US 2021/0259528 A1Published application

Medical micro-cable structure and connection method with mini camera cube chip

AssigneeOmniVision Technologies, Inc.

InventorsTeng-Sheng Chen, Wei-Feng Lin, Xiang-Dong Xiong

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Abstract

A novel endoscope includes a camera module, an electrical cable, and an electrical connector. The camera module includes an analog image signal output terminal. The cable includes an analog image signal line having a first end connected to the analog image signal output terminal of the camera module. The electrical connector includes a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system. The set of electrical contacts includes at least an analog image signal contact connected to a second end of the analog image signal line of the cable.

Claims34

Dependent claims

An endoscope comprising:

a camera module including a clock signal input terminal, an analog image signal output terminal, a power terminal, and a reference terminal;
a flexible, electrical cable including a clock signal line having a first end coupled to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module, an analog image signal line having a first end electrically coupled to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module, a power line having a first end electrically coupled to said power terminal of said camera module, and a reference line having a first end electrically coupled to said reference terminal of said camera module;
an electrical connector including a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system, said set of electrical contacts including a clock contact electrically couple to a second end of said clock signal line, an analog image signal contact electrically coupled to a second end of said analog image signal line, a power contact electrically coupled to a second end of said power line, and a reference contact electrically coupled to a second end of said reference line;
and wherein
said flexible electrical cable further includes a first electrically insulating jacket coaxially disposed around said analog image signal line;
said flexible electrical cable further includes a first conductive shield coaxially disposed around said first electrically insulating jacket;
said first conductive shield is electrically insulated from said analog image signal line;
and
said first conductive shield is in electrical contact with said reference line.

6 more elements

An endoscope comprising:

a camera module including a clock signal input terminal, an analog image signal output terminal, a power terminal, and a reference terminal;
a flexible, electrical cable including a clock signal line having a first end coupled to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module, an analog image signal line having a first end electrically coupled to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module, a power line having a first end electrically coupled to said power terminal of said camera module, and a reference line having a first end electrically coupled to said reference terminal of said camera module;
and
an electrical connector including a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system, said set of electrical contacts including a clock contact electrically couple to a second end of said clock signal line, an analog image signal contact electrically coupled to a second end of said analog image signal line, a power contact electrically coupled to a second end of said power line, and a reference contact electrically coupled to a second end of said reference line;
and
a display system, said display system including
a complementary electrical connector configured to engage said electrical connector of said endoscope,
an image signal processor connected to receive an analog image signal via said complementary connector, and operative to process said analog image signal to produce digital image output, and
a display coupled to receive said digital image output from said image signal processor and operative to display images corresponding to said digital image output.

6 more elements

An endoscope comprising:

a camera module including a clock signal input terminal, an analog image signal output terminal, a power terminal, and a reference terminal;
a flexible, electrical cable including a clock signal line having a first end coupled to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module, an analog image signal line having a first end electrically coupled to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module, a power line having a first end electrically coupled to said power terminal of said camera module, and a reference line having a first end electrically coupled to said reference terminal of said camera module;
an electrical connector including a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system, said set of electrical contacts including a clock contact electrically couple to a second end of said clock signal line, an analog image signal contact electrically coupled to a second end of said analog image signal line, a power contact electrically coupled to a second end of said power line, and a reference contact electrically coupled to a second end of said reference line;
and
an intermediate mount including
a first side having
a first contact electrically connected to said first end of said clock signal line,
a second contact electrically connected to said first end of said analog image signal line,
a third contact electrically connected to said first end of said power signal line, and
a fourth contact electrically connected to said first end of said reference line, and
a second side opposite said first side, said second side having
a first contact electrically connected to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module,
a second contact electrically connected to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module,
a third contact electrically connected to said power terminal of said camera module, and
a fourth contact electrically connected to said reference terminal of said camera module;
and wherein said first contact of said first side of said intermediate mount is electrically coupled to
said first contact of said second side of said intermediate mount;
said second contact of said first side of said intermediate mount is electrically coupled
to said second contact of said second side of said intermediate mount;
said third contact of said first side of said intermediate mount is electrically coupled to said third contact of said second side of said intermediate mount;
and
said fourth contact of said first side of said intermediate mount is electrically coupled to said fourth contact of said second side of said intermediate mount.

19 more elements

An endoscope comprising:

a camera module including a clock signal input terminal, an analog image signal output terminal, a power terminal, and a reference terminal;
a flexible, electrical cable including a clock signal line having a first end coupled to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module, an analog image signal line having a first end electrically coupled to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module, a power line having a first end electrically coupled to said power terminal of said camera module, and a reference line having a first end electrically coupled to said reference terminal of said camera module;
and
an electrical connector including a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system, said set of electrical contacts including a clock contact electrically couple to a second end of said clock signal line, an analog image signal contact electrically coupled to a second end of said analog image signal line, a power contact electrically coupled to a second end of said power line, and a reference contact electrically coupled to a second end of said reference line;
and wherein
the diameter of said power line is greater than the diameter of said analog image signal line

3 more elements

An endoscope comprising:

a camera module including a clock signal input terminal, an analog image signal output terminal, a power terminal, and a reference terminal;
a flexible, electrical cable including a clock signal line having a first end coupled to said clock signal input terminal of said camera module, an analog image signal line having a first end electrically coupled to said analog image signal output terminal of said camera module, a power line having a first end electrically coupled to said power terminal of said camera module, and a reference line having a first end electrically coupled to said reference terminal of said camera module;
and
an electrical connector including a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system, said set of electrical contacts including a clock contact electrically couple to a second end of said clock signal line, an analog image signal contact electrically coupled to a second end of said analog image signal line, a power contact electrically coupled to a second end of said power line, and a reference contact electrically coupled to a second end of said reference line;
a conductive shield disposed around said clock signal line, said analog image signal line, said power line, and said reference line;
and
a non-conductive sheath disposed around said conductive shield.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/796,087Filed 20 Feb 2020
Published: 26 Aug 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 1/05
Combined with photographic or television appliances: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
H04N 23/66
Control of cameras or camera modules: remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
A61B 1/00009
Characterised by electronic signal processing: of image signals during a use of endoscope
A61B 1/00045
Provided with output arrangements: display arrangement

Family

US 11,172,806 B2Related patent
US 2021/0259528 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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