JPH11253398A - Electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To brightly illuminate an observation visual field system and to improve observed image quality in an electronic endoscope system for picking up the image of an object by a solid-state image pickup element provided with light emitting elements on the same substrate. SOLUTION: On a solid-state image pickup element substrate 2, the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5,... for illuminating the observation visual field of an image pickup part 1 are disposed. By tilting the advancing direction of illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4 and 5 by the light directional members 10, 11 and 12 of a prism or the like and turning the advancing direction of the illumination light to the center of the observation visual field, useless irradiation to the outside of the observation visual field is reduced, a light quantity to the observation visual field is increased and the observed image quality is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus having an image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an elongated insertion portion has been inserted into a body cavity,
The imaging means such as a solid-state imaging device disposed at the distal end of the insertion section captures an image of a subject and converts it into an electric signal. The electric signal is transmitted to a display device or the like to display and observe the image of the subject. Electronic endoscope devices that can be used are widely used in the medical field and the like. In addition to the medical field, it is widely used in various industrial fields such as inspection of piping in boilers, turbines, engines, and chemical plants.

As described above, an electronic endoscope apparatus is often used by inserting an insertion portion into a narrow place such as a body cavity.
There is a strong demand for reducing the diameter of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope device.

Therefore, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-153097, a light emitting means comprising a light emitting element as an illuminating means for illuminating an observation visual field such as in a dark body cavity is integrally provided on a semiconductor substrate on which a solid-state imaging device is formed. A light emitting element formed on the semiconductor substrate on which the imaging means is formed, for example, by sticking a light emitting element formed separately from the semiconductor substrate on the semiconductor substrate, and so on. An example is shown in which the diameter of the insertion portion is reduced while saving the cost.

[0005]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-15309
In No. 7, an optical directivity member is provided in front of the light emitting element, and illumination light emitted from the light emitting element is focused forward.

However, if only the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element is focused forward, useless illumination light is emitted outside the observation field due to the difference in position between the image pickup element and the light emitting element. The amount of illumination light in the field of view decreased, and the observed image quality deteriorated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made to reduce the amount of useless illumination light irradiating outside the observation field of view and increase the amount of illumination light irradiating the observation field of view. Accordingly, an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of improving the image quality observed is provided.

[0008]

A substrate provided with an image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject, and disposed on the substrate for emitting illumination light for illuminating an observation field of view of the image pickup means. A light-emitting means comprising one or more light-emitting elements and the like, and a light-directive member disposed on an optical path of the illumination light for condensing the illumination light or tilting the traveling direction of the illumination light, In the electronic endoscope apparatus having the above, the traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from the light emitting unit or the traveling direction of the combined light of the illumination light emitted from the plurality of adjacent light emitting elements is substantially at the center of the observation visual field. By forming the light directing member toward a part,
The amount of useless illumination light irradiating outside the observation visual field is reduced, and the amount of illumination light irradiating the observation visual field is increased, thereby improving the image quality observed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows the first
(A) is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of an image pickup element and a light emitting element on a front surface, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of X in (A). FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2C, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of FIG. The dashed arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of light.

As shown in FIG. 1, an imaging section 1 composed of a solid-state imaging device as imaging means for imaging a subject has a solid-state imaging device substrate 2 which is a substrate having the imaging section 1 on its front surface. It is arranged at a substantially central position.

A light emitting means for emitting illumination light for illuminating an observation field of view of the image pickup unit 1 is provided at one of two positions on the front surface of the solid-state image pickup device substrate 2 facing each other with the image pickup unit 1 interposed therebetween. One or more light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 are provided, and light emitting elements 6, 7, and 8 are provided at the other part. The configurations relating to the light emitting elements 6, 7, 8 are as follows.
, The light emitting elements 6, 7,.
Description of 8 is omitted. The light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 are arranged adjacent to each other on the front surface of the solid-state imaging element substrate 2, for example, in a straight line.

The illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is illumination light of the same color. Light emitting elements 3, 4,
Reference numeral 5 includes, for example, a white light emitting element that emits white light.

Between the image pickup section 1 on the front surface of the solid-state image pickup element substrate 2 and the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5, the illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is prevented from entering the image pickup section 1. A light shielding member 9 is provided.

On the front surfaces of the light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5, light-directing members 10, 11, and 1 each composed of a prism or the like for inclining the traveling direction of the illumination light emitted from the light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5.
2 are provided.

A convex lens 13 and a concave lens 14 for the image pickup unit 1 are provided on the front surface of the image pickup unit 1.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the light directing member 1
No. 2 is formed in the shape of a straight line with an inclined emission end face. The light directing members 10 and 11 have the same shape as the light directing member 12. By these light directivity members 10, 11, 12,
The illuminating light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is inclined in the traveling direction, and is emitted toward a substantially central portion of the observation field of view of the imaging unit 1.

On the other hand, when the light directing members 10, 11, and 12 are viewed from the direction shown in FIG.
No inclination is formed on the emission end faces of 0, 11, and 12.
Therefore, the traveling direction of the illumination light viewed from the direction shown in FIG. 1C is not inclined by the light directing members 10, 11, and 12. As described above, even if the illumination light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is not irradiated to the substantially central portion of the observation field, the combined light of the illumination light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is obtained. It suffices that the light is irradiated toward the substantially central part of the observation field.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The light directing members 10, 11, and 12 that incline the traveling direction of the illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 toward the substantially central portion of the observation field of view are arranged in front of the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5, By providing the illumination light in the optical path, the amount of illumination light applied to the area other than the observation field decreases, the amount of illumination light applied to the observation field increases, and the observation field can be brightly illuminated.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a solid-state imaging device substrate provided with a light emitting element according to a second embodiment ((A) Image pickup element, light emitting element, etc. on the front surface) (B) is an XX cross-sectional view of (A),
(C) is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y of (A). The dashed arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of light. The configuration of the parts not described in the present embodiment is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the image pickup section 1 on the front surface of the solid-state image pickup device substrate 2 and the light emitting members 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, the light shielding member 9 is arranged in the first embodiment (FIG. 1).
(A)).

In the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 emit illumination lights of different colors.

The light directing member 1 is moved from the direction shown in FIG.
Looking at the shapes of 0, 11, and 12, the shapes are the same as those of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1B). For this reason,
The traveling direction of the illuminating light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 is the same as in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Are tilted toward the substantially central portion of the observation field of view.

The light directing member 1 from the direction shown in FIG.
Looking at the shapes of 0, 11, and 12, unlike the first embodiment (see FIG. 1C), the light directing member 11 disposed at the position closest to the center of the observation field of view is different from the first embodiment (see FIG. 1C). Also, the light directing members 10 and 12 arranged at positions distant from the central part of the observation visual field have a larger inclination of the emission end face, and the illumination emitted from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4 and 5 The traveling directions of the light are each tilted toward the center of the observation visual field.

Therefore, the illumination light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 has a large overlapping portion in the observation visual field.

Since the illuminating light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 has a large overlapping portion in the observation field, each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 as in the present embodiment.
Even if the color of the illumination light emitted from each is different,
The combined light of the illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is
Irradiation is performed evenly on the observation visual field.

For example, when the light-emitting colors of the light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 are red, blue, and green, respectively, the observation field is irradiated with white light, which is a composite color, without color unevenness.

The light directing members 10, 11, 12
The inclination of the outgoing light with respect to the incident light in the light directing members 10 and 12 is larger than the inclination of the outgoing light with respect to the incident light in the light directing member 11 disposed closest to the center of the inner observation field of view. . Therefore, the light directing member 11
Since the amount of light reflected at the output end faces of the light directing members 10 and 12 is greater than the amount of light reflected at the output end face of the light directing member 1,
In the cases of 0 and 12, the loss of light amount is larger.

Therefore, when there is a difference between the output light amounts of the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5, the light emitting element 4 in which the light directivity member 11 with the least loss of light amount is disposed on the front surface emits light with the smallest output light amount. By using the elements, it is possible to reduce the difference in the amount of illumination light emitted from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5.

For example, at present, the output light amount of a light emitting element that emits blue light is smaller than that of a light emitting element that emits red light or green light. Therefore, the light emitting element 3 is configured by a red light emitting element, the light emitting element 4 is configured by a blue light emitting element, and the light emitting element 5 is configured by a green light emitting element. 5 can be reduced, and the composite color applied to the observation visual field becomes a color closer to white.

According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

The light directivity members 10, 11, and 12 were formed such that the traveling direction of the illumination light emitted from all the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 was directed substantially toward the center of the observation visual field. Therefore, each light emitting element 3 on the front surface of the solid-state imaging element substrate 2
Light distribution unevenness of the illumination light in the observation visual field due to the difference in the positions of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 can be reduced.

The light directing members 10, 11, and 12 are formed so that the traveling directions of the illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 of different emission colors are directed to the substantially central portion of the observation visual field. The portions where the respective illumination lights emitted from 3, 4, and 5 overlap each other in the observation visual field become large, and the color unevenness in the observation visual field decreases.

When there is a difference between the output light amounts of the light emitting elements 3, 4 and 5, the light emitting element 4 in which the light directing member 11 having a smaller light loss than the light directing members 10 and 12 is disposed on the front surface.
Are constituted by light emitting elements having a smaller output light quantity than the light emitting elements 3 and 5, it is possible to reduce the difference in the output light quantity of each of the light emitting elements 3, 4 and 5.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 relates to a third embodiment and shows a structure of a solid-state image pickup device substrate provided with a light-emitting element ((A) Image pickup element, light-emitting element, etc. on the front surface) (B) is an XX cross-sectional view of (A),
(C) is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y of (A). The dashed arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of light. The configuration of the parts not described in the present embodiment is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the light directivity members 10, 11, 12 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1B).
, A light directing member 21 is provided.

The light directing members 10, 1 according to the first embodiment
The light-directing members 21 and 1 of the present embodiment are provided on the emission end faces of the light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
Are disposed over the emission end faces of the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5.

Light directing member 2 viewed from the direction of FIG.
The shape of the exit end face of the light directing member 21 in the optical path of the illumination light from each of the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Sex members 10, 11, 12 (see FIG. 1 (C))
Is equivalent to the shape of the emission end face.

On the other hand, the shape of the exit end face of the light directing member 21 as viewed from the direction of FIG. 3B is curved, and the light directivity of the first embodiment in which the exit end face is linear. The shape is different from that of the sex members 3, 4, and 5 (see FIG. 1B).

That is, the light emitting members 3, 4, and 5 of the first embodiment have flat emission end faces, whereas the light emitting member 21 of the present embodiment has a curved emission end surface. The light directing member 21 is formed in a lens shape. Therefore, the illuminating light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 is not only tilted in the traveling direction but also condensed or diffused by the light directing member 21.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the same effects as in the first embodiment.

By making the shape of the emission end face of the light directing member 21 a curved surface, it is possible to collect or diffuse the luminous flux of the illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of light emitting elements 3,
One light directing member 21 so as to straddle the exit end faces
Is provided, the error in the direction in which the light directing member 21 is attached when the light directing member 21 is attached to the front surfaces of the light emitting elements 3, 4, 5 can be reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 4 relates to a fourth embodiment and shows a structure of a solid-state imaging device substrate provided with a light-emitting element ((A) Image pickup element, light-emitting element, etc. on the front surface) (B) is an XX cross-sectional view of (A),
(C) is a sectional view taken along line Y-Y of (A). The dashed arrows in the figure indicate the traveling direction of light. The configuration of the parts not described in the present embodiment is the same as the configuration described in the third embodiment.

Looking at the shape of the light emitting end face of the light directing member 21 from the direction of FIG. 4C, it differs from the third embodiment in which the shape is linear (see FIG. 3C). The shape is curved.

According to the present embodiment described above, an effect combining the effects of the second embodiment and the effects of the third embodiment can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating the arrangement of an image sensor, a light emitting element and the like on the front surface of a solid-state image sensor substrate according to a fifth embodiment. The configuration of the parts not described in the present embodiment is the same as the configuration described in the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment (see FIG. 1A), one or more light-emitting elements 3, 4 are provided in one of two opposing directions when viewed from the imaging section 1 on the front surface of the solid-state imaging element substrate 2. 5 and the other light-emitting elements 6, 7, 8 are arranged. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the light-emitting elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 8 are arranged. The light-emitting elements 31, 31, 31, 31, 31 in two opposing directions different from the direction in which
31 and 31 are added.

Between the added light emitting elements 31,... And the imaging unit 1, there is provided a light shielding member 32 for preventing illumination light from entering the imaging unit from the light emitting elements 31,. According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects obtained in the first embodiment.

Since the number of light emitting elements is increased, the amount of light applied to the observation field can be increased, and the observation field can be brightly illuminated.

Since illumination light is applied to the observation field from many directions, uneven light distribution can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the first to fifth embodiments, but can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the invention. is there.

The imaging section 1 may be formed integrally with the solid-state imaging device substrate 2 or may be formed separately from the solid-state imaging device substrate 2 and attached to the solid-state imaging device substrate 2.

Light emitting elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 31
May be formed integrally with the solid-state imaging device substrate 2, or may be formed separately from the solid-state imaging device substrate 2 and attached to the fixed imaging device substrate 1.

The light shielding members 9 and 32 are connected to the solid-state image pickup device substrate 2.
The solid-state imaging device substrate 2
Alternatively, one formed separately may be attached to the solid-state imaging element substrate 2.

The light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 may not be arranged in a straight line on the front surface of the solid-state imaging device 2. The same applies to the light emitting elements 6, 7, 8 or the light emitting elements 31, 31, 31.

The arrangement of the light-emitting elements on the front surface of the solid-state image pickup device 2 is such that at least one light-emitting element is arranged in two directions opposed to each other across the image pickup section 2 as in the first to fourth embodiments. However, the arrangement is not limited to such an arrangement. For example, as in the fifth embodiment, an array in which one or more light emitting elements are provided in four directions with the imaging unit 2 interposed therebetween may be used,
Although not shown, an array that surrounds the periphery of the imaging unit 2 in a circular shape may be used.

The members constituting the light directing members 10, 11, 12 are not limited to prisms or lenses. For example, it may be constituted by a combination of insulating films having different refractive indexes integrally or separately formed on the solid-state imaging device substrate 2.

The light-shielding member 9 on the front surface of the solid-state image sensor substrate 2
The shape of 32 is the light emitting element 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 31
The shape is not limited to the linear shape as shown in the first to fifth embodiments, as long as the shape can block the incidence of illumination light from to the imaging unit 1. For example, the shape may be a curved shape, a shape surrounding each light emitting element, a shape surrounding a plurality of light emitting elements, or the imaging unit 1.
May be surrounded.

The light emitting elements 3, 4, and 5 of the second embodiment do not have to emit different colors.

The number of light-emitting elements arranged in a line at, for example, adjacent positions is not limited to three as in light-emitting elements 3, 4, and 5.
Any number of one or more may be used.

The number of light emitting elements over which the light directing member 21 of the third to fourth embodiments extends is
The number is not limited to three such as 4 and 5, and may be any number of one or more.

The use of the electronic endoscope device provided with the solid-state imaging device substrate 2 is not limited to the medical field, but may be used in various industrial fields.

[Supplementary Notes] (1) A substrate provided with an image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject, and a substrate provided on the substrate for emitting illumination light for illuminating an observation field of view of the image pickup means. One
A light emitting unit including at least one light emitting element and the like, and a light directivity member disposed on an optical path of the illumination light for condensing the illumination light or tilting a traveling direction of the illumination light. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, the traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from the light emitting unit or the traveling direction of the combined light of the illumination light emitted from the plurality of adjacent light emitting elements is substantially at a central portion of the observation visual field. An electronic endoscope apparatus wherein the light directing member is formed so as to face.

(2) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to (1), wherein each of the light emitting means emits illumination light of the same color.

(3) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to (2), wherein the light emitting means emits white light.

(4) The traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from all the light emitting means or the traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from a plurality of adjacent light emitting means is substantially at the center of the observation visual field. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein the light directing member is formed so as to face.

(5) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to (4), wherein the color of the illumination light emitted from the light emitting means includes a plurality of different colors.

(6) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to (5), wherein the plurality of colors include blue, green, and red.

(7) The light emitting means having a small output light quantity is arranged closer to the center of the observation field of view than the light emitting means having a large output light quantity, and is arranged in the optical path of the illumination light from the light emitting means having a large output light quantity. Of the incident light by the light-directing member disposed in the optical path of the illumination light from the light-emitting means having a smaller output light quantity than the inclination of the traveling direction of the outgoing light with respect to the traveling direction of the incident light by the light-directing member. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to (4), wherein the light directivity member is formed such that the inclination of the traveling direction of the emitted light with respect to the traveling direction is not smaller.

(8) The light emitting means for emitting substantially blue illumination light is arranged at a position closer to the center of the observation field of view than the light emitting means for emitting illumination light of another color. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 1.

(9) Propagation of outgoing light in the traveling direction of incident light by the light directivity member disposed on the front surface of the light emitting means according to the difference in the distance between the light emitting means and the central portion of the observation field of view. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the light-directing member is formed so as to have a different direction inclination.

(Problems of Conventional Techniques According to Supplementary Notes (4) to (6)) Conventional techniques, for example, JP-A-6-15309
In No. 7, since the light directing member is configured to simply condense the illumination light emitted by the light emitting element forward, when configured by combining a plurality of types of light emitting elements having different emission colors, for example, red light is emitted. When a light-emitting element that emits light, a light-emitting element that emits green light, and a light-emitting element that emits blue light are combined, the illumination range of the illumination light emitted by the light-emitting elements of different emission colors shifts in the observation field of view, and a part in the observation field of view This causes color unevenness such that the color of the illumination light differs, thereby deteriorating the observed image quality.

(Problems of Conventional Techniques According to Supplementary Notes (7) to (9)) Conventional techniques, for example, JP-A-6-15309
In No. 7, when a plurality of light emitting elements having different emission colors are provided, the output light quantity of the light emitting element is different due to the difference in the internal structure of the light emitting element, so that the observed image quality is reduced.

[0075]

According to the present invention, there is provided a substrate provided with an image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of an object, and at least one substrate provided on the substrate for emitting illumination light for illuminating an observation visual field of the image pickup means A light emitting means comprising a light emitting element or the like, and a light directivity member disposed on an optical path of the illumination light for condensing the illumination light or tilting a traveling direction of the illumination light. In the endoscope apparatus, the traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from the light emitting unit or the traveling direction of the combined light of the illumination light emitted from the plurality of adjacent light emitting elements is directed to a substantially central portion of the observation field. By forming the light directing member, the amount of useless illumination light irradiating outside the observation field of view is reduced, and the amount of illumination light irradiating the observation field of view is increased, thereby improving the image quality observed. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a solid-state imaging device substrate including a light-emitting element according to a first embodiment (FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of an imaging element, a light-emitting element, and the like on a front surface; ) Is an XX cross-sectional view of (A), (C) is a YY cross-sectional view of (A))

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a solid-state imaging device substrate including a light-emitting element according to a second embodiment. ) Is an XX cross-sectional view of (A), (C) is a YY cross-sectional view of (A))

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration of a solid-state imaging device substrate including a light-emitting element according to a third embodiment (FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of an imaging element, a light-emitting element, and the like on a front surface; ) Is an XX cross-sectional view of (A), (C) is a YY cross-sectional view of (A))

4A and 4B are diagrams showing a configuration of a solid-state imaging device substrate including a light-emitting element according to a fourth embodiment (FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement of an imaging element, a light-emitting element, and the like on a front surface; ) Is an XX cross-sectional view of (A), (C) is a YY cross-sectional view of (A))

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement of an image sensor, a light emitting element, and the like on a front surface of a solid-state image sensor substrate according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image pick-up part 2 ... Solid-state image sensor board 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ... Light emitting element 9 ... Shielding member 10, 11, 12 ... Light directing member 13 ... Convex lens 14 ... Concave lens 21 ... Light directing member 31 ... light emitting member 32 ... light shielding member

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Keiichi Arai 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Koichi Yoshimitsu 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akihiro Miyashita 2-34-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Makoto Tsunakawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Mibori 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A substrate provided with an image pickup means such as a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject, and at least one substrate disposed on the substrate for emitting illumination light for illuminating an observation field of view of the image pickup means. A light emitting means comprising a light emitting element or the like, and a light directivity member disposed on an optical path of the illumination light for condensing the illumination light or tilting a traveling direction of the illumination light. In the endoscope apparatus, a traveling direction of each illumination light emitted from the light emitting unit or a traveling direction of a combined light of the illumination light emitted from a plurality of adjacent light emitting elements may be directed to a substantially central portion of the observation field. An electronic endoscope apparatus, wherein the light directing member is formed on the electronic endoscope.