US5047847A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope using liquid crystal devices different in the response frequency in the image forming optical system
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1989-08-21
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Granted: 1991-09-10
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Expires: 2009-08-21
Abstract
Abstract At least a part of an image forming optical system is formed of a liquid crystal assembly consisting of a plurality of liquid crystals having a refractive index anisotropy and having different response frequencies of molecule orientation so that the transmittivity and refractive index of the plurality of liquid crystals may be independently controlled with few signal lines by varying the frequency of the driving signal applied to the liquid crystal assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Akitoshi Toda
- 👤 Hisanari Shimazu
- 👤 Akira Takano
- 👤 Hirofumi Miyanaga
- 👤 Susumu Takahashi
- 👤 Yoshinao Ohaki
- 👤 Yoshisada Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/05; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/10; H04N23/125; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; H04N23/70; H04N23/75; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N23/88; H04N23/95; H04N23/958; H04N23/959; H04N23/555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope provided with an elongate insertable part, a light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from a tip side of said insertable part, an objective optical system arranged on the tip side of said insertable part and forming an optical image of an object to be image, a liquid crystal assembly forming at least a part of said objective optical system and formed of a plurality of liquid crystals showing a refractive index anisotropy for an incident light depending on molecule orientation and different response frequencies to driving signals for controlling said molecule orientation, and two signal lines inserted through said insertable part and feeding said driving signals to said liquid crystal assembly; a signal generating means for selectively outputting said driving signals of at least two frequencies in response to said response frequencies; and a control means for varying optical characteristics of said liquid crystal assembly by switching at least a frequency of the driving signals applied to said liquid crystal assembly through said signal lines.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an endoscope provided with an elongate insertable part, a light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from a tip side of said insertable part, an objective optical system arranged on the tip side of said insertable part and forming an optical image of an object to be image, a liquid crystal assembly forming at least a part of said objective optical system and formed of a plurality of liquid crystals showing a refractive index anisotropy for an incident light depending on molecule orientation and different response frequencies to driving signals for controlling said molecule orientation, and two signal lines inserted through said insertable part and feeding said driving signals to said liquid crystal assembly; a signal generating means for selectively outputting said driving signals of at least two frequencies in response to said response frequencies; and a control means for varying optical characteristics of said liquid crystal assembly by switching at least a frequency of the driving signals applied to said liquid crystal assembly through said signal lines.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said endoscope is an optical type endoscope in which one front surface of an image guide is arranged on an image forming surface of said objective optical system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said endoscope is an electronic type endoscope in which a solid state imaging device, provided with a photoelectric converting function, is arranged on an image forming surface of said objective optical system for an object at a fixed distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means further has an amplitude controlling means for varying an amplitude of said driving signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal lens provided with a lens function varying a focal distance by said controlling means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal iris provided with an iris function varying a light transmitting area by said control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 wherein said liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal lens and liquid crystal iris formed respectively of liquid crystals with different response frequencies of said molecule orientation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said liquid crystal lens is formed of a plurality of liquid crystal device lenses enclosing respectively in separate cell liquid crystals with respectively different response frequencies of said molecule orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said liquid crystal iris is formed of a plurality of liquid crystal device irises enclosing respectively in separate cell liquid crystals with respectively different response frequencies of said molecule orientation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 wherein one of said two signal lines is made common with a ground line of said solid state imaging device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 wherein, in said liquid crystal assembly, a pair of electrodes provided to hold respective liquid crystals are connected in series by lead wires so that said driving signals may be applied as divided.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 wherein, in said liquid crystal assembly, a pair of electrodes provided to hold respective liquid crystals are connected in parallel by lead wires so that said driving signals of a same amplitude may be applied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said control means is provided in operating part of said endoscope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 5 wherein, in said liquid crystal lens, when said driving signals are not applied, the liquid crystal molecules forming said liquid crystal lens will be in a homogeneous arrangement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 6 wherein, in said liquid crystal iris, when said driving signals are not applied, liquid crystal molecules forming said liquid crystal iris will be in a twisted nematic arrangement.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
157 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image forming optical system for forming an optical image of an object to be imaged; an image receiving means arranged in a focal plane of said image forming optical system; a liquid crystal assembly forming at least a part of said image forming optical system, said liquid crystal assembly formed of a plurality of liquid crystals showing a refractive index anisotropy for an incident light depending on molecule orientation and each liquid crystal having a different response frequency to driving signals for controlling said molecule orientation; two signals lines for feeding said driving signals to said liquid crystal assembly; a signal generating means for selectively outputting said driving signals different, at least, in frequency to said liquid crystal assembly through said signal lines; and a control means for varying optical characteristics of said liquid crystal assembly by switching at least the frequency of the driving signals output from said signal generating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
157 words
An imaging apparatus comprising: an image forming optical system for forming an optical image of an object to be imaged; an image receiving means arranged in a focal plane of said image forming optical system; a liquid crystal assembly forming at least a part of said image forming optical system, said liquid crystal assembly formed of a plurality of liquid crystals showing a refractive index anisotropy for an incident light depending on molecule orientation and each liquid crystal having a different response frequency to driving signals for controlling said molecule orientation; two signals lines for feeding said driving signals to said liquid crystal assembly; a signal generating means for selectively outputting said driving signals different, at least, in frequency to said liquid crystal assembly through said signal lines; and a control means for varying optical characteristics of said liquid crystal assembly by switching at least the frequency of the driving signals output from said signal generating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said control means further has an amplitude controlling means for varying amplitude of said driving signals output from said signal generating means. controlling means for varying amplitude of said driving signals output from said signal generating means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal lens which can vary the focal distance by said driving signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said liquid crystal assembly has a liquid crystal iris which can vary a transmitted light amount by said driving signals.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An imaging apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said image receiving means is an imaging device having a photoelectric converting function.
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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) | 1994-09-09 | 1995-03-11 | 1995-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-09 | 1999-03-11 | 1999-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-09 | 2003-03-11 | 2003-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |