Capsule endoscope

Abstract

A capsule endoscope having a folded optical imager resting upon a coverglass overlying a sensor such that such that the sensor is substantially at the image plane of the imager and an image may be formed on the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A capsule endoscope comprising:
 a capsule housing;   a sensor positioned within the capsule housing;   a coverglass overlying the sensor; and   a folded optical imager resting upon the cover glass thereby fixing a distance from the folded optical imager to the sensor such that the sensor is substantially at the image plane of the imager and an image may be formed on the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 1 , wherein the folded optical imager includes a plurality of individual folded imagers and the sensor includes a plurality of individual sensor regions, a respective one sensor region for each individual folded imager. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 2 , wherein each one of the plurality of individual folded imagers includes:
 a first lens group;   a second lens group;   a prism interposed between the first lens group and the second lens group for directing light exiting from the first lens group into the second lens group, said prism having a surface that is concave.   
     
     
         4 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 2  wherein each one of said folded imagers exhibits a horizontal field of view greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 4  wherein each one of said folded imagers produces a respective image upon the sensor and the images so produced are combined into an overall panoramic image. 
     
     
         7 . A capsule endoscope comprising:
 a capsule housing;   a lens barrel positioned within said capsule housing, said lens barrel including a plurality of boreholes;   a plurality of folded imagers positioned within the capsule, each one having a horizontal field of view greater than 90 degrees, each one of said plurality of folded imagers including:
 a first lens for receiving light from an object; 
 a prism for receiving light from said first lens and changing the direction of the received light; and 
 a second lens, positioned within a borehole, for receiving light from said prism; 
   a sensor positioned within the capsule housing for sensing light from each second lens; and   a coverglass overlying said sensor,   wherein said lens barrel rests upon the coverglass thereby fixing a distance from the folded optical imagers to the sensor such that the sensor is substantially at the image plane of the imagers and images may be formed on the sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 7  wherein the plurality of prisms are molded as part of a single molding. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 7  wherein said light sensed by the sensor are component images that are combined into an overall panoramic image indicative of a full 360 degree view relative to the housing circumference. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 9  further comprising a prism cover positioned adjacent to the prisms, wherein said prism cover includes a number of isolators for optically isolating each one of said prisms from one another. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 10  wherein said prisms include a concave surface for receiving light from the first lens. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule endoscope of  claim 7  wherein said barrel includes a plurality of legs projections that straddle the sensor and axially align the sensor to the barrel.