Imaging Apparatus Using Solid-State Image Pickup Element

Abstract

Conventional methods for fixing a solid-state image pickup element to a color separation prism have a problem in that, if the amount of an applied ultraviolet-curable adhesive is nonuniform and ultraviolet light irradiation is uneven, the ultraviolet-curable adhesive undergoes uneven curing shrinkage, so that the solid-state image pickup element is fixed in a position deviating from an original alignment position. The present invention solves the above problem, and includes a plurality of prisms ( 2 ) intended for use in a television camera or the like to allow optical dispersion in a plurality of directions, a plurality of solid-state image pickup element packages ( 3 ) placed in the vicinity of emission planes thereof, planar holders having wedge-shaped tips in contact with light reception plane-side surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages ( 3 ) and bonded to opposite side faces of the prisms, each holder being composed of two pieces of plates ( 4 A, 4 B); and an adhesive ( 7 ) applied and cured in gaps formed by surfaces ( 5 ) of the solid-state image pickup element packages and wedge-shaped tip surfaces ( 6 ) of the planar holders.

1 . An imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements, comprising: a plurality of prisms intended for use in a television camera or the like to allow optical dispersion in a plurality of directions; a plurality of solid-state image pickup element packages placed in the vicinity of emission planes thereof; planar holders having wedge-shaped tips in contact with light reception plane-side surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and bonded to opposite side faces of the prisms, each holder being composed of two pieces of plates; and an adhesive applied and cured in gaps formed by surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and wedge-shaped tip surfaces of the planar holders. 
   
   
       2 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the planar holders are bonded to the opposite side faces of the prisms such that wedge-shaped tips of a plurality of stacked planar holders having the same shape are in contact with the light reception plane-side surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages, and the adhesive is applied and cured in gaps formed by the surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and the wedge-shaped tip surfaces of the planar holders. 
   
   
       3 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein a bar is inserted in the gaps formed by the surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and the wedge-shaped tip surfaces of the planar holders. 
   
   
       4 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the bar is made of one or two or more materials selected from transparent glass, ceramic and metal materials, the materials having a thermal expansion coefficient approximating to a thermal expansion coefficient of the prisms. 
   
   
       5 . An imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements, comprising a plurality of prisms intended for use in a television camera or the like to allow optical dispersion in a plurality of directions; a plurality of solid-state image pickup element packages placed in the vicinity of emission planes thereof; planar holders having tips in contact with light reception plane-side surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and bonded to opposite side faces of the prisms, the tips having a semicircular cross section, each holder being composed of two pieces of plates; and an adhesive applied and cured in gaps formed by surfaces of the solid-state image pickup element packages and semicircular tip surfaces of the planar holders. 
   
   
       6 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the planar holders are made of one or two or more materials selected from transparent glass, ceramic and metal materials, the materials having a thermal expansion coefficient approximating to a thermal expansion coefficient of the prisms. 
   
   
       7 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a photocurable adhesive, which is cured through irradiation with light to connect and fix the planar holders and the prisms and connect and fix the planar holders and the solid-state image pickup element packages. 
   
   
       8 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a thermosetting adhesive, which is cured by a heat source to connect and fix the planar holders and the prisms and connect and fix the planar holders and the solid-state image pickup element packages. 
   
   
       9 . The imaging apparatus using solid-state image pickup elements according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive contains translucent spherical fillers.