JP2002253495A - Electronic endoscopic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscopic system which can output image signals by selecting a transmission system considered to be optimum for maintaining the quality of the images obtained within the electronic endoscope. SOLUTION: A connector portion 20 of the electronic endoscope 10 having a high pixel CCD is provided with a video signal processing circuit 22, a buffer 23 and a system control circuit 26. An analog luminance color signal of an NTSC system and a digital luminance color difference signal YCbCr pursuant to VGA standards through the buffer 23 are output from the video signal processing circuit 22 to a video signal processing circuit 31 of a processor 30. A Y/C signal is subjected to waveform shaping and is then outputted as it is through the connector 63 to a TV monitor 40. The YCbCr signal pursuant to the VGA is converted to an analog RGB component signal and is then outputted through a connector 64 to a VBA monitor 70. The signal outputs from the video signal processing circuits 22 and 31 and the buffer 23 are most adequately set by operating a front panel 38.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to processing of a video signal in an electronic endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of a high-pixel image sensor, an electronic endoscope using a high-pixel image sensor exceeding 600,000 pixels has been commercialized. In order to take advantage of the advantages of using an image sensor with a high pixel count, for example, VGA (video graphics arr), which is a screen display standard for personal computers, is used in electronic endoscopes, video signal processing devices, monitors, and the like.
The image signal needs to be processed in accordance with the video output signal corresponding to ay). On the other hand, in conventional general electronic endoscope systems, image signals are processed in accordance with the current television broadcasting system such as the NTSC system and the PAL system. That is, a peripheral device such as a monitor and a video printer and a video signal processing device used under a conventional electronic endoscope system process image signals in accordance with a system such as NTSC. Therefore, in a medical facility that used a conventional electronic endoscope system, when introducing an electronic endoscope equipped with a high-pixel image sensor, transmission of image signals between an old-type device and a newly-installed device was performed. There is a problem that the peripheral devices cannot be reused because the standards such as the method are different.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope system capable of selecting and outputting a transmission method which is considered to be optimal for maintaining the quality of an image obtained by the electronic endoscope. The purpose is.

[0004]

An electronic endoscope according to the present invention comprises:
An electronic endoscope including an image sensor and detachable from a video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope, wherein an image signal from the image sensor is output as an image signal conforming to different first and second standards. Possible image signal processing means, first signal transmission means used for outputting an image signal conforming to a first standard to a video signal processing apparatus, and video signal processing apparatus for an image signal conforming to a second standard A second signal transmission unit used for output to the video signal processing unit, and a first signal output control unit for controlling output of an image signal conforming to the first and second standards to the video signal processing device. And

[0005] An image signal conforming to the first standard is preferably an analog signal.
It is preferable to use any one of the system, the PAL system, and the SECAM system. As described above, when one of the transmission standards of the image signal complies with the standard for the current television broadcast, it becomes possible to connect to a conventional video signal processing device,
Peripheral devices such as a conventional TV monitor and VCR can also be used.

It is preferable that the image signal conforming to the second standard is an image signal corresponding to a screen display standard for a personal computer. This makes it possible to display a high-resolution image using a personal computer monitor. Further, in order to prevent deterioration of the signal during transmission, it is preferable that the image signal conforming to the second standard is a digital signal. Further, the digital signal is a serial signal in order to save the number of signal lines and to easily use the connector used for connection with the video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope with a conventional connector. Is preferred.

The first signal output control means is preferably controlled based on a control signal from a video signal processing device. This makes it possible to link the signal output from the electronic endoscope device with the video signal processing device. Preferably, the first signal output control means can output one or both of the first and second image signals. Thereby, an optimal output can be obtained as appropriate according to the use conditions of the electronic endoscope system. For example, a plurality of peripheral devices conforming to different standards can be used simultaneously.

Preferably, the first signal output control means controls an output of the image signal processing means, and the first signal output control means can control on / off of the first and second signal transmission means. is there. As a result, the power of a circuit that is not used can be turned off, and power consumption can be suppressed.

Further, the video signal processing apparatus for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention comprises: first and second signal input means capable of inputting image signals conforming to different first and second standards, respectively; It is characterized by comprising first and second signal output means capable of outputting image signals conforming to the first and second standards, respectively.

The image signal input from the first signal input means is preferably an analog signal, and the image signal input from the first signal input means is an NTSC system, PA
This is an image signal of any of the L system and the SECAM system. This makes it possible to connect a conventional electronic endoscope to the video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope of the present invention.

The image signal input from the second signal input means is preferably an image signal corresponding to a screen display standard for a personal computer, and more preferably the image signal input from the second signal input means. Is a digital signal, and this digital signal is a serial signal. Further, the second signal output means preferably includes a plurality of output paths,
At least one of the output paths includes a digital-to-analog converter, and outputs the image signal input from the second signal input unit as an analog image signal conforming to the second standard. Also, at least one output path outputs the digital signal input from the second signal input means as it is. Thereby, it is possible to support more types of peripheral devices.

Preferably, the video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention further comprises second signal output control means for controlling the output of the image signal from the first and second signal output means. It is preferable to include operation input means for operating the driving of the second signal output control means. Thereby, the signal output from the video signal processing device can be appropriately operated and set.

Further, an electronic endoscope system according to the present invention includes at least one of the electronic endoscope according to the present invention and the video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention.

When the electronic endoscope system includes the electronic endoscope of the present invention and the video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope of the present invention, an image signal output from the first signal transmission means. Is input to the first input means, and the image signal output from the second signal output means is preferably input to the second input means. Further, the first signal output control means is controlled in conjunction with the second signal output control means. Thus, an electronic endoscope system that can be driven and controlled integrally can be obtained.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic endoscope system according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 10, a video signal processing device (processor) 30,
It comprises a V monitor 40 and a VGA monitor 70. The electronic endoscope 10 is an electronic endoscope provided with a multi-pixel CCD (imaging device), and can output a digital image signal in addition to an analog image signal. The electronic endoscope 10 is detachably connected to the processor 30, and includes a TV monitor 40 and a VG.
The A monitor 70 is connected to connectors 63 and 64 of each video output terminal of the processor 30 via a video signal cable. In this embodiment, only the TV monitor 40 and the VGA monitor 70 are shown as peripheral devices.
For example, peripheral devices such as a video printer, a VCR, and a computer may be connected to the other output terminal 65 of the processor 30 at the same time.

The electronic endoscope 10 has an elongated and flexible insertion section 11, an operation section 12 for operating the electronic endoscope, a flexible cable section 13, and a connection with the processor 30. And a connector section 20 for performing the operation. Insertion part 11
At the end of the image is a single-color multi-pixel CCD as an image sensor
(For example, 600,000 pixels) 14 and an emission end 15a of the light guide 15 are arranged. The light guide 15 is composed of a bundle of ultra-fine optical fibers, and illumination light is emitted from an emission end 15a which is one end thereof. In the CCD 14, the subject is imaged by the illumination light emitted from the emission end 15a and detected as an image signal. This image signal is based on, for example, the VGA standard (second
Of the cable section 13
Is sent to the connector section 20 of the electronic endoscope 10 via
The signal is input to an H (sample hold) amplifier 21. The S / H amplifier 21 samples and holds the image signal from the CCD 14, amplifies the image signal to an appropriate signal level, and outputs the amplified signal to the video signal processing circuit 22. The video signal processing circuit 22 performs various types of analog and digital signal processing (described later) on the input image signal, for example, NTSC or PA.
Analog image signal (for example, a luminance signal and a color signal Y / C) corresponding to a standard such as L (first standard), or VGA
It can be output as a digital image signal (for example, a luminance / color difference signal YCbCr) corresponding to the standard. Note that the analog image signal is, for example, an ITU601 standard signal and is directly output from the video signal processing circuit 22 to the terminal group. However, the digital image signal is converted into a digital serial signal in the buffer circuit 23 before the terminal group. 27b (described later).

The CCD 14 provided at the distal end of the insertion section 11 in the electronic endoscope 10 is driven and controlled by a CCD drive pulse output from a CCD driver 24 provided in a connector section 20. It is driven based on a clock pulse output from the control circuit 25. Also, the video signal processing circuit 2
2, and the drive of the timing control circuit 25 is controlled by the system control circuit 26. In addition,
The S / H amplifier 21, the video signal processing circuit 22, and the system control circuit 26 include a timing control circuit 25.
Is driven in synchronization with the clock pulse output from.

The operation section 12 of the electronic endoscope 10 is provided with an operation button group (operation switch group) A. The operation of the operation button group A is transmitted to the system control circuit 26 via a signal line. Can be Further, the system control circuit 26 is connected to the system control circuit 33 of the processor 30 via the terminal group 27c.

The processor 30 includes a video signal processing circuit 3
1. System control circuit 33, aperture 35, light source unit 36, lamp control circuit 37, and front panel 3.
It generally consists of eight.

The light source unit 36 is composed of, for example, a xenon lamp (not shown), and the light emitted from the xenon lamp is focused on the entrance end 15 b of the light guide 15 by the stop 3.
The light is condensed through the optical fiber 5, and is incident on each optical fiber from the incident end 15b. The light guide 15 is provided in the electronic endoscope 10, and is provided in the processor 3 of the connector 20.
0, inserted inside the processor 30,
The incident end 15b is arranged at a position where light from the light source unit 36 is collected. As a result, the light is incident on the incident end 15b and transmitted to the distal end (the distal end of the insertion section 11) of the electronic endoscope 10 via each optical fiber constituting the light guide 15, and is emitted as illumination light from the exit end 15a. Is done. Turning on and off of the light source unit 36 is controlled by a lamp control circuit 37.

The video signal processing circuit 31, aperture 35, and lamp control circuit 37 are connected to a system control circuit 33, and are controlled based on a control command from the system control circuit 33. Further, a front panel 38 provided with various operation switches is connected to the system control circuit 33, and a terminal group 27 is provided.
The electronic control unit 10 is connected to a system control circuit 26 provided in the connector unit 20 of the electronic endoscope 10 via the terminal c. Also,
The processor 30 has three connectors 6 for image output.
3, 64 and 65 are provided, and the video signal processing circuit 3
1 is connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in more detail the internal structure of the video signal processing circuit 22 provided in the connector section 20 of the electronic endoscope 10 shown in FIG. Circuits other than the video signal processing circuit 22 include a CCD driver 24,
Only the timing control circuit 25 and the system control circuit 26 are shown, and the others are omitted.

The video signal processing circuit 22 includes a process circuit 5
0, an A / D converter (ADC) 51, a digital process circuit (DSP) 52, and a D / A converter (DAC) 53. The image signal appropriately amplified by the S / H amplifier 21 is first input to the process circuit 50. The process circuit 50 converts the analog image signal output from the CCD 14 into a luminance signal Y and color difference signals U and V (U = BY, V = R
-Y; B (blue), R (red)) image signals, and processes such as amplification, blanking, clamping, white balance, and gamma correction are performed. Analog Y,
The U and V image signals are sent to an A / D converter 51, where they are converted into digital image signals and output to a digital process circuit 52. The luminance signal Y and the color difference signals U and V, which have been converted into digital signals, are temporarily stored as image data in the memory of the digital process circuit 52, and the image data is subjected to down processing, color tone adjustment processing, and edge enhancement. Necessary processing such as processing, noise removal processing, and scaling processing is performed. Thereafter, the image data is separated into, for example, two-system image signals and output. One is that after a down process is performed to reduce the resolution so as to correspond to the video output of the television broadcasting system, the digital signal is converted into a digital luminance signal Y and a color signal C, and the D / A converter 53
Is converted into an analog image signal conforming to the NTSC or PAL system via the terminal and output to the terminal group 27a. Already
One is output from the video signal processing circuit 22 to the buffer 23 as digital luminance / color difference signals (for example, 8 bits) Y, Cb, Cr based on the VGA standard. The digital luminance / color difference signals Y, Cb, and Cr are converted into serial digital signals in the buffer 23 and output to the terminal group 27b.

The process circuit 50 and the A / D converter 5
1. The driving of the digital process circuit 52 and the D / A converter 53 is controlled based on a control command from the system control circuit 26 and a clock signal from the timing control circuit 25.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the buffer 23 shown in FIG. 1 in more detail. Buffer 2
3 includes a P / S conversion circuit (parallel-serial conversion circuit) 55 and a cable driver 56, for example. The 8-bit luminance / color difference signal YCbCr output from the video signal processing circuit 22 is converted into a serial luminance / color difference signal YCbCr by the P / S conversion circuit 55 from the 8-bit parallel signal.
And output to the cable driver 56. From the cable driver 56, the serial luminance / color difference signal YC
bCr forward signal DS + and inverted signal DS− are connected to terminal group 2
7b. The P / S conversion circuit 55 is controlled by the system control circuit 26.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the video signal processing circuit 31 provided in the processor 30 of FIG. 1 in more detail. As circuits other than the video signal processing circuit 31, only the system control circuit 33 is shown, and other circuits are omitted.

The video signal processing circuit 31 includes a buffer 60,
It comprises a color decoder 61 and a D / A conversion circuit 62. The analog luminance signal Y and color signal C input from the video signal processing circuit 22 of the electronic endoscope (scope) 10 via the terminal group 27a are input to the buffer 60.
The luminance signal Y and the chrominance signal C are subjected to processing such as waveform shaping in the buffer 60, and then output directly to the TV monitor 40 or the like via the connector 63. On the other hand, the color decoder 61 is a matrix circuit for converting, for example, a luminance / color difference signal YCbCr of a digital serial signal into an RGB image signal, and its input terminal is connected to the terminal group 27b. The D / A converter 62 can convert a digital RGB image signal input from the color decoder 61 into an analog signal, and can output it as an RGB component signal via the connector 64. The digital luminance / color difference signal YCbCr input from the terminal group 27 b can be directly output via the connector 65. In the connector 65,
For example, a peripheral device such as an image recording device is connected.

The driving of the buffer 60 and the color decoder 61 is controlled by the system control circuit 33. For example, an operator can turn on / off the buffer 60 and the color decoder 61 via the system control circuit 33 by operating switches provided on the front panel 38 (see FIG. 1). Further, the system control circuit 33 can send a control signal to the system control circuit 26 mounted on the connector section 20 of the electronic endoscope 10 in response to a switch operation on the front panel 38. Corresponds to the control signal, the buffer 23 of the electronic endoscope 10, the digital process circuit 52,
The drive of the A converter 53 (see FIG. 2) can be controlled. For example, when only the TV monitor 40 is used for the electronic endoscope observation, the output of the digital image signal from the digital process circuit 52 to the buffer 23 is stopped, and the buffer 23 and the color decoder 61 of the processor 30 are turned off. You. On the other hand, when only the VGA monitor 70 is used, the output of the analog image signal from the digital process circuit 52 to the D / A converter 53 is stopped, and the D / A converter 53 and the buffer 60 are turned off. Set. In addition, for example, for electronic endoscope observation, a VGA monitor 7 is used.
0, and the video image is transmitted to the connector 63, for example.
NTSC or PAL in a VCR etc. connected via
When recording is performed in accordance with the system, the digital process circuit 52 performs both analog and digital image signals (ie, an analog image signal conforming to the NTSC or PAL system and a digital luminance / color difference signal Y, Cb, Cr), and the D / A converter 53, the buffer 60, and the color decoder 61 are all turned on. In addition to this, a combination with various peripheral devices that handle image signals, such as a video printer and a hard disk, is possible.

FIG. 5 shows the connector section 20 and the processor 30.
2 illustrates the shape of a connector 27 used for electrical connection with the connector 27. The connector 27 in this embodiment is of the same type as that used in a conventionally known electronic endoscope system, and includes, for example, 24 terminals. The terminal groups 27a to 27c shown in FIG. 1 are terminal groups assigned to some of these 24 terminals. For example, the terminal group 27a corresponds to the terminals 1 to 4, and the terminal 27b is the terminal 1
5 and 22, the terminal group 27c corresponds to the terminals 9 and 10.
In addition, terminals are allocated for power and ground, for example. The terminal group 27b is a terminal group that is not used in, for example, a conventional electronic endoscope or a processor, and terminals other than the terminal group 27b are common to conventional terminals.
That is, the processor 30 of the present embodiment can be connected to a conventional electronic endoscope, and the electronic endoscope 10 can be connected to a conventional processor. If either the electronic endoscope or the processor is a conventional device, the NTSC or PSC
Only an analog image signal according to the AL method is output to a peripheral device such as a monitor via a processor.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the transmission path of the analog signal for the image signal conforming to the standard of the current television system (NTSC, PAL system, etc.) and the image corresponding to the high pixel CCD An electronic endoscope and a video signal processing device (processor) for an electronic endoscope including a transmission path of a digital signal for a signal (an image signal conforming to the VGA standard or the like) are obtained. By appropriately selecting these transmission paths, it becomes possible to output a high-resolution video image picked up by a high-pixel CCD under optimal conditions as much as possible in accordance with the connected peripheral device. Further, since an image signal conforming to the VGA standard or the like is sent as a digital signal from the electronic endoscope to the video signal processing device, it is possible to prevent signal deterioration.

In this embodiment, the electronic endoscope 10
The CCD 14 provided in the camera can support the VGA standard, and the image signal processing in the electronic endoscope and the video signal processing device and the monitor also support the VGA standard.
It may correspond to a higher resolution standard such as the VGA standard or the XGA standard. In this embodiment,
Although the NTSC system and the PAL system have been described as examples of the current TV broadcast transmission standard, the SECAM system may be used.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic endoscope system capable of selecting and outputting a transmission method which seems to be optimal for maintaining the image quality of an image obtained by the electronic endoscope. Obtainable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a circuit configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a connector section 2 of the electronic endoscope 10 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a video signal processing circuit 22 provided in a block 0.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a buffer 23 provided in the connector unit 20 shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a video signal processing circuit 31 provided in the video signal processing device (processor) 30 shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a shape and a terminal (pin) arrangement of a connector 27 used for electrical connection between the electronic endoscope 10 and a video signal processing device (processor) 30.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 electronic endoscope (scope) 14 CCD 22 video signal processing circuit 23 buffer 26 system control circuit 30 video signal processing device (processor) 52 digital process circuit

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Iriyama 2-36-9 Maeno-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Gaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H040 BA00 GA02 GA05 GA11 4C061 CC06 DD03 MM02 NN01 NN05 NN07 SS11 SS30 VV04 YY03 YY04 5C054 CC07 EA05 EH04 EH07 FB03 FE01 FF03 HA12

Claims (22)

[Claims] An electronic endoscope including an image pickup device and detachably attached to a video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope, wherein an image signal from the image pickup device conforms to different first and second standards. An image signal processing unit capable of outputting as a compliant image signal; a first signal transmission unit used to output an image signal compliant with the first standard to the video signal processing device; A second signal transmission unit that is used to output a compliant image signal to the video signal processing device; and a second signal transmission unit that controls output of the image signal compliant with the first and second standards to the video signal processing device. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: one signal output control unit. 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image signal conforming to the first standard is an analog signal. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first standard is an NTSC system, a PAL system.
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus is any one of a system and a SECAM system. 4. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image signal conforming to the second standard is an image signal conforming to a screen display standard for a personal computer. 5. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image signal conforming to the second standard is a digital signal. 6. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the digital signal is a serial signal. 7. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein the first signal output control means is controlled based on a control signal from the video signal processing device. 8. The first signal output control means according to claim 1, wherein
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second image signals can be output. 9. An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first signal output control means controls an output of said image signal processing means. 10. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first signal output control means can control on / off of the first and second signal transmission means. . 11. A first and second signal input means capable of inputting image signals conforming to different first and second standards, respectively, and an image signal conforming to the first and second standards, respectively. An image signal processing device for an electronic endoscope, comprising: first and second signal output means capable of outputting. 12. The video signal processing device according to claim 11, wherein the image signal input from the first signal input means is an analog signal. 13. The internal electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the image signal input from the first signal input means is an image signal of one of the standards of the NTSC system, the PAL system, and the SECAM system. Video signal processing device for endoscope. 14. The signal processing for an electronic endoscope according to claim 11, wherein the image signal input from the second signal input means is an image signal corresponding to a screen display standard for a personal computer. apparatus. 15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image signal input from the second signal input means is a digital signal. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the digital signal is a serial signal. 17. The second signal output means includes a plurality of output paths, at least one of the output paths includes a digital-to-analog conversion means, and converts the image signal input from the second signal input means to the second signal input means. 16. An image signal according to claim 15, wherein the digital signal is output as an analog image signal conforming to the second standard, and at least one of the output paths directly outputs the digital signal input from the second signal input means. Video signal processing device for electronic endoscope. 18. The image for an electronic endoscope according to claim 11, further comprising second signal output control means for controlling output of image signals from said first and second signal output means. Signal processing device. 19. The video signal processing device for an electronic endoscope according to claim 18, further comprising operation input means for operating the driving of said second signal output control means. 20. The electronic endoscope according to claim 1 or claim 1.
An electronic endoscope system comprising at least one of the electronic endoscope video signal processing devices according to claim 1. 21. When the electronic endoscope and the electronic endoscope video signal processing device are provided, an image signal output from the first signal transmission unit is input to the first input unit, 21. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 20, wherein an image signal output from the second signal output unit is input to the second input unit. 22. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 20, wherein said first signal output control means is controlled in conjunction with said second signal output control means.