Electronic endoscope

• US 4,867,137 A
• Filed: 03/15/1988
• Issued: 09/19/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Application Number:
  US07/168,189
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 128/6, 128/4, 333/33
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An electronic endoscope includes a solid-state image sensor disposed within the distal end of insertable portion thereof, a picture image processor disposed remote from the solid-state image sensor and a drive circuit for the solid-state image sensor. The electronic endoscope further includes a terminal resistor for impedance matching on input and/or output terminals of the solid-state image sensor within the distal end of the insertable portion thereof, so as to stabilize a signal associated with the solid-state image sensor and obtain a good picture.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope having a solid-state image sensor disposed at the distal end of the insertable portion thereof, characterized in that

a terminal resistor for impedance matching is disposed within said distal end, and

said terminal resistor is formed by a frame body of said distal end in which said solid-state image sensor is fixed.

2. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1 in which said frame body supports a lens for image pickup.

3. An electronic endoscope according to claim 2 in which said terminal resistor has a value such that an input and/or output impedance at the input and/or output terminal of said solid-state image sensor is nearly equal to an input and/or output characteristic impedance of an input signal line and/or a drive signal line of said image sensor.

4. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1 in which said terminal resistor has a value such that an input and/or output impedance at the input and/or output terminal of said solid-state image sensor is nearly equal to an input and/or output characteristic impedance of an input signal line and/or a drive signal line of said image sensor.

5. An electronic endoscope having a solid-state image sensor disposed at the distal end of the insertable portion thereof, characterized in that

a terminal resistor for impedance matching is disposed within said distal end,

said terminal resistor is connected to the input and/or output terminals of said solid-state image sensor in parallel therewith,

said terminal resistor is formed by front and rear frame bodies which constitute a frame body of said distal end thereof and which are electrically separated into a plurality of parts on the input and output terminals of said solid-state image sensor.

6. An electronic endoscope according to claim 5 in which said terminal resistor has a value such that an input and/or output impedance at the input and/or output terminal of said solid-state image sensor is nearly equal to an input and/or output characteristic impedance of an input signal line and/or a drive signal line of said image sensor.