# US 10,441,137 B2 · Image pickup unit and endoscope > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,137 B2 - Document ID: US10441137B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/634,109 - Filed: 2017-06-27 - Published: 2017-10-12 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-17 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Yuichi Wataya; Akira Muramatsu; Yuki Nakayama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441137B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements} - A61B 1/00188: {with focusing or zooming features} - G02B 7/02: for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)} - G02B 23/2423: {of the distal end} - G02B 23/243: {Objectives for endoscopes} - G02B 23/2438: {Zoom objectives} - A61B 1/00: Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes (examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04); Illuminating arrangements therefor (for the eyes A61B3/00) - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - G02B 23/2476: {Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract To provide an image pickup unit that can prevent axis deviation of a movable lens barrel and obtain high-quality picked-up image, a stopper member is positioned and fixed in a state in which the stopper member is abutted against an outer circumferential surface of a rear group lens barrel, movement of a movable lens barrel to a retraction side along a photographing optical axis is restricted by contact of a stopper section of the stopper member and an operation rod, and a movable lens is held in a position for realizing a second focal length. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image pickup unit comprising: an observation optical system of a focus switching type including a fixed lens and a movable lens; a fixed barrel that holds the fixed lens; a movable barrel disposed in the fixed barrel to be capable of advancing and retracting in a direction along a photographing optical axis of the observation optical system, the movable barrel holding the movable lens; a front side stopper that is in contact with the movable barrel at two or more points arranged so as to be vertically separate from each other with respect to the photographing optical axis, the front side stopper restricting movement of the movable barrel in an advancing direction along the photographing optical axis, to hold the movable lens in a position for realizing a first focal length of the observation optical system; and a stopper member positioned and fixed in a state in which the stopper member is abutted against an outer surface of the fixed barrel by surface contact, the stopper member having a pipe shape and the pipe shape having an interior cavity and being in contact with the movable barrel at opposite sides of the pipe shape, the opposite sides being vertically separate from each other with respect to a central axis of the pipe shape, the stopper member restricting movement of the movable barrel in a retracting direction along the photographing optical axis, to thereby hold the movable lens in a position for realizing a second focal length of the observation optical system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member is in surface contact with the movable barrel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member includes a ring section positioned and fixed in a state in which the ring section is abutted against an outer circumferential surface of the fixed barrel and a stopper section formed integrally with the ring section and capable of coming into contact with the movable barrel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image pickup unit according to claim 3, further comprising an end-face-cam adjustment member capable of changing an abutting position against the stopper member by turning around the photographing optical axis to thereby adjust a position in the photographing optical axis direction of the stopper member with respect to the fixed barrel, wherein the stopper member is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the fixed barrel in a state in which the position of the stopper member is adjusted in the photographing optical axis direction by the end-face-cam adjustment member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image pickup unit according to claim 4, wherein the stopper member includes a protrusion section abutted against the end-face-cam adjustment member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member includes a cutout section in a part of an adhesive surface for positioning with the fixed barrel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member includes an engaging hole capable of engaging with a jig for positioning the stopper member on the fixed barrel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An endoscope comprising the image pickup unit according to claim 1 provided at a distal end portion of an insertion section inserted into a subject. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member includes a protrusion configured to engage with a jig for positioning the stopper member on the fixed barrel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The image pickup unit according to claim 1, wherein the stopper member includes a rack gear configured to engage with a jig for positioning the stopper member in the fixed barrel.