CABLE CONNECTOR AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

• US 20130244453A1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: SAKAMOTO, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,998,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/55
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00114 Electrical cables in or with an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/009 with bending or curvature detection of the insertion part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/53 connecting to cables except for flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/712 co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit H01R12/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Abstract

A cable connector includes a circuit board, having a predetermined width in a manner passable through an elongated tube of an endoscope apparatus, disposed to extend in an axial direction. A terminal group is formed on the circuit board, for electrically contacting a socket connector. First and second land patterns are formed on the circuit board, arranged in the axial direction so that the terminal group is disposed therebetween, wherein a front end of a first electric line group having lines among electric lines of a cable structure is electrically coupled to the first land pattern, and a front end of a second electric line group having lines among the electric lines is coupled to the second land pattern. A wiring pattern is formed on the circuit board, for electrically coupling the first land pattern to the terminal group and coupling the second land pattern to the terminal group.

Claims

1. A cable connector for an endoscope apparatus including a flexible elongated tube for extending in an axial direction, a circuit device incorporated in said elongated tube, a cable structure, having plural electric lines, contained in said elongated tube, connected with said circuit device, wherein said cable connector is mounted on said cable structure, and couplable with an external socket connector for externally transmitting a signal from said circuit device, said cable connector comprising:

a circuit board, having a width in a manner passable through said elongated tube, disposed to extend in said axial direction;

a terminal group of plural terminals, formed on said circuit board, for electrically contacting said socket connector;

first and second land patterns, positioned apart from one another in said axial direction, so disposed that said terminal group is positioned therebetween at least partially, for electrical conduction to said electric lines;

a wiring pattern, formed on said circuit board, for electrically coupling said first land pattern to said terminal group and electrically coupling said second land pattern to said terminal group.

2. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said first land pattern is disposed on a side of a first board end of said circuit board from said terminal group in said axial direction;

said second land pattern is disposed on a side of a second board end of said circuit board from said terminal group in said axial direction;

said terminal group is constituted in said axial direction by a first terminal on said side of said first board end, and a second terminal on said side of said second board end;

said wiring pattern is constituted in said axial direction by a first conductive line on said side of said first board end, and a second conductive line on said side of said second board end;

said first conductive line couples said first terminal to said first land pattern;

said second conductive line couples said second terminal to said second land pattern.

3. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated tube includes:

a flexible tube device for extending in said axial direction;

a tip device mounted on a tip end of said flexible tube device;

wherein said tip device is attached to said flexible tube device after said cable structure is entered through said flexible tube device.

4. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said terminals in said terminal group are arranged in said axial direction.

5. A cable connector as defined in claim 4, wherein said terminal group and said socket connector are moved relatively toward one another transversely to said axial direction, for contact of said terminal group with said socket connector.

6. A cable connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said terminals are arranged along a first longer side line of said circuit board, and said wiring pattern is disposed between said terminal group and a second longer side line of said circuit board.

7. A cable connector as defined in claim 6, further comprising a pair of cutouts, formed in said circuit board, disposed on said first longer side line so that said terminal group is positioned therebetween, for receiving said socket connector upon entry of said terminal group in said socket connector, to prevent interference with said circuit board.

8. A cable connector as defined in claim 7, wherein said cutouts are so shaped that a width thereof decreases toward a center portion of said circuit board from said longer side line.

9. A cable connector as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a third land pattern, disposed beside an intermediate terminal among said terminals in said axial direction and along said second longer side line of said circuit board, for electric coupling to said electric lines;

a second wiring pattern, disposed between said third land pattern and said intermediate terminal, for electrically coupling said intermediate terminal to said third land pattern.

10. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said circuit board includes upper and lower surfaces;

said upper surface has said first and second land patterns, and a third land pattern disposed on said side of said second board end from said second land pattern in said axial direction;

said lower surface has a second terminal group disposed opposite to said terminal group, and a second wiring pattern for coupling said third land pattern to said second terminal group.

11. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said circuit board includes upper and lower surfaces;

said upper surface has said first and second land patterns, and a third land pattern disposed on said side of said first board end from said first land pattern in said axial direction;

said lower surface has a second terminal group disposed opposite to said terminal group, and a second wiring pattern for coupling said third land pattern to said second terminal group.

12. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, wherein said cable structure includes a first line group of electric lines electrically coupled to said first land pattern on said side of said second board end, and a second line group of electric lines electrically coupled to said second land pattern on said side of said second board end;

further comprising a flexible circuit board for constituting at least a portion of at least one of said first and second line groups.

13. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, further comprising a tab portion, formed at said first board end, for enabling portions of said circuit board to pass safely through said elongated tube in penetration thereof.

14. A cable connector as defined in claim 13, wherein said tab portion has a width decreasing in said axial direction on said side of said first board end.

15. A cable connector as defined in claim 13, wherein said tab portion is a portion of said circuit board.

16. A cable connector as defined in claim 2, further comprising a flexible wiring board, disposed to extend at least partially between said first and second board ends, and bent substantially in a U shape;

wherein said circuit board includes;

a first portion having said first land pattern;

a second portion, opposed to said first portion, and having said second land pattern and said terminal group.

17. A cable connector as defined in claim 16, further comprising a rigid portion, disposed in said circuit board at least partially, and having said terminal group thereon.

18. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, wherein said electric lines include:

a power supply line for driving said circuit device;

a signal line for transmitting and/or receiving said signal with said circuit device;

said power supply line being coupled to said first land pattern, and said signal line being coupled to said second land pattern.

19. A cable connector as defined in claim 1, comprising two or more connection mechanisms arranged on said circuit board in said axial direction, each of said connection mechanisms having said terminal group, said first and second land patterns and said wiring pattern.

20. An endoscope apparatus including a flexible elongated tube for extending in an axial direction, a circuit device incorporated in said elongated tube, a cable structure, having plural electric lines, contained in said elongated tube, connected with said circuit device, and a cable connector mounted on said cable structure, and couplable with an external socket connector for externally transmitting a signal from said circuit device, said endoscope apparatus comprising:

said cable connector including;

a circuit board, having a width in a manner passable through said elongated tube, disposed to extend in said axial direction;

a terminal group of plural terminals, formed on said circuit board, for electrically contacting said socket connector;

first and second land patterns, positioned apart from one another in said axial direction, so disposed that said terminal group is positioned therebetween at least partially, for electrical conduction to said electric lines;

a wiring pattern, formed on said circuit board, for electrically coupling said first land pattern to said terminal group and electrically coupling said second land pattern to said terminal group.

21. An endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 20, further comprising:

a handle device mounted on said elongated tube;

a universal cord device having first and second ends, said first end being coupled to said handle device, said second end operating for external connection;

a connector shell disposed at said second end;

wherein said cable structure with said cable connector is penetrated through said handle device and said universal cord device, for coupling with said socket connector through said connector shell.

22. An endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein said circuit device is an imaging unit for detecting object light from a body cavity.