Apparatus and method for selecting fiber optic bundles in a borescope
First Claim
1. A borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with an image pickup in the distal end for viewing remotely located objects including:
- a first fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube;
at least one additional fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube;
said fiber optic bundles being adapted to transmit light from light source located adjacent the proximal ends thereof to the distal ends;
the distal ends of said fiber optic bundles being configured to project at least two different levels of illumination upon the object to the viewed; and
means for selectively positioning the proximal end of at least one of said fiber optic bundles in operational alignment with the light source mounted adjacent the proximal end of said insertion tube to illuminate the object to be viewed at the selected illumination level.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Two or three fiber optic cables, each adapted for a particular purpose is provided in the insertion tube of an endoscope/borescope for illuminating an object to be viewed. The proximal end of the insertion tube is positioned adjacent a source of light. A device is provided for rotating the proximal end of the insertion tube to position one or more of the fiber optic bundles in optical alignment with the source of light to illuminate the object to be viewed with the desired light. Alternatively, an individual bundle can be illuminated by insertion in a proper receptacle in an interconnecting module positioned in optical alignment with a light source.
68 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with an image pickup in the distal end for viewing remotely located objects including:
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a first fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube; at least one additional fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube; said fiber optic bundles being adapted to transmit light from light source located adjacent the proximal ends thereof to the distal ends; the distal ends of said fiber optic bundles being configured to project at least two different levels of illumination upon the object to the viewed; and means for selectively positioning the proximal end of at least one of said fiber optic bundles in operational alignment with the light source mounted adjacent the proximal end of said insertion tube to illuminate the object to be viewed at the selected illumination level. - View Dependent Claims (4, 8)
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2. A borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with an image pickup in the distal end for viewing remotely located objects including:
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a first fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube; at least one additional fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of said elongated insertion tube; said fiber optic bundles being adapted to transmit light from a light source located adjacent the proximal ends thereof to the distal ends; the distal ends of said fiber optic bundles being formed into different shapes with said first fiber optic bundle being formed into a narrow strip having a length substantially greater than the width; and means for selectively positioning the proximal end of at least one of said fiber optic bundles in operational alignment with the light source mounted adjacent the proximal end of said insertion tube to illuminate the object to be viewed at a selected illumination level. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7)
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9. In a borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with a video imager in the distal end for viewing remotely located objects and measuring certain parameters thereof by projecting a shadow on the object, object illuminating means comprising:
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at least one fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal end of an insertion tube and having shadow forming means in said distal end; at least another fiber optic bundle extending from the proximal to the distal ends of said insertion tube having no shadow forming means therein; a light source mounted adjacent the proximal ends of said fiber optic bundles; and means for positioning at least one of said fiber optic bundle proximal ends in optical alignment with said light source. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. In a borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with a video image pickup in the distal end for measuring parameters of remotely located objects using shadow projecting means, the method of illuminating an object comprising the steps of:
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providing a source of illumination; providing in an insertion tube at least one fiber optic bundle having shadow forming means adapted to project light and a shadow on the object to be viewed; providing in said insertion tube at least another fiber optic bundle without any shadow means adapted to project shadow free light on the object to be viewed; positioning the proximal end of said fiber optic bundles in said insertion tube adjacent said source of illumination; and selectively illuminating the proximal end of one of said fiber optic bundles to project to the distal ends thereof the desired illumination of to the object to be viewed. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. In a borescope/endoscope having an elongated insertion tube with a video imager in the distal end for viewing remotely located objects and measuring certain parameters thereof by projecting a shadow on the object, object illuminating means comprising:
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a first fiber optic bundle in an insertion tube extending from the proximal to the distal end thereof and having means at the distal end for forming a+first shadow line for projection onto the object to be viewed; a second fiber optic bundle in an insertion tube extending from the proximal to the distal end thereof and having means at the distal end for forming a second shadow line for projection onto the object to be viewed; said second line intersecting and being positioned at an angle to said first shadow line; a third fiber optic bundle in said insertion tube extending from the proximal to the distal end thereof having no shadow forming means; a light source mounted adjacent the proximal ends of said fiber optic bundle; and means for positioning said first, second and/or third fiber optic bundle in optical alignment with said light source. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification