Light Pipe For Imaging Head of Video Inspection Device

• US 20100033986A1
• Filed: 08/05/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inspectron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perceptron Incorporated (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Miller, Jeffrey, Boehnlein, Al, Schober, Jeffrey C.
• Application Number:
  US12/186,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033986A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2461 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

A light dispersal unit or light pipe for a video imaging device includes a transparent body. The body includes a tubular ring having an outer diameter and a through bore defining an inner diameter. Four equidistantly spaced raised portions are homogenously joined to the tubular ring. The ring has a semi-circular shape corresponding to the outer and inner diameters of the tubular ring. The raised portions each include a slot created between opposed first and second extending portions, the slot having an end wall and opposed first and second slot walls. A rounded end face defines a free end of each of the first and second extending portions facing away from the tubular ring. The rounded end face includes at least two curved portions each having a different radius of curvature.

Claims

1. A light dispersal unit for a video imaging device, comprising:

a transparent body having;

a tubular ring; and

at least one raised portion homogenously joined to the tubular ring, the at least one raised portion including;

a slot created between opposed first and second extending portions having an end wall and opposed first and second slot walls;

and

a rounded end face defining a free end of each of the first and second extending portions facing away from the tubular ring.

2. The light dispersal unit of claim 1, further including a rounded end of each of the first and second extending portions positioned opposite to the slot and extending between the tubular ring and the rounded end face.

3. The light dispersal unit of claim 1, wherein the tubular ring further includes parallel first and second opposed surfaces with the at least one raised portion homogenously connected to the second surface.

4. The light dispersal unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one raised portion comprises four equidistantly spaced raised portions.

5. The light dispersal unit of claim 1, wherein the rounded end face further includes at least two curved portions each having a radius of curvature.

6. The light dispersal unit of claim 1, further including a first apex created at a junction of the first slot wall and the first rounded end face and a second apex created at a junction of the second slot wall and the second rounded end face.

7. A light dispersal unit for a video imaging device, comprising:

a transparent polymeric body including;

a tubular ring having an outer diameter and a through bore defining an inner diameter; and

four equidistantly spaced raised portions homogenously joined to the tubular ring and having a semi-circular shape corresponding to the outer and inner diameters of the tubular ring, the raised portions each including;

a slot created between opposed first and second extending portions having an end wall and opposed first and second slot walls;

and

a rounded end face defining a free end of each of the first and second extending portions facing away from the tubular ring, the rounded end face including at least two curved portions each having a different radius of curvature.

8. The light dispersal unit of claim 7, wherein the tubular ring further includes parallel opposed first and second surfaces with the raised portions homogenously connected to the second surface.

9. The light dispersal unit of claim 8, further including a curved surface joining the first surface to an outer wall defined by the outer diameter.

10. The light dispersal unit of claim 7, further including a first apex created at a junction of the first slot wall and the first rounded end face and a second apex created at a junction of the second slot wall and the second rounded end face.

11. A video imaging device, comprising:

a circuit board having a light emitting diode connected to the circuit board;

a transparent light pipe having;

a tubular ring; and

at least one raised portion homogenously joined to the tubular ring, the at least one raised portion including;

a slot created between opposed first and second extending portions having an end wall and opposed first and second slot walls;

and

a rounded end face defining a free end of each of the first and second extending portions facing away from the tubular ring; and

a light pipe cap adapted to retain the circuit board and the light pipe having the slot of the light pipe aligned with the light emitting diode so that light emitted by the light emitting diode is received at the slot and by the rounded end face of each of the first and second extending portions.

12. The video imaging device of claim 11, wherein the rounded end face includes at least two curved portions each having a different radius of curvature.

13. The video imaging device of claim 11, further including a first apex created at a junction of the first slot wall and the first rounded end face and a second apex created at a junction of the second slot wall and the second rounded end face, the first and second apexes being in contact with the circuit board when an assembly of the circuit board, the light pipe and the light pipe cap is created.

14. The video imaging device of claim 11, wherein the light pipe cap further includes:

an inner wall and an outer wall, the at least one raised portion being received between the inner wall and the outer wall with a friction fit.

15. The video imaging device of claim 14, wherein the tubular ring includes a first side having a curved surface which meets the outer wall of the light pipe cap, and an opposed second side having the at least one raised portion extending therefrom.

16. A video imaging device, comprising:

a circuit board having four light emitting diodes connected to the circuit board equidistantly spaced from each other;

a transparent light pipe including;

a tubular ring having an outer diameter and a through bore defining an inner diameter; and

four equidistantly spaced raised portions homogenously joined to the tubular ring and having a semi-circular shape corresponding to the outer and inner diameters of the tubular ring, the raised portions each including;

a slot created between opposed first and second extending portions having an end wall and opposed first and second slot walls;

and

a rounded end face defining a free end of each of the first and second extending portions facing away from the tubular ring, the rounded end face including at least two curved portions each having a different radius of curvature; and

a light pipe cap adapted to retain the circuit board and the light pipe having each slot of the light pipe aligned with one of the light emitting diodes so that light emitted by each light emitting diode is received at the slot and by the rounded end face of each of the first and second extending portions.

17. The video imaging device of claim 16, wherein the light pipe cap further includes four curved bores each sized to slidingly receive one of the raised portions of the light pipe.

18. The video imaging device of claim 17, wherein the light pipe cap further includes:

an inner wall;

an outer wall; and

four lands each homogenously connected to both the inner wall and the outer wall between proximate ones of the four curved bores.

19. The video imaging device of claim 16, wherein each of the raised portions of the transparent light pipe further includes a first apex created at a junction of the first slot wall and the first rounded end face and a second apex created at a junction of the second slot wall and the second rounded end face, the first and second apexes being positioned in contact with the circuit board with one of the light emitting diodes positioned within the slot.

20. The video imaging device of claim 16, further comprising:

an imager body adapted to receive the circuit board, the light pipe and the light pipe cap;

a flexible tube connected to the imager body adapted to contain a wiring harness connected to the circuit board; and

a display housing connected to the flexible tube opposite to the imager body, the display housing having a video image view screen adapted to display an image illuminated by the light emitted by the light emitting diodes digitally transmitted from the circuit board through the wiring harness.