Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
348076000 | Physical structure of circuit element | 65 |
20080239071 | IMAGING APPARATUS OF ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE AND ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE - An imaging apparatus is provided and includes: a solid-state imaging device that receives image light of an observed portion inside of a coelom to output an imaging signal of the image light; a cover glass disposed above an light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device so that the cover glass and the solid-state imaging device are separated with a space; and a first circuit board disposed at a vicinity of an upper surface of the cover glass and including a peripheral circuit of the solid-state imaging device, the first circuit board having a thermal conductivity lower than that of a reference circuit board whose major component is alumina, the imaging apparatus being included in a front end of an electronic endoscope. | 10-02-2008 |
20090231419 | Endoscope Assembly and Method of Performing a Medical Procedure - An endoscope assembly includes (1) an endoscope that includes a tubular body, a retrograde-viewing imaging device disposed at a distal end region of the tubular body, and a channel extending through the tubular body; and (2) an instrument extending through the channel of the endoscope and exits from a distal opening of the channel. | 09-17-2009 |
20090244272 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING USING A LIGHT GUIDE BUNDLE AND A SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR - Endoscopes and other viewing devices that control the light that contacts a sample and/or that is detected emanating from a sample. The viewing devices are particularly well suited for in vivo imaging, although other uses are also included. The viewing devices, and methods related thereto, comprise a spatial light modulator in the illumination and/or detection light path so that light transmitted to the target via a bundle of light guides or optical system is transmitted substantially only into the cores of the light guide bundle and not into the cladding surrounding the light guides, filler between the light guides in the bundle, or undesired light guides. Also, methods and apparatus for mapping the pixels of the spatial light modulator to the cores of the light guides in the bundle (preferably at least 3 pixels (e.g., at least 3 mirrors for a digital micromirror device) for each core), as well as for mapping the light guides of one light guide bundle to another. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244273 | IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING THE SAME - An endoscope system, including: an endoscope for picking up an image of a subject and outputting an image pickup signal of the image; an external processor having a post-signal processing circuit which processes the image pickup signal inputted from the endoscope and generates a video signal that can be outputted to a monitor; and an output detecting circuit for detecting the presence or absence of an output of the image pickup signal and the presence or absence of an output of the video signal. | 10-01-2009 |
20090262186 | ENDOSCOPE CONTROL UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE UNIT - An endoscope control unit including an imaging device controller and a first signal-processing circuit, is provided. The endoscope control unit orders a CMOS imaging device to capture an image and to carry out signal processing for supplying an image signal to a monitor. The CMOS imaging device generates the image signal on the basis of the captured image. The imaging device controller orders the CMOS imaging device to generate a frame's worth of image signal every first period. The first period is shorter than a second period. The image to be displayed on the monitor is refreshed every second period in order to displaying a moving image. The first signal-processing circuit outputs one frame of the image signal generated by the CMOS imaging device to the monitor every second period. | 10-22-2009 |
20090290018 | Endoscope system with option circuit board - An endoscope system has an electronic endoscope with a solid-state image sensor, a processor device, and an option circuit board detachably connected to the processor device. The electronic endoscope drives the solid-state image sensor based on a clock signal correspondingly to the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and captures images. The processor device generates a first video signal from an image signal. The option circuit board has a measurement pulse generator for generating measurement pulses, a gate pulse generator for generating a gate pulse, a pulse counter for counting the number of the measurement pulses during outputting the gate pulse, and a judgment circuit for obtaining the number of pixels from a count value of the pulse counter. The option circuit board converts the first video signal into a second video signal in consideration of the number of pixels to display the images on a PC monitor. | 11-26-2009 |
20100073470 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE - 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. | 03-25-2010 |
20100091100 | INTEGRATED CMOS IMAGER AND MICROCONTROLLER - A method and apparatus providing a CMOS imager with an integrated controller on a common integrated circuit substrate. Also integrated on the common substrate are, a serializer circuit including a dynamic arbiter under the control of the microcontroller core and a set of extended special function registers through which data is passed to allow the microcontroller to control the CMOS imager and the serializer circuit. | 04-15-2010 |
20110018989 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - The endoscope system of the present invention includes: an endoscope that has an image pickup device that picks up an observation image of a test object; an image display unit that converts image pickup signals that have been sent from the image pickup device into images and then displays these images; a first mounting portion that is provided in an operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted; and a second mounting portion that is provided in the operating section of the endoscope and on which the image display unit is mounted in a different position from that of the first mounting portion. | 01-27-2011 |
20110063428 | SMALL DIAMETER VIDEO CAMERA HEADS AND VISUALIZATION PROBES AND MEDICAL DEVICES CONTAINING THEM - In a first aspect the invention is a video camera head comprising an objective lens assembly and a solid state imager (SSI) comprised of a solid state pick up device and additional circuitry adapted to produce an output video signal. The video camera head has a maximum outer diameter of 1.1 mm or less and the length of the objective lens assembly is 2.5 mm or less. In a second aspect the invention is a visualization probe comprising illumination means, an objective lens assembly, and a solid state imager (SSI) comprised of a solid state pick up device and additional circuitry adapted to produce an output video signal. The visualization probe has a maximum outer diameter of 2.8 mm or less. In a third aspect the invention is a medical device comprising a visualization probe comprised of illumination means, an objective lens assembly, and a solid state imager (SSI) comprised of a solid state pick up device and additional circuitry adapted to produce an output video signal. The medical device has a maximum outer diameter of 3.2 mm or less. | 03-17-2011 |
20110187843 | Encapsulated Image Acquisition Devices Having On-Board Data Storage, and Systems, Kits, and Methods Therefor - A method of one aspect may include receiving an encapsulated image acquisition device having an internal memory. The internal memory may store images acquired by the encapsulated image acquisition device. The images may be transferred from the internal memory to an external memory that is external to the encapsulated image acquisition device. An image analysis station may be selected from among a plurality of image analysis stations to analyze the images. The images may be analyzed with the selected image analysis station. Other methods, systems, and kits are also disclosed. | 08-04-2011 |
20110199472 | SIGNAL OUTPUT BOARD AND ENDOSCOPE - A signal output board includes: a drive signal generation section configured to generate a drive signal for a CCD; an inverse signal generation section configured to generate an inverse signal by inverting a phase of the drive signal from the drive signal generation section; a first signal transmission line portion configured to transmit the drive signal from the drive signal generation section; a second signal transmission line portion configured to transmit the inverse signal from the inverse signal generation section, at least part of the second signal transmission line portion being arranged in parallel to and adjacent to the first signal transmission line portion; an output end portion configured to output the drive signal transmitted by the first signal transmission line portion, to the outside; and an equivalent load section including a load equivalent to a transmission path for the drive signal from the output end portion to the electronic device, the equivalent load section being connected to an end portion of the second signal transmission line portion. | 08-18-2011 |
20110199473 | SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an image pickup device chip including an image pickup device formed on a first principal surface thereof and an external terminal for the image pickup device formed on a second principal surface thereof; a wiring board including a distal end portion including a connection pad, a flexure portion flexed at an angle of no less than 90 degrees, and an extending portion, the wiring board including a wiring layer extending from the distal end portion to the extending portion via the flexure portion, the wiring board being kept within a space immediately above the second principal surface of the image pickup device chip; a bonding layer that joins the second principal surface of the image pickup device chip and the distal end portion of the wiring board; and a bonding wire that electrically connects the external terminal and the connection pad. | 08-18-2011 |
20110211053 | SOLID IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A solid image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a device chip including a first principal surface and a second principal surface, a CMOS device and an electrode portion being formed on the first principal surface; a holding block including a joining surface joined to the second principal surface and an inclined surface inclined inward at a predetermined angle relative to the joining surface; a wiring board including a distal end portion including a connection portion connected to the electrode portion on the first principal surface, an extending portion that is in contact with the inclined surface, the extending portion being joined to the inclined surface via a bonding layer; and a flexure portion flexed at the predetermined angle between the distal end portion and the extending portion. | 09-01-2011 |
20110249106 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, ENDOSCOPE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device chip having an image pickup device on a front face and an external connection terminal on a rear face through a via interconnect; a wiring board placed within a projection plane of the image pickup device chip and made up of an intermediate portion whose first main face is connected with the external connection terminal, a first flexing portion and a second flexing portion extended from opposite ends of the intermediate portion and bent toward the intermediate portion at a predetermined angle, and a first extension portion and a second extension portion; and a signal cable connected to the first extension portion and the second extension portion. | 10-13-2011 |
20110254938 | MEDICAL APPARATUS - A medical apparatus of the present invention includes an image pickup apparatus provided for a medical instrument to pick up an image of a region to be examined in a body, a fixing section that keeps the image pickup apparatus indwelling in and fixed to a body wall in the body, a transmission section that extends from the image pickup apparatus and transmits a power or an electric signal to/from a device outside the body, and a shake absorption section that absorbs and suppresses shaking of the transmission section by means of a movable member connected to the transmission section and freely movable with respect to the image pickup apparatus and a holding member connected to the transmission section for holding the movable member in a freely movable manner, wherein when a treatment is applied to a subject in the body while observing the subject, the apparatus can suppress shaking of the image pickup apparatus left indwelling in the body, acquire an excellent observed image and prevent damage to a cable extending from the image pickup apparatus. | 10-20-2011 |
20110285835 | RECEIVER SYSTEM - An object is to provide a receiver system that allows a plurality of antennas to be easily attached onto a body surface without losing receiving functions of the antennas while improving freedom for a living body. A receiver system transmits in-vivo information including in-vivo images received from a capsule endoscope being the interior of a subject to an exterior receiving device via a plurality of wireless relay devices. Each of the wireless relay devices includes a receiving unit that receives the in-vivo information from the capsule endoscope at a first frequency, a transmitting unit that transmits the in-vivo information at a second frequency, a receiving unit that receives a control signal transmitted by the receiving device at the second frequency, and a control unit that controls transmissions and receptions performed by the receiving unit and the transmitting unit based on the control signal. | 11-24-2011 |
20120057009 | Wireless Endoscope Apparatus - A wireless endoscope apparatus mainly comprises an endoscope main body, a receiving host, a supporting stand and a power connecting wire. The receiving host is electrically connected to the endoscope main body through the power connecting wire. The receiving host can be supported and positioned on an application surface through the supporting stand. Moreover, a captured image is wirelessly transmitted by the signal transmitter of the endoscope main body to the receiving host. The image captured by the image pickup lens then is displayed by a display of the receiving host to avoid the restriction of transmission wires so that fields and explorations, such as medical care, house remodeling, transportation and maintenance, mechanical maintaining and research observation and so on, applied by the invention can be fast and convenient. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057010 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes an insertion tube including a flexible tube portion, a bending system, and an image pickup device, the bending system including a plurality of actuators which are provided in the flexible tube portion. The endoscope apparatus further includes a drum around which the insertion tube is wound. The plurality of actuators in the endoscope apparatus are positioned such that when the insertion tube is pulled out from the drum by a first length, a single symmetrical direction movement is enabled, and when the insertion tube is pulled out from the drum by a second length, a double symmetrical direction movement is enabled. | 03-08-2012 |
20120086791 | Endoscope and Angiograph System with Options for Advantages in Signal-to-Noise and Disposability - An endoscope system of one aspect includes a probe including a CMOS image sensor or sensors, and a conductor or conductors for transmitting an image signal outward from the CMOS image sensor or sensors. The system also includes a connector system including one or more integrated circuits and/or connectors, receiving a signal from the CMOS image sensor or sensors and processing that signal. The system also includes a sensor power supply for the CMOS image sensor or sensors, and a remainder power supply for the remainder of the endoscope system. Other endoscope systems, angiographic systems, devices, and methods associated therewith are also disclosed. | 04-12-2012 |
20120206583 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of micro pins provided to project from a back surface in an image pickup device, a plurality of electric boards capable of mounting electric components and having board surfaces provided with through-holes or through-grooves formed to enable the plurality of micro pins to pass through respectively, and solder portions that fix the plurality of micro pins and the plurality of electric boards by soldering in land portions adjacent to the through-holes or the through grooves in a state in which the plurality of electric boards with the plurality of micro pins respectively passed through the through-holes or the through-grooves of the plurality of electric boards are stacked on the back surface of the image pickup device. | 08-16-2012 |
20120242814 | Miniature Wafer-Level Camera Modules - In one aspect, a method includes providing a lens substrate having an array of lenses. The lens substrate includes an overflow region next to each lens of the array. Each overflow region includes an overflow lens material. The method also includes separating the lens substrate into a plurality of smaller lens substrates. Each of the smaller lens substrates has one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses. Separating the lens substrate into the smaller lens substrates may include removing or substantially removing the overflow regions. In one aspect, the method may be performed as a method of making a miniature camera module. Other methods are also described, as are miniature camera modules. | 09-27-2012 |
20120307030 | IMAGE SENSOR FOR ENDOSCOPIC USE - An endoscopic device having embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed. Embodiments of the above may include systems, methods and processes for staggering ADC or column circuit bumps in a column or sub-column hybrid image sensor using vertical interconnects are also disclosed. | 12-06-2012 |
20130070072 | ASSEMBLY METHOD FOR ENDOSCOPE IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE - In an assembly method for an endoscope image pickup unit, the endoscope image pickup unit includes a distal end portion main body portion including a front opening portion, a side opening portion, a rear opening portion and an arrangement space portion, a lens section including a distal end lens having an outer diameter that generally fits in the front opening portion, and an image pickup section that fits in the rear opening portion and includes an image pickup device arranged in an image forming position by a lens system such as the lens section. The assembly method includes steps for inserting the lens section into the arrangement space portion from the side opening portion, fitting the inserted lens section in the front opening portion, and fitting the image pickup section in the rear opening portion from a rear of the rear opening portion. | 03-21-2013 |
20130083182 | LENS UNIT AND CAMERA MODULE FOR ENDOSCOPE - A lens unit for an endoscope includes a movable lens. A rotatable cam shaft is disposed to extend in parallel with an optical axis direction. A support device is engaged with the cam shaft, for supporting the movable lens. A cam device is disposed between the cam shaft and the support device, for moving the movable lens in the optical axis direction in response to rotation of the cam shaft. A housing is provided. A first housing cavity is defined in the housing, for containing the movable lens. A second housing cavity is defined in the housing, for containing the cam shaft. An intermediate channel is formed between the first and second housing cavities, contains the support device, and includes a pair of channel surfaces, opposed to one another, formed by machining, for guiding the support device. A black surface is formed on the support device in black dyeing. | 04-04-2013 |
20130093868 | IMAGING DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE - An imaging device and an endoscopic device can be further miniaturized. A vertical selection unit simultaneously resets charge accumulation units of a plurality of pixels, and then a horizontal selection unit sequentially selects a plurality of first pixel signals corresponding to voltages of the charge accumulation units of the plurality of pixels and inputs the first pixel signals to an output unit. Further, a vertical selection unit simultaneously transfers the signal charges generated by the charge generation units in the plurality of pixels to the charge accumulation units, and then a horizontal selection unit sequentially selects a plurality of second pixel signals corresponding to the voltages of the charge accumulation units of the plurality of pixels and inputs the second pixel signals to the output unit. | 04-18-2013 |
20130147934 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE - An electronic endoscope includes an outer shell that is formed in a tube shape and whose peripheral wall is provided with a transparent window part extending in an axial direction, a solid-state imaging device that is provided inside the outer shell, an objective optical system that includes an objective lens for focusing object light through the window part and that forms an image onto the solid-state imaging device, and a drive mechanism that causes the objective lens in the objective optical system to move along an axis of the outer shell. The drive mechanism includes a lens holder for supporting the objective lens, a feed screw extending along the axis of the outer shell, and a motor for driving and revolving the lens holder about the feed screw as an axis of revolution. The lens holder engages with a thread groove of the feed screw. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147935 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE - An electronic endoscope includes an outer shell whose peripheral wall is provided with a transparent window part, a solid-state imaging device that is provided inside the outer shell, an objective optical system that includes an objective lens for focusing object light through the window part and that forms an image onto the solid-state imaging device, and a drive mechanism that causes the objective lens in the objective optical system to move along an axis of the outer shell. The outer shell is formed in a cylindrical shape and a thread groove is formed in an inner peripheral surface of the outer shell. The drive mechanism includes a lens holder for supporting the objective lens and a motor for driving and revolving the lens holder about an axis of the outer shell as an axis of revolution. The lens holder engages with the thread groove of the outer shell. | 06-13-2013 |
20130169777 | IMAGING MECHANISM AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An imaging mechanism and an endoscope apparatus include: an image sensor including a sensor face and a plurality of input/output leads, a holding member having a sensor contact face, a circuit board that is secured to an outer face of an opposite side of the holding member to the sensor contact face, and a contact-point part disposed on a side face of the circuit board intersecting with a mount face, and in a region where the outline of the circuit board is inside the outline of the holding member. At least one of the holding member and the circuit board includes a relay wiring part which the contact-point part and at least one of the input/output leads are electrically connected to. | 07-04-2013 |
20130182091 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes an imaging unit capturing an image of an object; an imaging holder holding the imaging unit; two systems of driving force transmission mechanisms each including a pair of driving rods having distal ends connected in a diagonal position to each other relative to the imaging holder; a driving apparatus disposed on a base end side of the driving rods and driving forward and backward at least one of the driving rods in each of the driving force transmission mechanisms; and a cover member extending from a base member of the driving apparatus and covering at least a portion of the imaging unit, the imaging holder, and the driving force transmission mechanisms. The imaging unit rotates around two different axes according to forward and backward movement of the driving rods. | 07-18-2013 |
20130194405 | CAMERA HEAD AND IMAGING APPARATUS - There is provided a conductive supporting member provided to be electrically brought into contact with a shielding part of a cable bundle, and supporting the cable bundle. Further, there is provided a supporting member holding part provided to support a circuit board controlling an imaging element, and holding the conductive supporting member connected to a part of cables of the cable bundle. Further, there is provided a conductive coating member coated on a part of the supporting member and a part of the supporting member holding part. | 08-01-2013 |
20130201312 | Endoscope System Using CMOS Image Sensor Having Pixels Without Internal Sample/Hold Circuit - An endoscope system includes a host device and an endoscope including a very small area CMOS image sensor having only four pads (power, ground, digital in, analog out), and including an array of 4T pixels and associated control circuitry for performing correlated double sampling (CDS) to generate analog reset level and analog signal level values associated with light detected by photodiodes in each pixel. Instead of processing the analog values on-chip, the analog reset values and analog signal values are transmitted in separate sets one row at a time along with interleaved synchronization signals by way of a single analog contact pad to the host device of the endoscopic system, which uses the synchronization signals to reconstruct the sensor's internal clock in order to process the analog values. The endoscope housing thus requires only four wires and is made very small. | 08-08-2013 |
20130242071 | ENDOSCOPE CAMERA - There is provided an endoscope camera that achieves closer cumulative tolerance of a camera head and achieves improved accuracy in positioning the camera head. An endoscope camera includes a cylindrical hard case, a camera head provided at a distal end portion of the hard case, and a cover attached to the distal end portion of the hard case which covers the camera head. A rib wall having a holding section is provided inside the cover, and an abutment section which is held by the holding section is provided at the camera head. The abutment section is biased toward the holding section. | 09-19-2013 |
20130265403 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes: an image pickup device mounted in a distal end portion of an insertion portion; wiring that transmits a power supply having a plurality of different power supply voltages for driving the image pickup device, a drive signal that drives the image pickup device, an image pickup signal that is outputted from the image pickup device, and a ground level; a substrate on which a connector that relays the wiring is provided; a first voltage comparing portion that compares the plurality of different power supply voltages; a power supply generation portion that generates a plurality of second power supply voltages; a second voltage comparing portion that compares the plurality of second power supply voltages; and a power supply control portion that controls a supply of power to the image pickup device based on comparison results of the first and second voltage comparing portions. | 10-10-2013 |
20130271588 | Flexible Electronic Circuit Board for a Multi-Camera Endoscope - There is provided herein a flexible electronic circuit board for a tip section of a multi-camera endoscope, the circuit board comprising a front camera surface configured to carry a forward looking camera, a first side camera surface configured to carry a first side looking camera, a second side camera surface configured to carry a second side looking camera, one or more front illuminator surfaces a configured to carry one or more front illuminators to essentially illuminate the FOV of the forward looking camera, one or more side illuminator surfaces configured to carry one or more side illuminators to essentially illuminate the FOV of the first side looking camera and one or more side illuminator surfaces configured to carry one or more side illuminators to essentially illuminate the FOV of the second side looking camera. | 10-17-2013 |
20130278740 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MULTICORE FIBER - The present invention provides a system for imaging an object comprising: an optical imaging unit for imaging an object on a detection array, the optical imaging unit defining an optical axis and comprising a multicore fiber configured to collect light from the object at an input edge of the multicore fiber and transfer collected light to an output edge of the multicore fiber; a displacing unit configured to shift the input edge of the multicore fiber relatively to the object in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis to obtain a set of shifted images of the object; and an operating unit configured to operate the displacing unit by setting a shifting amplitude to either a first amplitude inferior or equal to the diameter of a core of the multicore fiber or a second amplitude superior or equal to the diameter of the multicore fiber. | 10-24-2013 |
20130314521 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE - An image pickup unit includes an image pickup device, an objective lens, and a prism that has a reflective surface. The image pickup unit includes: a projecting portion that is an area at which the image pickup device projects to the rear from the prism; a terminal portion provided on the projecting portion; a flexible printed wiring board that extends along the prism and the projecting portion; an image pickup device connection terminal portion formed on a face that faces the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board; and a cable connection terminal portion formed at an area that extends over the projecting portion of the flexible printed wiring board. The terminal portion and the image pickup device connection terminal portion are joined in an opposed state. An electronic component is mounted on a face on an opposite side to the reflective surface of the flexible printed wiring board. | 11-28-2013 |
20130321605 | ENCAPSULATED IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICES HAVING ON-BOARD DATA STORAGE, AND SYSTEMS, KITS, AND METHODS THEREFOR - A method of one aspect may include receiving an encapsulated image acquisition device having an internal memory. The internal memory may store images acquired by the encapsulated image acquisition device. The images may be transferred from the internal memory to an external memory that is external to the encapsulated image acquisition device. An image analysis station may be selected from among a plurality of image analysis stations to analyze the images. The images may be analyzed with the selected image analysis station. Other methods, systems, and kits are also disclosed. | 12-05-2013 |
20140009592 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT FOR ENDOSCOPE - According to this invention, there is provided an image pickup unit for an endoscope, including a lens barrel portion includes a movable lens holding barrel that holds the movable lens and is movable to advance and retract and a drive mechanism portion which is disposed at a side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and drives the movable lens holding barrel. The unit has a holding portion which is disposed at the side surface portion of the lens barrel portion and is configured to position and hold the drive mechanism portion, a gap between the lens barrel portion and the drive mechanism portion is filled with an adhesive which is made to have a difference in hardness such that hardness is lower on a proximal end side than on a distal end side. | 01-09-2014 |
20140009593 | IMAGING MODULE, LENS-ATTACHED IMAGING MODULE, ENDOSCOPE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IMAGING MODULE, AND FLEXIBLE WIRING SUBSTRATE FORMATION APPARATUS - An imaging module of the invention includes: an electrical cable; a solid-state image sensing device; and a flexible wiring substrate including: a device-mounted portion onto which the solid-state image sensing device is mounted; two extended portions which bend at both sides of the device-mounted portion and extend from the device-mounted portion so as to come close to each other with increasing distance from the device-mounted portion; two connection end portions extending from the two extended portions along the direction of the axis of the front end of the electrical cable on an opposite side of the device-mounted portion; and terminals which are provided on the two connection end portions and connected to the electrical cable, the flexible wiring substrate electrically connecting the solid-state image sensing device and the electrical cable. | 01-09-2014 |
20140022368 | IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING REAL-TIME AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL AND SWALLOWABLE PILL INCLUDING THE SAME - An imager and a method for real-time, non-destructive monitoring of light incident on imager pixels during their exposure to light. Real-time or present pixel signals, which are indicative of present illumination on the pixels, are compared to a reference signal during the exposure. Adjustments, if necessary, are made to programmable parameters such as gain and/or exposure time to automatically control the imager's exposure to the light. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, only a selected number of pixels are monitored for exposure control as opposed to monitoring the entire pixel array. | 01-23-2014 |
20140078280 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes: a solid-state image pickup device partitioned into a light-receiving portion region that generates an image pickup signal of an optical image, a circuit portion region that processes the image pickup signal and generates a driving signal, and a terminal portion region having terminals for inputting/outputting signals with an external apparatus; and an objective optical portion having an objective lens unit including a unit main body having an objective lens group for forming an optical image and a holding barrel where the unit main body is fixed, and a prism that guides the optical image that passes through the objective lens unit to the light-receiving portion region. The prism of the objective optical portion is disposed on the light-receiving portion region of the substrate, and the holding barrel of the objective lens unit is disposed on the circuit portion region. | 03-20-2014 |
20140098208 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE USING THE SAME - An image pickup device constituted by a bare chip is mounted to a flexible substrate including an opening portion and a wiring pattern, so that a light receiving area is positioned at the opening portion and so as to be electrically connected to the wiring pattern. A rigid substrate having a concave portion capable of housing the image pickup device is connected to the flexible substrate. A bottom face of the concave portion is set as a reference face for regulating the optical axis direction of the image pickup device, and a rear face of the image pickup device is firmly fixed to the bottom face. A wiring pattern is provided on the rigid substrate, and the wiring pattern of the rigid substrate and the wiring pattern of the flexible substrate are electrically connected. | 04-10-2014 |
20140204189 | PHOTO-DETECTOR DEVICE FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL SENSORS WITH VARIABLE LIGHT DYNAMICS - Photo-detector device for electro-optical sensors, comprising at least a detection and conversion circuit, or pixel ( | 07-24-2014 |
20140210977 | Wireless Camera Coupling With Rotatable Coupling - A system for wirelessly powering various devices positioned on an endoscope, including, for example, a light source, various electronics including an imager and/or a memory device. The endoscope is coupled to a camera where the endoscope may be rotated relative to the camera when coupled thereto. The system is further provided such that video signal processing parameters are automatically set for an endoscopic video camera system based upon characteristics of an attached endoscope, with reduced EMI and improved inventory tracking, maintenance and quality assurance, and reducing the necessity for adjustment and alignment of the endoscope and camera to achieve the data transfer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140320621 | SMALL DIAMETER VIDEO CAMERA HEADS AND VISUALIZATION PROBES AND MEDICAL DEVICES CONTAINING THEM - In a first aspect the invention is a video camera head comprising an objective lens assembly and a solid state imager (SSI) comprised of a solid state pick up device and integrated circuitry adapted to produce an output video signal. The SSI is configured to allow video signals to be sent from the SSI and power to be supplied to the SSI by means of four or less electrically connecting pads. In a second aspect the invention is a video camera head comprising a 0.7 mm×0.7 mm sensor and an integral 1.4 mm inner diameter light ring. In a third aspect the invention is a visualization probe comprising illumination means and a video camera head of the first aspect. The visualization probe has a maximum outer diameter of 2.8 mm or less. In a fourth aspect the invention is a medical device comprising a visualization probe of the third aspect. The medical device has a maximum outer diameter of 3.2 mm or less. | 10-30-2014 |
20150035960 | IMAGING MODULE - An imaging module includes: an imaging unit including a light receiving unit having a plurality of pixels arranged in a specified shape including a lattice shape and configured to receive light and to perform photoelectric conversion on the received light, the imaging unit being configured to capture an image of a subject and to output the image as a light quantity signal; a signal processing unit configured to perform signal processing on the light quantity signal; and a flexible substrate which includes a bendable insulating film and on which the imaging unit and the signal processing unit are mounted. The flexible substrate is bent to arrange the signal processing unit and the flexible substrate in a space extending from an outer edge of an incident surface of the imaging unit in a direction perpendicular to the incident surface while maintaining a shape of the outer edge. | 02-05-2015 |
20150077531 | Reduced area imaging device incorporated within endoscopic devices - A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. The imaging device is provided in various configurations, and connections between the imaging device elements and a video display may be achieved by wired or wireless connections. A connector assembly located near the imaging device interconnects the imaging device to an image/power cable extending through the endoscope. The connector provides strain relief and stabilization for electrically interconnecting the imager to the cable. The connector also serves as the structure for anchoring the distal ends of steering wires extending through the body of the endoscopic device. The connector includes a strain relief member mounted over a body of the connector. The connector allows a steering wire capability without enlarging the profile of the distal tip of the endoscopic device. | 03-19-2015 |
20150293343 | ENDOSCOPE IMAGE PICKUP UNIT - In an endoscope image pickup unit including an image pickup device having connecting terminal portions on a back surface, and a flexible printed wiring board having a first region on which the image pickup device is mounted, a second region in which an external connection portion for connecting an electric cable is formed, a bent portion provided between the first region and the second region, and two conductive layers, input and output pads for performing input of a voltage to and input and output of signals to and from the image pickup device are disposed at a position closer to the bent portion than ground pads for connecting the image pickup device to a ground, and input and output wirings to be connected to the input and output pads are formed from a same conductive layer as the input and output pads. | 10-15-2015 |
20150305606 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT FOR ENDOSCOPE - An image pickup unit for endoscope of the invention includes: an image pickup device including on a front face a plurality of electrode pads aligned along one side face; and a circuit substrate having an end face from which a lead group, a distal end portion of which is bonded to the plurality of electrode pads, is extended, wherein the end face of the circuit substrate is disposed more rearward than a rear face of the image pickup device, the lead group includes a first lead constituted of at least one of a lead connected to an image pickup device reference electric potential and a dummy lead which does not include an electrical function, and another second lead, and the first lead is closer to the edge portion where the rear face and the side face of the image pickup device intersect than the second lead is. | 10-29-2015 |
20150309284 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes an image pickup unit comprising a plurality of image pickup devices and an optical path dividing member for dividing an entering light beam into a plurality of optical paths, wherein respective optical path lengths are different from one another; a contrast comparing member for comparing contrasts of a plurality of images; an image selecting member for selecting and outputting only one image signal from one image pickup device among the plurality of image pickup devices, on a basis of comparison result by the contrast comparing member; and a driving member for moving a movable lens so that a difference among the contrasts of the plurality of images is largest, wherein a part of an objective lens is configured to be movable in an optical axis direction. | 10-29-2015 |
20150312451 | Imaging Systems And Methods For Using In Spatially Constrained Locations - An imaging system for use in a spatially constrained location includes an image sensor for capturing an image, wherein the image sensor has (a) a first rectangular area containing a pixel array and connecting circuitry communicatively coupled with the pixel array and (b) a second rectangular area with only one shared side with the first rectangular area and containing support electronics for pixel array control and signal acquisition, where the support electronics is communicatively coupled with the connecting circuitry. An imaging method for use in a spatially constrained location includes (a) forming an image of a scene on a pixel array of an image sensor contained within a first rectangular area having a first side and (b) communicating electrical signals between the pixel array and support electronics located onboard the image sensor and contained within a second rectangular area sharing only one side with the first rectangular area. | 10-29-2015 |
20150312457 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS, SEMICONDUCTOR APPARATUS, AND ENDOSCOPE - A manufacturing method of an image pickup apparatus includes a step of manufacturing an image pickup device chip, a step of manufacturing a wiring board having first terminals and second terminals disposed on both sides of a first primary surface with a central flexible portion intervened in between, a step of joining a heat conductive block to a second primary surface of the wiring board, a step of joining the image pickup device chip to the first terminals of the wiring board, a step of performing solder joining of core wires of a cable to the second terminals of the wiring board by conducting heat generated by a heat tool through the heat conductive block, a step of bending the wiring board, and a step of performing housing inside a frame member, and sealing with sealing resin. | 10-29-2015 |
20150316742 | Lens Barrel, Image Acquiring Unit, And Method For Assembling Same - A lens barrel for imaging a subject; and a lens frame which holds the lens. The lens frame includes a body structure opened at a tip and an end; and a lens base which fixes the lens and is adhered to a tip opening of the body; the lens base includes: a tip base including an opening which exposes a tip side lens optical surface and an inner side which supports the lens; and a circle or arc sidewall extending axially from the tip base; the inner surface of the sidewall is formed along an outer circumference surface of the lens; the inner side surface and the outer circumference are adhered to each other; and a portion of the upper surface of the sidewall is provided toward an end side separated from the far end of the lens to be exposed inside the body. | 11-05-2015 |
20150334276 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AN IMAGE STREAM - A system and method to display an image stream captured by an in vivo imaging capsule may include displaying an image stream of consolidated images, the consolidated images generated from a plurality of original images. To generate the consolidated image, a plurality of original images may be mapped to a selected template, the template comprising at least a mapped image portion and a generated image portion. The generated image portion may be filled by copying a patch from the mapped image portion, and edges between the generated portion and the mapped image portion may be smoothed or blended. The smoothing is per formed by calculating offset values of pixels in the generated portion, and for each pixel in the generated portion, adding the calculated offset value of the pixel to the color value of the pixel. | 11-19-2015 |
20160037027 | Durable Flexible Circuit Assembly - A flexible circuit assembly for an endoscope or borescope having an image sensor. The flexible circuit assembly has a flexible circuit with a first end, a second end, and a length between its first and second ends, the first end of the flexible circuit electrically connectable with the image sensor. A strengthening member is adjacent to the flexible circuit and along the length of the flexible circuit. An electrically insulated layer retains the strengthening member adjacent to the flexible circuit and encloses at least of portion of the strengthening member and the flexible circuit. The strengthening member may comprise a nitinol wire, and the nitinol wire may have a neutral position such that the nitinol wire returns to the neutral position after being articulated to a different position. | 02-04-2016 |
20160072989 | LOW PROFILE CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTORS FOR IMAGING SYSTEMS - An imaging system may include an image sensor, and a connector that electrically connects the image sensor with electrical cabling. The image sensor may have electrical contacts integrated with an outer surface of an outer package. The connector may include a circuit board having opposing planar surfaces and a plurality of electrical connections that electrically connect the electrical cabling with the electrical contacts. The electrical connections may be bonded to the electrical contacts and disposed on one or both of the opposing planar surfaces. At least one of the opposing planar surfaces may form an angle with the outer surface that is greater than zero degrees and less than 180 degrees. | 03-10-2016 |
20160080704 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RELEASING HEAT GENERATED BY IMAGING ELEMENT OF THE ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element, a flexible substrate, and a flexible heat release sheet. The imaging element is built in an endoscope front end portion so as to receive incident light from a subject. The imaging element and components of a circuit for driving the imaging element are mounted on the flexible substrate and the flexible substrate is built in the endoscope front end portion. The flexible heat release sheet 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. | 03-17-2016 |
20160119521 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS - An endoscope apparatus includes a first optical system, a second optical system, a light-blocking shutter, a magnet rotor, drive coils, detection coils, and a CPU, the CPU performs control to provide direct current to the drive coils and control to provide alternating current to the detection coils, and where the alternating current is provided to the detection coils, the CPU detects a pivotal position of the light-blocking shutter by detecting variation of an inductance when a magnetic field generated in each of hollow portions of the detection coils is blocked by a magnetic body, from a value of the alternating current. | 04-28-2016 |
20160134824 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, AND SIGNAL READING METHOD - This solid-state imaging device includes a first substrate and a second substrate which have circuit elements constituting pixels disposed therein are electrically connected to each other. The pixels includes: a photoelectric conversion element disposed in the first substrate; an amplifier circuit that amplifies a signal generated in the photoelectric conversion element to output the amplified signal; a signal accumulation circuit which is disposed in the second substrate and accumulates the amplified signal which is output from the amplifier circuit; and an output circuit that outputs the amplified signal accumulated in the signal accumulation circuit from the pixel. | 05-12-2016 |
20160162744 | DECISION DEVICE PROVIDED TO DECIDE WHETHER AN EYE IS REAL OR FALSE - A decision device for deciding whether an eye having a macula and an optical axis is real or false includes: lighting means emitting an infrared flux towards the eye along an entry axis; an infrared capture means for capturing an image of the eye along an exit axis, the entry and exit axes being aligned with the optical axis so that the macula illuminated by the lighting means under the incidence of the entry axis is seen by the capture means; processing means for detecting, on an image captured by the capture means, whether a peripheral zone representing the iris exists and whether a central zone in the peripheral zone, the colour of which is representative of the macula existence, exists, and for delivering information representing this detection; and decision means for deciding whether the eye is real or false according to the information delivered by the processing means. | 06-09-2016 |
20160165102 | ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An endoscope system including: an optical endoscope including a fiber bundle that transmits an optical image; a camera head including an image pickup device; and a video processor including a moiré elimination section, a control section and an enhancement processing section, in which the moiré elimination section uses a processing circuit of the enhancement processing section as a processing circuit of itself by replacing a filter coefficient, the camera head includes a first identifier, the video processor includes a detection section that detects the first identifier, and the control section causes the moiré elimination section to perform moiré elimination processing corresponding to a detection result of the first identifier. | 06-09-2016 |
20160198116 | Reduced area imaging device incorporated within endoscopic devices | 07-07-2016 |
20160205296 | IMAGING UNIT AND ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS | 07-14-2016 |
20190148441 | MICRO-ENDOSCOPE | 05-16-2019 |