PURPOSE: To obtain an endoscope with a minimum probe diameter by arranging a solid-state image pickup element so that an image pickup plane can be in approximately parallel with the insertion direction of a probe and the array direction of a bonding pad can be perpendicular to the insertion of the probe.
CONSTITUTION: A lens 10 mounted on the center of the forward part of the probe main body 1 forms the image of the forward probe 1 on the image pickup plane (the surface of a solid-state image pickup element chip 3) of the solid-state image pickup element 2 through a mirror 11. As an image is formed on the image pickup plane of the solidstate image pickup element 2 through the mirror 11, the image pickup plane can be made in parallel with the insertion direction of the object of the probe main body 1. Since the array direction of the bonding pad 4 on the solid-state image pickup element chip 3 is perpendicular to the insertion direction (longitudinal direction) of the probe main body 1, the diameter of the probe main body 1 can smaller be than the case where the array direction of the bonding pad 4 is in parallel with the insertion direction of the probe main body.
HONDA HIROKI
TANUMA CHIAKI
