Card edge connector for an imaging sensor

• US 10,084,944 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Henley, Jeremiah D., Blanquart, Laurent, Dean, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Diep, Nhon
• Application Number:
  US14/666,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/051 Details of CCD assembly
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

The disclosure extends to devices, systems and methods for connecting one or more sensors to one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) in the distal end or tip of a scope. The disclosure also extends to a connector assembly for an image sensor for protecting the sensor and conveying information from the sensor to the PCB.

Claims

1. A surgical scope for providing an image in a light deficient environment comprising:

a tubular member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a connector assembly that is located at the distal portion of the tubular member and comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of electrical connectors;

a printed circuit board; and

an image sensor;

wherein the image sensor is connected to the connector assembly at the first end of said connector assembly,

wherein a portion of the printed circuit board is received into the connector assembly at the second end of said connector assembly, such that the connector assembly attaches the image sensor at the distal portion of the tubular member and electrically connects the image sensor to the printed circuit board via the plurality of electrical connectors, thereby providing electrical communication between the image sensor and the printed circuit board,

wherein the connector assembly comprises a cavity comprising a sidewall at the first end, and

wherein the image sensor is located within the cavity such that the sidewall of said cavity surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor, thereby protecting the image sensor and electrical connectors.

2. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the connector assembly attaches the image sensor within the tubular member in a vertical and perpendicular orientation with respect to the printed circuit board.

3. The surgical scope of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board is attached perpendicularly out of the center of and with respect to the image sensor.

4. The surgical scope of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board is attached perpendicularly off of an edge of and with respect to the image sensor.

5. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds.

6. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to one of the plurality of electrical connectors via an electrically conductive adhesive.

7. The surgical scope of claim 6, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds;

wherein the image sensor comprises a silicon die; and

wherein the electrically conductive adhesive is placed in controlled locations of the connector assembly to electrically connect a backside of the silicon die to a ground in the connector assembly.

8. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is backside illuminated and comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are soldered to the plurality of electrical connectors of the connector assembly to thereby electrically attach the image sensor to the connector assembly.

9. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is located above a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly, such that the electrical connectors are located underneath the image sensor.

10. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located above a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

11. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located on the same plane as the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

12. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located beneath a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

13. The surgical scope of claim 1, wherein the second end of the connector assembly comprises a first slot for receiving the printed circuit board therein;

and wherein the printed circuit board is held in the first slot via a bias force.

14. The surgical scope of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors extend into the first slot, such that when the printed circuit board is located within the first slot the electrical connectors of the connector assembly are in electrical communication with corresponding electrical connectors on the printed circuit board.

15. A system for providing an image in a light deficient environment, the system comprising:

a surgical scope comprising a tubular member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a light source;

a camera control unit; and

a display;

wherein the surgical scope comprises;

a connector assembly that is located at the distal portion of the tubular member and comprising a first end, a second end, and a plurality of electrical connectors;

a printed circuit board; and

an image sensor;

wherein the image sensor is connected to the connector assembly at the first end of said connector assembly,

wherein a portion of the printed circuit board is received into the connector assembly at the second end of said connector assembly, such that the connector assembly attaches the image sensor at the distal portion of the tubular member and electrically connects the image sensor to the printed circuit board via the plurality of electrical connectors, thereby providing electrical communication between the image sensor and the printed circuit board,

wherein the connector assembly comprises a cavity comprising a sidewall at the first end, and

wherein the image sensor is located within the cavity such that the sidewall of said cavity surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor, thereby protecting the image sensor and electrical connectors.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the connector assembly attaches the image sensor within the tubular member in a vertical and perpendicular orientation with respect to the printed circuit board.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the printed circuit board is attached perpendicularly out of the center of and with respect to the image sensor.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the printed circuit board is attached perpendicularly off of an edge of and with respect to the image sensor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to one of the plurality of electrical connectors via an electrically conductive adhesive.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the image sensor is electrically attached to the plurality of electrical connectors via wire bonds;

wherein the image sensor comprises a silicon die; and

wherein the electrically conductive adhesive is placed in controlled locations of the connector assembly to electrically connect a backside of the silicon die to a ground in the connector assembly.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor is backside illuminated and comprises a plurality of electrical pads that are soldered to the plurality of electrical connectors of the connector assembly to thereby electrically attach the image sensor to the connector assembly.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor is located above a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly, such that the electrical connectors are located underneath the image sensor.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located above a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located on the same plane as the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array that is located beneath a plane of the electrical connectors at the first end of the connector assembly.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the second end of the connector assembly comprises a first slot for receiving the printed circuit board therein;

and wherein the printed circuit board is held in the first slot via a bias force.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of electrical connectors extend into the first slot, such that when the printed circuit board is located within the first slot the electrical connectors of the connector assembly are in electrical communication with corresponding electrical connectors on the printed circuit board.