said adaptive lens by sequentially capturing a plurality of images of said object, storing said plurality of images in a memory buffer, and automatically selecting an optimum image for measurement based at least in part on an image quality criteria.

2. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein said adaptive lens operates based on a selected one of an electro-wetting phenomenon and an electro-capillarity phenomenon.

3. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein said image quality criteria is a selected on of an edge contrast ratio, a MTF, and a surface roughness and a MTF.

4. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope is stationary.

5. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein the entire endoscope is movable.

6. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein said image quality criteria includes a factor based on said variable lens and a factor based on said image sensor.

7. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein an illumination source is focused on an object to be inspected.

8. The method of visualizing and measuring a remote object according to claim 1, wherein illumination from an illumination source is controlled as to match a field of view.