IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE

• US 20130314521A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: MOTOHARA, Hiroyuki, YAMADA, Junya, SEKIDO, Takanori, NAKAMURA, Mikio, SATAKE, Nau
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0011 Manufacturing of endoscope parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An image pickup unit includes an image pickup device, an objective lens, and a prism that has a reflective surface. The image pickup unit includes: a projecting portion that is an area at which the image pickup device projects to the rear from the prism; a terminal portion provided on the projecting portion; a flexible printed wiring board that extends along the prism and the projecting portion; an image pickup device connection terminal portion formed on a face that faces the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board; and a cable connection terminal portion formed at an area that extends over the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board. The terminal portion and the image pickup device connection terminal portion are joined in an opposed state. An electronic component is mounted on a face on an opposite side to the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board.

Claims

1. An image pickup unit that includes an image pickup device, an objective lens that forms an object image on a light receiving portion of the image pickup device, and a prism having a reflective surface for bending an optical axis of the objective lens between the objective lens and the light receiving portion, in which a face on which the light receiving portion of the image pickup device is provided and an exit face of the prism are joined, the image pickup unit comprising:

a holding frame that is a frame-shaped member that surrounds the optical axis of the objective lens, and holds the prism therein;

a projecting portion that is an area at which the image pickup device projects in an opposite direction to the objective lens from the prism;

a terminal portion for performing electrical inputting and outputting to and from the image pickup device, which is provided on a face on a same side as a face on which the light receiving portion is provided of the projecting portion;

a flexible printed wiring board that extends over a rear face of the reflective surface of the prism and over a face on which the terminal portion is provided of the projecting portion;

an image pickup device connection terminal portion that is formed on a face that faces the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board; and

a cable connection terminal portion that is formed on a face on an opposite side to the face on which the image pickup device connection terminal portion is provided at an area that extends over the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board, and to which an electrical cable for electrically connecting the image pickup device to an external apparatus is connected;

wherein;

the terminal portion and the image pickup device connection terminal portion are joined in an opposed state; and

an electronic component is mounted on a face on an opposite side to the reflective surface at an area that extends over the rear face of the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board.

2. The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein:

a convex portion having a flat portion that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the objective lens is provided on the face on the opposite side to the reflective surface at the area that extends over the rear face of the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board; and

in a state in which the image pickup device is joined to the prism, the prism is inserted into the holding frame in a manner that takes an incident face thereof as a front side.

3. The image pickup unit according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion is provided so as to cover the electronic component.

4. An endoscope comprising an image pickup unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3.