Video scope and portable accommodation case therefor

• US 6,190,309 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Uchida, Shinji, Yamakita, Hiroyuki, Ooshima, Kiyoko, Atsuta, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/188,795
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/129, 600/130, 600/131, 600/160, 600/170, 600/171, 600/176, 600/177, 600/178, 600/179, 600/117, 600/182, 433/29-31, 348/65, 348/66, 348/68, 348/340
• US Class Current: 600/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00108 characterised by self-sufficient functionality for stand-alone use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0051 with controlled bending of insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/247 with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case

Abstract

A video scope has an entry section which can advance into an object; and a grip section which is disposed at the back of the entry section and to be held by an operator, wherein a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence are disposed in the entry section, and wherein at least a power source is disposed in the grip section for driving the light source. A portable accommodation case has an accommodation space for accommodating the video scope; and a lid which has a thin display attached thereto, and can rotate freely and stop at an optional position, wherein the thin display is capable of displaying an image which is picked up by the video scope.

Claims

1. A video scope comprising:

an entry section which advances into an object; and

a grip section which is disposed rearwardly of said entry section for holding by an operator;

said entry section including a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence; and

said light source and said illumination windows formed as an integral molded piece.

2. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein said solid-state image pickup device, said objective lens, said light reflecting body and said window of incidence are arranged in this order.

3. A video scope according to claim 2,

wherein said reflecting body, said window of incidence and said illumination windows are made of a transparent resin which is a light transmissive material and integrally formed.

4. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein said solid-state image pickup device, said light reflecting body, said objective lens and said window of incidence are arranged in this order.

5. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein said light source is composed of white LEDs.

6. A video scope according to claim 2,

wherein said light source is composed of white LEDs.

7. A video scope according to claim 3,

wherein said light source is composed of white LEDs.

8. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein said light source is disposed under a reflecting surface of said reflecting body and

wherein light leading members which lead illumination rays to said illumination windows are disposed between said illumination windows and said light source, and beside said reflecting surface.

9. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein condenser lenses which condense said illumination rays are formed integrally with surfaces of incidence of said illumination windows and dispersion surfaces for dispersing rays are formed integrally with surfaces of emergence of said illumination windows.

10. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein a foldable focal point positioning member is disposed on a surface of incidence of said entry section.

11. A video scope according to claim 1 further comprising:

a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage drop in said power source;

and a flickering circuit which flickers said light source,

wherein said flickering circuit operates on the basis of a detection output from said detection circuit.

12. A video scope according to claim 1 further comprising:

a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage drop in said power source; and

a video output variation circuit which varies a video output from said solid-state image pickup device on the basis of a detection output from said detection circuit.

13. A video scope according to claim 1,

wherein a flexible portion which is capable of maintaining an optional bent condition is formed in said entry section.

14. A video scope comprising:

an entry section which advances into an object; and

a grip section which is disposed rearwardly of said entry section for holding by an operator;

said entry section including a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence;

wherein at least a power source is disposed in said grip section for driving said light source,

said light source is disposed under a reflecting surface of said reflecting body, and

light leading members which lead illumination rays to said illumination windows are disposed between said illumination windows and said light source, and beside said reflecting surface.

15. A video scope comprising:

an entry section which advances into an object; and

a grip section which is disposed rearwardly of said entry section for holding by an operator;

said entry section including a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence;

wherein at least a power source is disposed in said grip section for driving said light source,

said solid-state image pickup device, said objective lens, said light reflecting body and said window of incidence are arranged in the aforementioned order, and

said reflecting body, said window of incidence and said illumination windows are made of a transparent resin which is a light transmissive material and is integrally formed.

16. A video scope comprising:

an entry section which advances into an object; and

a grip section which is disposed rearwardly of said entry section for holding by an operator;

said entry section including a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence;

wherein at least a power source is disposed in said grip section for driving said light source, and

a foldable focal point positioning member is disposed on a surface of incidence of said entry section.

17. A video scope comprising:

an entry section which advances into an object; and

a grip section which is disposed rearwardly of said entry section for holding by an operator;

said entry section including a light reflecting body, an objective lens, a solid-state image pickup device, a light source, a window of incidence for image pickup rays and illumination windows located in the vicinities of the window of incidence;

wherein at least a power source is disposed in said grip section for driving said light source,

a voltage detection circuit detects a voltage drop in said power source; and

a flickering circuit flickers said light source and

operates in response to a detection output from said detection circuit.

18. A video scope having an entry section for insertion into an object, comprising

a light source,

a window for permitting said light to exit from said entry section and re-enter after being reflected off said object,

an objective lens,

a solid state image pickup device coupled to said objective lens for converting said light into a video signal, and

a prism disposed between said window and said objective lens for directing said light to said image pickup device,

said light source, window, objective lens, and solid state pickup device are disposed within said entry section,

a power source for energizing said light source and image pickup device,

a detection circuit for detecting a voltage drop in said power source, and

a flickering circuit connected between said detection circuit and said light source for flickering said light source when a voltage drop is detected.