US5022383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Winding type endoscope apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1990-07-20
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2010-07-20
Abstract
Abstract This endoscope apparatus is provided with an elongate flexible insertable part; a winding unit with a supporting structure having a winding member connected with the insertable part at the base end and capable of winding up and housing the insertable part; an illuminating device for emitting an illuminating light for the endoscope; and an observing device for producing an image of an object to be observed. An external apparatus forming one or both of the illuminating device and observing device is provided separately from the winding member. A connecting means is extended axially out of the side of the winding member and connected to the external apparatus. The endoscope apparatus also includes a driving circuit for the imaging apparatus and a signal processing circuit for processing a picture image signal output from the imaging apparatus to be a video signal. At least the driving circuit is located in the winding member and rotates with this winding member; and the signal processing circuit may also be located in the winding member.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsunori Sakiyama
- 👤 Tomoaki Sato
- 👤 Teruo Eino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/3604; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/2407; G02B23/2461; G02B23/2469; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/4457; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/56; H04N23/60; H04N23/665; H04N23/555; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A winding type endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate flexible insertable part having a base end and a tip part and including an observing window in the tip part; a winding member to which said insertable part is fitted at the base end and which is rotatable to wind up and house said insertable part; an image means provided in the tip part of said insertable part for receiving light from an object incident from said observing window and imaging the object image; a driving circuit for feeding said imaging means with driving pulses for driving said imaging means; and a signal processing circuit for processing a picture image signal output from said imaging means to be a video signal, wherein at least said driving circuit is fitted to said winding member and rotates with the winding member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A winding type endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate flexible insertable part having a base end and a tip part and including an observing window in the tip part; a winding member to which said insertable part is fitted at the base end and which is rotatable to wind up and house said insertable part; an image means provided in the tip part of said insertable part for receiving light from an object incident from said observing window and imaging the object image; a driving circuit for feeding said imaging means with driving pulses for driving said imaging means; and a signal processing circuit for processing a picture image signal output from said imaging means to be a video signal, wherein at least said driving circuit is fitted to said winding member and rotates with the winding member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein both of said driving circuit and signal processing circuit are fitted to said winding member and rotate with said winding member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a first connecting means for electrically connecting said driving circuit and a current source arranged outside said winding member with each other and a second connecting means for transmitting and receiving signals between said signal processing circuuit and a displaying means arranged outside said winding member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first connecting means is a rotary electric contact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second connecting means is a rotary electric contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second connecting means transmits and receives the output signal of said signal processing circuit as electric waves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope apparatus acording to claim 4 wherein said second connecting means is a rotary transformer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second connecting means transmits and receives the output signal of said signal processing circuit by using a light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a control means for controlling said signal processing circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said control means is fitted to said winding member and rotates with said winding member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein one part of said control means is provided outside said winding member, the other part of said control means is fitted to said winding member and said one part and other part of said control means are electrically connected with each other by a rotary electric contact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 9 wherein one part of said control means is provided outside said winding member, the other part of said control means is fitted to said winding member and said one part and other part of said control means are connected with each other by a connecting means for transmitting and receiving signals by using a light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the driving circuit is fitted to said winding member and rotates with the winding member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said driving circuit and one part of said signal processing circuit are fitted to said winding member and rotate with the winding member, and another part of said signal processing circuit is provided outside said winding member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a means of transmitting and receiving a plurality of superimposed signals between said one part and other part of said signal processing circuit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said plurality of signals are luminance signals, color signals and light adjusting signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said imaging means has an image forming optical system provided inside said observing window for forming an image and a solid state imaging device arranged in the image forming position of said image forming optical system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an illuminating means for illuminating the object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A winding type endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate flexible insertable part having a base end and a tip part and including an observing window in the tip part; a winding member to which said insertable part is fitted at the base end and which is rotatable to wind up and house said insertable part; an imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part for receiving light from an object incident from said observing window and outputting a picture image signal of the object; a driving circuit for feeding said imaging means with driving pulses for driving said imaging means; and a signal processing circuit for processing the picture image signal output from said imaging means to be a video signal, at least one part of said signal processing circuit being fitted to said winding member and rotating with the winding member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
144 words
A winding type endoscope apparatus comprising: an elongate flexible insertable part having a base end and a tip part and including an observing window in the tip part; a winding member to which said insertable part is fitted at the base end and which is rotatable to wind up and house said insertable part; an imaging means provided in the tip part of said insertable part for receiving light from an object incident from said observing window and outputting a picture image signal of the object; a driving circuit for feeding said imaging means with driving pulses for driving said imaging means; and a signal processing circuit for processing the picture image signal output from said imaging means to be a video signal, at least one part of said signal processing circuit being fitted to said winding member and rotating with the winding member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS6175315A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |