Modular remote inspection device with digital imager

An imager head assembly for use with a remote inspection device, the imager head assembly comprising:

• a cylindrical imager housing composed primarily of metal;
• two or more light sources disposed to emit light from an end of the cylindrical imager housing;
• an imaging device disposed within the imager housing and oriented toward the light sources, thereby receiving light passing between the two or more light sources, capturing an image of a viewing area proximate to the end of the imager housing, and converting the image into a video signal;
• and
• a heat sink member disposed to collect thermal energy produced by the light sources and transmit the thermal energy to the metal of the imager housing for dissipation.

A remote inspection device, comprising:

• a plurality of imager heads each having a cylindrical imager housing and an imaging device disposed within the imager housing, wherein the imaging device captures an image of a viewing area proximate to a distal end of the imager housing and converting the image into a video signal;
• a display housing having a video display receiving a video signal from the imaging device;
• a push stick housing configured to be grasped by a user;
• and
• a flexible cable interconnecting the imager housing with the push stick housing, thereby rendering a position of the imager housing responsive to user manipulation of the push stick housing, wherein the flexible cable also serves as a transmission medium transmitting the video signal from the imaging device,
• wherein each of the imager heads is detachably attachable to the flexible cable, and at least two of the imager heads are not identical in terms of presence or type of light sources disposed therein.

A remote inspection device, comprising:

• a plurality of imager heads each having a respective imager housing and digital imaging device disposed therein in communication with a digital video signal conversion device serializing the digital video signal, wherein the imaging device captures an image of a viewing area proximate to a distal end of the imager housing and converts the image into a video signal;
• a push stick housing configured to be grasped by a user;
• a digital display housing remote from the push stick housing and having a digital display in communication with a digital video signal re-conversion device de-serializing the digital video signal;
• and
• a flexible cable interconnecting the digital imager housing with the push stick housing, thereby rendering a position of the digital imager housing responsive to user manipulation of the push stick housing, wherein the flexible cable also serves as a transmission medium transmitting the serialized digital video signal at least from the digital video signal conversion device to the push stick housing,
• wherein each of the imager heads is detachably attachable to the flexible cable, and at least two of the imager heads are not identical at least in terms of presence or types of light sources disposed therein, and
• wherein:
• (1) at least one digital imager housing of the heads is cylindrical in shape and composed primarily of metal;
• (2) one or more light sources are disposed to emit light from a distal end of that digital imager housing;
• (3) its respective imaging device is disposed within that digital imager housing and oriented toward the light sources to:
• (a) receive light passing between the light sources;
• (b) capture an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the imager housing;
• (c) and convert the image into a video signal;
• and (4) a heat sink member is disposed to collect thermal energy produced by the light sources and transmit the thermal energy to the metal of that imager housing for dissipation.