Heat protection systems and methods for remote viewing devices
View Patent ↗Heat isolation and relocation systems and methods are provided to enable utilization of a remote viewing device in a wider range of temperature environments and while operating its one or more light sources at or near full power without fear of causing temperature-related harm to the one or more light sources and/or to the imager, even if the imager is positioned nearby the one or more light sources.
1. A remote viewing device, comprising:
an insertion tube;
at least one light source disposed within the insertion tube;
an imager disposed within the insertion tube; and
at least one heat protection element disposed at a predetermined location within the insertion tube and being effective to lower the temperature of the imager and the at least one light source,
wherein the at least one heat protection element comprises,
a heat pipe coupled to the light source, the heat pipe comprising a cylindrical tube configured to hold liquid that vaporizes to remove heat generated by the light source; and
a braid coupled to the heat pipe and the insertion tube at a location away from the imager and the light source.
2. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined location of the at least one heat protection element is at least partially in between the at least one light source and the imager.
3. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined location of the cylindrical tube is at least partially in between the at least one light source and the imager.
4. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the braid comprises copper.
5. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the braid is attached to the insertion tube at a location that is at least six inches away from the imager.
6. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat protection element is comprises a thermal isolation element.
7. The remote viewing device of claim 6 , wherein the thermal isolation element is attached to the imager.
8. The remote viewing device of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined location of the thermal isolation element is at least partially in between the at least one light source and the imager.
9. The remote viewing device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
10. A remote viewing device, comprising:
an insertion tube;
at least one light source disposed within the insertion tube;
an imager disposed proximate the light source, wherein the imager has a predetermined upper temperature threshold;
a heat pipe comprising a cylindrical tube coupled to the light source disposed at a predetermined location within the insertion tube such that the light source is operable at a temperature equal to at least the predetermined upper temperature threshold of the imager without causing temperature-related damage to the imager; and
a copper braid coupled to the heat pipe and to the insertion tube at a location way from the imager.
11. The remote viewing device of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined location of the heat pipe is at least partially in between the at least one light source and the imager.
12. The remote viewing device of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
13. The remote viewing device of claim 10 , further comprising a thermal isolation element attached to the imager.
14. A remote viewing device, comprising:
an insertion tube;
at least one light source disposed within the insertion tube, wherein the light source has a predetermined upper temperature threshold;
an imager disposed proximate the at least one light source, wherein the imager has a predetermined upper temperature threshold; and
a heat protection element comprising a heat pipe comprising a cylindrical tube coupled to the light source and a braid coupled to the heat pipe and the insertion tube at a location away from the imager and the light source,
wherein the heat protection element is disposed at a predetermined location within the insertion tube such that the remote viewing device is operable in an environment having a temperature greater than at least one of the predetermined upper temperature threshold of the light source and the predetermined upper temperature threshold of the imager without causing temperature-related damage to either of the light source and the imager.
15. The remote viewing device of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined location of the heat protection element is at least partially in between the at least one light source and the imager.
16. The remote viewing device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
17. The remote viewing device of claim 14 , wherein the heat protection element further comprises a thermal isolation element.
18. The remote viewing device of claim 17 , wherein the thermal isolation element is attached to the imager.