Endoscope apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
- a control unit;
a light source;
an elongate, flexible insertion section adapted to be inserted into a desired region;
a distal end structure attached to the distal end of the insertion section, said distal end structure including a view window, an illumination window, an objective lens system optically connected to the view window, for focusing an optical image projected through the view window, and a support portion;
a light guide extending from the illumination window through the insertion section to the light source, for guiding a light beam emitted from the light source and radiating the light beam to the outside through the illumination window;
a solid-state image sensor having a light receiving surface receiving the optical image focused by the objective lens system, for converting the optical image into an electrical signal and delivering the signal to the control unit, said image sensor being mounted on the support portion of the distal end structure to be movable in a direction parallel to the light receiving surface;
urging means for pressing the image sensor against the support portion to prevent the image sensor from moving in a direction perpendicular to the light receiving surface; and
an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the image sensor in the direction parallel to the light receiving surface.
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Abstract
An endoscope apparatus includes an insertion section adapted to be inserted into a desired region. A distal end structure is fixed to the distal end of the insertion section. The structure has a support portion on which a solid-state image sensor is mounted to be movable in a direction parallel to a light receiving surface of the sensor. The sensor is pressed against the support portion by a leaf spring, thereby being prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the light receiving surface. A connector is fixed to the proximal end of the insertion section and detachably connected to a control unit.
68 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
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a control unit; a light source; an elongate, flexible insertion section adapted to be inserted into a desired region; a distal end structure attached to the distal end of the insertion section, said distal end structure including a view window, an illumination window, an objective lens system optically connected to the view window, for focusing an optical image projected through the view window, and a support portion; a light guide extending from the illumination window through the insertion section to the light source, for guiding a light beam emitted from the light source and radiating the light beam to the outside through the illumination window; a solid-state image sensor having a light receiving surface receiving the optical image focused by the objective lens system, for converting the optical image into an electrical signal and delivering the signal to the control unit, said image sensor being mounted on the support portion of the distal end structure to be movable in a direction parallel to the light receiving surface; urging means for pressing the image sensor against the support portion to prevent the image sensor from moving in a direction perpendicular to the light receiving surface; and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the image sensor in the direction parallel to the light receiving surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification