Auxiliary light apparatus for borescope

Claim 1

Auxiliary illumination apparatus for extending the working distance between a remote target area and a video processor unit for a video borescope or endoscope of the type which includes an elongated flexible insertion tube, a video camera disposed at a distal end of the insertion tube, an interface module coupled to a proximal end of said insertion tube for connecting to a mating receptacle coupler in said video processor unit for supplying power, synchronizing signals, and auxiliary signals from said video processor device to said video camera and to receive and process video signals produced by said video camera, and further including an optical interface for coupling an illumination source in said video processor unit to a proximal end of a fiber optic bundle within said insertion tube which carries illumination to the distal end of said insertion tube to illuminate said target area; said auxiliary apparatus comprising a housing; receptacle means in said housing for receiving said interface module; a multiple contact connector mounted on said housing; electrical harness means within the housing including a plurality of conductors at least certain ones of which terminate at said receptacle means and also terminate at said multiple contact connector; an illumination generating device within said housing including an optical interface disposed at said receptacle means for supplying illumination through said fiber optic bundle to said target area; and an umbilical which includes a flexible elongated sheath, a plurality of conductors within said sheath, a distal end connector which mates with said multiple contact connector to couple said plurality of conductors to said electrical harness means, an auxiliary interface module at a proximal end of said umbilical which mates with said mating receptacle coupler in said video processor unit and connected to at least certain predetermined conductors of said plurality of conductors for providing power synchronizing signals, and auxiliary signals over said conductors and through said electrical harness and said insertion tube to said camera and to carry the video signals from said camera to said video processor unit.