Image pickup unit and endoscope

An image pickup unit comprising:

• an image pickup device comprising an image sensor;
• a flat circuit board connected to a back surface of the image pickup device;
• a three-dimensional circuit board connected to a back surface of the flat circuit board;
• a plurality of electronic components mounted on the flat circuit board and on the three-dimensional circuit board;
• and a plurality of cables connected to the three-dimensional circuit board, wherein the three-dimensional circuit board includes:
• a first surface;
• a second surface substantially orthogonal to the first surface;
• a third surface facing opposite to the second surface;
• a fourth surface facing opposite to the first surface;
• a fifth surface facing the back surface of the flat circuit board;
• and a sixth surface facing opposite to the fifth surface, wherein the three-dimensional circuit board having a recess on at least one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface and the sixth surface, and the recess having a connection terminal portion disposed in a part of an inner surface of the recess, at least one of the plurality of electronic components or the plurality of cables is mounted on or connected to the connection terminal portion of the recess of the three-dimensional circuit board, the recess is arranged at a position where the first surface and the sixth surface cross each other, the first surface having an eave extending toward the sixth surface side and overhanging at least a portion of the recess, and at least one of the electronic components is mounted in the recess.

An endoscope comprising:

• an insertion portion, and an image pickup unit disposed within a distal end portion of the insertion portion, the image pickup unit comprises:
• an image pickup device comprising an image sensor;
• a flat circuit board connected to a back surface of the image pickup device;
• a three-dimensional circuit board connected to a back surface of the flat circuit board;
• a plurality of electronic components mounted on the flat circuit board and on the three-dimensional circuit board;
• and a plurality of cables connected to the three-dimensional circuit board, wherein the three-dimensional circuit board includes:
• a first surface;
• a second surface substantially orthogonal to the first surface;
• a third surface facing opposite to the second surface;
• a fourth surface facing opposite to the first surface;
• a fifth surface facing the back surface of the flat circuit board;
• and a sixth surface facing opposite to the fifth surface, wherein the three-dimensional circuit board having a recess on at least one of the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, the fourth surface, the fifth surface and the sixth surface, and the recess having a connection terminal portion disposed in a part of an inner surface of the recess, at least one of the plurality of electronic components or the plurality of cables is mounted on or connected to the connection terminal portion of the recess of the three-dimensional circuit board, the recess is arranged at a position where the first surface and the sixth surface cross each other, from the second surface toward the third surface, the recess having a wall surface parallel to the second surface, and at least one of the electronic components is mounted in the recess.