Imaging apparatus and an imaging head used therefor

• US 7,151,956 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schott Moritex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Moritex Corporation (Cognex Corporation)
• Inventors: Satoh, Masao, Shirai, Yasuo, Toyota, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JUNG, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US10/192,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20030012461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600473-478, 600/129, 600/160, 250317-345
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/446 Scalp evaluation or scalp disorder diagnosis, e.g. dandruff
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/03 Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An imaging apparatus in which an imaging head having an observation hole for intaking images of an object to be observed formed at a top end is exchangeably mounted to a main body having an imaging device and an illumination light source wherein the imaging head is provided with a plurality of optical fibers for guiding a light from the illumination light source and illuminating the same to the object, light incident ends of respective optical fibers are disposed at positions opposing to emission ends of the illumination light source, and the light emission ends are circularly disposed around the image pick-up optical axis, whereby an appropriate illumination light in accordance with a magnifying ratio can be illuminated without disposing an illumination light source such as of LEDs to an imaging head such as an exchangeable lens unit.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus in which an imaging head having an observation hole for receiving images of an object to be observed is provided at a top end and is exchangeably mounted to a main body having an imaging device and an illumination light source wherein

the imaging head is provided with a plurality of optical fibers that guide light from the illumination light source and transmit the light to illuminate the object, light incident ends of the plurality of optical fibers being disposed at positions opposite emission ends of the illumination light source, and the light emission ends of the plurality of optical fibers are circularly disposed around an image pick-up optical axis;

the illumination light source comprises a first illumination light that allows observation by a low magnification ratio and a second illumination light that allows observation by a high magnification ratio; and

the first illumination light comprises inside and outside light sources, wherein the inside light source allows subcutaneous observation and is disposed radially inward of the outside light source that allows surface observation.

2. An imaging apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the light incident ends of respective optical fibers are disposed at positions opposite the light emission ends of the second illumination light including the high magnification ratio.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibers extend conically toward the center of the observation hole.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light source is arranged about a periphery of the imaging device.

5. An imaging head having an observation hole for receiving images of an object to be observed is provided at a top end, the imaging head being configured to be exchangeably mounted to a main body having an imaging device and an illumination light source, wherein

a plurality of optical fibers that guide light from the illumination light source and that transmit light to illuminate an object to be observed, the light incident ends of the plurality of optical fibers are disposed at positions opposite the light emission ends of the illumination light source, and the light emission ends of the plurality of optical fibers are disposed circularly around an image pick-up optical axis;

the illumination light source comprises a first illumination light that allows observation by a low magnification ratio and a second illumination light that allows observation by a high magnification ratio; and

the first illumination light comprises inside and outside light sources, wherein the inside light source allows subcutaneous observation and is disposed radially inward of the outside light source, which allows surface observation.

6. An imaging head as defined in claim 5, wherein the light incident ends of the plurality of optical fibers are disposed at positions opposite the light emission ends of the second illumination light including the high magnification ratio.

7. An imaging head as defined in claim 6, wherein one or more bundle of fibers comprise the plurality of optical fibers, the bundle of fibers being bundled at the light incident ends and branched into each of the optical fibers at the light emission ends.

8. An imaging head as defined in claim 7, wherein a lens for receiving images of an object to be observed is disposed on an image picking-up optical axis and constituted as an exchangeable lens unit.

9. An imaging head as defined in claim 6, wherein a lens for receiving images of an object to be observed, is disposed on an image picking-up optical axis and comprises an exchangeable lens unit.

10. An imaging head as defined in claim 5, wherein one or more bundle of fibers comprise the plurality of optical fibers, the bundle of fibers being bundled at the light incident ends and branched into each of the optical fibers at the light emission ends.

11. An imaging head as defined in claim 10, wherein a lens for receiving images of an object to be observed is disposed on an image picking-up optical axis and comprises an exchangeable lens unit.

12. An imaging head as defined in claim 5, wherein a lens for receiving images of an object to be observed is disposed on an image picking-up optical axis and comprises an exchangeable lens unit.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the optical fibers extend conically toward the center of the observation hole.

14. An imaging apparatus in which an imaging head, having an observation aperture, is exchangeably mounted to a main body having an imaging device and an illumination light source, wherein

the imaging head including a plurality of optical fibers that direct light from the illumination light source towards the object, light incident ends of the plurality of optical fibers being disposed at positions opposite emission ends of the illumination light source, and the light emission ends of the plurality of optical fibers are disposed about an image pick-up optical axis;

the illumination light source comprises a first illumination light that allows observation by a low magnification ratio and a second illumination light that allows observation by a high magnification ratio; and

the first illumination light comprises inside and outside light sources, wherein the inside light source allows subcutaneous observation and is disposed radially inward of the outside light source, which allows surface observation.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the optical fibers extend conically toward a center of the observation aperture.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the light incident ends of each of the optical fibers are disposed at positions opposite the light emission ends of the second illumination light including the high magnification ratio.

17. An imaging head according to claim 14, wherein one or more bundle of fibers comprises the plurality of optical fibers, the bundle of fibers being bundled at the light incident ends and branched into each of the optical fibers at the light emission ends.

18. An imaging head according to claim 14, wherein a lens to observe an object is disposed on an image pick-up optical axis and comprises exchangeable lens unit.

19. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the illumination light source is arranged about a periphery of the imaging device.

20. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the light emission ends of the optical fibers direct light towards the optical axis of the image pick-up.