Reduced area imaging devices
DCFirst Claim
1. A reduced area imaging device comprising:
- an imager sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal;
a pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said pre-video conductor having first and second ends, said first end communicating with said image sensor;
a first circuit board lying in a second plane and longitudinally aligned with said image sensor, said first circuit board being connected to said pre-video conductor at said second end thereof, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal for direct reception by a standard video device;
a power supply electrically coupled with said image sensor for driving said array of pixels and said timing and control means, and electrically coupled to said first circuit board for driving said circuit board; and
a non-removable lens integral with said imaging device for focusing images on said image sensor.
4 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. In one configuration of the imaging device, the image sensor is placed remote from the remaining circuitry. In another configuration, all of the circuitry to include the image sensor is placed in a stacked fashion at the same location. In a first embodiment of the invention, the entire imaging device can be placed at the distal tip of an endoscope. In a second embodiment, the image sensor is remote from the remaining circuitry according to the first configuration, and wherein a control box can be provided which communicates with the image sensor and is placed remotely from the endoscope. In yet another embodiment, the imaging device can be incorporated in the housing of a standard medical camera which is adapted for use with traditional rod lens endoscopes. In any of the embodiments, the image sensor may be placed alone on a first circuit board, or timing and control circuits may be included on the first circuit board containing the image sensor. One or more video processing boards can be stacked in a longitudinal fashion with respect to the first board, or the video processing boards may be placed in the control box.
419 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A reduced area imaging device comprising:
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an imager sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal; a pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said pre-video conductor having first and second ends, said first end communicating with said image sensor; a first circuit board lying in a second plane and longitudinally aligned with said image sensor, said first circuit board being connected to said pre-video conductor at said second end thereof, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal for direct reception by a standard video device; a power supply electrically coupled with said image sensor for driving said array of pixels and said timing and control means, and electrically coupled to said first circuit board for driving said circuit board; and a non-removable lens integral with said imaging device for focusing images on said image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
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6. A reduced area imaging device comprising:
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an image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal; a control box remote from said image sensor, said control box including circuitry means for receiving said pre-video signal from said image sensor, and for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal which may be received by a standard video device; a power supply coupled to said control box and said image sensor for providing power thereto; and a non-removable lens integral with said imaging device for focusing images on said image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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9. A reduced area imaging device comprising:
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an array of CMOS pixels defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon; a circuit board longitudinally aligned with and electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, said circuit board lying in a second plane which is offset from said first plane and substantially parallel to said first plane, said circuit board including circuitry means for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said timing and control means producing a pre-video signal, said circuit board further including circuitry means for receiving said pre-video signal from said timing and control means and converting said pre-video signal to a post-video output signal for direct reception by a video device; a power supply electrically coupled to said array of said CMOS pixels and said circuit board; and a non-removable lens integral with said imaging device for focusing images on said image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An endoscope with integral imaging capability for producing images to be viewed on a video device, said endoscope comprising:
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a tubular portion including a distal end, a proximal end and a central passageway extending therethrough; means for providing light to said distal end to illuminate a surgical site; a CMOS image sensor lying in a first plane and positioned at said distal end of said tubular portion for receiving images of the surgical site, said CMOS image sensor defining a profile area, and said CMOS image sensor producing an image signal; circuitry means electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor for timing and control of said CMOS image sensor, said circuitry means for timing and control placed within said tubular portion; a video processor board lying in a second plane spaced from and longitudinally aligned with said CMOS image sensor within said tubular portion and adjacent said distal end thereof and communicating with said CMOS image sensor to receive said image signal, said video processor board including circuitry means for processing said image signal and converting said image signal to a post-video signal for direct reception by the video device, said video processor board being positioned so as not to extend substantially beyond said profile area; and a power supply electrically coupled to said CMOS image sensor and said video processor board. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An endoscope comprising:
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a tubular portion including a central passageway extending therethrough, a proximal end and a distal end; a CMOS image sensor positioned at said distal end of said tubular portion for receiving images of a surgical site, said CMOS imager defined by an array of CMOS pixels and, said CMOS imager lying in a first plane; circuitry means for timing and control of said CMOS image sensor placed adjacent to said CMOS image sensor on said first plane; a control box remote from said tubular portion and coupled to said CMOS image sensor, said control box including circuitry means for receiving a pre-video signal from said CMOS image sensor, and for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal which may be received by a standard video device; and a power supply coupled to said control box and said CMOS image sensor for providing power thereto. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32)
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28. A reduced area imaging device comprising:
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an array of CMOS pixels defining a profile area and lying in a first plane, said array of said CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon; a circuit board longitudinally aligned with and electrically coupled to said array of CMOS pixels, said circuit board lying in a second plane which is offset from said first plane and substantially parallel to said first plane, said circuit board including timing and control means for controlling the release of information from said array of CMOS pixels, said timing and control means producing a pre-video signal; a control box remote from said array of said CMOS pixels and said circuit board, said control box including circuitry means for receiving said pre-video signal, and for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal which may be received by a standard video device; a power supply coupled to said control box, said array of CMOS pixels and said timing and control means for providing power thereto; and a non-removable lens integral with said imaging device for focusing images on said array of CMOS pixels. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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Specification