US4868646A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image pickup apparatus for an electronic endoscope
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1988-03-21
•
Granted: 1989-09-19
•
Expires: 2008-03-21
Abstract
Abstract An image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup unit including a solid-state image sensor and a drive voltage generator circuit disposed adjacent to the image sensor and having a drive voltage adjusting device for adjusting a drive voltage required to properly drive the image sensor, a signal processor unit for applying various voltages and signals to the image pickup unit and a signal cable system connecting the image pickup unit to the signal processor unit, whereby proper voltages can be applied to the image sensor with a reduced number of signal cables and a reduced size of the apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Tsuji
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:55
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/555; H04N23/60; H04N23/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An electronic endosope, comprising: (A) an operating portion, said operating portion having connections adapted to receive drive signals from an external drive circuit which can be removably coupled to said operating portion; (B) a flexible insertable portion having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end being coupled to said operating portion; and (C) an image pickup unit located in said distal end of said flexible insertable portion, said image pickup unit including: (1) a solid-state image sensor; and (2) a drive voltage adjustment circuit located adjacent said solid-state sensor and electrically coupled to said operating portion, said drive voltage adjustment circuit receiving one or more drive signals applied to said operating portion, adjusting the level of one or more of said drive signals, and applying the so adjusted drive signals to said solid-state image sensor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
An electronic endosope, comprising: (A) an operating portion, said operating portion having connections adapted to receive drive signals from an external drive circuit which can be removably coupled to said operating portion; (B) a flexible insertable portion having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end being coupled to said operating portion; and (C) an image pickup unit located in said distal end of said flexible insertable portion, said image pickup unit including: (1) a solid-state image sensor; and (2) a drive voltage adjustment circuit located adjacent said solid-state sensor and electrically coupled to said operating portion, said drive voltage adjustment circuit receiving one or more drive signals applied to said operating portion, adjusting the level of one or more of said drive signals, and applying the so adjusted drive signals to said solid-state image sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 in which said drive voltage adjustment circuit is able to adjust each of said one or more drive voltages in steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 in which one of said drive voltages is a substrate voltage required to drive said solid-state image sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 in which one of said drive voltages is an output gate voltage required to drive said solid-state image sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 in which said drive voltage adjustment circuit adjusts at least one of said drive signals by current amplification of a drive voltage divided by a plurality of resistors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 in which said drive voltage adjusting circuit includes a plurality of resistors whose effective configuration can be changed by an individual adjusting said circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 6, in which said drive voltage adjustment circuit comprises: a plurality of resistors connected in parallel with one another to form a voltage divider circuit and means for enabling an individual adjusting said apparatus to selectively connect and/or disconnect said resistors from said voltage divider circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 6 in which said drive voltage adjusting circuit comprises: a voltage divider circuit including a plurality of series connected resistors; and means for enabling an individual adjusting said adjusting circuit to selectively remove one or more of said resistors from said voltage divider circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic endosope according to any one of claims 7 or 8 in which said plurality of resistors each has an associated resistor electrode which opposes and is spaced from a ground electrode and wherein said drive voltage is adjusted by electrically connecting selected resistor electrode to said ground electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic endoscope according to any one of claims 7 or 8 in which said plurality of resistors each has an associated resistor electrode which is normally connected to a ground electrode and said operator may adjust said drive voltage by disconnecting selected said resistor electrode from said ground electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1, wherein said drive voltage adjustment circuit adjusts the level of said drive signals by a fixed respective amount.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic endosope according to claim 1 further including said external drive circuit and means for removably coupling said operation portion to said external drive circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4608506A
Cited
US4634884A
Cited
US4539586A
Cited
US4539586B1
Cited
US4692798A
Cited
US4663669A
Cited
JPS60244161A
Cited
US4667230A
Cited
US4678938A
Cited
US4712138A
Cited
US4746984A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-18 | 1993-03-20 | 1993-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-18 | 1997-03-20 | 1997-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-18 | 2001-03-20 | 2001-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |