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Endoscope apparatus and method for releasing heat generated by imaging element of the endoscope apparatus

  • US 9,232,197 B2
  • Filed: 09/28/2011
  • Issued: 01/05/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

  • an imaging element that is built in an endoscope front end portion;

    an optical member that guides incident light from a subject to the imaging element;

    a flexible substrate on which the imaging element and components of a circuit for driving the imaging element are mounted and which is built in the endoscope front end portion, wherein the flexible substrate includes two bending axes and the flexible substrate is folded back to form a U-shaped portion in one of the two bending axes and is bent in the other of the two bending axes so as to extend and contact with the optical member, wherein a region of the flexible substrate contacting with the optical member is different from a region of the flexible substrate on which the imaging element is mounted; and

    a flexible heat release sheet that includes a first region attached to a given region of the imaging element other than a light receiving surface of the imaging element and a second region thermally contacted to a heat release member disposed in the endoscope front end portion,wherein the flexible heat release sheet further includes a bend portion connecting the first region and the second region opposed to the first region and covers a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface of the flexible substrate,wherein the imaging element is connected to a signal cable through the U-shaped portion of the flexible substrate, andwherein the first region of the flexible heat release sheet is separated from the flexible substrate at a position proximate to the U-shaped portion of the flexible substrate, and the flexible heat release sheet is folded back at the bend portion to at least partially surround a cable connection portion which is configured to connect the signal cable to the flexible heat release sheet.

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