JP3558310B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an imaging unit for enlarging a subject to a desired magnification in an apparatus main body, a control unit for converting a video signal imaged by the imaging unit into a video signal, and a tripod on a bottom of the apparatus main body. The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus provided with a tripod fixing screw section for fixing, and for observing a subject under image pickup by the image pickup means as a magnified image by display means such as a monitor screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-107410, this type of imaging apparatus is used to take an image of a subject by contacting or approaching the surface of the subject with a display means, and to enlarge and display the image on the display means. The objective tool is divided into a front block and a rear block which can be freely attached and detached, and an optical system for enlarging the subject and a light source for illuminating the subject are incorporated in the front split, and the optical system is provided in the rear block. Some have built-in image pickup means for picking up an enlarged image, and signal processing means for processing signal processing from the image pickup means and outputting the processed signal to the display means.
[0003]
Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 6-81506, the light disposed between the inner periphery of the probe body in which the magnifying optical system including the lens and the lens tube is housed and the outer periphery of the lens tube. When a glass pillar is connected to the tip of a probe having a fiber, and the tip end face of the glass pillar is brought into close contact with the subject so that illumination light emitted from the optical fiber does not surface-reflect from the subject, and the probe is brought into contact with the subject. Had improved the focal plane shift.
[0004]
In such a case, the observer holds the front block with his or her hand and abuts or approaches the subject to image the subject, but when observing the subject at a certain distance from the subject or when the observation magnification is large, Since the camera shake occurred and the subject could not be observed accurately, it was necessary to fix the imaging device to the gantry and observe the subject.Therefore, the gantry was attached to the tripod fixing screw provided on the lower surface of the imaging device body. A screw of a holding fitting slidably provided on the pillar body is screwed, and the holding fitting is slid to move the imaging device main body to adjust the distance between the imaging device main body and the subject.
[0005]
However, the positional relationship between the observer, the imaging device, and the gantry in this state is the positional relationship between the observer, the imaging device (subject), and the gantry from the near side, so that the image is captured by the imaging device and is displayed on the display means. The image of the subject is on the lower side of the image on which the column side of the gantry is projected, while the subject viewed from the observer is on the display side such as a monitor screen since the column side of the gantry is on the upper side. When the observer moves the subject downward with respect to the gantry in order to observe the upper side of the subject, the display moves when the observer moves the subject upward on the display means. According to the means, the subject moves to the left, and the moving direction of the display means and the actual subject is reversed, so that it is not possible to smoothly project the observation place of the subject on the display means.
[0006]
Therefore, a tripod fixing screw portion is provided on the upper surface of the imaging device main body in order to match the vertical and horizontal directions of the subject viewed from the observer with the vertical and horizontal directions of the subject imaged by the imaging device and displayed on the display means. It is also conceivable that the configuration of the holding bracket of the gantry is formed such that the lower side (the tripod fixing screw portion) of the imaging device is located on the observer side when the imaging device main body is attached.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, providing the tripod fixing screw portion on the upper surface of the imaging device main body as described above is very problematic due to the appearance and necessity of providing other parts such as an operation unit. In order to deform the holding bracket, the configuration of the holding bracket becomes complicated, and it is necessary to extend the screw of the holding bracket to a position distant from the column of the gantry, and thus the strength of the holding bracket is reduced.
[0008]
The image pickup apparatus of the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem, and when the apparatus main body is attached to a gantry with a tripod fixing screw portion to observe a subject, an inverted image obtained by inverting a video signal picked up by an image pickup unit. By providing a video signal inverting circuit that outputs the video signal as a video signal, without changing the mounting direction of the imaging device, the vertical and horizontal directions of the subject viewed from the observer and the vertical and horizontal directions of the subject shown on the display means. In the same direction.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention outputs an erect image as a video signal to a display means such as a monitor screen when an object is observed while holding the apparatus main body by hand. An imaging unit for enlarging a subject to a desired magnification in an apparatus body, a control unit for converting a video signal imaged by the imaging unit into a video signal, and a tripod for fixing a tripod to a bottom of the apparatus body A fixing screw portion is provided, and the tripod fixing screw portion detects that the apparatus main body is attached to the gantry in order to observe an enlarged image of a subject imaged by the imaging unit with the display unit. A video signal inverting circuit is provided for outputting, as a video signal, an inverted image obtained by inverting the video signal picked up by the image pickup means in order to observe a subject.
[0010]
When the apparatus body is mounted on a gantry with a tripod fixing screw part to image and observe a subject, an inverted image obtained by inverting a video signal imaged by an imaging means by a video signal inverting circuit is output as a video signal and displayed. The up, down, left, and right directions of the subject projected on the means and the up, down, left, and right directions of the subject viewed from the observer are set to be the same direction, so that the observation place of the subject can be easily observed.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging device, a video signal inverting switch for inverting a video signal by the video signal inverting circuit when the device main body is not fixed to the mount is provided.
By operating the video signal inverting switch, it is possible to invert the vertical and horizontal directions of the video of the subject projected on the display means when necessary.
[0012]
In the imaging device according to the third aspect, the tripod fixing screw portion includes a detection unit that detects that the device main body is attached to the gantry and inverts a video signal by the video signal inversion circuit.
When the apparatus main body is attached to the gantry by the tripod fixing screw portion, the detecting means automatically reverses the vertical and horizontal directions of the image of the subject displayed on the display means.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus including an inversion display circuit for displaying an indication on a display means such as a monitor screen in order to notify an observer that the image signal has been inverted by the image signal inversion circuit.
The inversion display circuit displays on the display means that the image of the subject projected on the display means is an image inverted by the video signal inversion circuit, and notifies the observer that the image on the display means is inverted. Inform.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a video microscope which is an imaging device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0015]
As shown in the figure, a video microscope according to the present invention includes a camera unit serving as an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject, and a main body case 1 having a built-in control unit for controlling a video signal from the camera unit. A holding recess 2 for holding the main body case 1 by a viewer's hand is provided on a side surface of the case 1, and a tripod fixing screw portion 4 for attaching a video microscope to the gantry 3 is provided on a lower surface of the main body case 1. Is provided.
[0016]
An imaging switch for taking an image and an image inverting switch 5 which is a video signal inverting switch are provided on the upper side of the main body case 1, and a video output for outputting a video signal is provided at a rear end of the main body case 1. A terminal 6 is provided.
A connection cable for connection to a TV monitor 7 as display means such as a monitor screen is inserted and connected to the video output terminal 6.
[0017]
The camera unit includes a video processing signal unit 12 that outputs an output signal from the CCD 11 to the control unit as a video signal, a lens unit 13 provided in front of the main body case 1, and a lighting unit necessary for imaging a subject. A light source (not shown) and a light guide unit for guiding illumination light of the illumination light source to a subject are provided.
[0018]
The control unit includes a CPU 14 serving as a central processing unit, a digital circuit 15 for processing a video signal, a memory circuit 16, an analog circuit 17, a SW input circuit 18, and a video output circuit 19. I have. The control section controls the driving of the camera section and the illumination light source.
[0019]
Next, the main signal flow in the block diagram of the control unit shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The image signal of the subject imaged by the CCD 11 via the lens unit 13 and processed by the image signal processing unit 12 is converted into an analog circuit 17. To the digital circuit 15.
[0020]
Each of the Y, RY, and BY signals sent to the digital circuit 15 is input to an IC, and the Y signal is A / D converted as it is. The RY and BY signals are alternately switched by a switch SW. After the A / D conversion, the data is stored in the D-RAM of the memory circuit 16.
[0021]
At the time of displaying a memory image, of the data read from the D-RAM, the Y data in the digital circuit 15 is input to an RGB matrix through a luminance data count circuit. The RY and BY data are input to an RGB matrix. Each signal data of RGB is created from each signal input to the RGB matrix, output as an analog signal through D / A conversion, and transmitted to the analog circuit 17.
[0022]
A signal input from an external switch (micro switch 31) enters the SW input circuit 18. With this as a trigger, the signal once stored in the D-RAM is sequentially scanned from the position corresponding to the lower right of the CCD element to the position corresponding to the upper left of the screen for the first time so that the vertical direction on the screen of the TV monitor 7 is reversed. The CPU 14 controls the CPU 14 to read it again and output it as a video signal on the screen of the TV monitor 7.
[0023]
Each time a trigger signal is sent, OSD (on-screen display) characters (for example, “normal mode (upright image)” and “reversal mode (inverted image)”) indicating the screen display state are synthesized with the screen. The image is output from the video output circuit 19 to the TV monitor 7.
[0024]
Next, a state in which the video microscope is attached to the gantry will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
The gantry 3 is fitted with a gantry main body 22 having a stage 21 on which a subject is mounted, a column 23 which is a column fixed to a rear portion of the gantry main body 22, and slidably fitted to the column 23. The fixed metal fittings 24, a column fixing screw 25 for fixing the fixing metal 24 to the column 23, a holding metal 26 provided on the fixing metal 24 so as to be movable up and down, and moving the holding metal 26 up and down. It comprises a vertical movement knob 27 and a main body fixing screw 28 which is screwed to the tripod fixing screw part 4 of the main body case 1 to attach the main body case 1 to the holding bracket 26.
[0026]
A pin 29 is provided at a predetermined distance from the rotation center of the main body fixing screw 28 on the mounting side of the main body case 1 of the holding bracket 26.
Further, the tripod fixing screw portion 4 of the main body case 1 is provided with a cylindrical concave portion 4a into which the pin 29 is inserted, and is pressed into contact with the pin 29 on the inner side of the concave portion 4a. A contact 30 is provided, and a microswitch 31 turned on and off by the contact 30 is provided.
[0027]
When the main body case 1 is attached to the holding bracket 26, the main body case 1 is engaged with the tripod fixing screw portion 4 of the main body case 1 and the main body fixing screw 28, and is inserted into the pin 29 and the concave portion 4a. Since the engagement is made at two places, rotation in the circumferential direction around the main body fixing screw 28 is restricted, and the mounting position of the main body case 1 is fixed.
[0028]
Next, a method of using the video microscope of the present invention will be described.
[0029]
First, when the subject is a person's skin or the like, the observer holds the holding recess 2 of the main body case 1 and points the lens unit 13 at the subject, captures the subject, and projects the subject image on the TV monitor 7. Is to be observed.
At this time, since the observer and the subject face each other (in the same direction), the screen on the TV monitor 7 corresponds to the signal once stored in the memory from the position corresponding to the upper left of the screen of the CCD 11 element to the lower right of the screen. Are sequentially scanned up to the location where the image is to be read, and the read and output image is projected.
[0030]
Next, when observing the subject at a fixed distance or when the observation magnification is large, there is a problem of camera shake, and the subject is imaged with the main body case 1 fixed to the gantry 3.
[0031]
In this case, the main body fixing screw 28 of the holding bracket 26 is screwed to the tripod fixing screw portion 4 of the main body case 1.
At this time, since the pin 29 of the holding bracket 26 is fitted into the concave portion 4a of the tripod fixing screw 4, the main body case 1 is prevented from rotating by tightening the main body fixing screw 28, and the main body case 1 is prevented from rotating. The case 1 is fixed to the holding bracket 26 by screwing the main body fixing screw 28 with the lens portion 13 facing downward.
[0032]
Then, loosen the tightening of the column fixing screw 25 of the fixing bracket 24, slide the fixing bracket 24 up and down to determine the distance between the lens portion 13 of the main body case 1 and the subject, and screw the column fixing screw 25 together. (Tighten) to fix the position of the fixing bracket 24.
[0033]
Since the pin 29 is inserted into the recess 4a, the contact 30 in the recess 4a is pushed by the pin 29, and when the displacement of the contact 30 exceeds a certain amount, the contact of the microswitch 31 is turned on. I have.
[0034]
For this reason, the screen of the TV monitor 7 starts by scanning the signal once stored in the memory from a position corresponding to the lower right of the screen of the element of the CCD 11 to a position corresponding to the upper left of the screen, reads out the signal again, and reads the signal again. Since the video signal is output as a video signal, the captured image of the subject is displayed on the TV monitor 7 as an inverted inverted image, and is displayed on the TV monitor 7 in the up-down direction of the subject actually viewed by the observer. The vertical direction of the image of the subject is the same direction.
[0035]
Then, the subject is displayed on the TV monitor 7 at the same time, the "reversal mode" is displayed for a few seconds as an OSD character on the screen of the TV monitor 7, and the image of the subject currently being projected is displayed on the inverted head. Inform the observer that this is an image. The display of the OSD character may be always displayed on the screen of the TV monitor 7 as well as for a few seconds.
[0036]
By operating the vertical movement knob 2 7 of the fixed bracket 24 by symptoms adjusting the holding metal fitting 6 in the vertical, after adjusting the focus, to observe the object on the stage 21 of the gantry body 22.
[0037]
When observing the subject, the up-down direction of the subject directly viewed by the observer and the up-down direction of the image of the subject displayed on the screen of the TV monitor 7 are the same direction. Since the moving direction of moving the subject in order to search for the part to be searched and the moving direction of the image on the TV monitor 7 match, the observer can easily move the subject in the required direction without making a mistake. it can.
[0038]
When the user wants to invert the image displayed on the TV monitor 7 when the main body case 1 is not fixed to the gantry 3 as described above, the video inversion switch 5 provided on the main body case 1 can be used. By operating, the image of the subject projected on the TV monitor 7 can be manually inverted.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when observing an object while holding the apparatus main body by hand, an erect image is output as a video signal, and the apparatus main body is attached to a gantry with a tripod fixing screw to observe the object. Sometimes, a video signal inverting circuit is provided which outputs an inverted image obtained by inverting the video signal picked up by the image pickup means as a video signal, so that the apparatus main body is attached to a gantry with a tripod fixing screw to image a subject. At the time of observation, an inverted image obtained by inverting the video signal picked up by the imaging means by the video signal inversion circuit is output as a video signal, and the image is viewed from the observer in the vertical and horizontal directions of the subject shown on the display means. The up, down, left, and right directions of the subject can be set to the same direction, and the moving direction of the subject matches the moving direction of the image projected on the display means. The can begin reflects easily display means, it is possible to observe the object better.
[0040]
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2 is provided with a video signal reversing switch for reversing a video signal by the video signal reversing circuit in the apparatus main body. It is possible to invert the vertical and horizontal directions of the image of the subject displayed on the display means, thereby improving versatility.
[0041]
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tripod fixing screw is provided with a detecting means for detecting that the apparatus main body is attached to the gantry and inverting a video signal by the video signal inverting circuit. When the apparatus main body is attached to the gantry by the screw portion, the vertical direction and the left and right directions of the image of the subject projected on the display means can be automatically inverted by the detecting means. Performance can be improved.
[0042]
The image pickup apparatus according to the fourth aspect is provided with an inversion display circuit for displaying an indication on a display means such as a monitor screen in order to notify an observer that the image signal has been inverted by the image signal inversion circuit. The inversion display circuit displays on the display means that the image of the subject projected on the display means is an image inverted by the video signal inversion circuit, and informs the observer that the image on the display means is inverted. Can be notified, and the subject can be observed without error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a video microscope according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an embodiment of the video microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit of the video microscope of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a use state showing a state where the video microscope of the present invention is attached to a gantry.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body case 2 Holding recessed part 3 Stand 4 Tripod fixing screw part 5 Image reversing switch 6 Video output terminal 7 TV monitor 11 CCD
Reference Signs List 12 video signal processing circuit 13 lens unit 19 video output circuit 22 gantry main body 23 support 24 fixing bracket 26 holding bracket 27 vertical movement knob 28 main body fixing screw 29 pin 30 contact 31 micro switch

Claims (4)

When observing a subject while holding the device body by hand, in an imaging device that outputs an erect image as a video signal to display means such as a monitor screen,
Imaging means for enlarging a subject to a desired magnification in the apparatus body, an image signal converted by the imaging means into a video signal, a control unit, and a tripod fixing screw for fixing a tripod to the bottom of the apparatus body And a part,
In order to observe an enlarged image of a subject imaged by the imaging means with the display means , the tripod fixing screw portion detects that the apparatus main body has been attached to the gantry, so that the imaging means can be used to observe the subject. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a video signal inverting circuit for outputting, as a video signal, an inverted image obtained by inverting a video signal picked up in (1). 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus main body is provided with a video signal inversion switch for inverting a video signal by said video signal inversion circuit when said apparatus main body is not fixed to said mount . 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tripod fixing screw portion is provided with detecting means for detecting that the apparatus main body is attached to the gantry and inverting a video signal by the video signal inversion circuit. 2. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inversion display circuit for displaying an indication on a display means such as a monitor screen in order to notify an observer that the image signal has been inverted by said image signal inversion circuit. apparatus.

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