Control and display section for borescope or endoscope
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A borescope or endoscope comprising an elongated flexible insertion tube including a video imaging device on its distal tip for producing a video signal representing an image of a target within its viewing field;
- and a remotely steerable articulation section adjacent said distal tip of said articulation section being deflectable in at least one plane and a control handle and viewing unit coupled to a proximal end of said insertion tube and including a control handle housing;
a viewing screen incorporated onto said control handle housing for displaying an image of said target within the viewing field of said video imaging device;
a manually actuable device on said control handle housing movable in at least one direction including means providing an output value in response to the amount and direction of movement of said manually actuable device;
motive means within said control handle housing, responsive to said output value, for exerting a steering force on said articulation section to bend same;
at least one keyswitch on said control handle housing;
electronic control circuit means within said control handle housing coupled to said at least one keyswitch and said viewing screen, including computation means for computing characteristics of the target displayed on the screen, and means for generating a cursor which is visible on said viewing screen and movable thereon; and
including mode switchover means responsive to a selected one of said at least one keyswitch between a first mode in which said output value is applied to control said motive means such that movement of said manually actuable device produces a corresponding movement of said articulation section, and a second mode in which said output value is applied to said electronic control circuit means such that movement of said manually actuable device produces a corresponding movement of the cursor on said screen, but does not affect the articulation section.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A control handle and viewing screen assembly combines video monitor and remote steering control for a borescope steering section. A joystick or similar device controls the steering section when an inspection mode is employed. In a second or freeze-frame mode the joystick is used to move a cursor on the screen or to carry out a computation function. Steering servo motors can be positioned distally for balance.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A borescope or endoscope comprising an elongated flexible insertion tube including a video imaging device on its distal tip for producing a video signal representing an image of a target within its viewing field;
- and a remotely steerable articulation section adjacent said distal tip of said articulation section being deflectable in at least one plane and a control handle and viewing unit coupled to a proximal end of said insertion tube and including a control handle housing;
a viewing screen incorporated onto said control handle housing for displaying an image of said target within the viewing field of said video imaging device;
a manually actuable device on said control handle housing movable in at least one direction including means providing an output value in response to the amount and direction of movement of said manually actuable device;
motive means within said control handle housing, responsive to said output value, for exerting a steering force on said articulation section to bend same;
at least one keyswitch on said control handle housing;
electronic control circuit means within said control handle housing coupled to said at least one keyswitch and said viewing screen, including computation means for computing characteristics of the target displayed on the screen, and means for generating a cursor which is visible on said viewing screen and movable thereon; and
including mode switchover means responsive to a selected one of said at least one keyswitch between a first mode in which said output value is applied to control said motive means such that movement of said manually actuable device produces a corresponding movement of said articulation section, and a second mode in which said output value is applied to said electronic control circuit means such that movement of said manually actuable device produces a corresponding movement of the cursor on said screen, but does not affect the articulation section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- and a remotely steerable articulation section adjacent said distal tip of said articulation section being deflectable in at least one plane and a control handle and viewing unit coupled to a proximal end of said insertion tube and including a control handle housing;
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10. A borescope or endoscope comprising an elongated flexible insertion tube including a video imaging device on its distal tip for producing a video signal representing an image of a target within its viewing field;
- and a remotely steerable articulation section adjacent said distal tip of said articulation section being deflectable in one plane; and
a combined control handle and viewing unit coupled to a proximal end of said insertion tube and including a control handle housing;
a viewing screen affixed on said control handle housing for displaying an image of said target within the viewing field of said video imaging device;
a manually actuable device on said control handle housing, movable in at least one direction, including means providing respective output values in response to the amount and direction of movement of said manually actuable device;
respective motive means within said control handle housing, responsive to said output values, for exerting steering forces on said articulation section to bend same in a respective at least one direction in said plane;
electronic control circuit means within said control handle housing coupled to said motive means and operative in a first mode in which said values are applied to control said motive means such that movement of said manually actuable device produces a corresponding movement of said articulation section. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- and a remotely steerable articulation section adjacent said distal tip of said articulation section being deflectable in one plane; and
Specification