Appeal No. 1999-2039 Page 2
Application No. 08/531,424
ceramic substrate in a circular pattern concentrically around
the optical path of the endoscope. A reflector cup surrounds
each LED to control the angular distribution of light emitted
by the LED. The LEDs are electrically wired to an
illumination circuit that triggers them to emit red, green,
and blue light, respectively, in synchronization with the
field period of an endoscopic camera. The appellant asserts
that mounting the LEDs in the distal end of the endoscope
avoids the loss of light through fiber optics cables and
connections that plagues the prior art and that it eliminates
the prior art’s need to sterilize the cables and connections.
Claim 15, which is representative for present purposes,
follows:
15. A compact light source for illuminating an
object while in a body cavity, said light source
comprising first, second, and third color LED's
fixed to a common substrate, said first, second, and
third color LED's electrically connected to said
substrate and to each other in a pattern whereby
said first, second and third color LED's can be
separately operated in a sequential manner; said
first, second, and third color LED's arranged in a
generally concentric pattern surrounding a light
transmissive aperture centrally disposed in said
substrate in the center of said pattern, and said
substrate and aperture having a central axis coaxial
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