JP2007061232A - Electronic endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce unnecessary switch circuits and control terminals. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic endoscope apparatus has: an operational button part operated to control outside devices, the switch circuit for switching between an on-state and an off-state; a storage part for storing a plurality of action patterns showing how the switch circuit is operated to the operation at the operational button part; a selecting means for selecting one action pattern out of the plurality of action patterns stored in the storage part; a control means for controlling the switch circuit from the selection by the selecting means and the operation at the operational button part; and a terminal part for connecting the switch circuit and the outside devices. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly to a mechanism for controlling an external apparatus connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus.

  The medical electronic endoscope apparatus includes a scope unit having a portion to be inserted into a body cavity of a patient, and an endoscope apparatus main body unit that controls the scope unit, supplies power, and the like. An imaging element is provided at the distal end of the scope unit, and a desired part is imaged in the body cavity of the patient. The output image signal from the imaging device is transmitted from the scope unit to the endoscope apparatus body unit and converted into a video signal, and as a result, an image of the observation site is displayed on the television monitor. In addition, the video signal can be output to an external device such as a video printer or a recording device to record the video. The external device is connected to the endoscope apparatus main body via a control terminal and is normally operable from the electronic endoscope apparatus side.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration for controlling an external apparatus in a conventional electronic endoscope apparatus. A conventional electronic endoscope apparatus includes an operation button unit 301, a CPU 303, switching circuits 305 and 306, control terminals 307 and 308, a ROM 309, a RAM 311, and the like. The switching circuit 305 has a function of generating, for example, only a “pulse format” output signal as an output signal. Output, and when it is released, the output is OFF) ”. The operation button unit 301 has, for example, two operation buttons for controlling an external device, one for instructing output of a “pulse format” signal, and one for instructing output of a “pressed ON format” signal. To do. When the “pulse format” operation button is operated on the operation button unit 301, a “pulse format” signal is output from the control terminal 307 through the switching circuit 305 according to the determination of the CPU 303. On the other hand, when the “on-press-on” operation button is operated, a “on-press-on” signal is output from the control terminal 308 via the switching circuit 306 according to the determination of the CPU 303. The external device has a predetermined input signal format for each device. Therefore, the external device is connected to the control terminal 307 when its input reception signal format is “pulse format”, and is connected to the control terminal 308 when it is “pressed ON format”.

  In the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus as described above, when an external apparatus is connected, a control terminal corresponding to the input acceptance signal format of the external apparatus is selected and connected. Depending on how the electronic endoscope apparatus is used, there may be a switching circuit and a control terminal that are not used at all. Therefore, an unnecessary switching circuit and control circuit are generated and there is a problem that it is not efficient.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to reduce unnecessary switching circuits and control terminals in an electronic endoscope apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an operation button unit operated to control an external device, a switch circuit capable of switching between an on state and an off state, and an operation in the operation button unit A storage unit storing a plurality of operation patterns indicating how the switch circuit should be operated, and a selection for selecting one operation pattern from the plurality of operation patterns stored in the storage unit Means, control means for controlling the switch circuit based on selection by the selection means and operation on the operation button part, and a terminal part for connecting the switch circuit and the external device. An electronic endoscope apparatus is provided.

  According to the present invention, the above-described configuration enables a plurality of types of control signals to be generated by a single switch circuit. Therefore, even if the input signal format of the external device is various, only one terminal is connected The external device can be controlled. Therefore, unnecessary output terminals and switch circuits can be reduced.

  In the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the operation of the operation button unit includes an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button, and one of the plurality of operation patterns includes the switch at the time of the on operation. The circuit is turned on, and the switch circuit is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Further, the predetermined time can be arbitrarily set by a user.

  The operation of the operation button unit includes an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button, and one of the plurality of operation patterns is that the switch circuit is turned on during the on operation, and then the off operation is performed. The switch circuit is maintained in an on state until the switch is turned on, and the switch circuit is turned off in the off operation.

  The operation of the operation button unit has an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button, and one of the plurality of operation patterns is in an on state if the switch circuit is in an off state during the on operation. Or if the switch circuit is in an on state, the switch circuit is in an off state.

  Further, the operation of the operation button unit is performed by a push button, and an on operation is performed when pressed and an off operation is performed when the press is released.

  The selection means may display a selection menu corresponding to the plurality of operation patterns on a monitor screen.

  The ON state in the switch circuit outputs a predetermined voltage to the terminal portion. The OFF state in the switch circuit outputs a ground voltage to the terminal portion.

  The external device is a device for recording information based on a video signal on a medium.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, unnecessary switching circuits and control terminals can be reduced in the electronic endoscope apparatus with the above configuration.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This electronic endoscope apparatus includes a scope unit 100 and an apparatus main body unit 110. The scope unit 100 includes an insertion unit flexible tube 101, a forceps insertion port 102, an operation unit 103, a distal end unit 104, a universal cord 105, and a connector 106. The apparatus main body 110 includes a display unit 114, a connector connection unit 118, and the like.

  The insertion portion flexible tube 101 is an elongated tube that is inserted into a body cavity, has flexibility, and has rigidity sufficient for the distal end portion 104 to follow and rotate when the flexible tube body is twisted.

  The forceps insertion port 102 is a part into which forceps for performing various treatments such as hemostasis and collection of a living tissue are inserted. The user sets various forceps in the forceps insertion slot 102 according to the contents of the operation. The forceps set in the forceps insertion slot 102 are inserted through the forceps channel 121 disposed along the inside of the insertion portion flexible tube 101, and the tip thereof is sent out from a predetermined portion of the tip portion 104. Is done.

  The operation unit 103 is a part for the user to operate the scope unit 100. The observation unit can be freely changed by bending the tip 104 up and down or left and right, or the insertion unit can be flexed along the path in the body cavity. It has operational functions such as facilitating insertion of the tube 101 and raising the forceps set in the forceps insertion slot 102.

  The tip 104 includes a CCD (not shown) that receives light and outputs an image signal by photoelectric conversion. The insertion section flexible tube 101 includes an image signal line for transmitting an image signal output from the CCD to the apparatus main body 110, a power supply voltage for driving the CCD, and a power supply for transmitting a clock pulse. Drive signal lines and the like are provided.

  The connector 106 is a member that connects the scope unit 100 to the apparatus main body 110. The connector 106 is connected to the connector connection unit 118 and connects an image signal line for transmitting an image signal output from the CCD to the apparatus main body 110. The connector 106 connects a light source device (not shown) that generates illumination light for irradiating the living tissue included in the apparatus main body 110 and an illumination light guide (not shown) provided in the scope unit 100. Further, the connector 106 connects a CCD drive circuit (which supplies a power supply voltage and a clock for driving the CCD) (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 110 and a drive signal line in the scope unit 100.

  An image signal output from the CCD provided at the distal end portion 104 is transmitted to the apparatus main body 110 via the insertion portion flexible tube 101, the inside of the operation portion, the universal cord 105, the connector 106, and the connector connection portion 118. The image signal transmitted to the apparatus main body 110 is subjected to predetermined image processing by a signal processing circuit (not shown) of the apparatus main body 110 to be converted into a video signal, and displayed on the display unit 114 as an observation image by an endoscope. Is done. Further, an external device such as a video printer or a storage device can be connected to the device main body 110 and the video signal can be output to the external device.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions for controlling an external device in the apparatus main body 110. The apparatus main body 110 includes an operation button unit 201, a CPU 203, a switching circuit 205, a control terminal unit 207, a ROM 209, and a RAM 211. The operation button unit 201 includes an operation button for controlling an external device (for example, a push button that is determined to be ON when pressed and OFF when pressed). The operation button unit 201 may be provided on the operation unit 103 of the scope unit 100. As one of the functions, the CPU 203 has a function of determining a button operation (whether pressed or released) by the operation button unit 201. The switching circuit 205 is a circuit that is switched between an on state and an off state based on an instruction from the CPU 203. That is, a predetermined voltage is applied to the control terminal 207 in the on state, and a predetermined voltage is not applied to the control terminal 207 in the off state (or a ground voltage is applied). The control terminal unit 207 is a terminal connected to an external device. The switching circuit 205 has several behavior patterns for the operation of the operation button unit 201. The ROM 209 stores a behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 as a program. The RAM 211 stores which behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 is selected.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a menu screen for selecting a behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205. This menu screen is displayed on the display unit 114, for example. In addition, the user can perform a selection operation using a predetermined operation key provided in the operation button unit 201. In the embodiment of the present invention, three patterns can be selected as the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205. That is, there are (1) pulse format, (2) button pressed ON format, and (3) toggle format. Information about which pattern is selected is overwritten and stored in the RAM 211 each time a pattern is selected. Due to the behavior of the three patterns of the switching circuit 205, the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention can provide three types of output signals from one control terminal 207 to an external apparatus. Of the three patterns, which one is selected as the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 is indicated by a mark P on the menu screen.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing when an operation button for external device control is operated in the operation button unit 201 (all processing, determination, and the like are performed in the CPU 203). The term “operated” as used herein refers to the time when the push button is depressed, that is, the time when the CPU 203 determines that the push button is ON.

  If the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 is “pulse format” when the operation button is operated (step S1: YES), the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the switching circuit 205 is turned on. Then, it waits until the set fixed time (for example, 500 msec. Memorize | stored in RAM211) passes (step S3: NO). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the switching circuit 205 is turned off in step S4. Thereafter, this process ends. That is, by pressing the push button once, a signal is output for one pulse. This process is used when, for example, a pulse signal is output to a video printer or the like as a recording (printing) start signal by pressing the push button once.

  When the operation button is operated, if the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 is “ON during pressing” (step S1: NO, step S5: YES), the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, the switching circuit 205 is turned on. Thereafter, it waits until the button operation is released (that is, the push button is released) (step S7: NO). When the button operation is released (step S7: YES), the switching circuit 205 is turned off in step S8. Thereafter, this process ends. This process can be used for an external device such as a pump, for example. That is, air supply / water supply etc. is started by pressing the push button, air supply / water supply etc. can be maintained while the push button is pressed, and air supply / water supply etc. can be stopped by releasing the push button. .

  If the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205 is “toggle format” when the operation button is operated (step S1: NO, step S5: NO, step S9: YES), the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the switching circuit 205 is on at that time. If the switching circuit 205 is on (step S10: YES), the process proceeds to step S11 and the switching circuit 205 is turned off. If the switching circuit 205 is in an off state (step S10: NO), the process proceeds to step S12 and the switching circuit 205 is turned on. After the process shown in step S11 or step S12 is completed, this process ends. That is, when the push button is pushed down, the switching circuit 205 is turned on or off, and the state continues. After that, when the push button is pushed down again, the switching circuit 205 is turned off or on, and the state is changed. Will continue.

  Therefore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, by selecting the behavior pattern of the switching circuit 205, it is possible to output a plurality of types of control signals with one operation button, one switching circuit, and one control terminal. . Accordingly, since it is not necessary to provide a switching circuit and a control terminal that are different for each type of output signal, unnecessary switching circuits and control terminals can be reduced.

It is an external view of an electronic endoscope apparatus. It is a functional block diagram which shows an endoscope apparatus part. It is a figure which shows the selection screen of an output format. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of button operation by an operation part. It is a figure which shows the structure for controlling the external apparatus in the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Scope part 110 Apparatus main body part 114 Display part 201,301 Operation button part 203,303 CPU
205, 305, 306 Switching circuit 207, 307, 308 Control terminal 209, 309 ROM
211,311 RAM

Claims (10)

An operation button unit operated to control an external device;
A switch circuit capable of switching between an on state and an off state;
A storage unit for storing a plurality of operation patterns indicating how the switch circuit should be operated in response to an operation on the operation button unit;
Selecting means for selecting one operation pattern from the plurality of operation patterns stored in the storage unit;
Control means for controlling the switch circuit based on selection by the selection means and operation on the operation button unit;
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a terminal portion for connecting the switch circuit and the external device. The operation in the operation button unit has an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button,
One of the plurality of operation patterns includes an operation in which the switch circuit is turned on at the time of the on operation, and the switch circuit is turned off after a lapse of a predetermined time. Item 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to Item 1.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined time can be arbitrarily set by a user. The operation in the operation button unit has an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button,
One of the plurality of operation patterns is that the switch circuit is turned on at the time of the on operation, and then the switch circuit is kept on until the off operation is performed, and the switch circuit at the time of the off operation. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: turning off the camera. The operation in the operation button unit has an on operation and an off operation with respect to the operation button,
One of the plurality of operation patterns includes, in the ON operation, when the switch circuit is in an OFF state, it is turned ON, or when the switch circuit is in an ON state, it is turned OFF. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   6. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operation in the operation button unit is performed by a push button, and an on operation is performed when pressed and an off operation is performed when the press is released. .   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit displays a selection menu corresponding to the plurality of operation patterns on a monitor screen.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the switch circuit is in an ON state, a predetermined voltage is output to the terminal unit.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a ground voltage is output to the terminal unit when the switch circuit is in an off state.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external device is a device for recording information based on a video signal on a medium.

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