JPS62199058A - Endoscope having built-in solid-state image pickup element - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smooth the bending operation of a flexible part and to prevent wire breakdown faults, by connecting a solid-state image pickup element and an image circuit with a flexible printed board, which is formed in a spiral shape so that the winding direction is reversed at a specified interval. CONSTITUTION:A flexible printed board 10 is formed by bending the board in a bent line shape and wound with the longitudinal direction as an axis. The winding direction is reversed at a specified interval. Thus a spiral body is provided and connected to a solid-state image pickup element 5. The other end is connected to an image circuit. Thus, the bending operation of a flexible tube becomes smooth. Since forcible stress is not applied to the connecting part, wire breakdown faults can be prevented. Since the board 10 is made to be a spiral body, whose winding direction is reversed at the specified interval, the effect of obstruction due to electromagnetic induction is reduced, and an excellent image can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope having a solid-state imaging device that can be used for industrial and medical purposes.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, endoscopes that have a built-in solid-state image sensor at their tip and can be observed with a monitor have begun to be used. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of such an endoscope, in which 1 is the endoscope body, 2 is a flexible tube part, 3 is a rigid tip part, and an objective lens 4 and a solid-state image sensor 5 are installed at the inner tip. Built-in. 6 is the handle.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the endoscope main body 1 includes a bundle of optical fibers for light transmission, a forceps introduction tube, a water supply tube, an air supply tube, etc. as necessary.

T is an electric wire passed through the endoscope body 1 and connects the solid-state image sensor 5 and the video circuit 8. 9 is a monitor connected to the video circuit 8.

According to such a configuration, an image converted into an electrical signal by the endoscope body 1 inserted into the observation device or body cavity is displayed on the monitor 9 via the video circuit 8, so that it can be viewed by a large number of people. Images can now be stored on video tapes, optical discs, etc.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Endoscopes based on the technology described above are expected to be widely used in the future because they operate as described above and have many advantages. The ends of the multiple electric wires connecting the image circuit and the image sensor are connected to the solid-state image sensor by means such as soldering, passed through the long flexible tube of the endoscope body, and then pulled out from the handle. The wire is not immediately connected to the video circuit, and unless it is kept to a certain length, it will interfere with the operability of the endoscope, resulting in a very long wire in terms of overall length.

However, since the electric wires connected to the solid-state image sensor are each independent, some electric wires are stretched as the flexible tube bends, other electric wires are subjected to stress such as sagging, and the connection points are subject to stress. The connection strength is low because there is not enough soldering area due to space constraints, and the electric wires used are extremely thin wires with a diameter of 0.1 to 0.2 fi. As a result, there are many disconnections at the connecting portions of solid-state imaging devices, and in such cases, repairing them requires a great deal of effort and skill because the wires must be passed through a long flexible tube.

[Failure to solve the problem]

The present invention is a flexible printed circuit board formed into a spiral shape by sequentially reversing the winding direction at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction,
A feature is that the end portion thereof is connected to a solid-state image sensor and wired.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, the ends of the flexible printed circuit board are connected to the solid-state image pickup device in a substantially planar state, so the connection strength is high, and the winding direction is sequentially reversed in the longitudinal direction to form a spiral shape. It can bend freely by following the bending of the flexible tube of the attached endoscope in any direction, and it can also expand and contract even if the end of the flexible printed circuit board is pulled or pushed. Because of this, it does not affect the condition of other built-in components, and as a result, it does not affect the condition of other built-in components. No stress is applied to the connection part with the image sensor, and disconnection accidents at the connection part are extremely reduced.

Further, since the flexible tube can freely follow the bending of the flexible tube, there is less resistance to the bending of the flexible tube, and the bending operation of the flexible tube can be performed smoothly.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the state in which the solid-state image sensor and the flexible printed circuit board are connected, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the state of the connection part, and Fig. 4 is the flexible printed circuit board for forming the marking line. This is a plan view showing an example of a printed circuit board. In the figure, 1 is an endoscope main body, 2 is a flexible tube part, and 3 is a rigid tip part, and an objective lens 4 and a solid-state image sensor 5 are installed at the internal tip. etc. are built-in. 6 is the handle.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a flexible printed circuit board, the end of which connects to the solid-state image sensor 5 in a planar state as shown in FIG.
1, and in the longitudinal direction there are marked lines whose winding direction is reversed at predetermined intervals.The marked lines can be shaped by bending them as shown in Fig. 4, for example. By winding the flexible printed circuit board 10 formed by the above process from the vertices A and B, the marked line can be formed.

It should be noted that the marked line body may not extend over the entire length of the flexible printed circuit board 10, but may be partially flat as shown in FIG.

A monitor 9 is connected to the video circuit 8.

Further, some or all of the electronic components of the video circuit 8 may be distributed and mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 1o.

The above-mentioned rigid tip portion 3 has other openings, such as an air/water spout, a suction port, and a forceps port, as necessary.

In addition, the flexible tube section 2 has built-in optical fiber bundles for light transmission, angle operation wires, air/water groove passage tubes, forceps introduction tubes, suction tubes, etc. as necessary, and these are adjusted depending on the position and friction condition. In consideration of the above, it is also possible to pass the cable through the inside of the marking body of the flexible printed circuit board except for cases where it is not suitable. Handle 6
Extended therein are various operation knobs, a forceps inlet, and a guide tube 12 such as the optical fiber bundle for light transmission, an air/water groove passage tube, and a suction tube.

According to the above configuration, when the flexible tube 2 is bent, the flexible printed circuit board 1o follows the bending direction without resistance, and the diameter of the gauge body expands and contracts with little change, and the various tubes passed through the flexible tube can be easily moved. There is no pressure contact with other objects. still,
Almost no stress is applied to the connecting portion 11 between the flexible printed circuit board 10 and the solid-state image pickup device 5, and there is no risk of disconnection of the connecting portion 11.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, in which the electric wire 13 is connected to a flexible printed circuit board 10. Even if the electric wire is inserted and connected at the rear where it is not subjected to the bending action of the flexible tube 2, the bending will not affect the connection point between the flexible printed circuit board 10 and the electric wire 13, and moreover, the electric wire will not be strained or bent. etc. will not occur.

In each of the above embodiments, if an electrical shield or the like is required for the flexible printed circuit board, a shield layer may be laminated on one or both sides of the wiring layer with an insulating layer interposed therebetween.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention described in detail above, the arrangement 1t for connecting the solid-state image sensor installed in the endoscope and the video circuit is a flexible printed circuit board, and the flexible printed circuit board is wound in the opposite direction at predetermined intervals. By incorporating the marking body inside the OT bending pipe, when a long flexible pipe is bent, the flexible printed circuit board can follow the bending within the flexible pipe without resistance, and as a result, the bending of the flexible pipe is prevented. The operation is smooth, and since the marking body expands and contracts in response to bending operations, compression, and tension, these forces are absorbed and the connection between the solid-state image sensor and the flexible printed circuit board and the other end side is improved. Since unreasonable stress is not applied to any part, disconnection accidents can be prevented and difficult repair work can be reduced.

Further, by forming the flexible printed circuit board into a marked body in which the winding direction is reversed at predetermined intervals, the influence of interference due to electromagnetic induction can be reduced, and a high-quality image with a good signal-to-noise ratio can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a solid-state image sensor and a flexible printed circuit board are connected, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the state of the connection part, and FIG. The figure is a plan view showing one example of a flexible printed circuit board for marking line formation, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible printed circuit board in a bent state, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a conventional one. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example endoscope. 2...Flexible tube part 3...Rigid tip part 5...Solid-state image sensor 6...Handle part 8...Video circuit 9...
Monitor 10...Flexible printed circuit board. Patent applicant Machida Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Takashi Kanakura Class 2 1 Zusuke 2 Kokufu 3 Amendment to declaration procedure (voluntary) April 2111, 1986

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an endoscope in which a solid-state image sensor is built into the rigid tip end of the endoscope and electronic images obtained by the solid-state image sensor are displayed on a monitor, a flexible printed circuit board is used. What is claimed is: 1. An endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device, characterized in that the solid-state imaging device is housed in a flexible tube as a spiral body wound in opposite directions at predetermined intervals and wired therein. 2. An endoscope with a built-in solid-state imaging device, characterized in that an electric wire is connected to a flexible printed circuit board according to claim 1.