# US 11,304,598 B2 · Endoscope system and method of manufacturing image capturing module used in the endoscope system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,598 B2 - Document ID: US11304598B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/663,703 - Filed: 2019-10-25 - Published: 2020-02-20 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-27 - Assignees: Olympus Corporation - Applicants: Olympus Corporation - Inventors: Noriyuki Fujimori - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304598B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00096: {Optical elements} - A61B 1/0011: {Manufacturing of endoscope parts} - A61B 1/00179: {for off-axis viewing} - A61B 1/045: Control thereof - A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion - A61B 1/051: {Details of CCD assembly} - A61B 1/0661: {Endoscope light sources} - A61B 1/0684: {using light emitting diodes [LED]} - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An image capturing module is used in an endoscope. The image capturing module comprises an image capturing portion having opposed surfaces defined by respective photodetection and reverse surfaces. The reverse surface includes external electrodes disposed thereon. A layered optical portion having a front surface to which light is applied and a rear surface that is opposite of the front surface. The layered optical portion having a plurality of optical members layered together. A layered device having a first principal surface with joint electrodes disposed thereon. A second principal surface opposes the first principal surface. The first principal surface is bonded to the reverse surface. The joint electrodes are joined to the external electrodes. The layered device includes a plurality of semiconductor devices layered together in which the first principal surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface and smaller in area than the rear surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capturing module used in an endoscope comprising: an image capturing portion having opposed surfaces defined by respective photodetection and reverse surfaces, the reverse surface includes external electrodes disposed thereon; a layered optical portion having a front surface to which light is applied and a rear surface that is opposite the front surface, the rear surface being bonded to the photodetection surface, the layered optical portion having a plurality of optical members layered together; and a layered device having a first principal surface with joint electrodes disposed thereon and a second principal surface that is opposite the first principal surface, the first principal surface being bonded to the reverse surface, the joint electrodes being joined to the external electrodes, the layered device having a plurality of semiconductor devices layered together, wherein the first principal surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface and smaller in area than the rear surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein the rear surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface, the image capturing portion having a first aspect ratio L1/W1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 as a ratio between a length L1 thereof in optical axis directions and a width W1 thereof in directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, the layered optical portion having a second aspect ratio L2/W2 equal to or larger than 2.0 as a ratio between a length L2 thereof in the optical axis directions and a width W2 thereof in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein the rear surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface, the image capturing portion having a first aspect ratio L1/W1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 as a ratio between a length L1 thereof in optical axis directions and a width W1 thereof in directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, the layered optical portion having a second aspect ratio L2/W2 equal to or larger than 2.0 as a ratio between a length L2 thereof in the optical axis directions and a width W2 thereof in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The image capturing module of claim 3, wherein the layered optical portion has first side surfaces being defined as first cut surfaces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein the rear surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface, the image capturing portion having a first aspect ratio L1/W1 as a ratio between a length L1 thereof in optical axis directions and a width W1 thereof in directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, and a third aspect ratio L4/W1 as a ratio between a length L4 of an image capturing unit including the image capturing portion and the layered device, in the optical axis directions and the width W1 of the image capturing portion in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, each of the first aspect ratio and the third aspect ratio being equal to or smaller than 1.5, the layered optical portion having a second aspect ratio L2/W2 equal to or larger than 2.0 as a ratio between a length L2 thereof in the optical axis directions and a width W2 thereof in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The image capturing module of claim 5, wherein the layered optical portion has first side surfaces being defined as first cut surfaces and the layered device has second side surfaces being defined as second cut surfaces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein the layered optical portion has corners substantially parallel to an optical axis thereof, the corners being beveled; and the image capturing portion has third side surfaces disposed substantially parallel to beveled surfaces of the layered optical portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein the layered optical portion has corners substantially parallel to an optical axis thereof, the corners being beveled; and the image capturing portion has third side surfaces disposed so as to cross at approximately 45 degrees to beveled surfaces of the layered optical portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image capturing module of claim 1, wherein an auxiliary member is disposed on a region, to which the image capturing portion is not bonded, of the rear surface of the layered optical portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image capturing module of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary member comprises a light shield resin covering side surfaces of the layered optical portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image capturing module of claim 9, further comprising: a frame member having a through hole in which the image capturing module is inserted and wherein the auxiliary member includes a convex portion of a wall surface of the through hole. ### Claim 12 A method of manufacturing an image capturing module, the method comprising: cutting an image capturing wafer to fabricate an image capturing portion having opposed surfaces defined by respective photodetection and reverse surfaces, the reverse surface includes external electrodes disposed thereon; bonding the image capturing portion to a layered optical wafer having a plurality of optical wafers layered together; and cutting the layered optical wafer with the image capturing portion bonded thereto, fabricating an image capturing unit in which a layered optical portion includes a plurality of optical members layered together, the layered optical portion having a front surface and a rear surface that is opposite the front surface, the rear surface of the layered optical portion being bonded to the photodetection surface of the image capturing portion, wherein the front surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface, the image capturing portion having a first aspect ratio L1/W1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 as a ratio between a length L1 thereof in optical axis directions and a width W1 thereof in directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, the layered optical portion having a second aspect ratio L2/W2 equal to or larger than 2.0 as a ratio between a length L2 thereof in the optical axis directions and a width W2 thereof in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions. ### Claim 13 A method of manufacturing an image capturing module, the method comprising: cutting an image capturing wafer to fabricate an image capturing portion having opposed surfaces defined by respective photodetection and reverse surfaces, the reverse surface includes external electrodes disposed thereon; bonding the image capturing portion to a layered device wafer having a plurality of device wafers layered together; cutting the layered device wafer with the image capturing portion bonded thereto, fabricating an image capturing unit in which a layered device includes a plurality of devices layered together, the layered device having a first principal surface and a second principal surface that is opposite the first principal surface, the rear surface of the image capturing portion being bonded to the first primary surface of the layered device; bonding the photodetection surfaced of the image capturing unit to a layered optical wafer having a plurality of optical wafers layered together; and cutting the layered optical wafer with the image capturing unit bonded thereto, fabricating an image capturing module in which a layered optical portion includes a plurality of optical members layered together, the layered optical portion having a front surface to which light is applied and a rear surface that is opposite the front surface, the rear surface being bonded to the photodetection surface, the image capturing unit being bonded to the rear surface of the layered optical portion, wherein the rear surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface, and the first principal surface is larger in area than the photodetection surface and smaller in area than the rear surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of manufacturing the image capturing module of claim 13, wherein the image capturing portion has a first aspect ratio L1/W1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 as a ratio between a length L1 thereof in optical axis directions and a width W1 thereof in directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions, and the layered optical portion has a second aspect ratio L2/W2 equal to or larger than 2.0 as a ratio between a length L2 thereof in the optical axis directions and a width W2 thereof in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of manufacturing the image capturing module of claim 14, wherein the image capturing unit has a third aspect ratio L4/W1 equal to or smaller than 1.5 as a ratio between a length L4 thereof in the optical axis directions and the width W1 of a bonded surface of the image capturing portion in the directions perpendicular to the optical axis directions.