Miniaturized imaging device including utility aperture and SSID

• US 7,787,939 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2003
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SARCOS LC (Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sterling LC
• Inventors: Markus, David T., Jacobsen, Stephen C., Pensel, Ralph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luong; Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/391,490
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,724 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/110, 600/129, 600/130, 600/476, 348 65- 76
• US Class Current: 600/476
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is drawn toward miniaturized imaging devices. In one embodiment, the device can include a utility guide having at least one aperture configured for supporting utilities, and an SSID carried by the utility guide. The SSID can include an imaging array on a top surface, and a conductive element on a side surface, wherein the imaging array is electrically coupled to the conductive element. Further, a lens can be optically coupled to the imaging array, and an umbilical, including a conductive line, can be carried by the at least one aperture. The conductive line can be electrically coupled to the conductive element on the side surface of the SSID. Alternatively, the device can include an SSID having, as an integral structure, an imaging array electrically coupled to a conductive pad, wherein the SSID further includes at least one utility aperture passing therethrough. Further, a lens can be optically coupled to the imaging array, and an umbilical, including a conductive line carried by the at least one aperture, can be configured such that the conductive line is directly electrically coupled to the conductive pad.

Claims

1. A miniaturized imaging device, comprising:

(a) a utility guide having at least one aperture configured for supporting utilities, said utility guide comprising a substantially planar surface oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the miniaturized imaging device;

(b) a solid state imaging chip disposed on the planar surface of the utility guide;

(c) an imaging array disposed on a top surface of said imaging chip and a conductive element on a side surface of said imaging chip, said imaging array being electrically coupled to the conductive element;

(c) a lens optically coupled to the imaging array;

(d) an umbilical, including a conductive line, carried by the at least one aperture, said conductive line electrically coupled to the conductive element on the side surface of the imaging chip; and

(e) a lens holder disposed about the lens, said lens holder comprising at least one aperture, wherein the at least one aperture of the lens holder is collinear with the at least one aperture of the utility guide, and wherein the at least one aperture of the lens holder is perpendicular to a light receiving surface of the imaging array.

2. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive element is a metal trace, said metal trace being electrically coupled to the imaging array through a conductive pad on the top surface.

3. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, wherein the utility guide and the imaging chip are a single integrated component.

4. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive line is connected to the conductive element through a direct bonding joint rather than wire bonding.

5. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, further comprising a light source carried by the utility guide.

6. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, wherein the utility guide is configured to carry at least one member selected from the group consisting of electrical wires, temperature sensors, force sensors, fluid irrigation or aspiration members, pressure sensors, fiber optics, microforceps, material retrieval tools, drug delivery devices, radiation emitting devices, laser diodes, electric cauterizers, and electric stimulators.

7. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, further comprising a processor and a monitor remote from the imaging device, enabling real-time viewing of an image obtained by the imaging device.

8. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, wherein the conductive line of the umbilical includes power, ground, clock signal, and output signal.

9. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 1, further comprising an optical insert positioned optically between the lens and the imaging array.

10. A miniaturized imaging device as in claim 9, wherein the optical insert is a color filter insert configured for providing multiple colors from a monochromatic camera image.

11. A miniaturized imaging device, comprising:

(a) a solid state imaging chip including an imaging array electrically coupled to a conductive pad, and further including first and second utility apertures passing through the imaging chip;

(b) a lens optically coupled to the imaging array;

(c) an umbilical, including a conductive line carried by the second utility aperture, said conductive line being directly electrically coupled to the conductive pad; and

(d) a lens holder disposed in contact with a top surface of the solid state imaging chip and over the first utility aperture and leaving the second utility aperture uncovered.

12. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 11, wherein said lens holder comprises at least one aperture disposed through the lens holder and along a longitudinal axis of said lens holder.

13. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 12, wherein the at least one aperture of the lens holder is collinear with the first utility aperture disposed within the solid state imaging chip.

14. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 11, wherein the lens holder covers a substantial portion of the solid state imaging chip.

15. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 14, wherein the lens holder is oriented such that the second utility aperture of the solid state imaging chip is not covered by the lens holder.

16. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 11, wherein the lens holder comprises a plurality of parallel apertures disposed along a longitudinal axis of the lens holder.

17. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 16, wherein the solid state imaging chip comprises a plurality of utility apertures oriented substantially collinear with the plurality of parallel apertures of the lens holder.