US 6,275,255 B1 · Reduced area imaging devices

Abstract

A reduced area imaging device is provided for use in medical or dental instruments such as an endoscope. In one configuration of the imaging device, the image sensor is placed remote from the remaining circuitry. In another configuration, all of the circuitry to include the image sensor is placed in a stacked fashion at the same location. In a first embodiment of the invention, the entire imaging device can be placed at the distal tip of an endoscope. In a second embodiment, the image sensor is remote from the remaining circuitry according to the first configuration, and wherein a control box can be provided which communicates with the image sensor and is placed remotely from the endoscope. In yet another embodiment, the imaging device can be incorporated in the housing of a standard medical camera which is adapted for use with traditional rod lens endoscopes. In any of the embodiments, the image sensor may be placed alone on a first circuit board, or timing and control circuits may be included on the first circuit board containing the image sensor. One or more video processing boards can be stacked in a longitudinal fashion with respect to the first board, or the video processing boards may be placed in the control box.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A reduced area imaging device comprising:

an image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, said pre-video signal comprising serial formatted data reflective of image data from the pixel array which is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns;
a pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said pre-video signal capable of being carried for transmission by a single wire conductor of said pre-video conductor, said pre-video conductor having first and second ends, said first end communicating with said image sensor;
a first circuit board lying in a second plane and longitudinally aligned with said image sensor, said first circuit board being connected to said pre-video conductor at said second end thereof, said first circuit board including circuitry means for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal for reception by a standard video device;
and
a power supply electrically coupled with said image sensor for driving said array of pixels and said timing and control means, and electrically coupled to said first circuit board for driving said circuit board.

2 more elements

A reduced area imaging device comprising:

an image sensor lying in a first plane and including an array of CMOS pixels for receiving images thereon, said image sensor further including circuitry means on said first plane and coupled to said array of CMOS pixels for timing and control of said array of CMOS pixels, said image sensor producing a pre-video signal, said pre-video signal comprising serial formatted data reflective of image data from the array of CMOS pixels which is arranged in a plurality of rows and columns;
a pre-video conductor communicating with said array of CMOS pixels, said pre-video conductor for transmitting said pre-video signal, said pre-video signal capable of being carried for transmission by a single wire conductor of said pre-video conductor;
a control box remote from said image sensor, said control box including a circuitry means for receiving said pre-video signal from said pre-video conductor and for converting said pre-video signal to a post-video signal which may be received by a standard video device;
and
a power supply coupled to said control box and said image sensor for providing power thereto.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Reduced area imaging devices

Life of this patent

Reduced area imaging devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11