PCB structure for scope unit of electronic endoscope

• US 6,898,086 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishizuka, Yukihiro, Takami, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S.
• Application Number:
  US10/318,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 361/792, 361/719, 361/720, 361/736, 361/749, 361/735, 361/790, 361/760, 361/794, 361/301.4, 174/250, 174/50.52, 257/686, 439/74, 439/65, 348/588, 348/65, 348/76
• US Class Current: 361/792
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/144 Stacked arrangements of planar printed circuit boards

Abstract

A printed circuit board structure for a scope unit of an electronic endoscope system, which is provided with a first printed circuit board formed with a first circuit section, and a second printed circuit board formed with a second circuit section. The first printed circuit board is piled on the second printed circuit board. The second printed circuit board having an area covered with the first printed circuit board and at least one area which is not covered with the first circuit board. The at least one area is used for electrically connecting the second circuit section with an electrical unit other than the second circuit section.

Claims

1. A printed circuit board structure for a scope unit of an electronic endoscope system, said structure comprising:

a first printed circuit board provided with a first circuit section;

a second printed circuit board provided with a second circuit section, said second printed circuit board including a surface facing the first printed circuit board, the surface having an area that is covered with said first printed circuit board and having at least one area that is not covered with said first printed circuit board; and

wires which are soldered to said second circuit section at said at least one area such that said wires extend in a direction from said second printed circuit board to said first printed circuit board,

wherein said first printed circuit board is positioned on said second printed circuit board, and

wherein said at least one area is used for electrically connecting said second circuit section to an electrical unit other than said second circuit section with said wires.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the electrical unit includes an imaging element provided to said scope unit.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a connector is provided at said at least one area, and wherein said second circuit section is connected to the electrical unit through said connector.

4. The structure according to claim 3, wherein the electrical unit includes a processor of the electronic endoscope system.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein circuit patterns of said first circuit section and said second circuit section face each other with a predetermined clearance therebetween.

6. The structure according to claim 5, wherein one of said first and second printed circuit boards is provided with a connector within an area where said first printed circuit board covers said second printed circuit board, and the other of said first and second printed circuit boards is provided with a receptor that receives said connector, said first circuit section and said second circuit section being electrically connected through said connector and receptor.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first circuit section is a digital circuit and said second circuit section is a analog circuit.

8. The structure according to claim 7, wherein said second circuit section is electromagnetically shielded.

9. An electronic endoscope system having a scope unit, a processor and a monitor, said scope unit having a printed circuit board structure, said structure comprising:

a first printed circuit board provided with a first circuit section;

a second printed circuit board provided with a second circuit section, said second printed circuit board including a surface facing the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having an area that is covered with said first printed circuit board and having at least one area that is not covered with said first printed circuit board; and

wires which are soldered to said second circuit section at said at least one area such that said wires extend in a direction from said second printed circuit board to said first printed circuit board,

wherein said first printed circuit board is positioned on said second printed circuit board, and

wherein said at least one area is used for electrically connecting said second circuit section to an electrical unit of the electronic endoscope system other than said second circuit section with said wires.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical unit includes an imaging element provided to said scope unit.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein a connector is provided at said at least one area, and wherein said second circuit section is connected to the electrical unit through said connector.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the electrical unit includes a processor of the electronic endoscope system.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein circuit patterns of said first circuit section and said second circuit section face each other with a predetermined clearance therebetween.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein one of said first and second printed circuit boards is provided with a connector within an area where said first printed circuit board covers said second printed circuit board, and the other of said first and second printed circuit boards is provided with a receptor that receives said connector, said first circuit section and said second circuit section being electrically connected through said connector and receptor.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein said first circuit section is a digital circuit and said second circuit section is an analog circuit.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said second circuit section is electromagnetically shielded.