Abstract:
An endoscopic device includes a flexible PCB adapted to fold to form a stacked structure with a plurality of spaced layers. The PCB comprises a plurality of units, at least one interconnection interconnecting any two adjacent units, and a plurality of connections connecting to a conductor. Advantageously, the connections can reduce space for mounting electronic devices on the units. Each of the connections has a first section extending from the connected unit, and a second section extending from the first section with a passive electronic component being disposed thereon. Further, a conductor extends from the second section of the connection.

Description:
PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098101913 and filed Jan. 19, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to endoscopic devices. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Endoscopic tools for conducting a medical examination within the human body cavities are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Publication Application No. 2006/0189844 discloses an endoscopic device. Drawbacks thereof are described below. Areas for soldering on a PCB (printed circuit board) are required. This makes a reduction of PCB size impossible. Further, a length about 30 mm is formed by folding buses. Such length can adversely limit a moving range of the endoscopic device within the body organs. For example, a doctor cannot observe larynx and trachea by means of the endoscopic device. 
         [0006]    The above drawbacks are common among typical endoscopic devices and are not solved. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of endoscopic device are constantly being sought. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an endoscopic device having a cover with a diameter less than 5 mm, for example. The endoscopic device is cost effective and can be discarded after use so as to prevent cross-infection from occurring. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the endoscopic device has a diameter less than 4.3 mm. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the invention to provide an endoscopic device having a lens with a length less than 10 mm. Lens Length is an important factor for determining quality of the endoscopic device. In general, a shorter lens makes the endoscopic device easier to be inserted into narrow body cavities for medical examination. The lens length is preferably about 10 mm. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the endoscopic device comprises a flexible PCB adapted to fold to form a stacked structure with a plurality of spaced layers. The PCB comprises a plurality of units, at least one interconnection interconnecting any two adjacent units, and a plurality of connections connecting to a conductor. Advantageously, the connections can reduce space for mounting electronic devices on the units. Each of the connections comprises a first section extending from the connected unit, and a second section extending from the first section with a passive electronic component being disposed thereon. Further, a conductor extends from the second section of the connection. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the interconnections have a length about the same as the height of two adjacent units being bent. This enables the PCB to fold as a stacked structure with a plurality of spaced layers. The stacked structure is an unbending section. The connections are adapted to extend downward from the stacked structure. The first section of the connection has a length greater than 3 mm of the height of the unbending section. 
         [0012]    Preferably, larger active electronic components such as microcontrollers and sensors are mounted in the units, whereas smaller passive electronic components such as resistors and capacitors are mounted in the second sections of the connections. This eliminates drawbacks of the prior art endoscopic device which comprise active and passive electronic components being mounted in the PCB, making it difficult to reduce the size of the PCB and the endoscope device itself. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the first sections of the connections have a length greater than the height of the unbending section so that electronic components mounted on the first sections of the connections can be disposed externally of the stacked units. A conductor is extended from the second section of each connection for signal transmission. Each of the interconnections has a width about 2 mm, for example. Each of the connections has a width about 2 mm, for example. Each of the interconnections and the connections extends from the periphery of the unit. Thus, after folding, the interconnections and the connections do not substantially increase the size of the lens. This is one of the advantages of the invention. 
         [0014]    With comparison to the prior art, the invention has the following advantages: 
         [0015]    The units of the flexible PCB have larger active electronic components such as microcontrollers and sensors mounted thereon, whereas the smaller passive electronic components are mounted on the connections. Hence, it can reduce the PCB size to a minimum. 
         [0016]    The active electronic components mounted on the units can be in signal communication with the external devices via the conductors extending out of the second sections of the connection. Hence, a reduction of conductor length is made possible. Further, layout area can be distributed, resulting in a size reduction of the PCB including the units. 
         [0017]    The bending angle of each of the interconnections and the connections is a minimum so as to greatly decrease the PCB size and the diameter of the endoscope device. 
         [0018]    The units with active electronic components mounted thereon can be folded to form a stacked structure because the interconnections have a sufficient length to be bent. This has the effects of greatly decreasing the height of the unbending section and increasing the operating space of the endoscopic device so that the device can be used for examining larynx and trachea, for example. 
         [0019]    The connections and conductors (e.g., small wires) extending therefrom are flexible in nature. This means that except the unbending section they are bendable. Further, their bending angles are much smaller than that of the conventional fiber optic camera. 
         [0020]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of endoscopic device according to the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled endoscopic device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the fully extended PCB of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3A  is a side elevation of the first and the second unit of  FIG. 3  upon being folded; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the fully extended PCB of a second preferred embodiment of endoscopic device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation of the first and the second unit of  FIG. 4  upon being folded; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is another top plan view of the fully extended PCB of the second preferred embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5A  is a side elevation of the first and the second unit of  FIG. 5  upon being folded; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the PCB of the second preferred embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the fully extended PCB of a third preferred embodiment of endoscopic device; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7A  is a side elevation of the first and the second unit of  FIG. 7  upon being folded; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is another top plan view of the fully extended PCB of the third preferred embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  is a side elevation of the first and the second unit of  FIG. 8  upon being folded; 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment of endoscopic device; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the assembled endoscopic device of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  3 A, an endoscopic device  100  in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0037]    A flexible PCB  10  can be folded to form a layered stack with two spaced layers (see  FIG. 3A ). An image capturing assembly  20  for image capture and processing comprises a wedge-shaped seat  22  and a cylindrical lens  21  provided on the seat  22 . A light source  30  which is disposed on or above the seat  22  comprises a ring-shaped electronic member  31 , a plurality of light emitting elements (e.g., LEDs (light-emitting diodes) or OLED (organic light-emitting diodes))  32  provided on the electronic member  31 , and a wire  33  extending downward out of the bottom of the electronic member  31 . An electrical conductor  331  is connected to one end of the wire  33  for providing electric power to the light emitting elements  32 . The seat  22  is seated on the PCB  10 . The electronic member  31  is rested upon the seat  22  with the lens  21  passing through a hole in the seat  22 . 
         [0038]    An inverted cup-shaped cover  40  is put on the assembled PCB  10 , the image capturing assembly  20 , and the light source  30 . The cover  40  has a transparent member  41  on a top so that light emitted by the light emitting elements  32  can pass through the transparent member  41  and external light passing the transparent member  41  can be captured by the lens  21 . The cover  40  can have a diameter less than 5 mm, for example. More preferably, the cover  40  has a diameter less than 4.3 mm. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the assembled endoscopic device  100  is composed of an unbending section  101  and a bendable section  102 . Portions of the PCB  10 , the image capturing assembly  20 , and the light source  30  in the cover  40  are disposed in the unbending section  101 . Preferably, the unbending section  101  has a length less than 10 mm, for example. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the PCB  10  comprises a first unit  11 , and a second unit  12  interconnected together. Each unit can be shaped as a disc, for example. 
         [0041]    The first unit  11  comprises a bridge point  11   a , and a connecting point  11   d  spaced around a periphery thereof, the second unit  12  comprises a bridge point  12   a  and a connecting point  12   b  spaced from the bridge point  12   a  about 90 degrees on a periphery thereof. A first interconnection  111  is interconnected between the bridge points  11   a  and  12   a , and has a width of about 2 mm or less, for example. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3A , a first active electronic component  51  is provided on top the first unit  11  and a second active electronic component  61  is provided on underside of the second unit  12 . The first active electronic component  51  is provided within the seat  22 . The second unit  12  is provided under the first unit  11  by bending the first interconnection  111 . The first active electronic component  51  may comprise an imaging sensor and the second active electronic component  61  may comprise a microcontroller. 
         [0043]    Alternatively, the second active electronic component  61  is provided on top of the second unit  12  (figure not shown). 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 3 , first connection  114  is extended from the connecting point  11   d , a second connection  121  is extended from the connecting point  12   b  respectively. 
         [0045]    The first connection  114  comprises a first section  114   a  extending from the connecting point  11   d , and a second section  114   b  extending from the first section  114   a.  A first passive electronic component  52  is provided on the second section  114   b.    
         [0046]    The second connection  121  comprises a first section  121   a  extending from the connecting point  12   b , and a second section  121   b  extending from the first section  121   a . Two second passive electronic components  62  are provided on the second section  121   b . The first and second passive electronic components  52 ,  62  may comprise resistors, capacitors or the like. In the first embodiments, the width of the first and second connections  114 ,  121  allow reducing the size of the PCB 10  since each connection is adapted to smoothly bend from the periphery of the unit without unnecessary arcuate portion (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The second sections  114   b ,  121   b  can further reduce the size of the endoscopic device  100  since the passive electronic components  52 ,  62  are removed from the first and second units  11 ,  12 . 
         [0047]    The first and second connections  114 ,  121  together with the wire  33  of the light source  30  form the bendable section  102  of the endoscopic device  100  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0048]    A conductor  53  is extended from the second section  114   b  ; a conductor  63  is extended from the second section  121  b respectively. Preferably, the first and second sections  121   a ,  114   a  both have a length greater than a distance between the first unit  11  and the second unit  12  to keep the passive electronic components  52 ,  62  out of the unbending section  101  as show in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A,  5 ,  5 A, and  6 , a PCB of the endoscopic device  100  in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the PCB  10 A not only comprises a first unit  11 , and a second unit  12  the same as the first preferred embodiment, but also further includes a third unit  13 . The PCB  10 A can be folded to form a three spaced layered stack as shown in  FIG. 6 . Note that each unit is shaped as a disc. 
         [0051]    The third unit  13  comprises a bridge point  13   a  and a connecting point  13   b  opposing the bridge point  13   a  on a periphery thereof, a second interconnection  112  is interconnected between the bridge points  13   a  and a bridge point  11   b  in the first unit  11 , and a third connection  131  is extended from the connecting point  13   b.    
         [0052]    Alternatively, the second interconnection  112  can be interconnected the bridge point  13   a  of the third unit  13  and a bridge point  12   c  of the second unit  12  as shown in  FIGS. 5. 5A . 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 5A , third active electronic component  71  is provided on the underside side of the third unit  13  which is provided under the second active electronic component  61  by bending the second interconnection  112 . This is a stacked structure with three spaced layers. Alternatively, the third active electronic component  71  can be provided on top of the third unit  13 . 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the third connection  131  comprises a first section  131   a  extending from the connecting point  13   b , and a second section  131   b  extending from the first section  131   a . Preferably, the first section  131   a  has a length greater than a distance between the first unit  11  and the third unit  13  to keep the passive electronic components  72  out of the non-bending section  101 . 
         [0055]    A third passive electronic component  72  is provided on the second section  131   b , and a conductor  73  is extended from the second section  131   b.    
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  7 A,  8 ,  8 A,  9  and  10 , an endoscopic device  100  and PCB thereof in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 7A , the PCB  10 B not only comprises a first unit  11 , a second unit  12  and a third unit  13  the same as the second preferred embodiment, but further includes a fourth unit  14 . The PCB  10 B can be folded to form a four spaced layered stack. Note that each unit is shaped as a disc, for example. 
         [0058]    The fourth unit  14  comprises a bridge point  14   a  and a connecting point  14   b  opposing the bridge point  14   a  on a periphery thereof, a third interconnection  113  is interconnected between the bridge point  14   a  and a bridge point  11   c  in the first unit  11 , a fourth connection  141  is extended from the connecting point  14   b.    
         [0059]    Alternatively, the third interconnection  113  can be interconnected the bridge point  14   a  of the fourth unit  14  and a bridge point  13   c  of the third unit  13  as shown in  FIGS. 8. 8A . 
         [0060]    A fourth active electronic component  81  is provided on the underside of the fourth unit  14  which is provided under the third active electronic component  71  by bending the third interconnection  113 . This is a stacked structure with four spaced layers as shown in  FIG. 9 . Alternatively, the fourth active electronic component  81  is provided on top of the fourth unit  14 . 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the fourth connection  141  comprises a first section  141   a  extending from the connecting point  14   b , and a second section  141   b  extending from the first section  141   a . Preferably, the first section  141   a  has a length greater than a distance between the first unit  11  and the fourth unit  14  to keep the passive electronic components  82  out of the non-bending section  101  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0062]    A fourth passive electronic component  82  is provided on the second section  141   b , and a conductor  83  is extended from the second section  141   b.    
         [0063]    In the above embodiments, each of the units has a diameter of 3.7 mm, for example, and each of the connections has a width of about 2 mm or less, for example. The width of the connections allows the reduction of the size of the PCB since each connection is adapted to smoothly bend from the periphery of the unit without unnecessary arcuate portion. 
         [0064]    While two units, three units and four units are discussed above in the first, second and third embodiments respectively, however, if micro-electronic technology is further upgraded, a fourth preferred embodiment of the endoscopic device of the present invention having only one unit (not shown) is available to attain the same function and purpose of the present invention as mentioned above. 
         [0065]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.