JP2006122335A - Camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera device capable of irradiating a subject with illumination light and excitation light for extracting an abnormal region, and photographing the abnormal region present in the subject. <P>SOLUTION: An illumination light irradiating means 5 for illuminating the subject and an excitation light means 6 for radiating the excitation light with such wavelength as can extract the abnormal region present in the subject are disposed on the front face of a camera body 1 of a generally used digital camera. The irradiation by the illumination light irradiation means or by the excitation light irradiating means is selected by a switch SW1, and the balance between the irradiation quantities is adjusted by a switch SW2. A filter F for excluding the excitation light is disposed in a camera light receiving part 2, so that the image of the abnormal region in the captured image is clearly projected. Both the illumination light and the excitation light are applied at the same time, or either light is selected to be applied so that a condition for photography can be selected, and therefore, a general user without any special skill can easily photograph the abnormal region present in the subject. The camera function is applicable to other cameras such as a silver-salt-type camera, a video camera, or a cellular phone with the camera function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera device capable of extracting and photographing an anomalous portion of a subject using a silver salt camera, a digital camera, a video camera, a camera-equipped portable device having a normal photographing function, and the like. The present invention relates to a camera device that can irradiate illumination light that illuminates a subject in the oral cavity and excitation light that can extract anomalous parts such as caries generated in the subject, and can easily photograph the abnormal part in the oral cavity.

  Conventionally, for example, in dentistry, dentists are to perform intraoral procedures such as tooth cutting, removal of plaque and tartar, cleaning of a treatment site, and collection of cutting waste and saliva. At this time, a surgical operation is performed on the affected area after turning on a surgical light separately installed on a medical table and illuminating the oral cavity. The same applies to examinations or treatments other than the oral cavity.

  However, depending on the posture of the patient, the treatment site, and the working direction of a worker such as a dentist, the illumination in the oral cavity or affected area may be insufficient, making observation difficult. Position adjustment work is required, leading to a decrease in workability of medical care.

  Thus, in recent years, for example, various lighting devices have been developed that improve the workability reduction of medical treatment or treatment due to lack of intraoral lighting. Many of these lighting devices are provided with a light source inside the handpiece so that the inside of the oral cavity can be illuminated during medical treatment.

  For example, a contra-angle type dental / medical handpiece has been developed in which a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged so as to surround a tool attached to a tool mounting portion. With these LEDs, the affected area under medical care can be brightly and shadowlessly illuminated over a wide range of 360 degrees around the tool. In this handpiece, power for lighting the plurality of LEDs is supplied by a flexible lead wire or a flexible substrate wiring disposed in the handpiece body.

  When such a handpiece is used, the affected area under medical treatment can be brightly and shadowlessly illuminated. However, it may be difficult to determine whether the illuminated affected area is in a state to be treated. Therefore, a diagnostic device that makes it possible to detect the anomalous part by utilizing the fact that fluorescent light is emitted when the anomalous part such as caries, plaque, bacterial infection, crack, tartar, etc. is irradiated with excitation light of a specific wavelength. Have been developed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  More specifically, Patent Document 1 discloses that the excitation light having a wavelength of 360 nm to 580 nm is irradiated on the teeth by combining a laser, a halogen lamp, and a filter, and fluorescence generated from caries or the like is passed through the filter to the naked eye. And a configuration for detection by a camera. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a diagnostic laser that emits excitation light that emits fluorescence when irradiated on a caries part, a detection evaluation device, and a display device are combined, and the caries site is confirmed by the fluorescence. Thus, an apparatus has been disclosed in which diagnosis and treatment can be performed by irradiating a carious portion with a treatment laser.

  Patent Document 3 discloses an endoscope that can irradiate excitation light that can selectively irradiate a plurality of optimal excitation light to an organ having a disease such as cancer and white light for observation in a fluorescence observation apparatus for general medical use. A configuration including a camera that detects fluorescence in a mirror is disclosed. The thing of this patent document 3 uses the detection camera which makes a detection adapter provided with a fluorescence detection filter detachable with respect to a camera, and can be replaced | exchanged for an optimal filter.

  Furthermore, since the fluorescence is very weak light, when observing only the fluorescence image, the image of the healthy part cannot be observed in a natural color tone, and the abnormal part is located in any part of the healthy part. It was difficult to judge how it was distributed. On the other hand, when observed by irradiating only white light, the healthy part can be observed with a natural color tone, but the fluorescence from the anomalous part is buried in white light and is difficult to discriminate.

  Here, as a camera device in which a filter is incorporated in the light receiving part of the camera to make it easy to identify an abnormal part, it is used in an abnormal part in the oral cavity such as caries, plaque, bacterial infection, crack, tartar, or a living tissue such as an organ. Fluorescence observation devices have been developed that take advantage of the fact that fluorescence is generated when the anomalous portion is irradiated with excitation light of a specific wavelength (for example, patent documents) 4 and 5).

  In this fluorescence observation apparatus, when observing an abnormal portion in the oral cavity, excitation light including a wavelength of 300 to 550 nm is irradiated from the LED to the teeth, and the fluorescence generated from the abnormal portion is transmitted only through the wavelength region of the fluorescence. Light is received through the filter. Here, the difference between the wavelength of the reflected light from the tooth portion and the wavelength of the reflected light from the anomalous portion is captured as a color difference on the image, and the state of the anomalous portion can be observed and photographed.

  On the other hand, in a camera device such as a silver salt camera or a digital camera or a mobile phone with a camera function, the camera body is provided with an LED group composed of a plurality of LEDs that emit red, green, and blue light. It has been proposed to use a light source as an illumination means at the time of photographing (see, for example, Patent Documents 6 and 7). In the camera device disclosed in Patent Document 6, individual LEDs can be turned on and off and the amount of each light emission can be adjusted by controlling the MPU. By selectively lighting each LED by MPU control, it is possible to give a filter effect, and the light quantity can be adjusted by changing the number of light emission of LEDs, so it is necessary to replace or carry around the desired filter Is lost.

  Further, in a mobile phone with a camera function, it is known that a white light LED is used as a light source instead of a strobe using a large-capacitance capacitor as illumination means at the time of photographing (for example, Patent Document 8). In this cellular phone, when white light is irradiated on the subject, the amount of light incident through the lens of the camera is detected, and the light emission gain of the white light LED is adjusted according to the detected amount of light. It has become.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-337142 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-314194 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-328129 JP 2004-89238 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-328129 JP 2003-66519 A JP 2004-71807 A JP 2003-333420 A

  In the examination apparatus disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above and the fluorescence observation apparatuses disclosed in Patent Documents 4 and 5, when an abnormal part exists in a site irradiated with excitation light, fluorescence is emitted. It was possible to judge the occurrence with the naked eye or a camera function such as a CCD sensor. However, each device is specially designed for diagnosis or observation of the abnormal part, and these devices are handled by specialized workers such as doctors and dentists. It cannot be handled by ordinary people.

  As in the fluorescence observation apparatus as described above, the fluorescence image generated by the irradiation of excitation light can be converted into an image of the camera function, and it is generally used widely, paying attention to the examination or observation of the anomalous part. Camera devices such as silver halide cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, and mobile phones with camera functions are equipped with a camera function that can capture fluorescent images related to anomalous areas so that ordinary people can easily observe the anomalous areas. There was no such observation device.

  With such an observation device, it is only necessary to incorporate a camera function that can take a fluorescent image related to the anomalous part into the normal camera function originally provided in the camera device used in the past. There is no need to. Even the general public receives fluorescence by excitation light at any place when necessary, such as caries, plaque, bacterial infection, cracks, calculus and other abnormalities in the oral cavity and skin abnormalities. The image can be observed or photographed.

  Incidentally, the camera devices disclosed in Patent Documents 6 to 8 have a configuration capable of irradiating illumination light for photographing a subject, and have only a normal camera function. For this reason, since there is no configuration for irradiating excitation light having a wavelength capable of extracting the anomalous portion, the image relating to the anomalous portion existing in the object cannot be photographed.

  Therefore, in the present invention, both the illumination light irradiation means for illuminating the subject and the excitation light means for emitting the excitation light having a wavelength capable of extracting the anomalous portion existing in the subject are generally widely used. Provided in camera devices such as cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, mobile phones with camera functions, etc. so that the illumination light quantity of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means can be adjusted, and the illumination light that illuminates the subject and the subject The excitation light that can extract the anomalous part that has occurred can be irradiated at the same time or by selecting one of them, and even an ordinary person without a special skill can easily photograph the anomaly part that exists in the subject. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera device that can clearly grasp a part.

  In order to solve the problems described above, in the camera device of the present invention, a camera light receiving unit for photographing a subject, illumination light irradiation means for irradiating the subject with illumination light from the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit, and the camera Excitation light irradiating means for irradiating the object from the vicinity of the light receiving unit and irradiating excitation light having a wavelength for extracting the anomalous part.

  The illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means can simultaneously irradiate the subject with the illumination light and the excitation light, and at least one of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means has an irradiation light amount. A light amount adjusting means for adjusting is provided.

  The camera light receiving unit includes a filter that excludes the excitation light reflected from the subject, and the filter is detachably attached to the front surface of the camera light receiving unit.

  The wavelength of the excitation light is selected from a near ultraviolet region of 400 ± 30 nm, a blue region of 470 ± 30 nm, a red region of 700 ± 100 nm, an infrared region, or a near infrared region, and the filter is the selected region It transmits light other than the wavelength.

  Further, the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means have a light source comprising a light emitting means including any of an LED, a laser diode, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a krypton lamp, or a sodium lamp. ing.

  The excitation light irradiating means is capable of switching the wavelength of light to be radiated, and has an irradiation filter that transmits specific light emitted from a light source selected from the light emitting means. It is detachably attached to the excitation light irradiation means.

  The excitation light irradiation means includes a light source that generates light having a plurality of different wavelengths, and an irradiation drive means that selectively generates light having different wavelengths by driving the light sources.

  Each of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means includes a plurality of light sources, and the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape around the camera light receiving unit.

  An attachment light receiving portion that receives reflected light from the subject; and an attachment portion that can be detachably attached to the camera light receiving portion, and includes an attachment member that guides the reflected light to the camera light receiving portion. The light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means are attached in the vicinity of the attachment light receiving unit.

  Each of the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit includes a plurality of light sources, and the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape around the attachment light receiving unit, and the attachment light receiving unit includes: Are directed in a direction different from the axial direction of the camera light receiving unit.

  The excitation light irradiation means is driven to emit light in conjunction with a shutter operation, or the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means are continuously driven to emit light in conjunction with an operation of a shutter switch.

  The illumination light irradiation means is continuously driven to emit light by the first operation of the shutter switch, and the excitation light irradiation means drives emission of at least one excitation light by the second operation of the shutter switch. Is done.

  When the shutter operates continuously, the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means automatically irradiate the illumination light and at least one or more excitation lights a plurality of times, or the illumination light irradiation The means and the excitation light irradiation means are driven to emit light by time-sharing control, and alternately irradiate the illumination light and at least one or more excitation lights.

  The illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means are driven to alternately emit the simultaneous illumination of the illumination light and the excitation light and the single illumination of the illumination light by time division control, and the illumination light. An image received by simultaneous irradiation with the excitation light and an image received by single irradiation of the illumination light are individually and individually processed.

  The excitation light irradiating means includes a light source that emits excitation light having a wavelength capable of extracting the anomalous portion in the oral cavity.

  The camera light receiving unit is provided in any one of a silver salt camera, a digital camera, a video camera, and a mobile device with a camera function.

  As described above, according to the camera device of the present invention, the illumination light irradiating means for irradiating the subject with illumination light from the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit for photographing the subject, and the excitation light for irradiating the subject and extracting the anomalous portion In addition, the illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means can irradiate the subject with the illumination light and the excitation light simultaneously or selectively, and the illumination light Since at least one of the irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means has a light quantity adjusting means for adjusting the irradiation light quantity, the photographing condition of the subject can be easily selected. It can be easily incorporated into any of salt cameras, digital cameras, video cameras, and portable devices with camera functions.

  In addition, the image obtained by the conventional fluorescence observation apparatus only shows the situation of the anomalous part itself in the subject, and cannot grasp the surrounding situation of the anomalous part. In such a situation, even if only the anomalous part is projected on the image, it is clear not only for the general public but also for the professional worker, for example, in which position of the tooth and what kind of situation it is It was difficult to judge. However, according to the camera device of the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously illuminate the illumination light and the excitation light, and further adjust the light quantity balance of each light, so that in addition to the image related to the anomalous portion, It can be observed including images, and the images can be taken.

  In general, a silver halide camera or a digital camera that is widely used, when shooting a subject in a dark place, usually a strobe device mounted on the camera emits light. However, for example, when photographing the intraoral area with a camera, the camera is brought close to the mouth. Therefore, the amount of light emitted by the strobe device is too large to be suitable for photographing, and fluorescence from the anomalous part is emitted. Even if it occurs, the characteristics of the anomalous portion are buried in the light of the strobe device, making it difficult to photograph the anomalous portion.

  However, according to the camera device of the present invention, instead of the strobe device provided in the conventional camera, the illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means whose light quantity balance is adjusted are arranged in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit for photographing the subject. If the camera device is directed toward the subject, each irradiation means also faces in that direction, and the subject is irradiated with light adjusted to an appropriate amount of light, or in a dark and deep place such as in the oral cavity Even if it exists, since it was set as the structure which can mount | wear with the attachment member which brings the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means close to the said subject, according to the environmental conditions of a to-be-photographed object, an anomaly part can be image | photographed in the optimal state.

  In addition, according to the camera device of the present invention, the filter that excludes the excitation light is detachably mounted on the front surface of the camera light receiving unit, so that, for example, in order to strengthen the fluorescent image reflected from the subject, Even when the amount of excitation light applied to the subject is increased, the excitation light reflected from the subject is cut by the filter at the camera light receiving unit, so the exposure time of the camera device is mainly the illumination light. Depending on the amount of light, the image of the anomalous part due to fluorescence is clearly projected in the image of the subject photographed appropriately.

  It is known that the abnormal part in the oral cavity can be extracted by irradiating the oral cavity with the excitation light and detecting the fluorescence reflected light due to the action of the excitation light. Already mentioned. Here, the camera device according to the present invention is also characterized by abnormal parts such as caries, plaque, bacterial infection, cracks, tartar, etc. generated in the oral cavity or acne generated on the skin by irradiation of excitation light. The purpose of the present invention is to extract the image and to use the shooting function of a general camera so that an image related to the anomalous part can be taken and observed. Before explaining the form, the principle that anomalous portions occurring in the oral cavity, skin, etc. can be extracted characteristically and examples of common application methods will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, FIG. 15 shows a graph for explaining the fluorescence emission states of health enamel and caries enamel with respect to irradiation with excitation light having a wavelength of 406 nm. When the excitation light having a specific wavelength is irradiated to the tooth, the state of the fluorescent reflected wave that affects the state of the tooth is shown. In the figure, the radiation intensity I expressed in terms of the relative value of the radiation reflected by the tooth for the wavelength expressed in nm in the case of healthy tooth enamel and in the case of carious tooth enamel. Is plotted. The incident radiation, ie the excitation light, has a wavelength of 406 nm.

  As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 15, the illustrated curves are different from each other. In particular, the radiation intensity curve showing the reflected light on the enamel of the carious tooth shows the intensity of three large peaks at 636 nm, 673 nm and 700 nm. In contrast, it is known that the radiation intensity of healthy enamel gradually decreases as the wavelength increases. Thus, by using the difference in fluorescence behavior for excitation light of a specific wavelength between enamel of healthy teeth and enamel of carious teeth, qualitative and quantitative diagnosis of carious teeth can be performed.

  FIG. 16 shows a graph for explaining the fluorescence emission states of health enamel and caries enamel with respect to irradiation of excitation light with a wavelength of 488 nm. When the excitation light having a specific wavelength is irradiated to the tooth, the state of the fluorescent reflected wave that affects the state of the tooth is shown. In FIG. 16, the radiation intensity represented by the relative value of the radiation reflected by the tooth for the wavelength expressed in nm in the case of healthy tooth enamel and in the case of carious tooth enamel is shown. It is plotted. The incident radiation irradiated in this case, that is, the excitation light has a wavelength of 488 nm.

  As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 16, the illustrated curves are different from each other, but the difference is different from the graph shown in FIG. That is, in the graph of FIG. 16, although the radiation intensity curves of the healthy enamel and the carious enamel are both peaks near the wavelength of the excitation light, the heights of the peaks are different. From this, qualitative and quantitative observation of carious teeth can be performed using the difference in fluorescence reflection intensity for excitation light of a specific wavelength between enamel of healthy teeth and enamel of carious teeth. Can do.

  By taking such an image based on the fluorescence reflected light by utilizing the difference in fluorescence behavior or the difference in reflection intensity with respect to the radiation irradiated to the healthy enamel and the carious enamel, the teeth are obtained. In addition to qualitative and quantitative observation of carious teeth, the state and shape of caries can be displayed in addition to determining whether the patient is healthy or caries.

  Accordingly, FIG. 17 shows an example of an image photographed when the above-described excitation light is actually applied to an abnormal part in a tooth, for example, a tooth having caries or having calculus or plaque adhered thereto. Indicated. In the drawing, the dentition in the oral cavity is shown as an example, and the dentition composed of the teeth T1 to T4 is typically shown. In the image of FIG. 17, the case where the caries site | parts A1 and A2 exist in teeth T2 and T3 is illustrated. The caries site A1 is a case where the caries are completely carved into a large hole shape (shown by a solid line), and the caries site A2 is a case where the inside of the tooth is affected (shown by a broken line).

  Here, when excitation light having a specific wavelength selected is irradiated, fluorescent reflected light is generated from the teeth. Since the fluorescence generated from the caries site is weak, it is difficult to visually recognize the fluorescence site unless a filter that cuts excitation light is used. When the caries site is viewed with the naked eye without using a filter, the caries site A1 can be discriminated as long as a certain degree of caries has advanced, but the caries site A2 is often indistinguishable. At this time, as shown in the graph of FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, since the fluorescence reflection intensity is different between the healthy part and the caries part, the treatment operator can wear glasses or goggles having a filter function capable of detecting the fluorescence reflected light. However, when the portion irradiated with the excitation light is photographed by the photographing device, the caries sites A1 and A2 shown in FIG. 17 can be distinguished from other healthy portions on the photographing screen. .

  Examples of anomalous parts related to teeth include caries sites, soft dentin, calculus, dental plaque, biofilm, defects, cracks, etc., but when these anomalous parts are irradiated, differences in fluorescence behavior or reflection intensity Specific wavelengths showing the difference in the light include light in the near ultraviolet region of 405 ± 50 nm, blue region of 470 ± 30 nm, red region of 700 ± 100 nm, infrared region, or near infrared region. It is not limited. Note that light in the infrared region or near infrared region may be used as excitation light, but it is also possible to observe the reflected light of the infrared itself. The above is an example, and the excitation light used in the camera device of the present invention is not limited to this.

  These lights can be easily generated by using light emitting means such as semiconductor laser elements including LEDs (light emitting diodes) and LDs (laser diodes), and these light emitting elements are formed on a light emitting element module having a lens portion. It is formed and can be used as a small light source. A white light LED may be used as the LED. Besides these, as excitation light emitting means or white light emitting means, a broad wavelength including white light by a lamp light source such as a halogen lamp, a metal halide lamp, a mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, a krypton lamp or a sodium lamp is used. You can also use the light you have. This can be realized by combining an optical filter that can extract a predetermined wavelength.

  For example, excitation light having a wavelength of 405 nm as described above can be used for the caries site, and can be detected by fluorescence from the caries site, and soft dentin can also be detected by fluorescence by irradiation of the excitation light. Calculus, dental plaque, and biofilm can also be detected by fluorescence from calculus and dental plaque when irradiated with excitation light. In addition, regarding tartar and dental plaque, the state of adhesion is well known, and therefore, the presence of tartar and dental plaque can be confirmed by irradiating infrared light with which the detailed form is well understood.

  For detection of tartar, plaque, and biofilm, it can be clearly distinguished when irradiated with light of 400 ± 30 nm, preferably 405 nm or 375 nm, and if taken through an optical filter that passes a long wavelength of 450 nm or more, The irradiated excitation light having a wavelength of 400 ± 30 nm, preferably 405 nm or 375 nm is cut, so that a clearer image can be taken. Note that this cutoff wavelength is an example, and the camera device of the present invention is not limited to this.

  In addition, when green light is irradiated, defects, cracks, etc. can be photographed more clearly. Furthermore, since the intensity of light reflection and the degree of absorption differ for different parts, light with a wavelength with a significant difference in reflection / absorption is irradiated and images are taken based on the difference, thereby imaging the anomalous part. You can also check it.

  The optical filter does not completely exclude the excitation light, but may limit it. If only fluorescence is present, it is easy to visually recognize the anomalous part, but it is difficult to visually recognize the healthy part. Therefore, if the light in the region including the wavelength of the excitation light is also present to some extent, it is easier to visually recognize the healthy part. . However, even if this is sufficient for visually recognizing a healthy part, if the healthy part is to be clearly photographed, the amount of light may be insufficient due to the camera's shooting function. It is better to add lighting by.

  Further, only the fluorescent reflected light is detected at the time of photographing the anomalous portion, and in the photographed image, the state of the anomalous portion appears to appear, and the peripheral portion appears dark. Therefore, although the abnormal part becomes clear, the situation of the other healthy part cannot be grasped, and the exact position of the abnormal part cannot be recognized. Therefore, the camera apparatus of the present invention is configured to illuminate the subject with white light so that the peripheral portion can be clearly photographed.

  However, when the wavelength of the excitation light applied to the anomalous part is in the visible light region, the anomaly may be changed on the photographed image without using an instrument having a filter function for detecting fluorescent reflected light. The portion can be observed in a color different from the surrounding color, and the situation around the anomalous portion can be grasped according to the color of the excitation light. In the case of monochrome photography instead of color photography, it becomes difficult to see because it is a grayscale image.

  In addition, with a filter function that eliminates the transmission of excitation light, in the captured image, the situation of the abnormal part can be recognized by the fluorescence reflected light from the abnormal part, and furthermore, only the excitation light is irradiated Can grasp the situation around the anomalous part by the scattered light entering the oral cavity from the outside without being disturbed by the irradiation of the excitation light. Alternatively, even when both excitation light and illumination white light are radiated, the situation of the anomalous part can be accurately grasped, and the surroundings of the anomaly part become brighter, making it easier to recognize the situation, Optimal exposure can be obtained when shooting.

  Further, only one light emitting element that emits light of a predetermined wavelength may be provided, but if a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light having different wavelengths are provided, the light emitting element can be driven by operating the changeover switch. By controlling, it is possible to realize an irradiation pattern such as selective irradiation of only excitation light having a specific wavelength, switching irradiation to excitation light having a different wavelength, or switching irradiation between illumination light and excitation light. In the case of switching irradiation between illumination light and excitation light, illumination in the oral cavity and extraction of anomalous portions can be performed simultaneously by time-division lighting control of illumination light and excitation light.

  In addition, although the example in the case of image | photographing the unusual part in an intraoral was demonstrated above, when a subject is irradiated with the excitation light which has a specific wavelength, the phenomenon which emits fluorescence reflected light by the effect | action of the excitation light If there is an object, it is not limited to the subject in the oral cavity, and when the subject is irradiated with excitation light, an image characteristically extracted from the anomalous portion can be acquired by photographing the subject. .

  For example, in the case of acne on the skin of the human body, fluorescence is generated when excitation light is irradiated due to the presence of acne bacteria. can do. Thus, when fluorescence is generated by irradiation with excitation light, the above-described method can be widely applied.

  Next, an embodiment of a camera device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The camera device according to the present invention uses a photographing function in a portable terminal such as a silver salt or digital camera, a video camera, a mobile phone equipped with a digital camera function, and the like, which are generally used. An illumination light irradiation means and an excitation light irradiation means are provided in the vicinity of the camera light receiving portion in the main body of the camera device, and the excitation light is also emitted while irradiating the subject with illumination light adjusted to a light amount suitable for photographing. When the subject can be photographed, an image related to the subject can be acquired, and the anomalous portion existing in the subject image can be clearly shown.

  Specific examples relating to the embodiment of the camera device according to the present invention will be described separately in Examples 1 to 3. The first embodiment is applied to a silver salt camera, a digital camera, and a video camera. The second embodiment is applied to a mobile phone with a camera function. And Example 3 shows the light quantity adjustment means which can be integrated in said various Example. In each example, a specific example is shown.

  In the first embodiment, a case where the present invention is applied to various still cameras that are generally used will be described. These still cameras originally used natural light from sunlight during the day, or strobe lighting at night or in the dark to capture the subject. Although it is provided with the provided camera light receiving unit, for example, it is not configured to be able to take an image that can characteristically extract the abnormal part in the oral cavity.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, the illumination function for illuminating the subject and the anomaly part are provided so that an image capable of characteristically extracting the anomaly part in the oral cavity can be taken using the imaging function of the existing still camera. A camera apparatus having an excitation light irradiation means that can irradiate a subject that is supposed to exist with an excitation light and a filter that eliminates the excitation light, and the filter is attached and detached so that the filter is positioned in front of the camera light receiving unit that captures the subject A configuration that can be freely mounted.

  FIG. 1 shows a specific example 1 according to the camera apparatus of the first embodiment. Specific example 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a case where the present invention is applied to a silver salt camera, and an external view of the camera is shown. In general, a general silver halide camera is provided with a camera light receiving unit 2 including a lens system for photographing a subject and a finder 3 used by a user at the time of photographing on the front surface of the camera body 1. Further, a white light emitting strobe device 5 used for photographing at night or in a dark place is also provided in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit 2. A shutter button 4 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1.

  In the camera device of the first specific example, a blue light emitting strobe device is used as an excitation light irradiating unit that can irradiate a subject considered to have an anomalous portion with an excitation light so that an image that can characteristically extract the anomalous portion in the oral cavity can be taken. 6 is provided adjacent to the white light emitting strobe device 5 that functions as illumination light irradiation means. A filter F that excludes excitation light is detachably attached to the front surface of the camera light-receiving unit 2 that captures the subject.

  On the upper surface of the camera body 1, a light source selection switch SW1 and a light amount adjustment switch SW2 are arranged. These switches are not necessarily arranged on the upper surface of the camera body 1 and may be arranged on the other surface of the camera body 1 in consideration of user convenience. The light source selection switch SW1 switches on / off of the blue light emission strobe device 6, or switches the illumination light single irradiation mode, the excitation light single irradiation mode, or both the illumination light and excitation light irradiation modes. But it ’s okay.

  The light amount adjustment switch SW2 is configured to allow the user to adjust the light emission amounts of the white light emission strobe device 5 and the blue light emission strobe device 6 in response to the switching operation of the light source selection switch SW1. The amount of light emitted by the blue light emission strobe device 6 is adjusted in consideration of the darkness of the photographed image by looking at the state of fluorescence by the excitation light. Usually, since a still camera is equipped with an automatic exposure control function, when the light amount adjustment switch SW2 is operated, the automatic exposure control function may be canceled. Also, for example, when shooting an abnormal part in the oral cavity, close-up shooting is performed, so the guide number of the white light-emitting strobe device 5 set normally is too large. It can also be reduced so that the amount of light is suitable for shooting.

  In the specific example 1 of FIG. 1, the white light emitting strobe device 5 and the blue light emitting strobe device 6 are used together. However, instead of the blue light emitting strobe device 6, for example, a red light emitting strobe device such as red, Alternatively, a light emitting element such as an LED that can emit excitation light can be used as the illumination light irradiation means.

  Specific example 1 in FIG. 1 is a case where the camera apparatus of the present invention is applied to a silver salt camera, but the case where the camera apparatus of the present invention is applied to a digital camera is shown in FIG. . FIG. 2 shows an external view of the camera. In general, a digital camera has a camera light receiving unit 2 including a lens system for digitally photographing a subject on the front surface of the camera body 1 and a user photographing the same as the configuration of the silver halide camera shown in FIG. A finder 3 is sometimes used. A filter F that excludes excitation light is detachably attached to the front surface of the camera light-receiving unit 2 that captures the subject.

  The specific example 2 shown in FIG. 1 is different from the specific example 2 shown in FIG. 2 in that the white LED irradiating means 7 as the illumination light irradiating means and the blue light emitting LED irradiating as the excitation light irradiating means. Means. The light source selection switch SW1 and the light amount adjustment switch SW2 have the same functions as the switches in the first specific example.

  The camera devices of specific examples 1 and 2 according to the first embodiment described so far irradiate the subject with light toward the front of the camera light receiving unit of the camera, and shoot the subject. The tip of the light receiving unit is separated from the subject to some extent. Therefore, the illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means provided in the camera device emit light from a position away from the subject, and the amount of light emitted from each irradiating means must be increased. Depending on the case, the irradiation intensity may be insufficient.

  Therefore, FIGS. 3A and 3B show an attachment member 9 that can be detachably attached to a camera light receiving portion of a normal still camera as a third specific example. 3A shows an enlarged view of the distal end portion of the attachment member 9, and FIG. 3B shows an axial longitudinal sectional view of the attachment member 9. The attachment member 9 includes an attachment light receiving portion 91 at one end, and an attachment mounting portion 92 that can be detachably mounted to the camera light receiving portion 2 at the other end on the opposite side.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the attachment light receiving part 91 is directed in different directions with respect to the axis of the attachment member 9. In the figure, an example is shown that is oriented in a perpendicular direction, but the attachment light receiving portion 91 may be oriented in the axial direction. A light emitting element L1 of a white light LED serving as a light source as an illumination light irradiating unit and a light emitting element L2 of a blue light emitting LED serving as an excitation light irradiating unit surround the light receiving surface at the distal end of the attachment light receiving unit 91. A plurality of tips are arranged on the periphery of the tip. A filter F that excludes excitation light is detachably attached to the light receiving surface of the attachment light receiving unit 91.

  For the light emitting elements L1 and L2, a light source including any one of a laser diode, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a krypton lamp, and a sodium lamp can be used in addition to the LED. A light source that emits excitation light having different wavelengths can be used, and excitation light having a specific wavelength can be emitted by selecting an irradiation filter.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, an attachment lens 27 is disposed in the vicinity of the attachment mounting portion 92 inside the attachment member 9, and a prism 94 is disposed in the vicinity of the attachment light receiving portion 91. Close-up photography with a camera is possible. Therefore, for example, the attachment member 9 is inserted to the back of the oral cavity, and light can be irradiated near the teeth, close-up photography of the back teeth, etc. can be easily performed, and anomalous portions can be easily extracted.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the attachment member 9 of the specific example 3 is attached to a normal camera, for example, a silver salt camera, a digital camera, or the like. The light emitting elements L1 and L2 provided in the light receiving portion of the attachment member 9 have the functions of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means in the specific examples 1 and 2, and the light source selection provided in the camera body 1 With the switch SW1 and the light amount adjustment switch SW2, the light emitting elements L1 and L2 are selectively lit by the same operation as in the specific examples 1 and 2, and their light amounts are also adjusted.

  When the orientation of the attachment light receiving portion 91 of the attachment member 9 is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the attachment member 9 as shown in the figure, the attachment mounting portion 92 causes the attachment member 9 itself to move relative to the camera body. If the camera body is provided so as to be rotatable, the camera body itself can be rotated using the camera device in response to, for example, taking a picture of the upper side of the oral cavity or taking a picture of the lower side. In addition, the orientation of the attachment light receiving unit 92 can be changed, and the intraoral imaging can be performed with a stable posture.

  FIG. 5 shows a specific example 4 in which the camera device of the present invention is applied to a video camera. In the specific examples 1 and 2, the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit are disposed in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit 2 on the front surface of the camera body 1. However, when the camera device of the present invention is incorporated in a video camera that is normally used, there is no space for arranging the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means in the front portion of the video camera. Therefore, in the case of the camera device of the specific example 4, like the attachment light receiving unit of the specific example 3, the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit are arranged on the light receiving surface.

  As shown in FIG. 5, at the periphery of the distal end portion of the camera light receiving unit 22 on the front surface of the video camera main body 21, as in the case of the attachment light receiving unit 91, the light emitting element L1 of the white light emitting LED as the illumination light irradiation unit A light emitting element L2 of a blue light emitting LED as excitation light irradiation means is disposed.

  These light emitting elements L1 and L2 may be selectively lit by the light source selection switch SW1 as in specific examples 1 and 2, but in the case of specific example 4 shown in FIG. The lighting switch of the light emitting element L1 is controlled by the selection switch SW11, and the lighting drive of the light emitting element L2 is controlled by the light source selection switch SW12 so that the lighting elements L1 and L2 are individually controlled to be turned on. It may be. The light amount adjustment switch SW2 in the specific example 4 functions in the same manner as the light amount adjustment switch SW2 in the specific examples 1 and 2.

  In the case of the specific example 4 shown in FIG. 5, the form of the attachment member 9 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be adopted. In this case, instead of the light emitting elements L1 and L2 being arranged at the distal end portion of the camera light receiving unit 22, these light emitting elements L1 and L2 are disposed at the distal end portion of the attachment light receiving unit 92 as in the third example. Be placed.

  In the first embodiment, a camera that is normally used, for example, a silver salt camera, a digital camera, or a video camera, is provided with illumination light irradiating means and excitation light irradiating means, and the light receiving unit is provided with a filter that excludes excitation light. However, in the case of the second embodiment, the imaging function for characteristically extracting the anomalous part is to use the imaging function of the mobile phone equipped with the bi-digital camera, and the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means are In the vicinity of the light receiving portion of the digital camera.

  FIG. 6 shows a specific example 5 in which the camera device of the present invention is applied to a mobile phone 31 with a camera function. In Specific Example 5, on the side opposite to the display portion of the display-side main body 31-1 of the mobile phone 31, a white LED light emitting element L1 as illumination light irradiation means and an excitation light LED light emitting element L2 as excitation light irradiation means. Are arranged so as to surround the camera light receiving unit 32. A filter F that excludes excitation light is detachably attached to the front surface of the camera light receiving unit 32.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the light emitting elements L1 and L2 may be turned on and off by operating the light source selection switch SW1 by a push button method. Instead of the light source selection switch SW1, a specific example is provided. One to four light source selection switches may be used. The light amount adjustment switch SW2 can be the same as the light amount adjustment switch in other specific examples.

  FIG. 6 shows a situation where the user takes a picture of his / her mouth. With the display-side main body 31-1 and the operation-side main body 31-2 of the mobile phone 31 opened, the camera light receiving unit 32 of the display-side main body 31-1 is directed to its own mouth, and the light source selection switch SW1 and the light amount adjustment switch After operating SW2, the inside of the oral cavity can be photographed by pressing the photographing button on the operation side main body 31-2. The captured image is stored in a memory built in the mobile phone 31, and the captured image can be displayed on a display screen provided in the mobile phone, so that the extracted image of the anomalous portion can be viewed. Furthermore, the recorded photographing screen can be sent by e-mail to the dentist, and a diagnosis can be received based on the transmitted image.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a specific example 6 applied to a mobile phone with camera function of a type different from the mobile phone with camera function of the specific example 5 shown in FIG. In the specific example 5, the camera function is used in a state where the display side main body 31-1 and the operation side main body 31-2 are opened. However, in the case of the specific example 6, the shutter button for shooting using the camera function is used. 34 is provided on the side surface of the mobile phone 31, so that the mobile phone with a camera function can be used like a normal digital camera even when the mobile phone 31 is in a closed state.

  Also in the mobile phone with camera function of the specific example 6, as in the case of the specific example 5, on the side opposite to the display unit of the display side main body 31-1 of the mobile phone 31, the light emitting element of white LED as the illumination light irradiation means L1 and the light emitting element L2 of the excitation light LED as the excitation light irradiation means are disposed in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit 32. A filter F that excludes excitation light is detachably mounted on the front surface of the camera light receiving unit 32.

  Unlike the specific example 5, the arrangement of the light emitting elements L1 and L2 in the specific example 6 is arranged so that the plurality of light emitting elements L1 and the plurality of light emitting elements L2 surround the camera light receiving unit 32. Instead, these light emitting element groups are arranged in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit 32. In the camera devices according to the specific examples 3 to 5, the plurality of light emitting elements are arranged around the camera light receiving unit, whereby the light irradiation into the oral cavity can be made uniform.

  In Specific Example 6 shown in FIG. 7, three light emitting elements L1 are arranged in a row as illumination light irradiation means, and three light emitting elements L2 are arranged as excitation light irradiation means. By arranging the light emitting elements in a group and adjusting the direction of each light emitting element, light can be collected in a specific direction, and light irradiation can be partially enhanced. Further, such an arrangement is an advantageous method because a vacant part can be used when there is no room for arranging a plurality of light emitting elements around the camera light receiving unit 32.

  The method of photographing the oral cavity by the mobile phone with camera function of the specific example 6 is the same as the case of the specific example 5 with respect to the operation of each switch, but the display side main body 31-1 and the operation side main body 31-2 are connected. With the camera closed, for example, as in the case of the digital camera according to the specific example 2, the camera light receiving unit 32 is directed to a desired position in the oral cavity. Then, since the irradiation direction of the light is set in the same direction as the optical axis of the camera light receiving unit 32, the illumination light and the excitation light irradiate a desired portion in the oral cavity, and therefore, the shutter button 34 If the is operated, the anomalous portion present in the targeted oral cavity can be clearly photographed. Handling of the image after shooting is the same as in the case of the mobile phone with a camera function of the fifth specific example.

  In a third embodiment to be described next, it can be incorporated into a camera device including a plurality of light emitting elements shown in the specific examples of the first and second embodiments described above, and illumination light irradiation means and excitation light irradiation means. Specific circuit configurations for realizing the lighting control with respect to are shown as specific examples 7 to 10. Before describing these specific examples, a common control system for realizing illumination light and excitation light irradiation control in the camera devices shown in specific examples 2 to 6 will be described.

  FIG. 8 shows a block configuration of a control system that performs lighting control of illumination light irradiation means and excitation light irradiation means when the camera apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital camera. The control system includes an imaging unit 101, a control unit 102, a lighting circuit 103, an irradiation unit 104, an operation unit 105, a memory 106, and a display unit 107.

  The imaging means 101 includes, for example, a camera light receiving unit that receives light from the oral cavity that is a subject, and a CCD that is a detection element that detects light received by the camera light receiving unit. A detection signal related to the received light is output to the control unit 102 in accordance with the shutter time instructed from 102.

  The control unit 102 includes a micro processor unit (MPU) that can control the entire control system, and performs lighting control of the lighting circuit 103, storage management of the memory 106, and display control of the display unit 107. The control unit 102 processes the captured image related to the subject based on the detection signal related to the subject transmitted from the imaging unit 101, and stores the processed captured image data in the memory 106.

  Then, the stored photographed image is automatically displayed on the display unit 107, or although not shown, the photographed image data is read from the memory 106 according to the operation of the display button instructed by the user, and is displayed on the display unit 107. The photographed image can be displayed. When the camera device is applied to a mobile phone with a camera function, the corresponding photographed image data is read from the memory 106 by operating the display button, and a specific destination, for example, The data can also be mailed to the dentist.

  On the other hand, the operation unit 105 includes at least a light source selection switch SW1, a light amount adjustment switch SW2, a shutter switch SW3 interlocked with a shutter button, and a light source lighting switch SW4. The light source lighting switch SW4 turns on the lighting circuit 103. This is a power switch that is driven off.

  The control unit 102 is instructed according to the operation of the light source selection switch SW1, the light amount adjustment switch SW2, and the shutter switch SW3 by the user, and executes the lighting control of the lighting circuit 103. The lighting circuit 107 selectively drives the light emitting element L1 that is the illumination light source and the light emitting element L2 that is the excitation light source included in the irradiation unit 104 or adjusts the light amount according to the lighting control of the control unit 102. Illuminates, and illumination light and excitation light are emitted toward the subject.

  Although the control system of FIG. 8 is applied to a digital camera, the same control system can be applied to a digital video camera, a mobile phone with a camera function, and the like. In the case of a silver salt camera, image processing is not performed unlike a digital camera, and the photographing means 101 is replaced with a silver salt film. Therefore, the control system shown in FIG. 8 is applied to the silver salt camera. In some cases, a control unit 102 excluding image processing, a lighting circuit 103, an irradiation unit 104, and an operation unit 105 are provided. Even when this control system is applied to a silver halide camera, the lighting of the lighting circuit 103 is controlled by the control unit 102 in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 105 by the user as in the case of the digital camera.

  Next, operations and processing procedures when photographing the anomalous portion of the subject using the camera device incorporating the control system as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The flowchart of FIG. 9 is a case where the subject is photographed by operating the shutter after the illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means mounted on the camera device are driven, and the flowchart of FIG. 10 is mounted. This is a case where the lighting of the illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means is linked with the shutter operation to photograph the subject. The mode can be selected and set so that these cases can be selected.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the subject is photographed after the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means are turned on, first, the illumination light source and the excitation light source of the irradiation means 104 are in a desired state. The light source selection switch SW1 and the light amount adjustment switch SW2 are operated by the user so as to be lit (step S1). At this time, when the light source selection switch SW1 is operated, the light emission amount of the light source may be automatically set by a program in the control unit 102. Usually, since a digital camera has an automatic exposure control function, this function can be used.

  Next, when the user turns on the light source lighting switch SW4 after completing the setting for lighting the light source, the lighting circuit 103 lights the irradiation light source and the excitation light source of the irradiation unit 104 according to the set conditions ( Step S2). Therefore, after the illumination light source and the excitation light source are turned on, the user directs the camera device toward the subject and irradiates illumination light and excitation light (step S3).

  Thereafter, the user observes the state of the subject, for example, based on the image of the finder 3 or based on the display image of the display unit 107 while irradiating the oral cavity with illumination light and excitation light. When the user finds that the subject has an abnormal part and desires to take a picture of the subject, the user presses the shutter button 4 and turns on the shutter switch SW3 provided on the button (step S4). ).

  When the shutter switch SW3 is turned on, the shutter of the camera device is activated (step S5), and a subject at a desired location in the oral cavity is photographed (step S6). Here, in the case of a silver salt camera, an image of a subject is projected on a silver salt film, but in the case of a digital camera, the control unit 102 acquires photographing data of a subject having an abnormal portion from the photographing unit 101. Then, the photographed data is subjected to image processing and recorded in the memory 106. This completes the shooting of the subject. Note that the illumination light source and the excitation light source may be turned off manually after shooting, or automatically turned off after a predetermined time after the shutter switch SW3 is turned on.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 10, when shooting a subject in conjunction with the lighting operation of the mounted illumination light irradiation means and excitation light irradiation means in conjunction with the shutter operation, first, the subject desired by the user to be shot Is found, the camera light receiving unit is directed toward the subject (step S11).

  Therefore, the user presses the shutter button 4 and the shutter switch SW3 is turned on (step S12). When the shutter switch SW3 is turned on, the shutter is also operated (step S13). At the same time when the shutter switch SW3 is turned on, the control unit 102 controls the lighting circuit 103 to be turned on (step S15). This lighting control is executed in advance according to the setting by operating each switch of the operation unit 105, and the illumination light and the excitation light are emitted in synchronization with the operation of the shutter.

  When the shutter is activated, a subject at a desired location in the oral cavity is photographed (step S14). Here, in the case of a silver salt camera, an image of a subject is projected onto a silver salt film. In the case of a digital camera, as in the case of the mode of FIG. 9, the control unit 102 acquires shooting data of a subject having an abnormal portion from the shooting unit 101, performs image processing on the shooting data, and stores it in the memory 106. Record. This completes the photographing of the subject. In the mode of FIG. 10, the illumination light source and the excitation light source may be manually turned off after shooting, but are set to automatically turn off a predetermined time after the shutter switch SW3 is turned on. It is convenient to keep it.

  In the subject photographing processing procedure described above, one subject image was acquired by one shutter operation for subject photographing. However, a plurality of shutter operations are automatically executed during one photographing. In addition, a plurality of subject images can be acquired. In this case, synchronized with the continuous irradiation of the illumination light and the continuous operation of the shutter, the respective excitation lights having a plurality of different wavelengths are automatically and continuously irradiated. By photographing the subject in this way, different types of anomalous portions existing in the subject can be displayed for each image, and even for the same type of anomalous portions, When the reflected fluorescence is generated, the anomalous portion is ejected for each image, and it becomes easy to specify the type and state of the anomalous portion.

  Also, in synchronization with the continuous operation of the shutter, the control unit 102 controls the illumination light source and the excitation light source in a time-sharing manner and drives them to light, thereby simultaneously irradiating the illumination light and the excitation light, and the illumination light. The single irradiation can be performed alternately. At this time, the control unit 102 continuously and individually processes the image received by the simultaneous irradiation of the illumination light and the excitation light and the image received by the single irradiation of the illumination light, and stores them in the memory 106 as individual images. Remember. In this way, both an image by normal illumination and an image by excitation light can be obtained at substantially the same shooting position. Since the two images are not shifted, an image of a subject photographed in a normal state is obtained, and an image in which an image related to the anomalous portion is superimposed on a subject image in a normal state is also obtained. Therefore, by comparing these images, it is possible to easily recognize the presence of the anomalous portion related to the subject.

  Further, in the subject photographing processing procedure shown in FIG. 10, the light source is turned on at the same time when the shutter button is pressed. As a modified example, the shutter button can be pressed in two steps. The shutter switch SW3 also performs the first operation and the second operation corresponding to each stage of this button. Therefore, the illumination light source is continuously driven to emit light by the first operation of the shutter switch SW3, and the excitation light source continuously emits excitation light of at least one wavelength by the second operation of the shutter switch SW3. Driven.

  By controlling the lighting of such a light source, for example, while pressing the shutter button lightly and illuminating the inside of the oral cavity with illumination light, the camera device finder was looked at and the desired subject appeared in the image area of the finder Sometimes, when the shutter button is pressed deeper, the shutter is activated and the subject can be photographed. Therefore, the operability and convenience at the time of shooting of the camera device are improved.

  Next, a specific circuit configuration of lighting control in the control system of FIG. 8 will be described below. FIG. 11 can be applied to each of the specific examples described above, and the illumination light and the excitation light are irradiated simultaneously, and the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light is adjusted by adjusting a variable resistor serving as a light quantity adjusting means. The electric circuit of the specific example 7 to perform is shown. The variable resistor R1 is for adjusting the amount of light of the white light emitting element L1 (LED) serving as the illumination light source, and the variable resistor R2 is for adjusting the amount of light of the excitation light emitting element L2 (LED) serving as the excitation light source. is there. When the user operates these variable resistors R1 and R2, the amount of current flowing through the light emitting elements L1 and L2 is adjusted, and the amount of light of each light emitting element is adjusted.

  By adjusting each of the variable resistors R1 and R2, the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light can be switched while simultaneously irradiating the illumination light and the excitation light. Here, in addition to the simultaneous irradiation mode, by operating the variable resistors R1 and R2 for adjusting the light amount of the light emitting elements L1 and L2 and adjusting the light amount of each light emitting element to 0, illumination is performed. A light-only irradiation mode or an excitation-light only irradiation mode can also be selected, and these mode selection means can be configured.

  In addition, it is possible to operate the variable resistors R1 and R2 for adjusting the light amount of the light emitting elements L1 and L2 at the time of factory shipment, and to fix and ship so as to have the irradiation mode by the optimum setting. Desirably, the white light of the illumination light is set to be smaller than the amount of excitation light, so that the fluorescent light is prevented from being buried in the illumination light, and both the abnormal part and the normal part around the abnormal part are Visible at the same time. It is desirable that such a light amount setting is an initial setting at the time of factory shipment.

  Although specific example 7 shows an example in which white light is used as illumination light, a reddish color or a yellowish color may be used as illumination light as necessary. In particular, when white light is used as illumination light, normal tissue around the lesion can be visually recognized with a natural color tone, and the lesion can be clearly recognized.

  Further, by adjusting each of the variable resistors described above, the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light can be switched while simultaneously irradiating the illumination light and the excitation light. By switching the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light, it is possible to adjust the ease of visually recognizing a lesioned part and the ease of visually recognizing a normal tissue other than the lesioned part in a natural color tone.

  FIG. 12 shows an electric circuit according to a specific example 8 different from the specific example 7 of the third embodiment. In the adjustment means according to the specific example 8, the initial setting of the optimum setting is performed at the time of shipment from the factory, and the user also arbitrarily operates the variable resistor for adjusting the amount of light, whereby the white light emission serving as the illumination light source is obtained. The element L1 (LED) and the light emitting element L2 (LED) serving as the excitation light source can be adjusted to an arbitrary light amount.

  As shown by the solid line and the broken line in the figure, the changeover switch SW5 can be switched between an initial setting side at the time of shipment and an arbitrary adjustment side by the user. When the changeover switch SW5 is switched to the user's arbitrary adjustment side as indicated by the solid line, the variable resistor R1 for adjusting the white light emitting element L1 and the variable resistor for adjusting the excitation light emitting element L2 R2 can be arbitrarily adjusted individually. Further, in the optimal initial setting at the time of shipment from the factory, when the changeover switch SW5 is switched as shown by a broken line, the fixed resistor R11 for adjusting the white light emitting element L1 and the excitation light emitting element L2 The balance between the optimal excitation light and the white light can be adjusted by the fixed resistor R21 for adjustment.

  The user can switch the initial setting state at the time of shipment and the arbitrary adjustment by the user by switching the changeover switch SW5. These light amount adjusting means can be applied to the camera devices of the specific examples in any of the above-described embodiments. By adjusting each of the variable resistors R1 and R2, the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light can be switched while simultaneously irradiating the illumination light and the excitation light. The change-over switch SW5 is provided in the camera body 1 in the same manner as other switches.

  Next, FIG. 13 illustrates another specific example 9 of the third embodiment, and an example of a circuit configuration corresponding to the control unit 102, the lighting circuit 103, the irradiation unit 104, and the operation unit 105 illustrated in FIG. It is shown. That is, the light source selection switch SW1 is a light source selection unit for irradiation light. The light emitting elements L1 to L4 of the LED form a light source unit of the irradiation unit 104. The light source unit includes infrared light (first light source) in the light emitting element L1, and white light (illumination light emitting unit, first light in the light emitting element L2). Two light sources), ultraviolet light 1 (excitation light emitting unit, third light source) in the light emitting element L3, and ultraviolet light 2 (excitation light emitting unit, fourth light source) in the light emitting element L4, which have different wavelengths. Irradiate light.

  Irradiation driving means for selectively driving any one or the plurality of light emitting elements L1 to L4 from among the plurality of light emitting elements L1 to L4 in the light source selection means for the irradiation light is provided. The irradiation driving means includes four analog switches SW-1 to SW-4 connected between the power source 108 and the light emitting elements L1 to L4, four light source selection switches hs1 to hs4, and a switch control unit. 109.

  When the first light source selection switch hs1 is turned on, the switch SW-1 is operated to drive the infrared light emitting element L1 to be turned on. Similarly, when the second light source selection switch hs2 is turned on, white light is emitted. The light emitting element L2 can be driven to turn on the ultraviolet light 1 light emitting element L3 by the ON operation of the third light source selection switch hs3 and the ultraviolet light 2 light emitting element L4 by the ON operation of the fourth light source selection switch hs4. it can. By this switching method, any type of irradiation light can be selectively irradiated individually or in duplicate.

  Also, illumination is performed by simultaneously turning on the second light source selection switch hs2 of the white light emitting element L1 and the third light source selection switch hs3 or the fourth light source selection switch hs4 of the ultraviolet light 1 light emitting element L3 or the ultraviolet light 2 light emitting element L4. Light and excitation light can be irradiated simultaneously. By such simultaneous irradiation, as described above, the fluorescence image of the lesioned part by the excitation light irradiation and the reflected light image of the normal tissue around the lesioned part by the illumination light irradiation are clearly visually recognized, and the position of the lesioned part And the extent of lesions can be accurately grasped.

  As described above, according to the adjusting unit of the specific example 9 illustrated in FIG. 13, with respect to the irradiation unit provided in the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit, only the illumination light, only the excitation light, or the simultaneous illumination light and excitation light. Not only can irradiation be performed selectively, but also adjustment of the amount of illumination light and excitation light can be individually adjusted by each user, starting with the selection of initial settings at the time of shipment.

  In addition, in addition to pre-determining a sequence that irradiates illumination light and excitation light in a time interval of a short interval, a dedicated switch is provided in the camera body, and if a time division irradiation mode is selected by this switch operation, When directly observing the irradiation target region, the fluorescent image and the reflected light image are superimposed by the afterimage phenomenon of the retina or by image processing via the imaging means, and the same effect as in the case of simultaneous irradiation is obtained. It is done. Moreover, it can also be set as diagnostic image information combining with the reflected light image by infrared light irradiation.

  FIG. 14 shows a circuit configuration according to yet another specific example 10 of the third embodiment. This specific example 10 shows another example of the light amount adjusting means. In this example, a rotary switch SW6-1 is provided between the light emitting element L1 and the ground in order to adjust the amount of light related to the light emitting element L1 as an illumination light source such as a white light LED as the light amount adjusting means of the irradiation light. The fixed resistors R11 to R14 having different resistance values are arranged in parallel.

  By selectively selectively connecting to the light emitting element L1 by the rotary switch SW6-1, currents having different values are supplied to the light emitting element L1. Also for the light emitting element L2 of the excitation light source, fixed resistors R21 to R24 having different resistance values for adjusting the amount of excitation light are alternatively connected by a rotary switch SW6-2 with the same circuit configuration. , Different values of current are supplied to the light emitting element L2.

  For example, for each of the fixed resistors R11 to R14 for adjusting the amount of illumination light, a resistance value is appropriately set so that the amount of light is 2%, 35%, 75%, and 100%. For each of the fixed resistors R21 to R24, the resistance value can be appropriately set so that the light amount becomes 2%, 35%, 75%, and 100%. By setting the resistance values as described above, the rotary switches SW6-1 and SW6-2 are appropriately selected according to the purpose, thereby irradiating the illumination light and the excitation light at the same time, and adjusting the light intensity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light. Can be adjusted.

  First, the fixed resistor R21 having a resistance value set to 2% of the amount of excitation light is selected by the rotary switch SW6-2, and the fixed resistor R14 having a resistance value set to 100% of the amount of illumination light is selected as the rotary resistor. When the switch SW6-1 is selected, a natural captured image almost the same as normal visual observation can be obtained. Here, for example, when the state of a lesioned part such as a caries is particularly visually recognized or photographed, a fixed resistor R24 having a resistance value in which the excitation light is set to 100% is selected, and the excitation light is irradiated more intensely. As for the illumination light, a fixed resistor R11 having a resistance value set to 2% is selected. As a result, the normal tissue around the lesion becomes dark, but the distribution of the lesion that emits fluorescence is clearly visually recognized or photographed.

  When attention is paid to the normal tissue around the lesion, the fixed resistor R22 corresponding to the excitation light amount of 35% is selected by the rotary switch SW6-2, and the fixed resistor corresponding to the illumination light amount of 100% is selected. R14 is selected by the rotary switch SW6-1. Thereby, the state of the normal tissue can be visually recognized or photographed while recognizing the position of the lesion part that emits fluorescence. When the lesioned part and the normal tissue around the lesioned part are visually recognized or photographed with natural color tone, the rotary switch SW6-2 selects a fixed resistor R24 corresponding to 100% of the amount of excitation light, and the rotary switch A fixed resistor R12 corresponding to 35% of the amount of illumination light may be selected with SW6-1. By doing so, the lesioned part and the normal tissue around the lesioned part can be clearly and visually recognized or photographed simultaneously without the fluorescence being buried in the illumination light.

  In the above, the light quantity adjusting means for switching the light quantity balance between the illumination light and the excitation light in the irradiation means is configured using the rotary switch and the fixed resistor. However, the invention is not limited to this, and various known circuits are used. Can be used.

  Further, the ratio of the respective light amounts of the excitation light and the illumination light described above is not limited to 2%, 35%, 75%, and 100%. Depending on the case and purpose of use, the combination of the amount of light from the illumination light source and the amount of light from the excitation light source is set in advance, and the illumination light source is selected by selecting the selection switch according to the case and purpose of use. May be switched with a set in which the light quantity arbitrarily set and the excitation light source are set to a light quantity arbitrarily set.

  The camera device of the present invention is incorporated in an existing photographing device such as a digital camera, a digital video camera, and a mobile phone with a digital camera function that are generally used at home. It can also be employed in camera devices developed as medical equipment such as dermatology.

  Further, in specific examples 7 to 10 of the third embodiment, an example in which a light emitting element using an LED is used as a light emitting means for irradiation has been described, but in addition to this, light emission of either a laser diode or a semiconductor laser is performed. The element can also be a light source. In addition, as the light emitting means, any of a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a krypton lamp, or a sodium lamp can be used as a light source. Excitation light may be used.

It is a figure for demonstrating the camera apparatus of Example 1 by this invention, and explaining the structure of the specific example 1 applied to the silver salt type camera. It is a figure for demonstrating the camera apparatus of Example 1 by this invention, and explaining the structure of the specific example 2 applied to the digital camera. In the camera apparatus of Example 1 by this invention, it is a figure for demonstrating the structure which concerns on the example 3 at the time of utilizing an attachment member. It is a figure for demonstrating the state which attached the attachment member of the specific example 3 to the camera. It is a figure for demonstrating the camera apparatus of Example 2 by this invention, and explaining the structure of the specific example 4 applied to the videotape or video digital camera. It is a figure for demonstrating the camera apparatus of Example 2 by this invention, and explaining the structure of the specific example 5 applied to the mobile telephone with a camera function. It is a figure for demonstrating the camera apparatus of Example 2 by this invention, and demonstrating the structure of the specific example 6 applied to the mobile phone with another camera function. It is a figure which shows the block configuration of the control system which performs the lighting drive of the illumination light irradiation means and excitation light irradiation means at the time of applying the camera apparatus by this invention to a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure in the case of making a shutter operation | movement after the lighting drive of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means in the camera apparatus by this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure at the time of making the lighting drive of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means in the camera apparatus by this invention interlock | cooperate with shutter operation | movement. It is a figure which shows an example of the electric circuit which can be applied to the camera apparatus by this invention and adjusts the light quantity balance of excitation light and illumination light. It is a figure which shows an example of the electric circuit which can be applied to the camera apparatus by this invention, and can perform the initial setting at the time of factory shipment, and arbitrary adjustments by a user about the light quantity balance of excitation light and illumination light. It is a control block diagram which shows an example of the switching structure of the light source for irradiation applicable to the camera apparatus by this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of another electric circuit which can be applied to the camera apparatus by this invention, and concerns on a light quantity adjustment means. It is a graph explaining the fluorescence emission state of the health enamel and the caries enamel with respect to irradiation of excitation light 406nm. It is a graph explaining the fluorescence emission state of a healthy enamel and a caries enamel with respect to irradiation of excitation light 488nm. It is a figure explaining the unusual part in the tooth | gear in an oral cavity.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2, 22, 32 Camera light-receiving part 21 Video camera main body 3 Finder 31 Mobile phone 31-1 Display side main body 31-2 Operation side main body 33 Filter mounting part 4, 34 Shutter button 5 White light emission strobe device 6 Blue light emission strobe Device 7 White LED irradiation means 8 Blue LED irradiation means 9 Attachment member 91 Attachment light receiving part 92 Attachment mounting part 93 Attachment lens 94 Prism 101 Imaging means 102 Control circuit 103 Lighting circuit 104 Irradiation means 105 Switch operation part 106 Memory 107 Display part 108 Power supply 109 Switch control unit F Filter L1 to L4 Light emitting element SW1, SW11, SW12 Light source selection switch SW2 Light quantity adjustment switch SW3 Shutter switch SW4 Light source lighting switch

Claims (23)

A camera receiver for photographing the subject;
Illumination light irradiation means for irradiating the subject with illumination light from the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit;
Excitation light irradiating means for irradiating the object from the vicinity of the camera light receiving unit and irradiating excitation light having a wavelength for extracting the anomalous part;
A camera device comprising:   The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit can simultaneously irradiate the subject with the illumination light and the excitation light.   The camera apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit includes a light amount adjustment unit that adjusts an irradiation light amount.   The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera light receiving unit includes a filter that excludes the excitation light reflected from the subject.   The camera device according to claim 4, wherein the filter is detachably attached to a front surface of the camera light receiving unit. The wavelength of the excitation light is selected from a near ultraviolet region of 400 ± 30 nm, a blue region of 470 ± 30 nm, a red region of 700 ± 100 nm, an infrared region, or a near infrared region,
The camera device according to claim 4, wherein the filter transmits light having a wavelength other than that of the selected region.   The illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit include a light source including a light emitting unit including any of an LED, a laser diode, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a krypton lamp, or a sodium lamp. The camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.   The camera apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the excitation light irradiation unit is configured to switch a wavelength of light to be irradiated. The excitation light irradiation means includes an irradiation filter that transmits specific light emitted from a light source selected from the light emission means,
The camera device according to claim 7, wherein the irradiation filter is detachably attached to the excitation light irradiation unit.   The said excitation light irradiation means has a light source which generate | occur | produces the light of a several different wavelength, and the irradiation drive means which drives this light source and selectively generate | occur | produces the light of a different wavelength, The 1 thru | or characterized by the above-mentioned. The camera device according to claim 8. Each of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means includes a plurality of light sources,
The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape around the camera light receiving unit. An attachment light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the subject; and an attachment unit that can be detachably attached to the camera light receiving unit, and includes an attachment member that guides the reflected light to the camera light receiving unit,
The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit are attached in the vicinity of the attachment light receiving unit. Each of the illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means includes a plurality of light sources,
The camera device according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged in a ring shape around the attachment light receiving unit.   The camera device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the attachment light receiving unit is directed in a direction different from an axial direction of the camera light receiving unit.   15. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excitation light irradiation unit is driven to emit light in conjunction with a shutter operation.   The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light irradiation unit and the excitation light irradiation unit are continuously driven to emit light in conjunction with an operation of a shutter switch. The illumination light irradiation means is continuously driven to emit light by the first operation of the shutter switch,
15. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the excitation light irradiation unit is driven to emit at least one excitation light by a second operation of the shutter switch.   The illumination light irradiation means and the excitation light irradiation means automatically irradiate the illumination light and at least one or more excitation lights a plurality of times when the shutter operates continuously. The camera device according to claim 14.   15. The illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means are driven to emit light by time division control, and irradiate the illumination light and at least one or more excitation lights alternately. The camera device according to any one of the above. The illumination light irradiating means and the excitation light irradiating means are driven to emit light alternately by simultaneous irradiation of the illumination light and the excitation light and single irradiation of the illumination light by time-sharing control.
15. An image received by simultaneous irradiation of the illumination light and the excitation light and an image received by single irradiation of the illumination light are successively and individually subjected to image processing. A camera device according to claim 1.   The camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the excitation light irradiation unit includes a light source that emits excitation light having a wavelength capable of extracting the anomalous portion in the oral cavity.   The said camera light-receiving part is provided in any one of a silver salt type camera, a digital camera, a video camera, and a portable apparatus with a camera function, The Claim 1 thru | or 19 characterized by the above-mentioned. Camera device.   The camera device according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the camera light receiving unit is provided in any one of a digital camera, a video camera, and a mobile device with a camera function.

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