Electronic endoscope

• US 6,796,939 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yasundo, Hirata, Yasuo, Konomura, Yutaka, Sakiyama, Katsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/648,026
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/110, 600/112, 600/160, 600/172, 600/178, 600/179, 600/180, 600/175, 348/65, 348/68, 348/76
• US Class Current: 600/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00052 positioned at proximal end of the endoscope body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0676 at distal tip of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2492 Arrangements for use in a hostile environment, e.g. a very hot, cold or radioactive environment
• 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 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An electronic endoscope having an illuminating section in which an LED for illumination that emits illuminating light to illuminate an observed site is provided and a C-MOS image sensor which has an image pickup surface on which an optical image is formed and outputs a video signal.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope, comprising:

an operating portion;

an inserting portion coupled to the operating portion and arranged distally thereof; and

an image pickup adapter detachably coupleable to an end of the inserting portion, the image pickup adapter including at least one LED to emit light to illuminate an observed site;

a C-MOS image sensor having an image pickup surface on which an optical image of the observed site is formed, the C-MOS image sensor outputting a video signal to the operating section, the video signal corresponding to the optical image;

a first power supply circuit substrate which supplies power to the C-MOS image sensor;

a second power supply circuit substrate which supplies power to the at least one LED; and

a temperature increase controller which prevents an increase in temperature of the C-MOS image sensor above a predetermined temperature.

2. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the temperature increase controller is arranged between the first power supply circuit substrate and the second power supply circuit substrate.

3. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

a member having a low thermal conductivity arranged between the first power supply circuit substrate and the second power supply circuit substrate.

4. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the temperature increase controller is a heat sink which is provided for at least one of the first power supply circuit substrate and the second power supply circuit substrate.

5. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the inserting portion having an end portion is such that the image pickup adapter is attachable and detachable therefrom, the inserting portion further having an electric cable which is electrically connected to the C-MOS image sensor and the at least one LED when the image pickup adapter is attached to the inserting portion.

6. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope has a drum to which the insertion portion is wound.

7. An electronic endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the temperature increase controller is provided adjacent a central portion of the drum.

8. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, including silicon material provided at a surface of a distal end portion of the LED.

9. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the first power supply circuit substrate and the second power supply circuit substrate are located to face each other.

10. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the adapter is generally pipe-shaped in which a plurality of LEDs are provided.

11. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a member having a low thermal conductivity is provided between the first power supply circuit substrate and the second power supply circuit substrate, and a metallic member having a high thermal-conductivity is provided at a side of the second power supply circuit substrate and this metallic member contacts an armoring member main body.

12. An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the second power supply circuit substrate is located between the image pickup adapter and the inserting portion and a coupling member is detachably provided.

13. An electronic endoscope, comprising:

an operating portion;

an inserting portion coupled to the operating portion and arranged distally thereof; and

an image pickup adapter detachably coupleable to an end of the inserting portion, the image pickup adapter including at least one LED to emit light to illuminate an observed site;

a C-MOS image sensor having an image pickup surface on which an optical image of the observed site is formed, the C-MOS image sensor outputting a video signal to the operating section, the video signal corresponding to the optical image;

a first power supply circuit substrate to supply power to the C-MOS image sensor;

a second power supply circuit substrate to supply power to the at least one LED; and

a temperature increase controller to prevent an increase in temperature of the C-MOS image sensor above a predetermined temperature, wherein the temperature increase controller is a light quantity switch which changes a quantity of light emitted by the illuminating section.

14. An electronic endoscope according to claim 13, wherein the light quantity switch varies a resistance by a rotating or sliding operation and controls a voltage which flows to the illuminating section from the second power supply circuit substrate.

15. An electronic endoscope according to claim 13, further comprising:

a plurality of power sources connected between the illuminating section and the light quantity switch, wherein the light quantity switch is operable to select a power source from the plurality of power sources which is to supply power to the illuminating section.