The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 17, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 27, 1999
Kazutaka Matsumoto, Fuchu, JP;
Hiroyuki Sangu, Hino, JP;
Itaru Osaki, Yokohama, JP;
Masakazu Gotanda, Kanagawa, JP;
Seiichi Hosoda, Hino, JP;
Shinji Hatta, Hachioji, JP;
Akira Shiga, Hidaka, JP;
Katsushi Watanabe, Hachioji, JP;
Koji Yasunaga, Hino, JP;
Hiroshi Takahashi, Hachioji, JP;
Masaru Karasawa, Yokohama, JP;
Takeaki Nakamura, Hino, JP;
Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
An endoscope apparatus capable of preventing occurrence of problems trouble attributable to exhaustion of a battery has an endoscope and a battery-powered light source. The endoscope has a light guide fiber bundle over which illumination light is propagated. The battery-powered light source is freely detachably attached to the endoscope, and includes an illumination lamp and a battery. The illumination lamp supplies illumination light to the incidence end of the light guide fiber bundle on which illumination light falls. The battery serves as a power supply causing the illumination lamp to light. At least one of the endoscope and battery-powered light source has an indication unit for notifying a user of the amount of electrical energy contained in the battery.