Contactless Camera Connection System

• US 20140184771A1
• Filed: 12/24/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arthrex Incorporated
• Inventors: D'Alfonso, David, Mazzetti, Michael, Riley, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,629,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A camera system having a camera head with an imaging device and a first connector; a camera control unit with a processor and a second connector configured to removably engage the first connector; and wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to allow for contactless transfer of data from the camera head to the camera control unit and contactless transfer of power from the camera control unit to the camera head.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a camera head further comprising;

an imaging device; and

a first connector;

a camera control unit comprising;

a processor; and

a second connector configured to removably engage the first connector; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured to allow for contactless transfer of data from the camera head to the camera control unit and contactless transfer of power from the camera control unit to the camera head.

2. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the camera head further comprises an illumination system;

and the first connector and the second connector are configured for contactless transfer of power for the illumination system.

3. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first connector and the second connector are further configured to allow for contactless transfer of data from the camera control unit to the camera head.

4. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first connector further comprises at least one power receiver coupled to at least one power receiver coil;

and wherein the second connector further comprises at least one power transmitter and at least one power transmitter coil; and

wherein power is transferred between the first connector and the second connector using magnetic field coupling between the at least one power transmitter coil and the at least one power receiver coil.

5. The camera system of claim 4 wherein the first connector further comprises two power receivers, each power receiver being coupled to a separate power receiver coil;

and wherein the second connector further comprises at least two power transmitters, each power transmitter being coupled to a separate power transmitter coil.

6. The camera system of claim 1 wherein data is transferred using near field energy.

7. The camera system of claim 6 wherein the first connector further comprises a plurality of data transfer surfaces and simultaneously transmits data using multiple data paths.

8. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first connector transmits data using a radio transmitter and the second connector receives data using a radio receiver.

9. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the first connector further comprises a plurality of extremely high frequency radio transmitters and is configured to transmit at least 4 channels of data simultaneously and the second connector further comprises a plurality of high frequency radio receivers and is configured to receive at least 4 channels of data simultaneously.

10. The camera system of claim 9 wherein each data channel transfers data at a rate of at least about 0.5 Gbs.

11. The camera system of claim 9 wherein each data channel transfers data at a rate of at least about 2.5 Gbs.

12. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the second connector further comprises a retractable plunger and the first connector further comprises a detent;

and wherein the retractable plunger is engageable with the detent to maintain engagement of the first connector with the second connector.

13. The camera system of claim 1 wherein the first connector further comprises a shield;

and the second connector further comprises a plate capacitor; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured so that when the first connector is engaged with the second connector, the shield contacts the plate capacitor.

14. A camera system comprising:

a camera head further comprising;

an imaging device;

an illumination system; and

a first connector further comprising;

at least one radio transmitter;

at least one power receiver; and

at least one power receiver coil coupled to the at least one power receiver;

a camera control unit comprising;

a processor; and

a second connector configured to removably engage the first connector, the second connector further comprising;

at least one radio receiver;

at least one power transmitter; and

at least one power transmitter coil coupled to the at least one power transmitter; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured for contactless transfer of data between the camera head and the camera control unit using the at least one radio transmitter and the at least one radio receiver; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured for contactless power transfer from the camera control unit to the camera head using magnetic field coupling between the at least one power transmitter coil and the at least one power receiver coil.

15. The camera system of claim 14 wherein the first connector further comprises at least one high frequency radio transmitter and at least one extremely high frequency radio receiver;

and the second connector further comprises at least one extremely high frequency radio receiver and at least one extremely high frequency transmitter; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured for simultaneously transmitting at least one channel of data from the camera head to the camera control unit and at least one channel of data from the camera control unit to the camera head.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein each data channel transfers data at a rate of at least about 0.5 Gbs.

17. The camera system of claim 16 wherein the first connector further comprises a shield;

and the second connector further comprises a plate capacitor; and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are configured so that when the first connector is engaged with the second connector, the shield is positioned in electrical contact with the plate capacitor.

18. The camera system of claim 14 wherein the second connector further comprises a retractable plunger and the first connector further comprises a detent;

and wherein the retractable plunger is engageable with the detent to maintain engagement of the first connector with the second connector.

19. The camera system of claim 14 wherein the camera head further comprises at least one wired interface allowing for programming and data access to the camera head.

20. A method for contactless data and power transfer between a camera head and a camera control system, the method comprising:

selecting a camera head further comprising;

an imaging device;

an illumination system; and

a first connector further comprising;

a plurality of extremely high frequency radio transmitters;

an extremely high frequency radio receiver;

at least one power receiver; and

at least one power receiver coil coupled to the at least one power receiver;

selecting a camera control unit comprising;

a processor; and

a second connector configured to removably engage the first connector, the second connector further comprising;

a plurality of extremely high frequency radio receivers;

an extremely high frequency radio transmitter;

at least one power transmitter; and

at least one power transmitter coil coupled to the at least one power transmitter;

engaging the first connector and the second connector;

transferring data between the camera head and the camera control unit without direct contact using the extremely high frequency radio transmitters and receivers; and

transferring power from the camera control unit to the camera head without contact using magnetic field coupling between the at least one power transmitter coil and the at least one power receiver coil.