IP Library Granted Patent US 9,148,554
Granted Patent B2
US 9,148,554 · App. 14/048,125 · Granted Sep 29, 2015

Image pickup unit for endoscope and endoscope

Inventors: Tomohisa Kaneko (Hino, JP); Takahiko Mitani (Hachioji, JP)
Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
H04N5/2254A61B1/00009A61B1/00096A61B1/00179A61B1/045A61B1/051G02B23/243G02B23/2476G02B23/2484G02B23/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,148,554
App. No.
14/048,125
Granted
Sep 29, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In this invention, an image pickup unit for endoscope including an image pickup device includes, in an optical black region of the image pickup device, a phase reference pixel region in which a pixel that outputs a signal capable of being used for phase adjustment of the video by receiving light is disposed, and an optical axis of an objective optical system member having an image circle which is narrower than an effective pixel region of the image pickup device is arranged at a position closer to the phase reference pixel region with respect to a center of the effective pixel region such that light transmitted through the objective optical system member can reach the phase reference pixel region.

Claims (11)

1. An image pickup unit comprising:

an optical system for forming an optical image of an object;

an image pickup device for converting the optical image into an electric signal, the image pickup device including a pixel forming region in which a plurality of pixels are disposed, the pixel forming region including an effective pixel region, a video display region provided in the effective pixel region, and a phase reference pixel region provided outside the video display region, the phase reference pixel region including pixels disposed therein, the pixels being capable of outputting a signal that is usable for phase adjustment of the video by receiving light; and

a lens frame for holding a lens included in the optical system;

a holder for holding the image pickup device and the lens frame, the holder holding the lens frame such that an intersection point at which an optical axis of the optical system intersects the effective pixel region is positioned shifted to a position closer to the phase reference pixel region with respect to a center of the effective pixel region so that light that has transmitted the optical system can reach the phase reference pixel region;

wherein the optical system has an image circle with an area that is smaller than an area of the effective pixel region of the image pickup device.

2. The image pickup unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the optical system includes a first lens and a second lens disposed in this order from an object side to the image pickup device, and

the lens frame includes a first lens frame for holding the first lens and a second lens frame for holding the second lens.

3. The image pickup unit according to claim 2 , further comprising a prism, wherein the prism includes an incident surface and an emission surface, an emission-side end of the first lens frame is adhered to the incident surface, and an incident-side end of the second lens frame is adhered to the emission surface.

4. An endoscope comprising the image pickup unit according to claim 1 .

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jun 27, 2016
From: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039344/0502 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2015
From: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
To: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035944/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2013
From: KANEKO, TOMOHISA; MITANI, TAKAHIKO
To: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
Reel/Frame 031360/0947 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-100253 · Apr 25, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2013059297 · Mar 28, 2013
Related Publication 20140078276A1 · Mar 20, 2014