JP2647141B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

Description: Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus having an image freeze function, and more particularly to an improvement in technology related to improvement in image quality of a frame freeze image.

(Prior Art) Generally, in this type of endoscope apparatus, image freeze is made possible by using a configuration in which writing and reading control is performed on a frame memory for writing video signal data of two fields for each frame. .

There are two types of image freeze, a frame freeze and a field freeze. Conventionally, the image freeze must be used properly depending on the situation.

That is, in the related art, when a moving image of a subject is obtained by a frame freeze, the freeze image on the screen is blurred due to a shift of the video signal data of ODD and EVEN.

Therefore, conventionally, when the movement of the subject is severe, a field image is obtained by field freeze. However, the field freeze image has a lower image quality than the frame freeze image.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the case of the conventional endoscope apparatus, when the subject moves, the field freeze is performed even if the image quality is normally deteriorated.

However, there are many cases where it is desired to obtain a high-quality freeze image for endoscopic examination. In this case, a frame freeze is performed.

However, if frame freeze is performed to ensure high image quality, every time a blur occurs in the freeze image, the operator cancels the blurred fleece image by the cancel operation, returns to the real image, and then performs the freeze operation again. I had to do it.

The repetition of such an operation is one of the obstacles of the endoscopic examination, while trying to shorten the examination time in order to minimize the pain of the subject.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method in which a clear freeze image can be automatically obtained by performing a single freeze operation even when a subject moves. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application controls writing / reading of video signal data on a frame memory and receives a freeze instruction. In the endoscope apparatus having a control unit that performs control to create a freeze image, the control unit is configured to obtain video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field taken into the frame memory. The image blur width level is compared with an appropriately set image blur width threshold value. If the image blur width level of the video signal data is smaller than the threshold value, a freeze permission signal is output, and the video If the level of the image blur width of the signal data is large, the
A comparison operation unit for comparing the level of the image blur width of the video signal data obtained from the video signal data of the EN field and the video signal data of the ODD field with the threshold value, and the freeze even after a lapse of a set time from the comparison operation unit A forced execution unit for forcibly executing control for creating a frozen image when the permission signal is not output.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 of the present application provides a control unit that controls writing and reading of video signal data on a frame memory and performs a control unit that creates a frozen image when a freeze instruction is given. In the endoscope apparatus provided with, the control unit, the level of the image blur width of the video signal data obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field taken into the frame memory and the image set appropriately Comparing with the threshold of the blur width, if the level of the image blur width of the video signal data is smaller than the threshold, output a freeze permission signal, if the level of the image blur width of the video signal data is larger than the threshold, Next, it is obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field taken into the frame memory. A comparing unit for comparing the level of the image blur width of the video signal data and the said threshold value that,
When the number of repetitions for comparing the level of the image blur width of the video signal data with the threshold value by the comparison operation unit exceeds a set number, a forced execution unit for forcibly executing control for creating a frozen image is provided. It is characterized by the following.

(Operation) According to the present invention, the state of the video signal data taken into the frame memory is monitored by the comparison operation unit, and the deviation between the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field causes image blur on the screen. When it does not occur, the freeze control is executed, so that a clear freeze image can be automatically obtained even if the subject moves only by performing the freeze operation once, and the freeze is performed even after the set time elapses. If the permission signal is not output, or if the number of repetitions for comparing the level of the image blur width of the video signal data with the threshold exceeds the set number of times, the forced execution unit forcibly executes the control for creating the frozen image. It is possible to avoid a situation where a frozen image cannot be obtained despite the operation.

(Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an entire endoscope apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

This endoscope apparatus has a scope 2 on the input side of the apparatus main body 1.
And a monitor 3 such as a CRT on the output side.

The apparatus body 1 transmits light emitted from the light source 4 to a subject (not shown) from the distal end of the scope 2 through the light guide 23.
Drive / receiver circuit in scope 2
Scope 2 of the video signal from CCD21 operated by 22
A signal processing circuit 5 adjusts a change in optical characteristics caused by the light source 4 or the light source 4, and outputs the adjusted output signal of the signal processing circuit 5 to a digital scan converter (hereinafter referred to as a digital scan converter).
(Referred to as DSC) 6, the DSC 6 stores an image, inverts the image horizontally, and controls image display.

The detailed configuration of the main part of the DSC 6 is as shown in FIG. 1, and as shown, a frame memory 11 having a memory 12 of an ODD field and a memory 13 of an EVEN field, a controller 14, a comparison arithmetic unit 15, The main part of the DSC 6 is constituted by the A / D converter 16 and the D / A converter 17.

The frame memory 11 can write two fields of video signal data for each frame by a combination of the memories 12 and 13 of the ODD field and the EVEN field.

The controller 14 controls writing and reading of video signal data on the frame memory 11, and when a freeze instruction is issued, controls to create a frame freeze image by a signal indicating freeze execution.

On the other hand, the controller 14 is provided with a comparison calculator 15. When the controller 14 receives a freeze instruction in response to, for example, a key operation of a hand-operated button (not shown) of the scope 2, a comparison calculation is performed by the controller 14. An activation start signal is sent to the unit 15, and the comparison operation unit 15 is activated.

The comparison arithmetic unit 15 synchronizes with the sampling time indicated by the sampling time setting means 18 so that the frame memory 11 stores the video signal data taken in the memories 12 and 13 in two fields for each frame, that is, the video signal data of the EVEN field. Then, the level of the blur width of the video signal data obtained from the video signal data of the ODD field is compared with the threshold level appropriately set by the blur width setting means 19.

Then, when the level of the blur width of the video signal data is smaller than the threshold level indicated by the blur width setting means 19, the comparison calculator 15 outputs a freeze permission signal to the controller 14.

When the level of the blur width of the video signal data is larger than the threshold level indicated by the blur width setting means 19, the output of the freeze permission signal is avoided, and the video captured in the memories 12 and 13 of the frame memory 11 is next. The level of the signal data is compared with a threshold level indicated by the shake width setting means 19. Therefore, the level of the blur width of the video signal data taken into the frame memory 11 is adjusted by the blur width setting means 19.
When the threshold value becomes smaller than the threshold value indicated by the symbol, a freeze permission signal is output to the controller 14.

However, when the movement of the subject continues to be intense, the level of the video signal data taken into the memories 12 and 13 of the frame memory 11 does not become lower than the threshold level indicated by the blur width setting means 19 forever. In the embodiment, the controller 14 is configured such that the frame freeze is forcibly executed by the controller 14 when the freeze permission signal is not transmitted even after the set time elapses from the comparison arithmetic unit 15 to the controller 14.

Further, instead of the configuration in which the frame freeze is forcibly executed by the controller 14, the comparison arithmetic unit 15
When the number of repetitions of comparing the level of the video signal data taken into the frame memory 11 with the threshold level of the blur width setting means 19 exceeds the set number, a freeze permission signal is forcibly transmitted to the controller 14. Can also.

As described above, by configuring the controller 14 and the comparison calculator 15, even if a freeze instruction is given, the ODD, EV
When the deviation of each EN video signal data is large enough to cause a freeze image blur on the screen, the video data is not used as data for creating a frame freeze image.

When a freeze permission signal is sent from the comparison calculator 15 to the controller 14, the frame freeze control is executed on the frame memory 11 by the controller 14, so that even if the subject is moving, the monitor can be monitored by one key operation. 3, a clear frame freeze image can be obtained.

Further, since the frame freeze control is forcibly executed according to the judgment of the controller 14 so that a frame freeze image can be obtained even when the subject moves rapidly, it is not possible to obtain a freeze image despite the key operation. Things can be avoided.

In the case of the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the freeze images sampled one after another are projected onto the monitor image, and the most appropriate freeze image is selected therefrom, and used as the observation freeze image or the copy freeze image. Can be easily applied to the system.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically obtain a clear frozen image even when the subject moves by performing the freeze operation only once, and to perform the freeze operation. Despite this, it is possible to avoid a situation where a frozen image cannot be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a DSC of an endoscope apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the entire endoscope apparatus. 1 ... Main unit 2 ... Scope 3 ... Monitor 4 ... Light source 5 ... Signal processing circuit 6 ... DSC 11 ... Frame memory 12 ... ODD field memory 13 ... EVEN field memory 14 ... Controller 15 Comparison arithmetic unit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] The present invention controls writing and reading of video signal data on a frame memory, and when a freeze instruction is issued,
In the endoscope apparatus including a control unit that performs control for creating a freeze image, the control unit includes an image of video signal data obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field that are captured into the frame memory. Comparing the blur width level with an appropriately set image blur width threshold value, and when the image blur width level of the video signal data is smaller than the threshold value,
A freeze permission signal is output, and when the level of the image blur width of the video signal data is larger than the threshold, a video signal obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field to be taken into the frame memory next. A comparison operation unit that compares the level of the image blur width of the data with the threshold value, and when the freeze permission signal is not output after a lapse of a set time from the comparison operation unit, forcibly executes control to create a freeze image An endoscope apparatus, comprising: 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: controlling writing and reading of video signal data on the frame memory;
In the endoscope apparatus including a control unit that performs control for creating a freeze image, the control unit includes an image of video signal data obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field that are captured into the frame memory. Comparing the blur width level with an appropriately set image blur width threshold value, and when the image blur width level of the video signal data is smaller than the threshold value,
A freeze permission signal is output, and when the level of the image blur width of the video signal data is larger than the threshold value, the video signal obtained from the video signal data of the EVEN field and the video signal data of the ODD field to be taken into the frame memory next. A comparison operation unit that compares the level of the image blur width of the data with the threshold value, and the number of repetitions of comparing the level of the image blur width of the video signal data with the threshold value by the comparison operation unit exceeds a set number of times. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a forced execution unit for forcibly executing control for creating a freeze image.