MINIATURIZED IMAGING DEVICE INCLUDING UTILITY APERTURE AND SSID

The present invention is drawn toward miniaturized imaging devices. In one embodiment, the device can include a utility guide having at least one aperture configured for supporting utilities, and an SSID carried by the utility guide. The SSID can include an imaging array on a top surface, and a conductive element on a side surface, wherein the imaging array is electrically coupled to the conductive element. Further, a lens can be optically coupled to the imaging array, and an umbilical, including a conductive line, can be carried by the at least one aperture. The conductive line can be electrically coupled to the conductive element on the side surface of the SSID. Alternatively, the device can include an SSID having, as an integral structure, an imaging array electrically coupled to a conductive pad, wherein the SSID further includes at least one utility aperture passing therethrough. Further, a lens can be optically coupled to the imaging array, and an umbilical, including a conductive line carried by the at least one aperture, can be configured such that the conductive line is directly electrically coupled to the conductive pad.