Rigid electronic endoscope

• US 4,879,992 A
• Filed: 04/26/1988
• Issued: 11/14/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiromasa, Nakamura, Takeaki, Yokoi, Takeshi, Yabe, Hisao, Nishigaki, Shinichi, Oozeki, Kazuhiko, Kanno, Masahide, Tojo, Yoshikazu, Yoshinaga, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US07/187,199
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 128/6, 358/98
• US Class Current: 600/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion

Abstract

This rigid electronic endoscope has an endoscope having an elongate insertable part connected to the front part of an operating part which is also a holding part on the base side and formed of a solid state imaging device which can output an electric signal by electrically converting an object image in this insertable part and a conductive shielding member sheathing this insertable part. The electric signal obtained by this endoscope is input into a signal processing circuit. The ground terminal of this signal processing circuit is electrically connected to the above mentioned shielding member and is isolated from a ground terminal on the external current source side.

Claims

1. A rigid electronic endoscope, comprising:

an endoscope having an elongated insertable portion which is connected to a front portion of an operating part, a holding part on an end portion of said endoscope, a solid state imaging means for outputting an electrical signal by electrically converting an object image within said insertable portion, and a sheath means of said insertable portion for forming a conductive shielding means;

a signal processing means connected to said imaging means, for processing said electrical signal obtained by said endoscope, said signal processing means having a first ground terminal means; and

an external current source means connected to said signal processing means, said external current source means having a second ground terminal means, said shielding means being connected to said second ground terminal means, wherein said first ground terminal means and said second ground terminal means are isolated from each other for preventing high frequency waves on said sheath means from effecting said electrical signal output of said endoscope.

2. A rigid electronic endoscope according to claim 1 wherein said insertable portion is inserted in a jacket tube.

3. A rigid electronic endoscope according to claim 2 wherein said jacket tube is isolated from said shielding means.

4. A rigid electronic endoscope according to claim 1 wherein a dummy cable for removing noises is electrically connected to said solid state imaging means and signal processing means.