JP3847619B2 - Connector device for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector device for an electronic endoscope that is detachably connected to a processor that performs image processing and has an image pickup unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-97648, a related board (setup board) in a casing body (housing) of a connector device, a shield case that shields it electromagnetically, and radiation noise of cables are reduced. A ferrite core is provided.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Various specifications of the electronic endoscope are conceivable depending on the application, and it is normal that endoscopes of these various specifications can be connected to one processor. That is, it is desirable that the connector device for the electronic endoscope can be used in common with various electronic endoscopes. However, when there are a plurality of types of image pickup units employed, the level of radiation noise is usually different for each image pickup unit.
[0004]
When an electronic endoscope is developed, a ferrite core with appropriate characteristics is selected and used according to the noise pattern, but when developing an electronic endoscope with a new imaging unit, In some cases, a ferrite core having appropriate characteristics cannot be accommodated in the casing body, and a casing body having a large storage base for the ferrite core has to be newly developed.
[0005]
(Object of invention)
The present application has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a connector device for an electronic endoscope that can use a common casing body regardless of the pattern and level of radiated electromagnetic noise. .
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Connector device in electronic endoscope of the present invention is connected to the socket portion of the processor to perform at least the image signal processing, a connector apparatus for an electronic endoscope, the connector device is connected to the socket part A casing main body in which a substrate for processing a predetermined electric signal to be transferred to the processor is installed, a pedestal portion formed by a hollow hard member detachably disposed on the casing main body, and the casing A first ferrite core storage portion formed in the body, a second ferrite core storage portion formed in the pedestal portion, and a cable stored in the first ferrite core storage portion and connected to the substrate A first ferrite core engaged with the first ferrite core and a first ferrite core housed in the second ferrite core housing portion and engaged with a cable connected to the substrate. Core and a different second ferrite core characteristics, covers the base portion, covers the end portion of the flexible tube is inserted through the cable, to prevent the sudden change in flexibility of the flexible tube, And a bend-preventing portion formed of an insulating member.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an electronic endoscope system including the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure of the main part of the video connector, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure of the main part of the video connector when the noise level is low and a ferrite core is not required, and FIG. 4 shows the video connector having the ferrite core. FIG. 5 shows the appearance of the video connector when no ferrite core is required.
[0008]
An electronic endoscope system 1 having the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 incorporating an image sensor for performing an endoscopic examination, and the electronic endoscope 2 is detachably connected. Then, the light source device 3 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2 and the electronic endoscope 2 are detachably connected, and signal processing for generating a video signal is performed on the image sensor of the electronic endoscope 2. The video processor 4 is connected to the video processor 4 and includes a TV monitor 5 that displays an endoscopic image captured by the imaging device when a video signal output from the video processor 4 is input.
[0009]
The electronic endoscope 2 is provided at an insertion portion 6 to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 7 which is provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 6 and is grasped by an operator, and extends from a side portion of the operation portion 7. A first flexible tube 5 into which a bundle of light guide fibers for transmitting illumination light and a power cable and a signal cable for driving an imaging device are inserted, and a tip (distal end) of the first flexible tube 5 A light guide connector 9 that is detachably connected to the light source device 3 and guides illumination light into the electronic endoscope 2, and a power source that extends from the side of the light guide connector 9 and drives the imaging device A second flexible tube 10 through which a cable or a signal cable is inserted, and a video connector 11 provided at the distal end of the second flexible tube 10 and detachably connected to the video processor 4 are provided.
[0010]
The light guide connector 9 is detachably connected to the light guide socket 12 of the light source device 3, and the video connector 11 is detachably connected to the signal socket 13 of the video processor 4.
[0011]
FIG. 2 shows a half cross-sectional view of the video connector 11 provided at the distal end of the second flexible tube 10.
As shown in FIG. 2, the front end (the left end portion in FIG. 2) of the casing main body 15 constituting the video connector 11 is electrically connected to a receiving portion contact inside the socket portion 13 of the video processor 4 in FIG. A contact portion 16 is provided. The casing body 15 is formed by molding a plastic member.
[0012]
A conductive shield case 17 is accommodated in the casing body 15. The shield case 17 houses a substrate 18 for performing basic electrical signal processing for transferring electrical signals to the video processor 4 side.
[0013]
The shield case 17 covers the substrate 18 almost completely so that electromagnetic noise radiated from the substrate 18 does not leak out of the shield case 17. Various cables 19 extend from a small opening formed in the rear end surface of the shield case 17 to the outside.
[0014]
In this case, the shield wire on the outermost periphery in the cables 19 is connected to the shield case 17, and the shield function is maintained even when an opening is provided.
[0015]
The cables 19 include, for example, a signal cable connected to a CCD as an imaging device, a ground line, a CCD power supply cable, and the like. These cables 19 are connected to the second flexible tube 10 through a ferrite core storage portion 21 described below.
[0016]
A base 22 is provided near the distal end of the second flexible tube 10, and the base 22 is connected and fixed to the base fixing portion 24 by a first lock ring 23 by screwing. Then, on the left side of the base fixing portion 24 in FIG. 2, a ferrite core 26 and an elastic stopper 27 are sequentially housed and arranged in a ferrite core housing portion 21 formed inside the base 25.
[0017]
The ferrite core 26 and the stopper 27 are fixed by receiving a force in the compression direction in the longitudinal direction when the second lock ring 28 is screwed to the proximal end of the base 25. The stopper 27 receives the compressive force in the longitudinal direction, so that its meat protrudes toward the inner diameter side and restrains the movement of the cables 19 inserted therethrough in the longitudinal direction.
[0018]
The second flexible tube 10 is hung from the pedestal 25 by a protective member 29. The protective member 29 includes a connection base 30 and a rubber boot 31 having a function of preventing folding. The connection base 30 is located on the inner left side of the protection member 29 in FIG. 2 and is fixed to the rear end of the base 25 by screwing.
[0019]
The rubber boot 31 is hung from the hard protective member 29 to the second flexible tube 10 to protect the second flexible tube 10 from buckling by abruptly changing the flexibility. In this embodiment, the video connector 11 is formed by a casing main body 15 that is detachably connected to the socket portion 13 and a ferrite storage portion 21 formed by a base 25 or the like on the base end side of the casing main body 15. Even in the case of different endoscopes, a common casing body 15 is adopted, and even when ferrite having different characteristics or the like is required, it is possible to cope with it by changing only the pedestal 25 side. Yes.
[0020]
That is, in this embodiment, the ferrite storage portion 21 is formed by the base 25 or the like between the casing body 15 and the distal end of the flexible tube 10 through which the signal cable guided to the casing body 15 is inserted. Even when ferrites having different characteristics or the like are required for the ferrite core storage portion 21, only the pedestal 25 side can be changed.
[0021]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When the video connector 11 is connected to the socket portion 13 and starts driving, electromagnetic noise flows through cables 19 extending to the right side from the shield case 17, and part of the electromagnetic noise emitted from the electronic endoscope 2. It becomes.
[0022]
The emitted electromagnetic noise has a peculiar pattern in which the level is raised or lowered by a specific frequency band. However, the noise level can be adjusted by appropriately adjusting the characteristics of the ferrite core 26 through which the cables 19 are inserted. As you know, it can be suppressed.
[0023]
For example, this noise pattern is different if the type of CCD as a solid-state imaging device built in the electronic endoscope is different. Therefore, the ferrite core 26 corresponding to the noise characteristics is required. The ferrite core 26 has different characteristics depending on the inner diameter / outer diameter and length in addition to the characteristics of the material.
[0024]
Therefore, the ferrite core 26 having optimum characteristics can be adopted by appropriately changing the length and thickness of the ferrite core housing portion 21. In the present embodiment, since the ferrite core storage portion 21 is placed outside the casing body 15, the size of the casing body 15 does not become an obstacle at all, and an appropriate ferrite core 26 can be selected and used.
[0025]
Since the portion that needs to be changed when the appropriate ferrite core 26 is selected and used is a simple-shaped member such as the base 25 and the protective member 29, the cost is lower than when the casing body 15 in the conventional example needs to be changed. Both in terms of design and design are easy.
[0026]
More specifically, FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the video connector 11B when the noise level is low and the ferrite core 26 is not required. In this case, the ferrite core 26 is omitted, and the pedestal 25 and the protection member 29 are shortened in the longitudinal direction.
The appearance is as shown in FIG. 4 when the ferrite core 26 is not required, and as shown in FIG. 5 when the ferrite core 26 is provided.
[0027]
According to the present embodiment, the casing main body 15 can be commonly used without any modification, and can be commonly used for a plurality of electronic endoscopes with simple modifications.
In the first embodiment described above, the number of ferrite cores 26 is one. Needless to say, however, the ferrite cores 26 may be laminated in the longitudinal direction or cables may be wound as appropriate.
[0028]
The present embodiment has the following effects.
Compared to the change of the casing body 15, the change is a simple member such as the pedestal 25 and the protection member 29, so that the change is easy in terms of cost and design.
[0029]
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a video connector 11C in the second embodiment.
When there is a fixed pattern in the noise common to a plurality of types of electronic endoscopes adopting the connector 11C, only the fixed ferrite core 32 corresponding to the fixed pattern is accommodated in the casing body 15, and the type of electronic endoscope is determined. The ferrite core 33 for noise having a specific pattern according to the above was stored in the ferrite core storage portion as in the first embodiment.
[0030]
The operation of the present embodiment is that when there is a fixed pattern in noise common to the electronic endoscope, only the fixed ferrite core 32 corresponding to the fixed pattern is accommodated in the casing body 15 according to the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the same action as that of the first embodiment is applied to the noise of the unique pattern.
[0031]
The present embodiment has the following effects.
By storing only the fixed ferrite core 32 in the casing main body 15, the number of parts where the manufacturing process of electronic endoscope manufacturing can be made common increases, and quality stability and cost reduction become possible.
[0032]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the case of the electronic endoscope 2 in which the imaging element is built in the distal end side or the like of the insertion portion 6 has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the eyepiece portion in the optical endoscope is The present invention can also be applied to a case of a television camera-mounted endoscope equipped with a television camera with a built-in imaging element or imaging unit.
[0033]
In this case, the video connector 11, 11B, 11C or the like of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is formed at the distal end of the camera cable which is a flexible tube whose base end extends from the television camera. Just do it.
That is, the present invention can be applied to an electronic endoscope such as a TV camera-mounted endoscope in addition to a so-called electronic endoscope.
[0034]
By applying to a television camera as well, the common parts of the connector can be expanded over a wider range and the cost can be further reduced.
Further, embodiments configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like belong to the present invention.
[0035]
[Appendix]
1. A signal connector device for an electronic endoscope provided with an imaging element, connected to a socket portion of a processor that performs image signal processing or the like,
An electronic endoscope characterized in that a ferrite core housing portion is provided between a casing main body of the signal connector device and a distal end of a flexible tube through which an electric cable led to the casing main body is inserted. Mirror signal connector device.
2. In Supplementary Note 1, the electronic endoscope is an electronic endoscope incorporating an image pickup device or a television camera mounted endoscope in which a television camera incorporating an image pickup device is attached to an optical endoscope.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the ferrite core housing portion is provided between the casing main body and the distal end of the flexible tube through which the electric cable guided to the casing main body is inserted. It is now possible to select and use ferrite cores that can deal with new patterns and levels of radiation noise without changing the body. As a result, the casing body can be shared, and it is not necessary to develop a plurality of casing bodies in accordance with the noise characteristics, and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an electronic endoscope system including a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of a main part of the video connector according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of a main part of a video connector when a noise level is low and a ferrite core is not required.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a video connector having a ferrite core.
FIG. 5 is an external view of a video connector when a ferrite core is not required.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a sectional structure of a main part of a video connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope system 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Light source device 4 ... Video processor 5 ... TV monitor 6 ... Insertion part 7 ... Operation part 8 ... First flexible tube 9 ... Light guide connector 10 ... Second Flexible tube 11 ... video connector 12 ... socket part 13 ... socket part 15 ... casing body 16 ... contact part 17 ... shield case 18 ... board 19 ... cables 21 ... ferrite core housing part 22 ... cap 23 ... first lock Ring 24 ... base fixing part 25 ... pedestal 26 ... ferrite core 27 ... stopper 28 ... second lock ring 29 ... protective member 30 ... connection base 31 ... rubber boot

Claims (1)

A connector device for an electronic endoscope connected to a socket portion of a processor that performs at least image signal processing,
When the connector device is connected to the socket portion, a casing main body for installing a substrate for processing a predetermined electric signal to be transferred to the processor;
A pedestal portion formed of a hollow hard member, detachably disposed on the casing body ;
A first ferrite core storage portion formed in the casing body;
A second ferrite core storage portion formed in the pedestal portion;
A first ferrite core housed in the first ferrite core housing portion and engaged with a cable connected to the substrate;
A second ferrite core housed in the second ferrite core housing portion and engaged with a cable connected to the substrate, the second ferrite core having different characteristics from the first ferrite core;
A fold prevention portion formed of an insulating member that covers the pedestal portion , covers one end portion of the flexible tube through which the cable is inserted, and prevents a sudden change in flexibility of the flexible tube;
A connector device for an electronic endoscope, comprising:

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