US3670722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric power supplying device for an endoscope
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-17
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-08-17
Abstract
Abstract Electric power supplying device for an endoscope having a photographing device, a lamp for illuminating an object for observation and a lamp for illuminating the object for photographing. The device is adoptable to an automatic exposure control type having a photoelectric element and an endoscope of the manual exposure control type. The electric power supplying device has an exposure control device, a first, a second and a third relay. When an endoscope of the automatic exposure control type is connected, the observation lamp is energized and the photoelectric element is connected to the exposure control device and, upon actuation of release means of the endoscope, the first relay is energized to actuate a switching circuit so as to energize the photographing lamp and the exposure control device supplied with the output of the photoelectric element actuates the switching circuit to terminate the energization of the lamp. When an endoscope of the manual exposure control type is connected, the observation lamp is energized and, upon actuation of the release means, the second and the third relay are actuated so as to connect an electric source of adjustable voltage to the exposure control device so that a reference voltage manually set in the source is supplied to the exposure control device while the first relay is actuated by the third relay to actuate the switching circuit so as to energize the photographing lamp which is deenergized after a time period corresponding to the reference voltage by the actuation of the switching circuit controlled by the exposure control circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinya Kosaka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00004; A61B1/00006; A61B1/00059; A61B1/04; A61B1/045; A61B1/06; A61B1/0661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In the combination of a photographic endoscope having both manual and automatic exposure control, said endoscope including at least an observation lamp and a lamp for illuminating an object to be photographed and a universal power supply connectable to the endoscope, the power supply comprising: a first DC source for energizing said observation lamp; a second DC source for energizing said illumiNating lamp; a first, normally open, switching circuit serially connected in the circuit between said second DC source and said illuminating lamp; a first relay means for closing said first switching circuit to energize said illuminating lamp; a manual exposure control circuit for controlling the time interval during which said first switching circuit energizes said illuminating lamp; a second relay means, actuated by closure of an external pair of contacts in the shutter release mechanism of said endoscope, for terminating the energization of said observation lamp and for enabling said manual exposure control circuit; and a third relay means, actuated by the closure of a pair of contacts associated with said second relay means, for energizing said first relay means and for providing a selfholding closure for said second relay means, whereby said illuminating lamp is energized for a time period determined by said manual exposure control circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In the combination of a photographic endoscope having both manual and automatic exposure control, said endoscope including at least an observation lamp and a lamp for illuminating an object to be photographed and a universal power supply connectable to the endoscope, the power supply comprising: a first DC source for energizing said observation lamp; a second DC source for energizing said illumiNating lamp; a first, normally open, switching circuit serially connected in the circuit between said second DC source and said illuminating lamp; a first relay means for closing said first switching circuit to energize said illuminating lamp; a manual exposure control circuit for controlling the time interval during which said first switching circuit energizes said illuminating lamp; a second relay means, actuated by closure of an external pair of contacts in the shutter release mechanism of said endoscope, for terminating the energization of said observation lamp and for enabling said manual exposure control circuit; and a third relay means, actuated by the closure of a pair of contacts associated with said second relay means, for energizing said first relay means and for providing a selfholding closure for said second relay means, whereby said illuminating lamp is energized for a time period determined by said manual exposure control circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
209 words
In the combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said endoscope includes a photo-electric device for measuring the intensity of light reflected for the object to be photographed and wherein an automatic exposure control circuit is substituted for said manual exposure control circuit, said automatic exposure control circuit comprising: an amplifier having its input connected to said photoelectric element; means for adjusting the gain of said amplifier, in the absence of any input signal thereto; a transistor having its base connected to the output of said amplifier; a resistor in the emitter circuit of said transistor; a capacitor in the collector circuit of said transistor, the charge accumulated in said capacitor, by virtue of said resistor, being proportional to the illumination received by said photo-electric elements; a pair of normally closed contacts connected across said capacitor, said contacts being coupled to said shutter release, to inhibit charging of said capacitor until said shutter release is actuated; and a voltage detector, having its input connected to said capacitor and its output connected to said first switching circuit, said detector having a pre-determined threshold such that, as the voltage across said capacitor rises to exceed said threshold, said detector de-activates said switching circuit thereby terminating energization of said illuminating lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The universal power supply according to claim 2, further comprising: an adjustable source of DC potential; and switching means, connected to the input of said amplifier, for selectively connecting said source of DC potential to said amplifier, whereby the time interval required for the voltage across said capacitor to exceed said threshold is determined by the amplitude of said adjustable DC potential, to effect manual exposure control.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
The universal power supply according to claim 1 including an amplifier connected to said photo-electric element; an integrating circuit connected to the output of said amplifier for integrating the amplified output voltage from said photo-electric element; a Schmitt trigger circuit having its input connected to the output of said integrating circuit, said Schmitt trigger having a predetermined threshold voltage; a switching circuit connected to the output of said Schmitt trigger and including means for alternately energizing and de-energizing said illuminating lamp; and a timing circuit connected to said Schmitt trigger, said timing circuit including: a transistor; the serial connection of a capacitor and a variable resistor, the juncture of said resistor and capacitor being connected to the base of said transistor; and a pair of switch contacts connected across said capacitor to inhibit charge storage therein until said endoscope shutter release is depressed, said timing circuit returning said Schmitt trigger to its original state upon expiration of a time interval determined by the time constant of said timing circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
The universal power supply according to claim 1 wherein said manual exposure control circuit comprises: a source of reference potential; means for selectively varying the magnitude of said reference potential in accordance with the exposure desired; an amplifier connected to said potential varying means; an integrating circuit, connected to the output of said amplifier, to integrate the amplified voltage from said reference source; a voltage detector circuit, having a predetermined threshold, connected to the output of said integrating circuit, said detector being connected to said first switching circuit to de-activate same when the output of said integrating circuit exceeds said threshold; and, means, connected to the input of said amplifier, for selectively switching said amplifier from said source of reference potential to the output of a photo-electric cell, in the event said power supply is associated with an endoscope of the automatic exposure type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The power supply according to claim 1, further comprising: a light intensity control circuit, serially connected with said first switching circuit, to apply an initial potential to said illuminating lamp and, after said lamp is lit, to apply a lesser potential thereto, thereby prolonging the life of said lamp, and minimizing risk of harm to the object to be photographed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
The power supply according to claim 6 wherein said light intensity control circuit comprises: a first thyristor, serially connected between said illuminating lamp and said second DC source; a second thyristor and a resistor connected in series, across said first thyristor and providing an alternate path for current flowing through said illuminating lamp; a first turn-off capacitor interconnecting the anodes of said first and second thyristors, in parallel with said resistor; and a mono-stable multivibrator having a first output connected to the trigger electrode of said first thyristor to energize same, after closure of a contact coupled to said shutter release, to thereby permit passage of a first current through said illuminating lamp, and a second output connected to the trigger electrode of said second thyristor to extinguish said first thyristor, activate said second thyristor, and reduce the current flow through said illuminating lamp by the voltage drop across said resistor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
The power supply according to claim 7 further comprising: a third thyristor serially connected with said first and second thyristors, the trigger electrode thereof being connected to the first output of said multivibrator; means for selectively connecting the trigger electrode of said first thyristor, through a resistor, to one terminal of said second DC source; a fourth thyristor serially connected with a resistor across said second DC source; a second turn-off capacitor connecting the anodes of said third and fourth thyristors, the trigger electrode of said fourth thyristor being connected to the output of said manual exposure control circuit, whereby when said exposure control circuit determines that said illumination lamp has been illuminated for a sufficient time interval, said fourth thyristor is triggered on, thereby extinguishing said third thyristor, in turn extinguishing said second thyristor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2764149A
Cited
US2867209A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |