Video scope utilized in electronic endoscope system

• US 6,947,070 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Takami, Satoshi, Ishizuka, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Application Number:
  US10/150,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 348 65- 76, 600100-130
• US Class Current: 348/76
• 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 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0216 Reduction of cross-talk, noise or electromagnetic interference grounding H05K1/0215

Abstract

A video scope has an image sensor, a circuit board, and a digital signal processor mounted on the circuit board. The digital signal processor reads image signals from the image sensor, and processes the read image signals to thereby produce at least two types of video signal. A wiring-pattern is formed on the circuit board to feed a video signal component, included in one of the two types of video signals, from the digital signal processor. The wiring-pattern is cut off at a suitable location. When the wiring-pattern remains as an unused wiring-pattern on the circuit board, the wiring-pattern is treated such that radiation of noise is prevented from going through the unused wiring-pattern.

Claims

1. A video scope utilized in an electronic endoscope system, which comprises:

an image sensor;

a circuit board;

an electronic package mounted on said circuit board to process image signals, read from said image sensor, to thereby produce at least two types of video signal; and

a wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board so as to extend from said electronic package, to thereby feed a video signal component, included in one of said two types of video signal, from said electronic package, said wiring-pattern being cut off at a suitable location,

wherein a portion of said wiring-pattern, which extends from said electronic package to the cutoff, is grounded to a ground layer of said circuit board through a suitable electric resistance when said wiring-pattern remains as an unused wiring-pattern on said circuit board.

2. A video scope as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of said wiring-pattern is grounded at the cutoff end.

3. A video scope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electronic package comprises a digital signal processor which is constituted such that not only the processing of the image signals is performed but also the reading of the image signals from said image sensor is controlled.

4. A video scope utilized in an electronic endoscope system, which comprises:

an image sensor;

a circuit board;

an electronic package mounted on said circuit board to process image signals, read from said image sensor, to thereby produce at least two types of video signal;

a connector mounted on said circuit board; and

a wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board so as to be extend between said electronic package and said connector, to thereby feed a video signal component, included in one of said two types of video signal, from said electronic package to said connector, said wiring-pattern being cut off at two suitable locations,

wherein respective electrical connections are established at the cutoffs when said wiring-pattern is utilized.

5. A video scope as set forth in claim 4, wherein one of said cutoffs is located in the vicinity of said electronic package.

6. A video scope as set forth in claim 4, wherein said electronic package comprises a digital signal processor which is constituted such that not only the processing of the image signals is performed but also the reading of the image signals from said image sensor is controlled.

7. A video scope utilized in an electronic endoscope system, which comprises:

an image sensor;

a circuit board;

an electronic package mounted on said circuit board to process image signals, read from said image sensor, to thereby produce a video signal;

a microcomputer mounted on said circuit board to control an operation of said electronic package;

a first oscillator mounted on said circuit board to produce a first type of basic clock pulse;

a second oscillator mounted on said circuit board to produce a second type of basic clock pulse;

each of said first and second types of basic clock pulse being used to regulate an operational timing of said electronic package and said microcomputer;

a first wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said first type of basic clock pulse from the first oscillator to said electronic package;

a second wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said first type of basic clock pulse from said electronic package to said microcomputer, said second wiring-pattern being cut off at a suitable location;

a third wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board and connected to said second wiring-pattern to feed said second type of basic clock pulse from said second oscillator to said microcomputer, said third wiring-pattern being cut off at a suitable location; and

a fourth wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said second type of basic clock pulse from said microcomputer to said electronic package,

wherein, when one of said first and second wiring-patterns remains as an unused wiring-pattern on said circuit board, a portion of said unused wiring-pattern, which extends from said microcomputer to the cutoff, is grounded to a ground layer of said circuit board though a suitable electric resistance.

8. A video scope as set forth in claim 7, wherein the portion of said unused wiring-pattern is grounded at the cutoff end.

9. A video scope as set forth in claim 7, wherein a portion of said second wiring-pattern, which extends from said microcomputer to the cutoff, is grounded to the ground layer of said circuit board through a suitable electric resistance when said unused wiring-pattern is the second wiring-pattern and when said second oscillator is operating.

10. A video scope as set forth in claim 7, wherein a portion of said third wiring-pattern, which extends from said second wiring-pattern to the cutoff, is grounded to the ground layer of said circuit board though a suitable electric resistance when said unused wiring-pattern is the third wiring-pattern and when said first oscillator is operating.

11. A video scope as set forth in claim 7, wherein said electronic package comprises a digital signal processor which is constituted such that not only the processing of the image signals is performed but also the reading of the image signals from said image sensor is controlled.

12. A video scope utilized in an electronic endoscope system, which comprises:

an image sensor;

a circuit board;

an electronic package mounted on said circuit board to process image signals, read from said image sensor, to thereby produce a video signal;

a microcomputer mounted on said circuit board to control an operation of said electronic package;

a first oscillator mounted on said circuit board to produce a first type of basic clock pulse;

a second oscillator mounted on said circuit board to produce a second type of basic clock pulse;

each of said first and second types of basic clock pulse being used to regulate operational timings of said electronic package and said microcomputer;

a first wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said first type of basic clock pulse from the first oscillator to said electronic package;

a second wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said first type of basic clock pulse from said electronic package to said microcomputer;

a third wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board and connected to said second wiring-pattern to feed said second type of basic clock pulse from said second oscillator to said microcomputer; and

a fourth wiring-pattern formed on said circuit board to feed said second type of basic clock pulse from said microcomputer to said electronic package,

wherein said second wiring-pattern is at least cut off at a location in the vicinity of said microcomputer, the connection of said third wiring-pattern to said second wiring-pattern is established at a portion of said second wiring-pattern, which extends from said microcomputer to the cutoff, and said third wiring-pattern is at least cut off a locations of in the vicinity of the connection between said second wiring-pattern and said third wiring-pattern.

13. A video scope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second wiring-pattern is further cut off at a location in the vicinity of said electronic package when the second wiring-pattern remains as an unused wiring-pattern on said circuit board and when said first oscillator is operating.

14. A video scope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said third wiring-pattern is further cut off at a location in the vicinity of said second oscillator when the third wiring-pattern remains as an unused wiring-pattern on said circuit board and when said second oscillator is operating.

15. A video scope as set forth in claim 12, wherein said electronic package comprises a digital signal processor which is constituted such that not only the processing of the image signals is performed but also the reading of the image signals from said image sensor is controlled.