Abstract: A manufacturing method of the optical unit for endoscope includes: a process of fabricating a bonded wafer by laminating a plurality of optical element wafers, each of the plurality of optical element wafers including a plurality of optical elements; a groove forming process of forming a groove on the bonded wafer along a cutting line for segmentation such that the groove has a bottom surface in the optical element wafer laminated at a lowermost part of the bonded wafer; and a cutting process of cutting the bonded wafer along the cutting line with a cutting margin narrower than a width of the groove and segmenting the bonded wafer, and the manufacturing method further includes a process of disposing a reinforcing member in the groove.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing optical units for endoscope includes: a step of fabricating device wafers; a step of laminating the device wafers to fabricate a bonded wafer; a first fixation step of fixing the bonded wafer to a first substrate; a first cutting step of cutting the bonded wafer along first cutting lines to divide the bonded wafer into slice bodies; a second fixation step of fixing cutting surfaces of the slice bodies to a second substrate; a second cutting step of cutting the slice bodies along second cutting lines to divide the slice bodies into the optical units for endoscope; and a step of removing the optical units for endoscope from the second substrate; and an area of each side face fixed to the second substrate is larger than an area of a light incident surface.

Abstract: An imaging element includes: a pixel chip where a pixel unit and a vertical selecting unit are arranged, the pixel unit including plural pixels that are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, the pixels being configured to generate and output imaging signals; a transmission chip where at least a power source unit and a transmission unit are arranged; plural capacitative chips, each capacitative chip having capacitance functioning as a bypass condenser for a power source in the power source unit; and plural connecting portions configured to electrically connect the pixel chip, the transmission chip, and the capacitative chip respectively to another chip. The transmission chip is layered and connected at a back surface side of the pixel chip. The capacitative chips are layered and connected at a back surface side of the transmission chip. The connecting portions are arranged so as to overlap one another.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: a solid state image sensor configured to receive light and perform photoelectric conversion on the light to generate an electric signal; a substrate extending from the solid state image sensor in an optical axis direction of the solid state image sensor; and a multi-layer substrate formed on a surface of the substrate, the multi-layer substrate having a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon and having a plurality of conductor layers and a plurality of via holes formed therein. At least one of the plurality of electronic components is embedded inside the multi-layer substrate. The plurality of via holes is formed on an outer side of the at least one of the plurality of electronic components embedded inside the multi-layer substrate along an optical axis direction of the multi-layer substrate.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an imaging chip generating an image signal by receiving light via a light receiving surface and performing photoelectric conversion; at least one semiconductor chip having a size fitting into a plane, orthogonal to an optical axis direction, of projection of the imaging chip; a reinforcement member arranged on at least one side of the semiconductor chip; and a cover glass covering the light receiving unit of the imaging chip. The semiconductor chip is layered and mounted on a back of the light receiving surface of the imaging chip, the reinforcement member covers a connection interface between the imaging chip and the semiconductor chip, or a connection interface between the semiconductor chips, and interfaces between the reinforcement member and the imaging chip and the semiconductor chip are positioned in a plane of projection in an optical axis direction the imaging chip or the cover glass.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first chip including a light receiving unit, and a read circuit; a second chip including a timing control circuit, an A/D conversion circuit, and a cable transmission circuit; and a connection unit configured to connect the first and the second chips. The read circuit includes a column read circuit and a horizontal selection circuit, and a vertical selection circuit. The connection unit of the first chip is provided in a first area along a side of the rectangular light receiving unit, and in a second area adjacent to the column read circuit, the horizontal selection circuit, and the vertical selection circuit. The connection unit of the second chip is provided in a third area around the timing control circuit, the A/D conversion circuit, and the cable transmission circuit and in a fourth area adjacent to the timing control circuit and the A/D conversion circuit.

Abstract: An image pickup device including a vacant space portion that allows a connection electrode to be exposed to a second main surface side, the vacant space portion being formed at a position overlapping at least the connection electrode in a state where the image pickup device is viewed in plan view from a thickness direction A, and the connection electrode exposed to the second main surface side is electrically connected with a substrate at a position in the vacant space portion, the position overlapping the image pickup device in the state where the image pickup device is viewed in plan view from the thickness direction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an optical system configured to collect incident light; an imaging element including a light receiver configured to receive light input from the optical system and perform photoelectric conversion to generate an electrical signal; and an optical system adhesive layer configured to bond the optical system to a principal surface of the imaging element where the light receiver is provided. The optical system adhesive layer is a photosensitive transparent adhesive for which patterning is performed through a photolithography process and which has a function of determining a position of the optical system relative to the light receiver.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an image sensor configured to generate an image signal by receiving light and performing photoelectric conversion; and a relay member including a plurality of silicon substrates laminated on a back surface side of the image sensor opposite to a light receiving surface of the image sensor, planar type electronic devices being formed on the silicon substrates, and relay the image sensor and a signal cable that transmits the image signal. The relay member includes a multilayer wiring layer laminated on an outermost surface of the silicon substrate, and the multilayer wiring layer includes, on an outermost surface, a material allowing the signal cable to be connected.

Abstract: In a capsule endoscope, on an inside of a capsule type housing including a cylindrical main body section and two semispherical end cover sections and having a rotationally symmetrical shape with respect to a center axis of the housing, an image pickup board section, a transmission board section, and a reception board section are housed such that principal planes of the image pickup board section, the transmission board section, and the reception board section are orthogonal to the center axis. A coil wire of at least one of a transmission coil formed by a transmission coil wire and a reception coil formed by a reception coil wire, respective principal planes of which are orthogonal to the center axis, is disposed on the end cover section side of the housing.

Abstract: An endoscope device includes: an imaging unit including a semiconductor chip including an image sensor formed thereon, and a protective glass adhered on the image sensor with an adhesive layer; and a holder configured to hold the imaging unit by fitting the protective glass therein. The semiconductor chip includes: a light-receiving section; a peripheral circuit section; a guard ring surrounding the light-receiving section and the peripheral circuit section; and a plurality of metal dots formed on an outer circumference of the guard ring. The protective glass is adhered to the semiconductor chip by the adhesive layer so as to cover the light-receiving section, the peripheral circuit section, the guard ring, and the metal dots, and the metal dots are formed at a same interval from the outer circumference of the guard ring to a connection end portion of a connecting surface between the semiconductor chip and the protective glass.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a substrate, on a first surface of which a light receiving section and a peripheral circuit section are formed, a multilayer wiring layer stacked on the first surface and including a plurality of metal layers and insulating layers, a translucent cover located on the multilayer wiring layer, and a side surface sealing member which extends from a peripheral section of a surface in the translucent cover to the substrate side while having a frame shape, and protects outer peripheral side surfaces of the multilayer wiring layer.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an optical unit in which a plurality of lenses have relative positions fixed by a transparent resin that fills spaces among the plurality of lenses, and an image pickup substrate in which a light receiving section configured to receive light that is caused to be incident from the optical unit is formed on a principal surface, the optical unit being bonded to the principal surface via an adhesive, and the optical system includes an objective optical system including a plurality of lenses, and inter-lens distances of the plurality of lenses are defined by a spacer, a diaphragm, or the transparent resin.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: an imaging unit disposed at a distal end portion of an insertion section inserted into a body of a subject; and a built-in component provided parallel with the imaging unit at the distal end portion, and extending substantially parallel with an axial direction of the insertion section. The imaging unit includes: a solid state image sensor including a light receiving unit; a flexible circuit board electrically connecting the solid state image sensor; and a rigid circuit board at least partially disposed on a proximal end side of the endoscope relative to the solid state image sensor, and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: a flexible substrate including one end connected to a light receiving surface of a solid state image sensor, the flexible substrate extending to a surface side opposite to the light receiving surface; a multi-layer substrate connected to a surface of the flexible substrate, the surface of the flexible substrate being a surface to which the solid state image sensor is connected, the multi-layer substrate including a plurality of electronic components mounted thereon; and a connection layer configured to electrically and mechanically connect to connection members provided on the surface of the flexible substrate and a surface of the multi-layer substrate facing the surface of the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing an image pickup apparatus includes: a process of cutting an image pickup chip substrate where electrode pads are formed around each of the light receiving sections to fabricate image pickup chips; a process of bonding image pickup chips determined as non-defective products to a glass wafer to fabricate a joined wafer; a process of filling a sealing member among the image pickup chips on the joined wafer; a machining process including a thinning a thickness of the joined wafer to flatten a machining surface and a forming through-hole interconnections, each of which is connected to each of the electrode pads; a process of forming a plurality of external connection electrodes, each of which is connected to each of the electrode pads via each of the through-hole interconnections; and a process of cutting the joined wafer.

Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup device on which an image pickup section is formed; a circuit board having a main surface on which a connection terminal electrically connected with the image pickup section is disposed; an intermediate wiring board including a substrate, an adhesive layer and a wiring pattern, in which a first electrode of the wiring pattern is electrically connected with the connection terminal; a cable having a core wire; and a holding substrate configured to hold the core wire with a second electrode and fixed to the intermediate wiring board by the adhesive layer in a state that the core wire and the second electrode are electrically connected by being in close contact.

Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes a capsule type housing and a circuit board on which a plurality of board sections are arranged in a row, the circuit board being housed inside the housing in a bent state. Connection electrodes for electronic component mounting are not formed on a second principal plane of the circuit board.

Abstract: An imaging module includes: an image sensor; a substrate having a conductor layer and extending from the image sensor; a multi-layer substrate having therein conductor layers on the substrate; electronic components mounted on/in the multi-layer substrate; an image signal electrode pad and a drive signal electrode pad on the image sensor; an image signal cable; a drive signal cable; an image signal wiring pattern through which an image signal is transmitted from the image signal electrode pad to the image signal cable; and a drive signal wiring pattern through which a drive signal is transmitted from the drive signal cable to the drive signal electrode pad. At least one of the electronic components is embedded inside the multi-layer substrate. The image signal wiring pattern and the drive signal wiring pattern are separated into different conductor layers of the substrate and the multi-layer substrate due to the embedded electronic component.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: an image sensor having an electrode pad and a light-receiving surface; a flexible printed circuit board having an inner lead connected to the electrode pad and extending from the image sensor in a direction opposite to where the light-receiving surface is provided; and one or more electronic components mounted on a first surface of the flexible printed circuit board, the first surface being on a side where the image sensor is provided. The flexible printed circuit board includes: an insulating base material; a first wiring layer on the base material on a side of the first surface; a first film for insulating the first wiring layer; a second wiring layer on the base material on a side of a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a second film for insulating the second wiring layer. The inner lead extends from the first wiring layer.