LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE AND HEAT PROCESSING DEVICE FOR LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20160126698A1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: NISHIO, Masahiro, Ito, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,038,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0661 Endoscope light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/127 with means for preventing fogging A61B1/253 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/128 provided with means for regulating temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/06704 Housings; Packages
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0014 Measuring characteristics or properties thereof measuring techniques per se G01J, G01K, G01N, G01R
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02469 Passive cooling, e.g. where heat is removed by the housing as a whole or by a heat pipe without any active cooling element like a TEC
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0612 controlled by temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/06804 by monitoring an external parameter, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength

Abstract

A light source device includes a plurality of light source units, a plurality of first heat processing units, a second heat processing unit, a plurality of thermal connectors, a light processing unit, and a plurality of optical connectors. The plurality of thermal connectors make the plurality of first heat processing units and the second heat processing unit attachable to and detachable from each other, and thermally connect the plurality of first heat processing units and the second heat processing unit. The light processing unit processes the light output from the plurality of light source units. The plurality of optical connectors make the plurality of light source units and the light processing unit attachable to and detachable from each other, and optically connect the plurality of light source units and the light processing unit.

Claims

1. A light source device comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of light source units which are attachable to and detachable from the housing and which output light;

a plurality of first heat processing units which are respectively provided in the plurality of light source units and which process heat generated from the plurality of light source units;

a second heat processing unit which is provided in the housing and which processes heat conducted from each of the plurality of first heat processing units;

a plurality of thermal connectors which make the plurality of first heat processing units and the second heat processing unit attachable to and detachable from each other and which thermally connect the plurality of first heat processing units and the second heat processing unit;

a light processing unit which is provided in the housing and which processes the light output from the plurality of light source units; and

a plurality of optical connectors which make the plurality of light source units and the light processing unit attachable to and detachable from each other and which optically connect the plurality of light source units and the light processing unit.

2. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the second heat processing unit includes a heat exchange unit to which the heat generated from the plurality of light source units is conducted and which radiates the heat outside the housing.

3. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of first heat processing units each include temperature adjustment unit which adjusts temperature of the light source unit.

4. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the second heat processing unit includes at least one temperature adjustment unit which adjusts temperatures of the plurality of light sources through the plurality of thermal connectors.

5. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of thermal connectors each include a thermal connection detection unit which detects that the first heat processing unit and the second heat processing unit are thermally connected.

6. The light source device of claim 2, wherein

the second heat processing unit includes a high temperature conduction unit which thermally connects the plurality of thermal connectors and the heat exchange unit.

7. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of thermal connectors thermally connect the plurality of first heat processing units and the second heat processing unit in a first connecting direction;

the plurality of optical connectors optically connect the plurality of light source units and the light processing unit in a second connecting direction; and

when the plurality of light source units are each attached to the housing, timing of thermal connection in the first connecting direction and timing of optical connection in the second connecting direction are different.

8. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of optical connectors each include a first optical connector and a second optical connector which are connectable to and separated from each other;

the first optical connector is connected to the light source unit through an optical fiber;

the second optical connector is connected to the light processing unit through an optical fiber; and

one of the first optical connector and the second optical connector is movable.

9. The light source device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressure mechanism which applies pressing force to the plurality of thermal connectors when the plurality of light source units are each attached to the housing.

10. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

when one of the plurality of light source units is attached to the housing, the optical connector optically connects the light source unit and the light processing unit to allow the light output from the light source unit to be propagated to the light processing unit.

11. The light source device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrical connectors which connect electrical wiring to each of the plurality of light source units;

wherein

when one of the plurality of light source units is attached to the housing, the electrical connector connects the electrical wiring to the light source unit to apply power necessary for operation to the light source unit.

12. The light source device of claim 5, wherein

the plurality of thermal connectors each include a first thermal connector and a second thermal connector which are connectable to and separated from each other;

the first thermal connector is provided in the first heat processing unit and includes a portion of low-heat resistance;

the second thermal connector is provided in the second heat processing unit and includes a portion of low-heat resistance; and

the thermal connection detection unit includes;

a first temperature sensor placed in the portion of low-heat resistance of the first thermal connector;

a second temperature sensor placed in the portion of low-heat resistance of the second thermal connector; and

a detector which detects that the first thermal connector and the second thermal connector are thermally connected, based upon a temperature difference between temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor and temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

13. The light source device of claim 5, wherein

the plurality of thermal connectors each include a first thermal connector and a second thermal connector which are connectable to and separated from each other;

the first thermal connector is provided in the first heat processing unit;

the second thermal connector is provided in the second heat processing unit; and

the thermal connection detection unit includes;

a first sensing electrode provided in the first thermal connector;

a second sensing electrode provided in the second thermal connector; and

a detector which detects that the first thermal connector and the second thermal connector are thermally connected, by detecting conduction states of the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode.

14. The light source device of claim 5, wherein

the plurality of thermal connectors each include a first thermal connector and a second thermal connector which are connectable to and separated from each other;

the first thermal connector is provided in the first heat processing unit;

the second thermal connector is provided in the second heat processing unit;

the thermal connection detection unit includes a thermal connection detecting light source which emits light and a photodetector which detects the light emitted from the thermal connection detecting light source; and

a relationship in position between the thermal connection detecting light source and the photodetector is that when the first thermal connector and the second thermal connector are separated, the photodetector detects the light emitted from the thermal connection detecting light source and when the first thermal connector and the second thermal connector are connected, the photodetector does not detect the light emitted from the thermal connection detecting light source.

15. The light source device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of light source units include a laser diode.

16. A heat processing device for light source, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of placement units which attaches each of a plurality of light sources in the housing;

a heat processing unit which processes heat; and

a plurality of thermal connectors which make the plurality of light sources and the heat processing unit attachable to and detachable from each other, thermally connect the plurality of light sources and the heat processing unit, and conducts heat generated from the light source placed in each of the placement units to the heat processing unit.