US5746494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illuminating apparatus of endoscope
Assignee: Pentax Corp
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Filing: 1995-11-14
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Granted: 1998-05-05
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Expires: 2015-11-14
Abstract
Abstract An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb disposed to face an entrance end surface of a light guide for illumination to supply illuminating light to the light guide. A concave mirror surrounds side and rear portions of the bulb to converge light emitted peripherally from the bulb in the vicinity of the entrance end surface of the light guide. A convex lens is formed at the distal end of the bulb to allow light emitted forwardly and obliquely forward from the bulb to be incident on the entrance end surface of the light guide.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Koeda
- 👤 Hiroshi Sano
- 👤 Hirohisa Ueda
- 👤 Kunitoshi Ikeda
- 👤 Kunikiyo Kaneko
- 👤 Rensuke Adachi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2461; G02B23/2469
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb for supplying illuminating light to a light guide for illumination, said bulb being disposed to face an entrance end surface of said light guide, said illuminating apparatus comprising: a concave mirror for converging light emitted peripherally from said bulb, said concave mirror converging said light in a vicinity of said entrance end surface of said light guide, and said concave mirror surrounding side and rear portions of said bulb; and a convex lens for allowing light emitted forward and obliquely forward from said bulb to be incident on said entrance end surface of said light guide, said convex lens being formed integrally with said bulb at a distal end of said bulb.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb for supplying illuminating light to a light guide for illumination, said bulb being disposed to face an entrance end surface of said light guide, said illuminating apparatus comprising: a concave mirror for converging light emitted peripherally from said bulb, said concave mirror converging said light in a vicinity of said entrance end surface of said light guide, and said concave mirror surrounding side and rear portions of said bulb; and a convex lens for allowing light emitted forward and obliquely forward from said bulb to be incident on said entrance end surface of said light guide, said convex lens being formed integrally with said bulb at a distal end of said bulb.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an entrance end portion of said light guide is disposed in a control part of said endoscope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a part which includes said bulb and said concave mirror is detachable with respect to said control part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bulb uses a battery as a power supply, said battery being detachable with respect to said control part, together with said bulb and said concave mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light emitted from said bulb is once focused between said convex lens and said entrance end surface of said light guide by said convex lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein light emitted from said bulb and passing through said convex lens is not focused between said convex lens and said entrance end surface of said light guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lens for adjusting a direction of light rays from said bulb which are to enter said light guide, said lens being disposed in close proximity to said entrance end surface of said light guide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concave mirror is a spheroidal mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An illuminating apparatus according claim 8, wherein said bulb is disposed on a major axis of said spheroidal mirror, and a light emitting part of said bulb is disposed at a one of two foci of said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the following relation holds: b≦f<a where: a is a or axis diameter of said spheroidal mirror, b is a minor axis diameter of said spheroidal mirror, and f is a distance between said two foci of said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said major axis diameter a of said spheroidal mirror, said minor axis diameter b of said spheroidal mirror, and said distance f between said two foci are related to each other as follows: b:f:a=7:8:11.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bulb is partially inserted into said spheroidal mirror from behind said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the following relation holds: 1.5<(b/c)<3.0 where c is a diameter of said bulb in the direction of said mirror axis of said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the minor axis diameter b of said spheroidal mirror and the diameter c of said bulb in the direction of said minor axis of said spheroidal mirror are related to each other as follows: (b/c)=2
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an entrance end portion of said light guide is disposed in a control part of said endoscope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a part which includes said bulb and said spheroidal mirror is detachable with respect to said control part.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An illuminating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said bulb uses a battery as a power supply, said battery being detachable with respect to said control part, together with said bulb and said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
148 words
An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb for supplying illuminating light to a light guide for illumination, said bulb being disposed to face an entrance end surface of said light guide, said illuminating apparatus comprising; a spheroidal mirror for converging light emitted peripherally from said bulb in a vicinity of said entrance end surface of said light guide, said spheroidal mirror surrounding side and rear portions of said bulb, wherein said spheroidal mirror is formed such that: b≦f<a, where a is a major axis diameter, b is a minor axis diameter, and f is a distance between two foci of said spheroidal mirror; and a convex lens for allowing light emitted forward and obliquely forward from said bulb to be incident on said entrance end surface of said light guide, said convex lens being formed integrally with said bulb at a distal end of said bulb.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
148 words
An illuminating apparatus of an endoscope having a bulb for supplying illuminating light to a light guide for illumination, said bulb being disposed to face an entrance end surface of said light guide, said illuminating apparatus comprising; a spheroidal mirror for converging light emitted peripherally from said bulb in a vicinity of said entrance end surface of said light guide, said spheroidal mirror surrounding side and rear portions of said bulb, wherein said spheroidal mirror is formed such that: b≦f<a, where a is a major axis diameter, b is a minor axis diameter, and f is a distance between two foci of said spheroidal mirror; and a convex lens for allowing light emitted forward and obliquely forward from said bulb to be incident on said entrance end surface of said light guide, said convex lens being formed integrally with said bulb at a distal end of said bulb.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The illuminating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: b:f:a=7:8:11, where a is said major axis diameter, b is said minor axis diameter, and f is said distance between two foci of said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The illuminating apparatus according to claim 18, wherein: 1.5<(b/c)<3.0, where c is a diameter of said bulb in the direction of said minor axis of said spheroidal mirror.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The illuminating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein: (b/c)=2, where c is a diameter of said bulb in the direction of said minor axis of said spheroidal mirror.
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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) | 2001-05-04 | 2001-11-03 | 2002-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-04 | 2005-11-03 | 2006-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-04 | 2009-11-03 | 2010-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |