Illumination apparatus for an image sensing means at the distal end of an endoscope

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016135672-A1
Application number	US-201514948443-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2007
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope includes an illumination carrier and a plurality of micro LEDs each including a main surface from which the emission is made, with a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm. The illumination carrier is associated with the distal end of the endoscope, and the plurality of micro LEDs are arranged on the illumination carrier such that with electrical excitation, the environment of the distal end of the endoscope is at least in some portions illuminated.

First claim

1 . A method for operating an illumination apparatus for an image sensor at a distal end of an endoscope, wherein the illumination apparatus comprises an illumination carrier at the distal end with an array of micro LEDs, wherein the micro LEDs each comprise a main surface from which the emission is made and which comprises a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm, comprising:
illuminating at least one portion of an environment of the distal end of the endoscope by electrical excitation of the micro LEDs.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
pulsed controlling of at least part of the micro LEDs.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:
separately controlling at least part of the micro LEDs.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
shifting the illumination carrier to achieve a change in an illumination of the environment of the distal end.

5 . Method for manufacturing an illumination apparatus for an image sensor at the distal end of an endoscope, comprising:
providing an array of micro LEDs on a carrier foil, wherein the micro LEDs each comprise a main surface comprising a maximum lateral dilatation of less than 500 μm from which the emission is made; and arranging the carrier foil on an illumination carrier which may be associated with the distal end of the endoscope to illuminate, with electrical excitation of the micro LEDs, an environment of the distal end of the endoscope at least in some portions.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the carrier foil is arranged such that the array of micro LEDs comprises a first and a second adjacent group of micro LEDs on a surface region of the illumination carrier, with a first and a second main emission direction which are different with respect to the surface region of the illumination carrier.

Assignees

• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung

Inventors

• Spinnler Klaus
• Arnold Cornelia
• Kuleschow Andreas
• Rupp Stephan
• Wittenberg Thomas
• Couronne Robert

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• A61B1/0684

  using light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• A61B1/0676 Primary

  at distal tip of an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/0605

  for spatially modulated illumination · CPC title