Patent Description:
An endoscopy is a medical procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into a patient's body to allow a surgeon to inspect an interior of the patient's body. The endoscopy has gained broad acceptance because it only needs a small incision for insertion of the endoscope. However, since the conventional endoscope still has a bulky image capturing assembly, a size of the incision cannot be further reduced in order for insertion of the endoscope with such a bulky image capturing assembly. Therefore, an improvement is required.

Document <CIT> discloses an image capturing assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Document <CIT> discloses an image capturing assembly comprising an image sensing device mounted on a first circuit board, and electrically connected to it. The assembly further encompasses a second circuit board affixed with the first circuit board and perpendicular to it as well as a flexible auxiliary circuit board affixed with and electrically connected to the second circuit board. The first and the second boards are electrically connected through the flexible auxiliary circuit board.

This in mind, the present invention aims at providing an image capturing assembly with compact structure and small size and a related endoscope.

This is achieved by an image capturing assembly and an endoscope according to claims <NUM> and <NUM>. The dependent claims pertain to corresponding further developments and improvements.

As will be seen more clearly from the detailed description following below, the claimed image capturing assembly includes an image sensing device, a first circuit board, a second circuit board, a lens assembly, a flexible auxiliary circuit board and at least one light emitting component. The image sensing device includes at least one electrical connecting component. The first circuit board includes at least one first contact. The image sensing device is mounted on the first circuit board, and the at least one electrical connecting component is electrically connected to the at least one first contact. The second circuit board includes at least one second contact. The second circuit board is affixed with the first circuit board and perpendicular to the first circuit board, and the at least one second contact is electrically connected to the at least one first contact, so that the at least one second contact is electrically connected to the at least one electrical connecting component by the at least one first contact. The lens assembly is assembled with the image sensing device. The flexible auxiliary circuit board is affixed with and electrically connected to the second circuit board. The at least one light emitting component is disposed on the flexible auxiliary circuit board and configured to emit light.

Furthermore, the claimed endoscope includes a flexible tube and the aforementioned image capturing assembly connected to the flexible tube.

In summary, the present invention utilities the first circuit board for mounting the image sensing device and further utilizes the second circuit board affixed with and substantially perpendicular to the first circuit board for establishing an electrical connection between the second contact of the second circuit board and the electrical connecting component via the first contact of the first circuit board. The aforementioned configuration of the present invention is space-saving. Therefore, the present invention has advantages of compact structure and small size. Besides, when there are a plurality of electrical connecting components, a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts, the electrical connecting components of the image sensing device can be electrically connected to the second contacts of the second circuit board by the first contacts of the first circuit board respectively, wherein a layout or an arrangement of the electrical connecting components is different from a layout or an arrangement of the second contacts. Therefore, it facilitates adaptation and modularization.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. Also, the term "connect" is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical/mechanical connection. Thus, if a first device is connected to a second device, that connection may be through a direct electrical/mechanical connection, or through an indirect electrical/mechanical connection via other devices and connections.

Please refer to <FIG> is a schematic diagram of an endoscope <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the endoscope <NUM> includes an image capturing assembly <NUM>, a flexible tube <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. The image capturing assembly <NUM> is for capturing images. The handle <NUM> is for hand-holding and can be provided with a control console for at least controlling the image capturing assembly <NUM>. The flexible tube <NUM> is connected between the image capturing assembly <NUM> and the handle <NUM>.

Please further refer to <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are partial exploded diagrams of the endoscope <NUM> at different views according to the embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial enlarged diagram of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> according to the embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a partial enlarged diagram of the endoscope <NUM> shown in <FIG> according to the embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> and <FIG> are partial internal structural diagrams of the endoscope <NUM> at different views according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, the image capturing assembly <NUM> is located at a distal end of the flexible tube <NUM> away from the handle <NUM> and includes an image sensing device <NUM>, e.g., a CMOS sensor, a first circuit board <NUM>, a second circuit board <NUM> and a lens assembly <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the image sensing device <NUM> includes four electrical connecting components <NUM>. The first circuit board <NUM> includes four first contacts <NUM>. The image sensing device <NUM> is mounted on the first circuit board <NUM>, and each of the electrical connecting components <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding first contact <NUM>. The second circuit board <NUM> includes four second contacts <NUM>. The second circuit board <NUM> is affixed with the first circuit board <NUM> and substantially perpendicular to the first circuit board <NUM>, and each of the second contacts <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding first contact <NUM>, so that each of the second contacts <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding electrical connecting component <NUM> by the corresponding first contact <NUM>. The electrical connecting components <NUM> of the image sensing device <NUM> can be electrically connected to the second contacts <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM> by the first contacts <NUM> of the first circuit board <NUM> respectively, wherein a layout or an arrangement of the electrical connecting components <NUM> is different from a layout or an arrangement of the second contacts <NUM>. Therefore, it facilitates adaptation and modularization. The lens assembly <NUM> is assembled with the image sensing device <NUM> and can be a fixed focus length lens assembly or can be a zoom lens assembly configured to zoom in or zoom out a view of the image sensing device <NUM>.

However, the numbers of the electrical connecting component, the first contact and the second contact are not limited to this embodiment. It depends on practical demands. For example, in another embodiment, there can be only one electrical connecting component, one first contact and one second contact electrically connected to one another.

Specifically, each of the first contacts <NUM> can include a first pad portion 1121A exposed on a first side <NUM> of the first circuit board <NUM> and a second pad portion 1121B exposed on a second side <NUM> of the first circuit board <NUM> opposite to the first side <NUM> of the first circuit board <NUM> and aligned with the first pad portion 1121A. The image sensing device <NUM> can be a surface mounted device mounted on the first side <NUM> of the first circuit board <NUM>, and each of the electrical connecting components <NUM> can be a solder ball which is affixed with the first pad portion 1121A of the corresponding first contact <NUM> by soldering, so as to establish an electrical connection of the corresponding electrical connecting component <NUM> and the corresponding first contact <NUM>. Furthermore, each of the two the second contacts <NUM> can include a third pad portion 1131A. Two of the third pad portions 1131A can be exposed on a third side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>, and the other two of the third pad portions 1131A can be exposed on a fourth side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM> opposite to the third side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>. Each of the third pad portions 1131A and the corresponding second pad portions 1122A do not contact with each other directly. Each of the third pad portions 1131A can be perpendicular to the corresponding second pad portions 1122A and affixed with the corresponding second pad portion 1122A by soldering, so as to establish an electrical connection of the corresponding second contact <NUM> and the corresponding first contact <NUM>, i.e., the image capturing assembly <NUM> can further include four first soldering structures <NUM>, and each of the first soldering structures <NUM> is connected between the corresponding second pad portion 1122A and the corresponding third pad portion 1131A.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be only one electrical connecting component, one first contact having one first pad portion and one second pad portion exposed on the first side and the second side of the first circuit board respectively but not aligned with first pad portion, and one second contact having one third pad portion exposed on a corresponding side of the second circuit board and directly contacting with the second pad portion. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the second pad portion of the first contact and the third pad portion of the second contact can be inclined relative to each other and affixed with each other by soldering. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the image sensing device can be a surface mounted device whose electrical connecting components can be protruding pins or flat pads, and each of the first contacts can include a cooperating socket portion or a cooperating pin portion for cooperating with the corresponding protruding pin or the corresponding flat pad. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the image sensing device can be a Dual-In line Package (DIP) device whose electrical connecting components can be inserting pins, and each of the first contacts can include a cooperating hole portion for cooperating with the inserting pin.

Besides, as shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the image capturing assembly <NUM> further includes five cables <NUM> passing through the flexible tube <NUM> and electrically connected to the second circuit board <NUM> and a circuit board of the control console of the handle <NUM>, which is not shown in the figures, for providing power and signal transmission between the second circuit board <NUM> and the circuit board of the control console of the handle <NUM>.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second circuit board <NUM> further includes five third contacts <NUM>. Each of the cables <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding third contact <NUM>. Each of the second contacts <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding third contact <NUM>, so that each of the electrical connecting components <NUM> is electrically connected to the corresponding cable <NUM> by the corresponding first contact <NUM>, the corresponding second contact <NUM> and the corresponding third contact <NUM>.

Specifically, each of the third contacts <NUM> can include a fourth pad portion 1134A. Two of the fourth pad portions 1134A can be exposed on the third side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>, and the other three of the fourth pad portions 1134A can be exposed on the fourth side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>. Each of the second contacts <NUM> can be electrically connected to the corresponding third contact <NUM> by an electrical conducting component, e.g., a wire or a copper layer, so as to establish an electrical connection of the corresponding second contact <NUM> and the corresponding third contact <NUM>. Each of the cables <NUM> can be affixed with the fourth pad portion 1134A of the corresponding third contact <NUM> by soldering, so as to establish an electrical connection of the corresponding cable <NUM> and the corresponding third contact <NUM>, i.e., the image capturing assembly <NUM> can further include five second soldering structures <NUM> separated from each other, and each of the second soldering structures <NUM> is connected between the corresponding cable <NUM> and the corresponding fourth pad portion 1134A.

However, the numbers and the structure of the cable and the third contact are not limited to this embodiment. It depends on practical demands. For example, in another embodiment, there can be only one cable and one third contact, and the third contact can include an inserting portion for insertion of the cable.

Please refer to <FIG>. <FIG> are diagrams of the second circuit board <NUM> at different views according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the image capturing assembly <NUM> further includes a passive electronic component <NUM>, e.g., a capacitor or a resistor, electrically connected to the second circuit board <NUM>.

Specifically, the passive electronic component <NUM> can include two first cooperating contacts <NUM>. The second circuit board <NUM> can include two first auxiliary contacts <NUM>. Each of the two first auxiliary contacts <NUM> can include a fifth pad portion 1135A exposed on the fourth side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>. Each of the first cooperating contacts <NUM> can be affixed with and electrically connected to the fifth pad portion 1135A of the corresponding first auxiliary contact <NUM> by soldering, so as to establish an electrical connection of the corresponding first cooperating contacts <NUM> and the corresponding first auxiliary contacts <NUM>, i.e., the image capturing assembly <NUM> can further include two third soldering structures, which are not shown in the figures, and each of the third soldering structures is connected between the corresponding fifth pad portion 1135A and the corresponding first cooperating contact <NUM>.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be only one first auxiliary contact having one fifth pad portion exposed on the third side of the second circuit board, and one first cooperating contact electrically connected to and affixed with the first pad portion. Alternatively, in anther embodiment, there can be no passive electronic component or two passive electronic components located at the third side and the fourth side of the second circuit board.

As shown in <FIG>, the image capturing assembly <NUM> further includes a flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> and two light emitting components 11A. The two light emitting components 11A are disposed on the flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> and configured to emit light. The flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> is affixed with and electrically connected to the second circuit board <NUM>.

Specifically, the second circuit board <NUM> can include two second auxiliary contacts <NUM>. Each of the first auxiliary contacts <NUM> can include a sixth pad portion 1136A. The two sixth pad portions 1136A can be located on two lateral sides of the second circuit board <NUM> which are opposite to each other and adjacent to the third side <NUM> and the fourth side <NUM> of the second circuit board <NUM>. The flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> can include two second cooperating contacts <NUM> electrically connected to the two light emitting components 11A. Each of the second cooperating contacts <NUM> can include a seventh pad portion 1191A. Each of the seventh pad portions 1191A can be perpendicular to and affixed with the sixth pad portion 1136A by soldering, i.e., the image capturing assembly <NUM> can further include two fourth soldering structures 11B, and each of the fourth soldering structures 11B is connected between the corresponding sixth pad portion 1137A and the corresponding seventh pad portion 1191A.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be one flexible auxiliary circuit board and one light emitting component.

Please refer to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> is a partial lateral view of the endoscope <NUM> according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the image capturing assembly <NUM> further includes two light guiding components 11C, a shell 11D, a window 11E and a mounting base 11F. The two light guiding components 11C are disposed on the shell 11D and configured to guide the light emitted from the two light emitting components 11A. The window 11E is disposed on the shell 11D and configured to protect internal components, such as the lens assembly <NUM> and the two light guiding components 11C, from being damaged. The window 11E includes an objective lens 11E1 and two light guiding lenses 11E2. The objective lens 11E1 is configured to receive light from an observed object and the light from the observed object can pass through the objective lens 11E1 and travel toward the lens assembly <NUM>. The two light guiding lenses 11E2 are connected to the two light guiding components 11C respectively and configured to receive light from the two light guiding components 11C respectively, and the light from the two light guiding components 11C can pass through the two light guiding lenses 11E2 respectively and travel toward the observed object. The mounting base 11F is slidably installed inside the shell 11D for driving at least the first circuit board <NUM>, the second circuit board <NUM>, the image sensing device <NUM>, the lens assembly <NUM>, the flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> and the two light emitting components 11A to slide together with the mounting base 11F.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> can include a main body <NUM> and two resilient arms <NUM> extending from the main body <NUM>. Each of the resilient arms <NUM> includes a spring structure arrange along a plane parallel to the main body <NUM>. The two light emitting components 11A can be disposed on the two resilient arms <NUM>. The mounting base 11F can be adhered with the two resilient arms <NUM> by adhesives, e.g., UV glue. Each of resilient arms <NUM> is configured to bias the light emitting components 11A to abut against the corresponding light guiding component 11C. A supporting structure 11F1 can be formed on the mounting base 11F, and the flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM> is located between and abutted by the supporting structure 11F1 and the second circuit board <NUM>.

However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, there can be a plurality of supporting structures formed on the mounting base, and one light guiding component disposed on the shell.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, during assembly of the image capturing assembly <NUM>, the mounting base 11F can be pushed to slide into the shell 11D along a sliding direction D to push the two resilient arms <NUM> of the flexible circuit board <NUM> to drive the first circuit board <NUM>, the second circuit board <NUM>, the image sensing device <NUM>, the lens assembly <NUM>, the flexible auxiliary circuit board <NUM>, the two light emitting components 11A and the five cables <NUM> to slide together until the two light emitting components 11A abut against the two light guiding components 11C respectively. Specifically, the spring structures of the two resilient arms <NUM> provide elasticity on the sliding direction D during assembly of the image capturing assembly <NUM>. When the two light emitting components 11A abut against the two light guiding components 11C respectively, the two light emitting components 11A can be adhered with the two light guiding components 11C respectively by adhesives, e.g., UV glue, and then the lens assembly <NUM> can further be driven to slide along the sliding direction D to abut against the window 11E by pushing the first circuit board <NUM>, the second circuit board <NUM> or the cables <NUM>. During the aforementioned sliding movement of the lens assembly <NUM> along the sliding direction D, since the main body <NUM> of the flexible circuit board <NUM> can be driven to slide along the sliding direction D together with the second circuit board <NUM>, the resilient arms <NUM> of the flexible circuit board <NUM> can be resiliently deformed to generate resilient forces for driving the two light emitting components 11A to abut against the two light guiding components 11C, which prevents light leakage caused by separation of the light guiding component 11C and the light emitting component 11A. When the lens assembly <NUM> abuts against the window 11E, the lens assembly <NUM> can be adhered with the window 11E by adhesives, e.g., UV glue.

Moreover, it should be noticed that the image capturing assembly <NUM> also can be used in another image capturing apparatus, e.g., a microscope.

In contrast to the prior art, the present invention utilities the first circuit board for mounting the image sensing device and further utilizes the second circuit board affixed with and substantially perpendicular to the first circuit board for establishing an electrical connection between the second contact of the second circuit board and the electrical connecting component via the first contact of the first circuit board. The aforementioned configuration of the present invention is space-saving. Therefore, the present invention has advantages of compact structure and small size. Besides, when there are a plurality of electrical connecting components, a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts, the electrical connecting components of the image sensing device can be electrically connected to the second contacts of the second circuit board by the first contacts of the first circuit board respectively, wherein a layout or an arrangement of the electrical connecting components is different from a layout or an arrangement of the second contacts. Therefore, it facilitates adaptation and modularization.

Claim 1:
An image capturing assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
an image sensing device (<NUM>) comprising at least one electrical connecting component (<NUM>);
a first circuit board (<NUM>) comprising at least one first contact (<NUM>), the image sensing device (<NUM>) being mounted on the first circuit board (<NUM>), and the at least one electrical connecting component (<NUM>) being electrically connected to the at least one first contact (<NUM>);
a second circuit board (<NUM>) comprising at least one second contact (<NUM>), the second circuit board (<NUM>) being affixed with the first circuit board (<NUM>) and perpendicular to the first circuit board (<NUM>), and the at least one second contact (<NUM>) being electrically connected to the at least one first contact (<NUM>), so that the at least one second contact (<NUM>) is electrically connected to the at least one electrical connecting component (<NUM>) by the at least one first contact (<NUM>); and
a lens assembly (<NUM>) assembled with the image sensing device (<NUM>);
characterized in that the image capturing assembly (<NUM>) further comprises;
a flexible auxiliary circuit board (<NUM>) affixed with and electrically connected to the second circuit board (<NUM>); and
at least one light emitting component (11A) disposed on the flexible auxiliary circuit board (<NUM>) and configured to emit light.