ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING HEAT GENERATED BY IMAGING ELEMENT OF THE ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

• US 20160080704A1
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazuhiko
• Application Number:
  US14/950,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element, a flexible substrate, and a flexible heat release sheet. The imaging element is built in an endoscope front end portion so as to receive incident light from a subject. The imaging element and components of a circuit for driving the imaging element are mounted on the flexible substrate and the flexible substrate is built in the endoscope front end portion. The flexible heat release sheet includes a first region attached to a given region of the imaging element other than a light receiving surface of the imaging element and a second region thermally contacted to a heat release member disposed in the endoscope front end portion.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

an objective lens group provided in a lens tube for receiving an observation image and directing light;

a prism member connected to the objective lens group and changing an optical path at right angle through a reflection surface;

an imaging element which is built in a front end portion of an endoscope so as to receive incident light from a subject;

a transparent resin member covering a portion between the prism member and the imaging element, and

a flexible substrate, which is connected to the imaging element and which is mounted with components of a circuit and built in the front end portion of the endoscope.

2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate is bent by means of stacking more than two layers in a back of the prism member.

3. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cable connection position for connecting a part of a plurality of signal cables transmitting image signals is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate different from a surface of the flexible substrate on which components of a circuit is provided.

4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cable connection position for connecting a part of a plurality of signal cables transmitting image signals is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate different from a surface of the flexible substrate on which components of a circuit is provided.

5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a cable connection position for connecting all of a plurality of signal cables transmitting image signals is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate different from a surface of the flexible substrate on which components of a circuit is provided.

6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a cable connection position for connecting all of a plurality of signal cables transmitting image signals is provided on a surface of the flexible substrate different from a surface of the flexible substrate on which components of a circuit is provided.

7. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.

8. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.

9. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.

10. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.

11. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.

12. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a plate member covering two side surfaces, upper surface of the prism member.