JP2002102164A - Electronic endoscope processor and endoscope light source device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To prevent the deterioration of a light emitting diode by actively radiating heat generated from a light emitting diode as a light source. A light source unit that supplies illumination light to a light guide of an electronic endoscope includes light emitting diodes arranged on one surface of a substrate, and the light emitting diodes face a condenser lens. The collimating lens 22 converges the parallel light beam on the incident end face 24a. A radiating plate member 44 integral with the radiating fins 46 is tightly fixed to the other surface 42b of the substrate 42, and the generated heat generated in the light emitting diode 40 and transmitted through the substrate 42 is effectively radiated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processor for an electronic endoscope provided with a light source for supplying illumination light to an electronic scope having a CCD at the tip, and to supply illumination light to an endoscope (fiberscope). The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity with the naked eye is:
A light guide is inserted through a flexible tube for insertion into a body cavity, and illumination light is supplied from a separate light source device to the distal end of the flexible tube via the light guide to illuminate the front thereof. . In an electronic endoscope apparatus for monitoring and observing the inside of a body cavity, an electronic scope is connected to a processor having a light source unit and a video signal processing circuit, and illumination light is supplied from the light source unit to the tip of the electronic scope. As a light source for supplying illumination light to the endoscope or the electronic scope, generally, a high-luminance lamp such as a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp is used. However, these lamps are relatively large, and consume large amounts of power and generate heat.

In recent years, a light source for an endoscope constituted by a light emitting diode has been put to practical use. This light emitting diode has advantages that it has a longer life and requires less power consumption and heat generation than the lamp. However, since a desired amount of light cannot be obtained with a single light emitting diode, a plurality of light emitting diodes are densely arranged on a substrate, for example, by arranging them in a regular triangular lattice or a regular hexagonal lattice. It was responding to the demand for increase.

[0004] However, there is a problem that, by arranging the light emitting diodes at a high density, the ambient temperature is increased by the heat generated by the light emitting diodes themselves, and the deterioration of each light emitting diode is apt to progress.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent the deterioration of a light emitting diode by actively radiating heat generated from the light emitting diode.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a light source section for a processor for an electronic endoscope or the like, a plurality of light emitting diodes, a substrate for mounting the light emitting diodes on one surface, and prevention of deterioration of these light emitting diodes. Therefore, the most important feature is to provide a heat radiating means for radiating heat generated from the light emitting diode in close contact with the other surface of the substrate. Thereby, the temperature of the light emitting diode is suppressed from becoming high and early deterioration can be prevented.

Specifically, the heat radiating means of the processor for the electronic endoscope includes a heat radiating plate member which is in close contact with the other surface of the substrate and a light emitting diode which is provided integrally with the heat radiating plate member and has a light emitting direction opposite to that of the light emitting diode. And a plurality of radiation fins extending in the direction. In order to further enhance the heat radiation effect, a fan that blows air toward the light emitting diode and the heat radiation fin from a direction parallel to the heat radiation fin may be provided.

As specific heat radiating means of the light source unit of the electronic endoscope processor, a heat radiating member fixed to the other surface of the substrate, a substrate and a heat radiating member around the central axis of the light flux of the light emitting diode. And a plurality of radiating fins provided integrally with the radiating plate member and extending radially from the central axis.In order to further enhance the heat radiating effect, the light emitting diode may be formed in a direction perpendicular to the central axis. Further, a fan that blows air toward the radiation fins may be provided.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus to which an electronic endoscope processor according to the present invention is applied. The electronic endoscope device includes an electronic scope 10 inserted into a body cavity, a processor 12 connected to the electronic scope 10, and a monitor device 1 connected to the processor 12.
4 is provided. The electronic scope 10 is provided in the processor 12.
A light source unit 20 for generating illumination light for illuminating the front of the front end of the camera is incorporated. The illumination light generated by the light source unit 20 is guided to the condenser lens 22, and is condensed on the incident end face 24 a of the light guide 24 by the condenser lens 22. The light guide 24 is made up of an optical fiber bundle and is inserted through the electronic scope 10 to guide illumination light to the tip of the electronic scope 10. A light distribution lens system 26 is combined with the emission end face 24b of the light guide 24,
The living tissue S ahead is illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the front end of the living tissue S.

The light reflected by the living tissue S is transmitted through the electronic scope 1
The light is guided to the CCD 28 provided at the leading end of the “0”, where it is photoelectrically converted. The CCD 28 is driven by a CCD drive circuit 30 provided in the processor 12 and outputs an electric signal corresponding to an optical image of the living tissue S to the video signal processing circuit 32 of the processor 12 as an image signal. The video signal processing circuit 32 performs appropriate image processing, for example, white balance correction processing and γ correction processing, on the image signal, and outputs the video signal to the monitor device 14 as a video signal. The system controller 34 is a microcomputer that controls the operations of the light source unit 20, the CCD drive circuit 30, and the video signal processing circuit 32, and other functions (not shown). The monitor device 14 displays the living tissue S on the monitor screen based on the video signal.
Is displayed, whereby the living tissue S in the body cavity is observed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the light source section 20. FIG. 3 is a front view as viewed from the light guide 24 side, and FIG. 4 is a rear view as viewed from the opposite side. As the light source, a light emitting diode group including a plurality of light emitting diodes 40 is used, and the plurality of light emitting diodes 40 are arranged on one surface 42a of the substrate 42 in a regular triangular lattice as shown in FIG. The substrate 42 is a disk formed of a synthetic resin material or the like, and is fixed in the processor 12 by appropriate fixing means (not shown). The light-emitting diode group may be configured by white light-emitting diodes that individually generate white light, or may be configured such that monochromatic light-emitting diodes that respectively generate the three primary colors of RGB are evenly arranged to generate composite white light. Good.

Each light emitting diode 40 is electrically connected to a lamp lighting circuit (not shown) for controlling lighting and extinguishing based on a command signal of a system controller 34 of the processor 12, and collects light when it is turned on by the lamp lighting circuit. A parallel light beam is emitted toward the optical lens 22 in the horizontal direction in the figure.

On the other surface 42b of the substrate 42, the substrate 42
The heat radiating plate member 44, which is a disc having substantially the same radius as that of the heat sink, is tightly fixed by an appropriate fixing means such as an adhesive or a screw. A radiating fin 46 is integrally provided on a surface 44b of the radiating plate member 44 which does not adhere to the substrate 42. The heat dissipating fins 46 are composed of seven parallel plate members provided at equal intervals to secure a large surface area for heat dissipation.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light emitting diode 40 extends in the direction opposite to the emission direction of the light emitting diode 40, that is, in the direction toward the left along the central axis L of the light flux, and extends in the vertical direction on a plane perpendicular to the central axis L as shown in FIG. ing. The heat radiating plate member 44 and the heat radiating fins 46 are integrally formed of a material having good thermal conductivity, for example, aluminum, and are formed on the light emitting diode 40 to be formed on the substrate 4.
The heat generated through the second heat radiation is effectively radiated. The heat radiating plate member 44 and the heat radiating fins 46 are provided on the side opposite to the light emitting diode 40 and are not arranged on the optical path, so that the light emitted from the light emitting diode 40 is not blocked.

As described above, in the light source unit of the first embodiment, since the light emitting diode 40 is used as a light source, the size of the light source unit can be reduced as compared with a halogen lamp or the like, and the control of the light emission amount can be performed by a relatively simple circuit. it can. Further, a heat radiating plate member 44 and a heat radiating fin 46 which are directly adhered to the substrate 42 are used as heat radiating means, so that the surrounding temperature is prevented from rising due to the heat generation of the light emitting diode 40 with a relatively simple configuration. Premature deterioration is prevented.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing a second embodiment of the light source unit. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 6 is a rear view as viewed from the radiation fin side. Light source unit 220 of the second embodiment
Has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that a fan 250 is provided. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. A radiating plate member 44 is fixedly attached to the other surface 42b of the substrate 42, and radiating fins 246, which are seven plate members parallel to each other, are integrally provided on a surface 44b of the radiating plate member 44 that does not adhere to the substrate 42. Can be As shown in FIG. 6, the radiation fins 246 extend in a horizontal direction with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central axis L.

In the second embodiment, in order to further enhance the heat radiation effect, the fan 25 is provided beside the light emitting diode 40, the substrate 42, the heat radiation plate member 44 and the heat radiation fins 246.
0 is provided. The fan 250 blows air from the direction of arrow A toward the light emitting diode 40 and the radiation fin 246. Since the blowing direction of the fan 250 is parallel to the direction in which the radiating fins 246 extend, air easily flows into the gap between the two adjacent radiating fins 246 as indicated by the outline arrow, and the radiating plate member is different from the first embodiment. The heat radiation effect of the heat radiation fins 246 is further enhanced. Note that the extending direction of the radiation fins 246 is not limited to the horizontal direction, and it goes without saying that the blowing direction of the fan 250 may be the same.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing a third embodiment of the light source unit, wherein FIG. 7 is a side view in which a part is broken along the vertical direction, and FIG. FIG. 9 and FIG. 9 are exploded perspective views. The light source unit 320 of the third embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except that the shape of the radiation fins 346 is different and a motor 360 is provided.
The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the third embodiment, a motor 360 for integrally rotating the board 42, the heat sink 344 and the heat sink 346 is provided. One surface 344a of the radiator plate member 344 is tightly fixed to the surface 42b of the substrate 42, and radiator fins 346 having 12 rectangular cross sections are radially provided on the surface 344b of the radiator plate member 344. The motor 360 is fixed in the processor 12 and its rotating shaft 3
62 is press-fitted and fixed in a shaft hole 348 formed at the center of the disc-shaped heat dissipation plate member 344, whereby the substrate 42, the heat dissipation plate member 344 and the heat dissipation fins 346 are supported by the rotation shaft 362, and together with the rotation shaft 362. Rotate. Rotating shaft 362
And the axis of the shaft hole 348 substantially coincides with the central axis L of the light beam, and the rotation axis 362, the substrate 42, and the heat sink 344 relatively rotate about the central axis L.

The motor 360 is a general-purpose DC motor,
Two brushes 364, which are electric contacts for supplying current to the motor 360, are in contact with the side of the rotating shaft 362, and these brushes 364 are connected to a power supply circuit (not shown) of the processor 12.

As described above, by relatively rotating the heat radiating plate member 344 and the heat radiating fin 346, the heat radiating effect is improved as compared with the first embodiment having the fixed heat radiating plate member 44 and the heat radiating fin 46. Further, in the third embodiment, the substrate 42 on which the light emitting diodes 40 are mounted also rotates at the same time, so that the heat radiation effect from the surface 42a side is further improved. The shape of the radiation fin may be a curved plate other than a rectangular plate, and may be any shape as long as the radiation effect can be improved.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the light source unit. The light source unit 420 according to the fourth embodiment includes a fan 45
Except that 0 is provided, the configuration is the same as that of the third embodiment. The same components as those of the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The fan 450 is mounted on the substrate 42,
It is provided on the side of the heat radiating plate member 344 and the heat radiating fins 346, and blows air from the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L toward these. As a result, the heated air is released from the light emitting diode 4.
It is removed from the vicinity of 0, and the heat radiation effect is further enhanced as compared with the third embodiment.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the light source section of the processor connected to the electronic endoscope has been described. However, the same configuration as the light source sections 20, 220, 320 and 420 is used for the video signal processing circuit. It is needless to say that the same effects as those of the first to fourth embodiments can be obtained even when the present invention is applied to an endoscope light source device having no.

[0024]

As described above, the light source unit according to the present invention has an advantage that deterioration of the light emitting diode can be prevented since heat generated from the light emitting diode is actively radiated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus to which an electronic endoscope processor according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source unit according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the light source unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from a light guide side.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the light source unit shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from a radiating fin side.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a light source unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the light source unit shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from a radiation fin side.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a light source unit according to a third embodiment, a part of which is broken along a vertical direction.

8 is a rear view of the light source unit shown in FIG. 7 as viewed from a heat radiation fin side.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the light source unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a fourth embodiment of the light source unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic scope 12 Processor 40 Light emitting diode 42 Substrate 44, 344 Heat sink member 46, 246, 346 Heat fin 250, 450 Fan 360 Motor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // F21W 131: 20 F21Y 101: 02 F21Y 101: 02 F21S 1/02 G F-term (Reference) 2H040 BA00 CA04 CA05 CA09 GA02 3K014 LA01 LB02 MA02 MA05 MA08 4C061 AA00 BB02 CC06 DD00 JJ11 LL02 NN01 QQ10 RR30

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light source comprising: a plurality of light-emitting diodes; a substrate on which the light-emitting diodes are mounted on one surface; and a heat-dissipating means for closely adhering to the other surface of the substrate and radiating heat generated from the light-emitting diodes. A processor for an electronic endoscope, comprising a unit. 2. The heat dissipating means includes a heat dissipating plate member closely attached to the other surface of the substrate, and a plurality of heat dissipating fins integrally provided on the heat dissipating plate member and extending on the side opposite to the emission direction of the light emitting diode. The processor for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The electronic endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the heat radiating unit includes a fan that blows air toward the light emitting diode and the heat radiating fin from a direction parallel to a direction in which the heat radiating fin extends. Mirror processor. 4. A heat radiating member fixed to the other surface of the substrate, a motor for rotating the substrate and the heat radiating member around a central axis of a light flux of the light emitting diode, 2. The electronic endoscope processor according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of radiation fins provided integrally with the plate member and extending radially from the central axis. 3. 5. The heat dissipating means includes a fan that blows air from the direction perpendicular to the central axis toward the light emitting diodes and the heat dissipating fins.
3. The processor for an electronic endoscope according to claim 1. 6. A light-emitting diode comprising: a plurality of light-emitting diodes; a substrate on which the light-emitting diodes are mounted on one surface; and a heat-dissipating means for releasing heat generated from the light-emitting diodes in close contact with the other surface of the substrate. A light source device for an endoscope, comprising: