Abstract: A substrate having a plurality of light emitting diodes united therewith lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope and its neighborhood. Likewise, part of a first objective surface lies on the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood. As long as the diameter of the insertion unit remains unchanged, the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood provides the largest area for the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode sub-assembly is therefore placed on the plane, whereby the outer diameter of a distal endoscope part can be made as small as possible.

Abstract: A substrate having a plurality of light emitting diodes united therewith lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope and its neighborhood. Likewise, part of a first objective surface lies on the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood. As long as the diameter of the insertion unit remains unchanged, the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope and its neighborhood provides the largest area for the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode sub-assembly is therefore placed on the plane, whereby the outer diameter of a distal endoscope part can be made as small as possible.

Abstract: A substrate having a plurality of light emitting diodes united therewith lies on a plane containing the longitudinal axis of an insertion unit of an endoscope. Likewise, part of a first objective surface lies on the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope. As long as the diameter of the insertion unit remains unchanged, the plane containing the longitudinal axis of the insertion unit of the endoscope provides the largest area for the light emitting diodes. The light emitting diode sub-assembly is therefore placed on this plane, so that the outer diameter of a distal endoscope part can be made as small as possible.

Abstract: An optical adaptor for an endoscope enabling an optically highly precise arrangement consists of a first frame member, a second frame member, and a distance restriction member. The first frame member is located at the distal part of the optical adaptor. A plurality of objective optical systems is stowed and held in the first frame member. The second frame member is located behind the plurality of objective optical systems. A relay optical system that transmits optical images formed by the objective optical systems and teams with an imaging optical system located in front of an imaging device in an endoscope to form an image transmission optical system is stowed and held in the second frame member. The distance restriction member is interposed between the first frame member and second frame member and thus sets the distance between the members to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an insertion section, and this insertion section has a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a bendable portion located between the distal and proximal end portions. A fluid-pressure actuator is coupled to the insertion section, so as to bend the bendable portion. The fluid-pressure actuator is made up of an extensible body and an expansion-restricting member. The extensible body defines an internal space and has an extension axis along which it extends or contracts. The expansion-restricting member causes the extensible body to extend in the direction of the extension axis when a fluid is supplied into the internal space, and causes the extensible body to contract in the direction of the extensible axis when the fluid is discharged from the internal space. The bendable portion of the insertion section is bent in accordance with the extension or contraction of the extensible body.

Abstract: A diaphragm blade is rotatably secured by a rotational shaft disposed in a base. The aperture blade has a diaphragm aperture at the central portion thereof. A shape-memory alloy which deforms in accordance with temperatures and an elastic member are respectively secured to the end portions of the aperture blade. The other end portion of each of the shape-memory alloy and the elastic member is secured to the base. The shape of the shape-memory alloy is deformed by changing the temperature so that the aperture blade is displaced. In consequence, a diaphragm aperture formed in the aperture blade is positioned/retracted from the optical path so as to change the quantity of light which is transmitted through the optical path.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a negative lens, a variable focussing lens unit including a material with an electrooptic effect, a light blocking unit, including the material with the electrooptic effect, capable of changing an aperture diameter, and a switch, interlocked with each other, capable of supplying electric power to the variable focussing lens unit and the light blocking unit which are arranged in order on an optical axis from an object side to an image side. When the switch is turned off, the variable focussing lens unit is set to bring an object at a far point into focus and the light blocking unit is set so that an aperture is determined by an aperture stop, while on the other hand, when the swtich is turned on, the variable focussing lens unit is set so that an object at a near point is in focus and the light blocking unit is set to be smaller in aperture.

Abstract: An intra-tube traveling apparatus includes a moving unit to which an endoscope is held and which is self-driven to travel in a pipe path, and a movement control section for controlling movement of the moving unit. The moving unit includes an elastic actuator which is extended/contracted in the radial direction and axial directions of the pipe path upon reception of the pressurized fluid, balloons attached to the front and rear ends of the elastic actuator. Each of the balloons is radially expanded/deformed upon reception of the pressurized fluid therein to be locked to the inner surface of the pipe path.

Abstract: An objective optical system is provided with at least one liquid crystal lens whose polarizing characteristic selected in a direction such that polarizing components of light reflected from the lens are counterbalanced and a variable liquid crystal stop is arranged at an angle with respect to an optical axis so that an incident direction of light is deviated to the side on which contrast between transmission and blocked states of light is maximized. The objective optical system enables the balance of the polarizing components to bring about a proper image for observation, can moderate asymmetry, relative to the optical axis, of the contract between the transmission and blocked states of light of the liquid crystal stop, and can secure an adjustable object image.

Abstract: A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a negative lens, a variable focal length lens unit including a material with an electrooptic effect, a light blocking unit, including the material with the electrooptic effect, capable of changing an aperture diameter, and a switch, interlocked with each other, capable of supplying electric power to the variable focal length lens unit and the light blocking unit which are arranged in order on an optical axis from an object side to an image side. When the switch is turned off, the variable focal length lens unit is set to bring an object at a far point into focus and the light blocking unit is set so that an aperture is determined by an aperture stop, while on the other hand, when the switch is turned on, the variable focal length lens unit is set so that an object at a near point is in focus and the light blocking unit is set to be smaller in aperture.

Abstract: At least a part of an image forming optical system is formed of a liquid crystal assembly consisting of a plurality of liquid crystals having a refractive index anisotropy and having different response frequencies of molecule orientation so that the transmittivity and refractive index of the plurality of liquid crystals may be independently controlled with few signal lines by varying the frequency of the driving signal applied to the liquid crystal assembly.

Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus, an optical end adapter is detachably attached to the end portion of an elongated inserting section, and an endoscope insertion aid is detachably provided which has the minimum diameter which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the optical end adapter. The endoscope insertion aid is fitted onto the inserting section from the leading end thereof, and then the optical end adapter is attached. It is, accordingly, possible to positively prevent the endoscope insertion aid from coming off the optical adapter.