JP2011139796A - Capsule endoscope, cradle for capsule endoscope, and data communication system for capsule endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out communication with a capsule endoscope from external equipment by a small and simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The capsule endoscope 10 is shadedly sealed into a cradle 20. A plurality of light-emitting elements 27 are arranged in the cradle 20 and ahead of the transparent hemispherical portion 12 of the capsule endoscope 10 so as to keep them within the angle of view of an imaging element 16. The lighting of the light-emitting elements 27 is controlled by a personal computer 31 connected to the cradle 20 via a connecting cable, and their light-emission patterns are photographed by the imaging element 16. By relating a character code to each of the light-emission patterns and photographing the light-emission pattern relatedly to the character code frame by frame, the capsule endoscope 10 receives data from the cradle side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data communication system between a capsule endoscope and a capsule endoscope cradle.

  The capsule endoscope transmits image data of a captured image to an external device through wireless communication. However, in a system using a capsule endoscope, communication from an external device to the capsule endoscope may be required. As a communication method from the external device to the capsule endoscope, a method using wireless communication (Patent Document 1) or a method using wired communication (Patent Document 2) has been proposed.

JP 2007-089891 A JP 2008-173322 A

  However, in the case of communication using radio, it is necessary to provide a receiving circuit in the capsule endoscope, which is disadvantageous in downsizing. In communication using wired communication, it is necessary to provide an electrode for communication on the outer surface of the capsule endoscope, which is structurally complicated and has a problem of poor contact with external devices and the electrode is exposed to the outside. There is a problem due to.

  An object of the present invention is to perform communication from an external device to a capsule endoscope with a small and simple configuration.

  A capsule endoscope data communication system according to the present invention includes a capsule endoscope, an imaging device provided in the capsule endoscope, a cradle that houses the capsule endoscope so that the imaging device is shielded from light, and imaging. Pattern generating means provided in a cradle capable of generating picked-up images of different patterns in imaging of the element in the cradle, and pattern analyzing means provided in the capsule endoscope for analyzing the pattern and receiving data from the cradle It is characterized by having.

  The pattern generating means preferably includes a light emitting element. The pattern generating means includes, for example, a plurality of light emitting elements, and different patterns are generated depending on the combination of light emission in the plurality of light emitting elements. The cradle includes, for example, a light receiving element that receives light from a light emitting element for illumination of the capsule endoscope, and the cradle side detects data from the capsule endoscope by detecting lighting of the light emitting element for illumination by the light receiving element. Receive. At this time, light from the plurality of light emitting elements is prevented from being received by the light receiving elements between the plurality of light emitting elements and the light receiving elements provided in the cradle. In addition, there are a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements for illumination, and when the capsule endoscope is housed in the cradle, the light emitting elements for illumination face the corresponding light receiving elements, and the light receiving elements face the light emission for illumination. Only the light from the element is received.

  For example, reading of a rolling shutter system is performed in the imaging element, and different patterns are generated by controlling the lighting timing of the light emitting element at the time of reading. The cradle also includes a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element for illumination of the capsule endoscope. When the light emitting element detects the lighting of the light emitting element for illumination, the cradle side reads the timing when the reading starts from the capsule endoscope. Receive from the mirror.

  The driving of the pattern generating means is preferably controlled by an external device connected to the cradle via a connection cable, and the entire endoscope capsule is sealed in the cradle.

  The capsule endoscope and cradle of the present invention are used in the data communication system and are a capsule endoscope and cradle having the above-described configuration.

  According to the present invention, communication from an external device to a capsule endoscope can be performed with a small and simple configuration.

It is typical sectional drawing which shows the structure of the capsule endoscope provided with the optical communication system of 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a cradle. It is a block which shows the electrical structure of a capsule endoscope. It is a timing chart which shows the timing of the optical communication between the cradle of 1st Embodiment, and a capsule endoscope. It is a flowchart of the process performed in the initial setting mode of a capsule endoscope. It is typical sectional drawing which shows the structure of the capsule endoscope provided with the optical communication system of 2nd Embodiment, and a cradle. It is a timing chart which shows the timing of the optical communication between the cradle of 2nd Embodiment, and a capsule endoscope. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of three frames of images taken in time series with the CMOS image sensor of the capsule endoscope when the light emitting element of the cradle is turned on at the timing of FIG. 6. It is a timing chart which shows an example of the read-out timing in a CMOS image sensor at the time of imaging the image in a modification, and the light emission timing of a light emitting element. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of three frames of images taken in time series with the CMOS image sensor of the capsule endoscope when the light emitting element of the cradle is turned on at the timing of FIG. 8.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a capsule endoscope and a cradle including the optical communication system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The outer shell 11 of the capsule endoscope 10 is formed of a cylindrical portion and hemispherical portions provided at both ends of the cylindrical portion. One of the hemispherical portions is transparent (transparent hemispherical portion 12), and a light source substrate 13 is disposed perpendicularly to the cylindrical axis of the outer shell 11 inside the outer hemispherical portion 12 except for the transparent hemispherical portion 12. Do not pass. On the light source substrate 13, for example, a plurality of illumination light emitting elements 14 such as LEDs are arranged. In the present embodiment, four LEDs are arranged rotationally symmetrically about the cylindrical axis.

  Further, an imaging substrate 15 is arranged in parallel to the light source substrate 13 on the inner side of the light source substrate 13 along the cylindrical axis. An imaging element 16 such as a CCD or CMOS is disposed at the approximate center of the imaging substrate 15, and a lens 17 and a diaphragm 18 are coaxially disposed along the cylindrical axis, for example, in front of the imaging element 16. An opening is provided in the center of the light source substrate 13, and light from the subject is incident on the diaphragm 18 and the lens 17 through the openings. Further, a control board or the like (not shown) is disposed further behind the imaging board 15.

  In the first embodiment, the capsule endoscope 10 is shipped in a state of being sealed and shielded from light in the cradle 20. That is, the main body 21 of the cradle 20 is formed with a capsule accommodating portion 22 that can accommodate the entire capsule endoscope 10, and the capsule endoscope 10 is accommodated in the capsule accommodating portion 22 at the time of shipment, and the lid 23, the opening of the capsule housing portion 22 is sealed.

  The capsule housing portion 22 has a cylindrical opening 24 having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the outer shell 11, a hemispherical portion 25 that matches the spherical shape of the transparent hemispherical portion 12, and a cylindrical shape from the central portion of the hemispherical portion 25. The optical element housing portion 26 is formed in the axial direction. At the time of housing, the capsule endoscope 10 is inserted into the capsule housing portion 22 until the transparent hemispherical portion 12 is in close contact with the hemispherical portion 25. At this time, the cylindrical side surface of the capsule endoscope 10 is substantially in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical opening 24, and the apex of the hemispherical portion opposite to the transparent hemispherical portion 12 is substantially the opening end height of the cylindrical opening 24. To position. That is, when the cylindrical opening 24 is closed by the lid 23, the apex of the hemispherical portion on the opposite side to the transparent hemispherical portion 12 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the lid 23.

  A plurality of light emitting elements (for example, LEDs) 27 and a plurality of light receiving elements 28 are disposed on the bottom surface of the optical element housing portion 26. Each of the light emitting elements 27 is disposed so as to be located within the angle of view α of the imaging system of the capsule endoscope 10 housed in the cradle 20 (within the imaging region), and each of the light receiving elements 28 is disposed in the cradle 20. It arrange | positions in the position which can detect the light of the light emitting element 14 of the capsule endoscope 10 accommodated in the inside. It should be noted that the optical element housing portion 26 has dimensions that include the entire imaging range of the imaging element 16 so that the transparent hemispherical part 12 within the angle of view α is not scratched or soiled by contact between the transparent hemispherical part 12 and the hemispherical part 25. Is done.

  In the first embodiment, the light emitting element 27 is disposed at the center of the bottom surface of the optical element housing portion 26 so as to face the imaging element 16 of the capsule endoscope 10. The light receiving element 28 is disposed at a position substantially opposite to each of the light emitting elements 14 of the capsule endoscope 10. In the first embodiment, the number of the light emitting elements 27 is nine, for example, and is arranged, for example, in three rows vertically and horizontally at substantially equal intervals. Further, the light receiving elements 28 are arranged on the peripheral edge surrounding the central portion corresponding to the arrangement of the light emitting elements 14 of the capsule endoscope 10, and in this embodiment, the same number of four light emitting elements 14 is optical. Arranged rotationally symmetrically about the central axis of the element accommodating portion 26. The number of light receiving elements 28 is not necessarily equal to the number of light emitting elements 14.

  The central portion where the light emitting element 27 is disposed and the peripheral portion where the light receiving element 28 is disposed are partitioned by a partition plate 29, and the adjacent light receiving elements 28 are also partitioned by a partition plate (not shown). The partition plate 29 receives light from other light emitting elements 14 so that each light receiving element 28 of the cradle 20 receives only light from the light emitting elements 14 facing among the light emitting elements 14 of the capsule endoscope 10. Cut off.

  Each of the light emitting element 27 and the light receiving element 28 is connected to a connector portion 30 provided in the cradle body 21 via a signal line. An external device such as a personal computer 31 is connected to the connector unit 30 via a connection cable. That is, each of the light emitting elements 27 is turned on according to a command signal from the personal computer 31, and a signal detected by the light receiving element 28 is transmitted to the personal computer 31 and analyzed. For example, USB is used as the connection cable.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the capsule endoscope 10. The imaging element 16 is connected to the imaging control circuit 32, and the driving of the imaging element 16 is controlled by the imaging control circuit 32. The image signal obtained by the image pickup device 16 is temporarily stored in the RAM 33 via the image pickup control circuit 32 and transferred from the antenna 35 to the external device via the modulation circuit 34. The operation of the imaging control circuit 32 is controlled by the CPU 36.

  The light emitting element 14 is connected to the CPU 36 via the illumination control circuit 37, and the lighting and extinction of each light emitting element 14 is controlled by the CPU 36 and the illumination control circuit 37. In addition, a ROM 38 is further connected to the CPU 36, and information such as a control program and various set values is recorded in addition to information on the capsule endoscope 10 such as a model number.

  Next, a communication method of the optical communication system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The optical communication system according to the first embodiment is used for performing various settings at a medical site prior to use of the capsule endoscope 10. The communication is performed by connecting the cradle 20 to the personal computer 31 with the capsule endoscope 10 sealed in the cradle 20, for example, and the user operates the personal computer 31 to perform various settings.

  This optical communication is bidirectional communication, and information transmission from the cradle 20 (personal computer 31) to the capsule endoscope 10 is performed by using the light emission patterns of the light emitting elements 27 provided in the cradle 20 as the capsule endoscope 10. The image pickup device 16 takes an image and analyzes this. Information transmission from the capsule endoscope 10 to the cradle 20 (personal computer 31) is performed by causing the light emitting element 14 of the capsule endoscope 10 to emit light and detecting it by the light receiving element 28 provided in the cradle 20. Done.

  FIG. 3 shows an example in which the capsule endoscope 10 transmits the serial number to the cradle 20 in response to an inquiry about the serial number of the capsule endoscope 10 from the cradle 20 side. It is a timing chart which shows the timing of light emission.

  In this embodiment, since the cradle 20 includes nine light emitting elements 27, each light emitting element 27 can be 1 bit and 9 bits of data can be transmitted at a time. In addition, since the capsule endoscope 10 includes four light emitting elements 14, each light emitting element 14 can be set to 1 bit and 4 bits of data can be transmitted at a time.

  The cradle 20 uses, for example, one of the nine light emitting elements 27 as a parity bit and the remaining eight for 8-bit data transfer. In the example of FIG. 3, the eight light emitting elements 27 corresponding to the 0th to 7th bits are, for example, a character string “SN?” (ASCII code: 53h, 4eh, 3fh) for inquiring the serial number to the capsule endoscope 10. ). The nine light emitting elements 27 to be lit are photographed by the imaging element 16 of the capsule endoscope 10, and from the lighting position, the CPU 36 sequentially reads character data, reproduces character string data, and performs code analysis.

  On the other hand, since only the four light emitting elements 14 of the capsule endoscope 10 are provided in the present embodiment, the character string data is transferred to the cradle 20 for each 4-bit data. For example, the four light emitting elements 14 correspond to the 0th and 4th bits, the 1st and 5th bits, the 2nd and 6th bits, and the 3rd and 7th bits, respectively. In the example of FIG. 3, in response to an inquiry about “SN?” From the cradle 20, after a predetermined time has elapsed, its own serial number “A12” (ASCII code: 41h, 31h, 32h) is transferred 4 bits at a time. The lighting of the light emitting element 14 is detected by each of the four light receiving elements 28 provided in the cradle 20, and transferred to the personal computer 31 through the connection cable as 4-bit data and analyzed.

  Next, processing operations executed in the initial setting mode of the capsule endoscope 10 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 4. This processing operation is executed by the CPU 36 of the capsule endoscope 10.

  When the connection cable is connected to the personal computer 31 with the capsule endoscope 10 sealed or housed in the cradle 20, the capsule endoscope 10 is powered on and this flow is started. In step S100, the CPU 36 and peripheral devices are initialized, and in step S102, an initial setting mode using optical communication according to the present embodiment is started.

  In the initial setting mode, first, in step S104, the imaging device 16 captures the light emitting element 27 (FIG. 1) of the cradle 20, and the captured image is analyzed. In step S106, it is determined whether the parity of the analyzed data is appropriate. If the parity is not appropriate, the process returns to step S104, and an image taken anew is analyzed. If the parity is appropriate, the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S108, the character string data composed of the character data obtained this time and the character data obtained so far are analyzed, and it is determined whether or not the command is an effective command. If it is determined that the command character string is not valid, the process returns to step S104, and character data is further read. On the other hand, if it is determined that the command character string is valid, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S110, it is determined whether or not the analyzed command is a setting end command. If the command is a setting end command, the process proceeds to step S112, the normal observation mode is started, and the capsule endoscope 10 is driven based on the setting of the initial setting mode and the like. If the command is not a setting end command, processing according to the command is executed in step S114.

For example, in the case of a serial number inquiry, the serial number is read from the ROM 38 or the like, and the four light emitting elements 14 are caused to emit light by the method described above. Further, if the sleep period SL is set to set the time until the capsule endoscope 10 starts to operate, the value of the sleep period SL is set to a value (for example, 120 minutes) indicated by the cradle 20, for example, the RAM 33 or the like. Store in the memory. Table 1 illustrates some commands.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting element is provided on the cradle side and a capsule endoscope is provided with a receiver, a connection terminal, and the like by using an imaging element of the capsule endoscope Therefore, communication from the external device to the capsule endoscope can be realized with a small and simple configuration. Accordingly, even when there is data, a mode, a control parameter, or the like to be set or changed when using the capsule endoscope, the setting or changing can be performed. Moreover, since the capsule endoscope side uses an image sensor, the above-described communication can be realized without substantially changing the conventional mechanical configuration.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, a light receiving element is provided on the cradle side corresponding to the light emitting element for illumination of the capsule endoscope, thereby enabling bidirectional optical communication between the capsule endoscope and the cradle. Therefore, it is possible to perform more various initial settings and changes. In addition, since a plurality of light emitting elements are used in both communications, high-speed communications are possible.

  In this embodiment, since the capsule endoscope is sealed in the cradle and shipped, and setting / changing processing can be performed before opening, there is no fear that the capsule endoscope is soiled. Furthermore, since the cradle basically includes only a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the cradle itself can be provided at a very low price and can be disposable.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing configurations of a capsule endoscope and a cradle including the optical communication system according to the second embodiment. Since the mechanical configuration of the capsule endoscope of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are used and the description thereof is omitted. The capsule endoscope of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that either CCD or CMOS may be used as the image sensor 16 in the first embodiment, but in the second embodiment, CMOS is particularly used. And a method of receiving data from the cradle.

  On the other hand, the cradle 40 of the second embodiment includes one light emitting element 41 and one light receiving element 42 on the bottom surface. In the example of FIG. 5, the cradle 40 is drawn as a configuration in which only the transparent hemispherical portion 12 side of the capsule endoscope 10 is sealed, but the capsule endoscope 10 is completely accommodated as in the first embodiment. And the structure which seals may be sufficient. Similarly to the first embodiment, the cradle 40 is connected to, for example, a personal computer 31 via a connection cable, and performs light emission control of the light emitting element 41 and analysis processing of a signal detected by the light receiving element 42.

  In the second embodiment, data is transferred from the cradle 40 to the capsule endoscope 10 using the characteristics of the rolling shutter of the CMOS image sensor 16. In other words, when using a rolling shutter, there is a gap between the exposure timing and readout time for each line or pixel, so if there is a flash like a flash while one image is captured, the image will have a flash. There is a large difference in brightness between the area composed of the pixels exposed during the period and the area composed of the pixels exposed without the flash. Therefore, by controlling the lighting timing of the light emitting element 41 with respect to the imaging operation of the CMOS imaging element 16 in the light-shielded cradle 40, the size of the bright and dark areas in the photographed image can be controlled, and different patterns can be obtained. An image can be generated.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the exposure read timing of the CMOS image sensor 16 and the lighting timing of the light emitting element 14 of the capsule endoscope 10 and the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40. In FIG. 6, begin and end are exposures. Indicates the start and end of reading. That is, FIG. 6 illustrates the imaging for three consecutive frames.

  The lighting of the light emitting element 14 of the capsule endoscope 10 notifies the start of exposure reading of the CMOS image sensor 16 to the cradle 40 side and is detected by the light receiving element 42 provided in the cradle 40. A signal detected by the light receiving element 42 is sent to the personal computer 31 via a connection cable. When the personal computer 31 receives a signal to start exposure reading of the CMOS image sensor 16, it turns on (flashes) the light emitting element 41 at a timing corresponding to the character code to be transmitted.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of three frames of images taken in time series by the CMOS image sensor 16 of the capsule endoscope 10 when the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40 is turned on at the timing of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the upper area that is read from when the exposure reading by the CMOS image sensor 16 is started until the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40 is turned on is a dark area, and is turned on after the lighting. The lower area to be read is a bright area. That is, the area of the dark region is proportional to the time from begin to lighting of the light emitting element 41, and the area of the bright region is proportional to the time from lighting of the light emitting element 41 to end.

  Since the area ratio of the light and dark areas can be changed by controlling the lighting timing of the light emitting element 41 between begin and end, different character codes and command codes can be assigned according to the area ratio, and in one frame Can transmit many kinds of information. For example, when the resolution of the image sensor 16 is VGA (640 × 480 pixels) and the readout time (from begin to end) is 31 milliseconds, the readout time per pixel is 0.1 microsecond. When the lighting of the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40 is controlled with an accuracy of 5 microseconds (corresponding to 5 pixels), 640 × 480/5 = 61,440 light / dark patterns can be generated, which is approximately 16-bit data (65,536). Street). In the example of FIG. 7, control is performed in units of horizontal lines, and 480 kinds of information are transferred per frame.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, a light emitting element is provided on the cradle side and an imaging element of the capsule endoscope is used, so that the capsule endoscope Communication from an external device to the capsule endoscope can be realized with a small and simple configuration without providing a receiver, a connection terminal, or the like. Accordingly, even when there is data, a mode, a control parameter, or the like to be set or changed when using the capsule endoscope, the setting or changing can be performed. Moreover, since the capsule endoscope side uses an image sensor, the above-described communication can be realized without substantially changing the conventional mechanical configuration.

  In the second embodiment, information of 2 bits or more per frame can be transmitted only by providing one light emitting element and light receiving element on the cradle side.

  Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40 is turned on only once during the reading time of one frame. However, in the modification, the light emitting element 41 is turned on a plurality of times during the reading time of one frame. (Flash). Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment.

  8 and 9 correspond to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the second embodiment, respectively. That is, FIG. 8 shows an example of the readout timing in the CMOS image sensor 16 and the light emission timings of the light emitting elements 14 and 41 when continuously capturing three frames of images, and FIG. An image of a frame is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the light emitting element 41 of the cradle 40 is notified of the start of reading of the CMOS image sensor 16 by turning on the light emitting element 14 of the capsule endoscope 10, the imaging period (begin˜ In end), the light emitting element 41 is turned on (flashed) at a timing corresponding to the code to be transferred. In the first frame, the light emitting element 41 is lit three times during the readout period (begin to end).

  In the imaging of the first frame, when the periods from the start of reading (begin) to the first to third lighting are represented by periods a, b, and c, respectively, as shown in FIG. The pixels read out during a are not exposed at all and are completely dark. On the other hand, pixels that are read between the end point of the period a and the end point of the period b are exposed by the first lighting. Next, the pixels read out from the end point of the period b to the end point of the period c are exposed by the first lighting and the second lighting, and reading of this frame from the end point of the period c (end) The pixels read in the period up to are exposed by the first, second, and third lighting.

  Accordingly, four regions that are gradually brightened as they go downward are formed in the first frame image. On the other hand, in the second and third frames, since the light emitting element 41 is lit twice, three regions that gradually become brighter as it goes down are formed. In the second and third frames, Since the lighting timing is different, the images of both frames have different gradation patterns.

  As described above, also in the modification of the second embodiment, substantially the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the modified example, it is possible to use multi-level light and dark rather than two black and white light and dark, so that the amount of information per frame can be further increased.

  In this embodiment, the light emitting element for communication is provided on the cradle side in this embodiment, but this is a display element that can display a plurality of patterns such as an LCD, and this is a light emitting element provided on the capsule endoscope or the cradle. It can also be set as the structure which illuminates and images with an image sensor.

  In the first embodiment, the capsule endoscope is preferably housed in the cradle so that the light emitting element, the imaging element, and the light receiving element are in a predetermined arrangement in relation to the cradle. As a configuration, for example, a key may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cradle cylinder, and a key groove that engages with the key may be formed on the outer surface of the cylinder of the capsule body.

  In the second embodiment and its modification, a diffuser may be disposed between the light emitting element on the cradle side and the capsule endoscope. In the present embodiment, the initial setting has been described as an example. However, the communication system can be used for firmware update. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the light source that can be received by each light receiving element is limited by using the partition plate. However, instead of the partition plate, a recess may be provided, and the light receiving element and the light emitting element may be disposed therein. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Capsule endoscope 12 Transparent hemisphere part 14 Light emitting element 16 Image pick-up element 20, 40 Cradle 27, 41 Light emitting element 28, 42 Light receiving element 29 Partition plate 31 Personal computer

Claims (12)

A capsule endoscope;
An image sensor provided in the capsule endoscope;
A cradle that houses the capsule endoscope so that the image sensor is shielded from light;
Pattern generation means provided in the cradle capable of generating captured images of different patterns in imaging in the cradle of the imaging element;
A data communication system for a capsule endoscope, comprising: a pattern analysis unit that is provided in the capsule endoscope and analyzes the pattern and receives data from the cradle.   The capsule endoscope data communication system according to claim 1, wherein the pattern generation unit includes a light emitting element.   3. The capsule endoscope data communication system according to claim 2, wherein the pattern generation unit includes a plurality of light emitting elements, and the different patterns are generated by a combination of light emission in the plurality of light emitting elements.   The cradle includes a light receiving element that receives light from a light emitting element for illumination of the capsule endoscope, and data from the capsule endoscope is detected by detecting lighting of the light emitting element for illumination by the light receiving element. 4. The capsule endoscope data communication system according to claim 3, wherein the cradle side receives the data.   The light from the plurality of light emitting elements is prevented from being received by the light receiving elements between the plurality of light emitting elements and the light receiving elements provided in the cradle. Data communication system for capsule endoscopes.   When the illumination light emitting element and the light receiving element are provided in a plurality, and the capsule endoscope is accommodated in the cradle, the illumination light emitting element faces the corresponding light receiving element, and the light receiving element faces 6. The capsule endoscope data communication system according to claim 5, wherein only the light of the illumination light emitting element is received.   3. The capsule according to claim 2, wherein a reading of a rolling shutter method is performed in the imaging element, and the different pattern is generated by controlling a lighting timing of the light emitting element at the time of the reading. Data communication system for endoscope.   The cradle includes a light receiving element that receives light from the light emitting element for illumination of the capsule endoscope, and the cradle side detects the timing of starting the reading by detecting the lighting of the light emitting element for illumination with the light receiving element. The data communication system for a capsule endoscope according to claim 7, wherein the data is received from the capsule endoscope.   9. The capsule endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the pattern generation unit is controlled by an external device connected to the cradle via a connection cable. Data communication system.   The capsule endoscope data communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the entire endoscope capsule is sealed in the cradle.   The capsule endoscope according to claim 1. The cradle for capsule endoscopes according to claim 1.

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