Imaging apparatus and endoscope

• US 8,345,092 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takasaki, Kosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/563,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20100073470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 348/76, 257/680, 257/431, 257/460
• US Class Current: 348/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/053 being detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/28 Encapsulations, e.g. encapsulating layers, coatings, e.g. for protectionH01L23/552 takes precedence; insulating layers for contacts or interconnections H01L23/5329
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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

An imaging apparatus includes an observation optical system, a solid state imaging element photoelectrically converting an image from the observation optical system, a flexible board electrically connected to the solid state imaging element, a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of signal cables electrically connected to the flexible board, and a first resin sealing the electronic components and a second resin sealing a connection part of the signal cables. A thixotropic ratio of the first resin is set to be lower than a thixotropic ratio of the second resin. Accordingly, apparatus and an endoscope, which can be made compact, and have high physical and electrical reliability without increasing a size of the imaging apparatus, are provided.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an observation optical system;

a solid state imaging element which photoelectrically converts an image from the observation optical system;

a bendable circuit board electrically connected to the solid state imaging element;

a plurality of electronic components and a plurality of signal cables electrically connected to the bendable circuit board;

a first resin which seals the electronic components; and

a second resin which seals a connection part of the signal cables, the second resin having a thixotropic ratio which is higher than a thixotropic ratio of the first resin.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of signal cables are connected to the bendable circuit board in a state in which the plurality of signal cables partially overlap one another on the bendable circuit board.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the thixotropic ratio of the first resin is 1.5 or lower, and the thixotropic ratio of the second resin is 2.2 to 3.5.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a viscosity of the first resin is 1 to 500 Pa·

s, and a viscosity of the second resin is 100 to 500 Pa·

s.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of signal cables and the bendable circuit board are bent in a manner that the first resin and the second resin are disposed between parts of the bendable circuit board, and the first resin and the second resin are bonded and fixed to the bendable circuit board.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the bonding and fixing is bonding and fixing by a third resin which has a thixotropic ratio higher than those of the first resin and the second resin, and has elasticity lower than those the first resin and the second resin.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the bonding and fixing is bonding and fixing by an adhesive tape.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein flattening treatment is applied to a top surface of at least one of the first resin and the second resin.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein a permanent member or a shield member is provided on the top surface of at least one of the first resin and the second resin.

10. An endoscope, comprising

the imaging apparatus according to claim 1 disposed at a tip end portion of an insertion section of the endoscope.