Endoscope Image Pickup Unit With Airtight Tube-Sealed Circuit Boards

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Solution Overview

Problem

Endoscopes with electronic components at the distal end portion face issues with humidity and air exposure, leading to reliability degradation and complex manufacturing due to the need for small-diameter cable placement.

Innovation Solution

An image pickup unit with a ceramic circuit board and metal rectangular tube that seals an electronic component in a recess, providing an airtight seal to protect against humidity and simplify manufacturing by integrating movement detection sensors with image sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If electronic components are disposed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion to add new functions, then the endoscope performance is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to humidity and air exposure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendoscope performanceVSAvoidcomponent reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic component is nested within a recess formed in the circuit board, creating a protective cavity that shields the component from external environmental factors such as humidity and air exposure, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling advanced functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

A sealing structure comprising a sealing member and a cap is introduced to create an airtight environment around the electronic component in the recess, protecting it from humidity and air exposure while allowing the component to maintain its enhanced performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If electronic components are disposed at the distal end portion to add new functions, then the endoscope performance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to small-diameter cable placement requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveendoscope performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic component is directly mounted and sealed within the circuit board structure itself, merging the component housing and circuit board into a single integrated unit, which eliminates the need for separate small-diameter cable placement procedures and simplifies manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If electronic components are exposed to humidity and air, then manufacturing is simplified, but reliability degradation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcomponent reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic component is pre-positioned in the recess and sealed with the sealing member and cap during the circuit board assembly process, creating a protected environment before the component is exposed to external conditions, thereby ensuring reliability without complicating manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250343982A1Image pickup unit and endoscope

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYST CORP

AI summary

An electronic device for use with an endoscope, the electronic device including: a first circuit board including a first side surface; a first solder disposed on the first side surface; a second circuit board including a second side surface; a second solder disposed on the second side surface; an electronic component provided between the first and the second circuit boards; and a tube bonded to each of the first and the second side surfaces by the first and the second solders to seal the electronic component in an airtight manner.