JPH07318815A - Electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the diameter of the tip of an insertion part much smaller by reducing the real outside diameter of a video unit part. CONSTITUTION:In a video unit arranged at the tip of the slender insertion part; a circuit board 51 connected to a solid-state image pickup device 14 is formed as a polygonal pillar, and provided with a cable land 56, a CCD land 57 and a through-hole 58 on each surface, and wiring patterns are disposed inside and on the surface of the board and six surfaces and the inside are circuit means. The circuit board 51 is provided with an IC chip 52 connected to the board and sealed with sealing resin 53, a chip capacitor 54 and a printing resistance 59. The terminal of the soild-state image pickup device 14 is connected to one side surface of the circuit board 51, and signal cables 55 are connected to the plural side surfaces, then one part of the video unit is constituted of them.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope having a video unit for picking up a subject image at the tip of an insertion section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope has been widely used which is capable of observing a region to be examined and performing various treatments by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity or the like. In particular, in recent years, various electronic endoscopes have been proposed which include an objective lens, a solid-state image sensor including a CCD or the like, and a video unit including a circuit board connected to the solid-state image sensor at the tip of the insertion section.

As a video unit provided in the endoscope, a small unit incorporated in the distal end portion of the insertion portion has been proposed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-208726. This video unit is provided with an elongated housing in which the objective lens, the solid-state image sensor, and the circuit board are arranged from the front end side, and the transmission cable connected to the circuit board extends from the rear end. Both ends of the housing are sealed with sealing members. With such a configuration, the image unit can be downsized, the distal end portion of the endoscope can be reduced in diameter, and the image unit can be arranged in a small space.

[0004]

However, in the video unit provided in the endoscope as described above, when a conventional general flat plate is used as the circuit board connected to the solid-state image pickup device, the circuit board portion is used. The actual outer diameter of the endoscope becomes large, and it is difficult to further reduce the outer diameter and the hard length of the endoscope distal end portion.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and it is possible to reduce the actual outer diameter of a video unit portion including a solid-state image pickup device, a circuit board, and the like to further reduce the diameter of the distal end portion of the insertion portion. The purpose is to provide a possible electronic endoscope.

[0006]

An electronic endoscope according to the present invention is provided with a solid-state image pickup device and a circuit board connected to the solid-state image pickup device at a distal end portion of an insertion portion, and at least the solid-state image pickup device or the circuit board. In an electronic endoscope having a signal cable for transmitting an input / output signal to and from the solid-state image sensor connected to one side, the circuit board is formed in a polygonal column shape, and at least one or more surfaces of the circuit board have at least a circuit wiring pattern. , Electronic parts are provided.

[0007]

With the above structure, the diameter of the portion of the circuit board connected to the solid-state image pickup device is further reduced.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of a first step in assembling a distal end portion of an insertion portion of an endoscope, and FIG. 2 is a distal end portion of the insertion portion. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of the second step in assembling the part, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of the third step in assembling the distal end of the insertion portion, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration at the end of assembly, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the endoscope.

As shown in FIG. 5, the endoscope 1 has an elongated insertion portion 2 that can be inserted into a body cavity or the like, and has a rigid tip portion 3 from the tip side, a bendable bending portion 4, A flexible tube portion 5 having flexibility is provided. On the rear end side of the insertion section, an operation section 6 also serving as a grip section is continuously provided, and a universal cord 7 having a signal cable, a light guide fiber and the like therein is extended from the side of the operation section 6. . The universal cord 7 is adapted to be connected to the video processor 9 via a connector 8 provided at the end. The video processor 9 is connected to a monitor 11 via a signal cable 10, and an image signal of a subject captured by a video unit, which will be described later, provided on the tip portion 3 is subjected to signal processing by the video processor 9 to monitor the subject image. 11 is displayed.

Next, the structure and assembly process of the distal end portion 3 of the insertion portion 2 of the endoscope 1 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a video unit 1
Assemble the two main parts. The image unit 12 includes an objective lens 13, a solid-state image pickup device 14, circuit boards 15 and 16, and signal cables 17 and 18. First, the solid-state imaging device 14 including the solid-state imaging device chip 19 such as CCD is assembled. The solid-state imaging device chip 19 has a quadrangular shape when viewed from the optical axis direction, is arranged in the recess 20 a of the substrate 20, and is bonded by the bonding wire 21 to the substrate 2.
It is connected to 0. A terminal 22 extends on the surface of the substrate 20 opposite to the recessed portion 20a, and is electrically connected to the connection portion with the bonding wire 21 in the substrate 20, and the solid-state imaging device chip 19 and the terminal 22 are electrically connected. ing. A cover glass 23 is provided in front of the solid-state imaging element chip 19, and a space between the solid-state imaging element chip 19 and the cover glass 23 is sealed with a transparent sealing resin 24.

After the solid-state image pickup device 14 is assembled, the objective lens 13 is attached to the front end side of the objective lens frame 25, and the solid-state image pickup device 14 is attached and fixed to the rear end side of the solid-state image pickup device with an adhesive so as to be airtight. Circuit board 15, 16 on terminal 22 of 14
Are opposed to each other and are connected by soldering or the like. The circuit board 15 is a double-sided circuit board in which the IC chip 26 and the electronic component 27 are arranged and connected on both sides of the board body 15a, and is a so-called chip-on-board hybrid board. In addition, the circuit board 16 includes the terminal 22 of the solid-state imaging device 14 and the signal cable 1.
It is used as a jumper board for connecting to 8 and.
The IC chip 26 is sealed with a sealing resin 28. Further, a spacer 29 is sandwiched between the circuit boards 15 and 16 and fixed, and the sealing resin 28 on the circuit board 15 is fixed.
A heat radiation resin 30 is filled between the circuit board 16 and the circuit board 16, and the circuit boards 15 and 16 are fixed so as not to move with respect to the solid-state imaging device 14. Then, the signal cable 1 is attached to the circuit board 15.
7, the signal cable 18 is connected to the circuit board 16 by soldering or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the distal end portion main body 31 made of stainless steel or the like is provided on the distal end portion 3 of the insertion portion 2.
A frame 36 as a video unit protection member for protecting the video unit 12 is inserted into the video unit mounting portion 31b, and the frame 36 and the tip end main body 31 are airtightly bonded and fixed. The distal end body 31 is provided with a connection pipe attachment portion 31a for mounting a connection pipe that connects a forceps channel tube described later to the distal end body 31, and this portion completes the assembly of the insertion portion 2. It is designed to open to the outside in the state.

After assembling the image unit 12 and the tip end main body 31 including the frame body 36, the image unit 12 is inserted from the objective lens frame 25 into the image unit mounting portion 31b as shown in FIG. And the tip body 3
The image unit 12 is positioned by screwing a screw 35 into the position 1, the adhesive is poured, and the tip unit main body 31 is airtightly fixed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the frame body 36 and the space between the frame body 36 and the image unit 12 are filled with an adhesive 37 made of a resin or the like as a seal member and hermetically sealed. The frame 36 has a function as a shield member of the video unit 12, and when insulation is required, the frame 36 is covered with a heat shrinkable tube or the like for insulation.

Further, the connection pipe 32 and the forceps channel tube 33 are attached to the connection pipe attachment portion 31a of the tip end main body 31 and fixed by adhesion. In addition, a light guide fiber (not shown), an air / water supply tube, etc. are also provided in the tip end body 3
Adhesively fixed to 1. Finally, the tip cover 14 is adhesively fixed to the tip of the tip body 31, and the bending tube 38 is fixed to the rear end side of the tip body 31 by adhesion or welding, and then the covering rubber 39 is covered so as to cover the bending tube 38. The tip body 31 is fixed with an adhesive or the like.

As a result, the video unit 12 and the frame 3
6 is integrally formed with the tip end main body 31 and cannot be removed. That is, it is in a state of a sealed image pickup unit with a tip body. Here, this unit includes components of other functions such as the forceps channel tube 33 that are not related to the image function.

The adhesive between the objective lens frame 25 of the video unit 12 and the tip end main body 31 may be cured at the same time as the adhesive 37 for sealing the inside of the frame 36 is cured. Further, the step of assembling the tip end constituent members other than the video unit 12 such as the connection pipe 32 and the forceps channel tube 33 to the tip end main body 31 may be performed after any step regardless of the order described above.

As described above, in this embodiment, first, the video unit 12 which is not completely sealed and the front end body including the frame 36 are assembled, and then the video unit 12 is assembled to the front end body 31 and the front end portion is assembled. Since it is sealed in a state of being integrated with the main body 31, it becomes a sealed imaging unit with the tip end main body 31 and the frame body 36, the mechanical strength is remarkably improved, and the reliability as a repairing part is improved. To do.

Further, the image unit 12 includes a tip end main body 3
Since it is surrounded by the frame body 36 after it is assembled to No. 1, it is not damaged even if this integrated video unit is hit against something at the time of assembly. Further, since the position where the video unit 12 is assembled is restricted by the frame body 36,
First, the image unit 12 such as the forceps channel tube 33
When assembling the image forming unit 12 after assembling the image forming unit 12 other than the above, there is a problem that the image forming unit 12 cannot be inserted due to the interference of the image forming unit 12 and the image forming unit 12 is first assembled. Video unit 12
It is possible to prevent a problem that the tip end constituent member pushes and damages the image unit 12 when assembling a tip end constituent member other than the above.

Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the image unit portion to reduce the diameter of the tip portion of the insertion portion and to improve the mechanical strength.

FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a second view in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of the step of FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of the third step in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and the tip end main body 31 and the frame body 36 in the first embodiment are integrally formed.

Similar to the first embodiment, the video unit 12 is assembled as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body of the distal end portion on which the video unit 12 is assembled has a video unit protecting portion 4
The tip portion main body 41 provided with 1c is integrally formed. The tip portion main body 41 is provided with a video unit mounting portion 41b and a connection pipe mounting portion 41a.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the video unit 1
2 from the objective lens frame 25 to the video unit mounting portion 41b
To insert. Then, the screw 35 is screwed into the tip end main body 41 to position the video unit 12, and an adhesive is poured in to fix the tip end main body 41 in an airtight manner.

Then, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the inside of the video unit protection portion 41c and the space between the video unit protection portion 41c and the video unit 12 are filled with an adhesive agent 37 made of resin or the like, and hermetically sealed. Assembling the other tip end constituent members and setting them in a state substantially similar to that shown in FIG.
Is completed.

As described above, also in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size of the image unit portion to reduce the diameter of the distal end portion of the insertion portion and to improve the mechanical strength. Becomes

Next, another example of the configuration of the circuit board provided in the video unit section in the above-described embodiment will be described.

The circuit board connected to the solid-state image pickup device 14 is
As shown in FIG. 8, it is also possible to use a polygonal prism having a side surface provided with a circuit pattern or a component. In FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing a state in which a solid-state imaging device and a signal cable are connected to a circuit board, (b) is a side view of the circuit board shown in (a), and (c) is a bottom view of the circuit board. It is the figure seen.

The circuit board 51 is made of a laminated ceramic board, and is, for example, a ceramic circuit board having a thickness of 0.1 mm.
It is formed by stacking and firing the sheets. Wiring patterns, side through holes, lands, etc. are appropriately provided on the side surface of each of the ceramic circuit boards, and as a result, the circuit board 51, as shown in FIGS. CCD lands 57, through holes 58, etc. are provided on each surface, and the six surfaces and the inside serve as circuit means. Further, on the circuit board 51, an IC chip 52 connected to the board and sealed with a sealing resin 53, a chip capacitor 5
4, a printing resistor 59 and the like are provided.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, a terminal of the solid-state image pickup device 14 is connected to one side surface of the circuit board 51, and a signal cable 55 is connected to a plurality of side surfaces to form a part of a video unit. To be done.

As described above, the circuit board can be miniaturized by forming the circuit board into a polygonal column and providing circuit means such as a circuit pattern and electronic parts on two surfaces which are adjacent to the circuit board or on three or more surfaces. Since the actual outer diameter of the circuit board portion can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the outer diameter and the rigid length of the endoscope distal end portion. In addition, since the solid-state image pickup device can be connected and assembled to the solid-state image pickup device in the same manner as the flat plate-shaped circuit board, the assembling work is not likely to be complicated, and the workability is good.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the actual outer diameter of the video unit portion including the solid-state image pickup device, the circuit board, etc., and to further reduce the diameter of the tip portion of the insertion portion. There is an effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after the first step is completed in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after the completion of the second step in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of a third step in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration at the end of the assembly of the distal end of the insertion portion.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the endoscope.

6 and 7 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state after completion of the second step in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state after the third step in assembling the distal end portion of the insertion portion is completed.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another configuration example of the circuit board connected to the solid-state imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Insertion part 3 ... Tip part 12 ... Image unit 13 ... Objective lens 14 ... Solid-state imaging device 15, 16, 51 ... Circuit board 17, 18 ... Signal cable 25 ... Objective lens frame 31, 41 ... Tip Part main body 31a, 41a ... Connection pipe attachment part 31b, 41b ... Image unit attachment part 32 ... Connection pipe 33 ... Forceps channel tube 36 ... Frame body 37 ... Adhesive

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinao Daimei 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hisao Ogi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Mikio Utsugi 2-34-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A solid-state imaging device and a circuit board connected to the solid-state imaging device are provided at the tip of the insertion portion, and an input / output signal to and from the solid-state imaging device is transmitted to at least one of the solid-state imaging device and the circuit board. In an electronic endoscope to which a signal cable is connected, the circuit board is formed in a polygonal column shape, and at least one circuit wiring pattern or an electronic component is provided on at least one or more surfaces of the circuit board. Electronic endoscope to do.