Modular assembly of endoscope light source and image-capturing module

A modular assembly of an endoscope light source and an image-capturing module includes: a circuit board having a lower plate and an elevation support platform located on the top surface of the lower plate and having a predefined height, a bottom surface of the lower plate having a plurality of bottom electrode sheets disposed thereon, a top end of the elevation support platform having a plurality of light source electrode sheets disposed thereon, the plurality of light source electrode sheets using a plurality of lead wires to penetrate through the elevation support platform and the lower plate in order to be electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets; a plurality of light emitting diode chips having a florescent powder gel covered thereon; an image-capturing module; and a fixation glue cured and attached onto the image-capturing module, the elevation support platform and the fluorescent powder gel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an endoscope, and in particular, to a modular assembly of an endoscope light source and an image-capturing module.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently, in the field of endoscope, the top end of an endoscope typically uses a metal tube, and the internal of the metal tube is installed with an assembly of an image-capturing module and a light source. After an image sensor (commonly uses a charged-coupled device CCD) is combined with a lens set, an image-capturing module is formed. A light emitting diode (i.e., light source) refers to a finished product formed by combining a light emitting diode chip, fluorescent glue and substrate. Accordingly, in terms of the assembly, the image-imaging module is typically installed onto a circuit board first, and the light emitting diode is then installed onto another circuit board, followed by assembling the two together in order to be eventually installed at the top end of the endoscope inside the metal tube.

To overcome the aforementioned problem, the inventor of the present invention has also previously disclosed another technical solution in Taiwan Patent No. M601086 “Endoscope Camera and Light Source Structure”, and the main technical measures of the patent are to dispose an image-capturing module and a light emitting diode chip on a circuit board, and a fluorescent powder gel is used to bind and secure all component parts together in order to form an integral structure, thereby reducing the installation process steps of installation inside the metal tube at the top end of the endoscope, thereby further achieving the effect of miniaturizing the overall structure. However, during the actual use of this technical solution, due to the relative relationship between the light source and the image-capturing module, it can cause the shape (i.e., light shape) of the project area of the light emitted from the light source to generate shadow; in other words, the light shape is poor. Accordingly, the height of the light source needs to be elevated to approach the front end of the image-capturing module, in order to eliminate the shadow and to obtain a better light shape as well as to achieve the effect of increase of brightness. However, it also leads to the question on how to elevate the light source while being connected to the circuit board at the bottom.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,572,482 discloses an endoscope with a flexible circuit board, and its light source adopts the design of approaching the image-capturing module head end. However, it mainly uses a base mounting frame20having a U shape as a base for the molding, followed by placing a flexible circuit board30onto the base mounting frame in order to for a U-shaped structure. In addition, the image-capturing module is then disposed at the bottom of the U-shaped structure. Such method is able to achieve the effect of allowing the light source to be closer to the image-capturing module; however, it does not include a circuit board disposed at the bottom. Furthermore, the main function of the circuit board at the bottom is to provide a contact point at the bottom surface in order to allow other elements to be electrically connected thereto, such that other elements, such as the endoscope main unit or operating handle, can be electrically connected, thereby achieving the operation or control function. In view of the above, U.S. Pat. No. 9,572,482 does not disclose the technique on how to overcome the aforementioned problem. Furthermore, when a base mounting frame of a flexible circuit board or a rigid circuit board is to be molded consistently for attachment, the problems associated with the prior molding and assembly difficulty also exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a modular assembly of an endoscope light source and an image-capturing module. In addition to integrating the circuit board, light source and image-capturing module into one module, it is able to further elevate the light source from the circuit board in order to allow it to be closer to the top end of the image-capturing module while maintaining the electrical connection of the contacts disposed at the bottom portion of circuit board located at the bottom.

According to the aforementioned objective, the present invention provides a modular assembly of an endoscope light source and an image-capturing module, comprising: a circuit board having a lower plate and an elevation support platform; a bottom surface of the lower plate having a plurality of bottom electrode sheets disposed thereon, and a top surface of the lower plate having a main element zone and a platform zone not overlapping with each other; the elevation support platform located on the top surface of the lower plate and within the platform zone and having a predefined height: the top surface of the lower plate having a plurality of top electrode sheets disposed thereon and located within the main element zone: the plurality of top electrode sheets electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets; a top end of the elevation support platform having a plurality of light source electrode sheets disposed thereon; the plurality of light source electrode sheets using a plurality of lead wires to penetrate through the elevation support platform and the lower plate in order to be electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets; a plurality of light emitting diode chips directly or indirectly disposed on a top surface of the elevation support platform and electrically connected to the plurality of light source electrode sheets, and each one of the light emitting diode chips having a florescent powder gel covered thereon and secured onto the top surface of the elevation support platform; an image-capturing module having an image sensor and a lens set located on top of the image sensor, and a bottom portion of the image sensor having a plurality of contacts connected to the plurality of top electrode sheets; the image-capturing module having a column shape and located within the main element zone, and the image-capturing module arranged spaced apart from the elevation support platform by a predefined distance; a top end of the lens set arranged to be higher than a top end of the plurality of light emitting diode chips; and a fixation glue cured and attached onto the image-capturing module and the elevation support platform and covering a fluorescent powder gel on top of each of the light emitting diode chips; the fixation glue configured to secure a spatial relationship among the image-capturing module, the elevation support platform and the plurality of light emitting diode chips.

According to the aforementioned structure, the present invention utilizes the fixation glue to integrate the circuit, the light source and the image-capturing module into a module. Furthermore, in the present invention, the plurality of light emitting diode chips are elevated from the lower plate such that they are closer to the top end of the image-capturing module while also allowing the plurality of light emitting diode chips to be electrically connected to the bottom electrode sheets at the bottom portion of the circuit board, thereby facilitating the assembly and connection with other elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To illustrate the technical features of the present invention in detail, exemplary preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanied drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1toFIG. 5, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a modular assembly10of an endoscope light source and image-capturing module mainly comprises a circuit board11, a plurality of light emitting diode chips21, an image-capturing module31and a fixation glue41.

A circuit board11includes a lower plate12and an elevation support platform14. A bottom surface of the lower plate12includes a plurality of bottom electrode sheets121disposed thereon, and a top surface of the lower plate12includes a main element zone12A and a platform zone12B not overlapping with each other. The elevation support platform14is located on the top surface of the lower plate12and within the platform zone12B and has a predefined height. The top surface of the lower plate12includes a plurality of top electrode sheets22disposed thereon and is located within the main element zone12A. The plurality of top electrode sheets122are electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets121. A top end of the elevation support platform14includes a plurality of light source electrode sheets141disposed thereon; the plurality of light source electrode sheets141use a plurality of lead wires149to penetrate through the elevation support platform14and the lower plate12in order to be electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets121. In this embodiment, the lower plate12is a rigid circuit board without flexibility.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the platform zone12B is located at one side of the main element zone,12A, and another side opposite from the main element zone12A further comprises another platform zone12B. Another elevation support platform15is disposed inside the another platform zone12B. A top end of the another elevation support platform15includes a plurality of light source electrode sheets151disposed thereon. The plurality of light source electrode sheets151use a plurality of lead wires149to penetrate through the another elevation support platform15and the lower plate12in order to be electrically connected to the plurality of bottom electrode sheets121. During the actual implementation, the elevation support platform14or the another elevation support platform15can use one layer or a plurality of layers of rigid circuit boards stacked onto each other according to its thickness in order to construct a vertical structure electrically connected to each other depending upon the needs, thereby achieving the actual implementation structure having a plurality of lead wires149penetrating through the elevation support platform14. In addition, since the lower plate12is a rigid circuit board, its internal lead wires can also form electrodes at the top surface and bottom surface electrically connected to each other, which is a known technique. Accordingly, the lead wires of the lower plate12in the present invention are not further illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of concise presentation without complicated wiring patterns.

Furthermore, in practice, the lower plate12, the elevation support platform14and the another elevation support platform15can be an integrally formed ceramic substrate, or can be an integrally formed three-dimensional circuit board, or can be formed by a plurality of rigid circuit boards stacked onto each other, wherein the electrode plates among the circuit boards can be attached to each other via the surface mounting technique or soldering technique. In other words, the attachment technique utilized to attach the lower plate12, the elevation support platform14and the another elevation support platform15can be either a combination of elements or an integrally formed structure.

The plurality of light emitting diode chips21are directly or indirectly disposed on a top surface of the elevation support platform14and electrically connected to the plurality of light source electrode sheets141, In addition, each one of the light emitting diode chips21includes a florescent powder gel22covered thereon and secured onto the top surface of the elevation support platform14. Furthermore, the plurality of light emitting diodes21are also disposed on a top end of another elevation support platform15and are electrically connected to the plurality of light source electrode sheets151on the another elevation support platform15.

The image-capturing module31includes an image sensor32and a lens set34located on top of the image sensor32, and a bottom portion of the image sensor32includes a plurality of contacts321connected to the plurality of top electrode sheets122. In practice, the method of welding can be used for the connection. The image-capturing module31has a column shape and is located within the main element zone12A, and the image-capturing module31is arranged spaced apart from the elevation support platform14by a predefined distance. A top end of the lens set34is arranged to be higher than a top end of the plurality of light emitting diode chips21. During the actual implementation, the top surface of the plurality of light emitting diode chips21is higher than one half of the height of the image-capturing module31, and it is preferably higher than two thirds of the height of the image-capturing module31, such that it is optimal to be closer to the top end of the image-capturing module31.

The fixation glue41is cured and attached onto the image-capturing module31and the elevation support platform14and covers a fluorescent powder gel22on top of each of the light emitting diode chips21. The fixation glue41is configured to secure a spatial relationship among the image-capturing module31, the elevation support platform14and the plurality of light emitting diode chips21. The fixation glue41can be transparent, or it can also be non-completely transparent material but light transmissive.

As shown inFIG. 2, the top surface of the fixation glue41can be further disposed of a transparent protective laver42depending upon the needs, and its material can use a known resin material as the transparent protective layer42, such that it is able to achieve the additional protection effect for the fixation glue41. However, if the entirety of the present invention is installed inside the metal tube at the top end of the endoscope and there are other protective mechanisms, then it is not necessary to provide the transparent protective layer42. In other words, the scope of the claims of the present invention shall not limited by the element of transparent protective layer42. InFIG. 1, the structure of the transparent protective layer42is not shown but is shown together with the symbol number of42and the fixation glue41only for the purpose of concise presentation without complicated patterns.

The above describes the structure of the first embodiment of the present invention. However, during the actual installation, since the fixation glue41secures the spatial relationship among the image-capturing module31, the elevation support platform14and the plurality of light emitting diode chips21, the entirety forms a modular component. Accordingly, as shown inFIG. 5, it can be conveniently installed inside the metal tube99at the top end of the endoscope, and it can also be used as one single component with the utilization of the plurality of bottom electrode sheets121at the bottom surface of the lower plate12to achieve electrical connection with other components (such as an endoscope main unit or operating handle) via the circuit (not shown in the drawing). In addition, for the purpose of concise presentation, the lower plate12inFIG. 5is shown to have a circular shape in order to allow the entirety to match with the actual installation state. Furthermore, the present invention also achieves the outcome of elevating the light source (i.e., the plurality of light emitting diode chips21) from the circuit board in order to be closer to the top end of the image-capturing module31while maintaining the electrical connection with the plurality of bottom electrode sheets121at the bottom surface of the circuit board11, in order to be further connected to other components for control thereof.

As shown inFIG. 6toFIG. 8, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a modular assembly10′ of an endoscope light source and image-capturing module is provided, which is generally identical to the aforementioned first embodiment, and the difference between the two mainly relies in:

In the second embodiment of the present invention, it further comprises two light emitting diode substrates18- and ceramic substrates can be selected for use during the actual implementation. The plurality of light emitting diode chips21′ are disposed on the two light emitting diode substrates18′. The two light emitting diode substrates are respectively arranged on the top surfaces of the elevation support platform14′ and the another elevation support platform15′ and are electrically connected to the plurality of light source electrode sheets141′,151′. The plurality of light emitting diode chips21′ are further electrically connected to the plurality of light source electrode sheets141′,151′. Each one of the fluorescent gels22′ covering each one of the light emitting diode chips21′ is secured onto a top surface of each one of the light emitting diode substrates18′, such that each one of the light emitting diode chips21′ is indirectly arranged on the top surfaces of the elevation support platform14′ and the another elevation support platform15′.

The two light emitting diode substrates18′ used in this second embodiment achieves the effect of additional elevation of the plurality of light emitting diode chips21′. In addition, the ceramic substrates used are able to allow the plurality of light emitting diode chips21′ to be disposed on the two light emitting diode substrates18′ during the manufacturing with the use of the Chip Scale Package (CSP) process. In addition, each one of the fluorescent powder gels22′ can be covered properly in advance in order to facilitate the operation process during the assembly of the elevation support platform14′.

The rest of the structure and achievable technical effects of the second embodiment are generally identical to those of the first embodiment; accordingly, details thereof are omitted hereafter.

As shown inFIG. 9, according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a modular assembly10″ of an endoscope light source and image-capturing module is provided, which is generally identical to the aforementioned second embodiment, and the difference between the two mainly relies in:

In this embodiment, there is only one elevation support platform14″, and it does not include the aforementioned another elevation support platform. In addition, the elevation support platform14″ is a hollow column surrounding the outer side of the main element zone12A″; in other words, it also surrounds the circumference of the image-capturing module31″. Furthermore, the platform zone12B″ is equivalent to the zone covered by the elevation support platform14″, such that it also surrounds the outer side of the main element zone12A″.

In this third embodiment, the configuration of the elevation support platform14″ is different from the aforementioned two embodiments, and its surrounding method can be arranged to facilitate the surrounding method of the plurality of light emitting diode chis21″, thereby allowing the light source to be more uniform. Furthermore, the top surface of the elevation support platform14″ also has a larger installation surface that can be provided to accommodate greater number of light emitting diode chips21″ in comparison to the aforementioned second embodiment.

The rest of the structure and achievable technical effects of the third embodiment are generally identical to those of the second embodiment: accordingly, details thereof are omitted hereafter.