JPH1043126A - Stereoscopic endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a system capability and to inexpensively provide a stereoscopic image by dealing with plural kinds of endoscopes with simple configuration. SOLUTION: A control circuit 21 detects the opening/short-circuiting of electric contacts 27a and 27b, it is discriminated by a discrimination circuit 28 whether a large diameter scope or a small diameter scope is connected, the discriminated result is outputted to an iris control circuit 29 and corresponding to the discriminated result, the iris control circuit 29 drives a driver 22. The driver 22 drives aperture quantity control motors 30R and 30L and iris gap control motors 31R and 31L so as to control the aperture quantity and gap of right side light iris 32R and left side light iris 32L at a diaphragm unit 18 for forming parallax to enable stereoscopic viewing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus having a feature of adjusting a brightness stop for stereoscopic observation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, stereoscopic imaging of an endoscope for stereoscopic viewing by detachably attaching a television camera to the endoscope has been promoted. There are examples.

A first known example is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-61-80.
According to the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 2215, left and right images are alternately opened and closed by an electronic shutter, and an image passing through the shutter is formed on one CCD for stereoscopic observation.

A second known example is disclosed in, for example,
By the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 22222835, the left and right outgoing rays are made parallel and the pupil distance is the same, so that the adapter is configured with an adapter that can be used for a microscope or an endoscope. A mechanism for alternately switching is provided.

[0005]

However, the endoscope disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-802215 requires a plurality of endoscopes having different insertion sections depending on the target part of the body to be observed. However, since a television camera is required for each of the plurality of endoscopes, there is a problem that the purchase cost is high and a storage space is required.
The endoscope described in Japanese Patent No. 22222835 requires optical means for collimating outgoing light rays and making the pupil spacing the same, which complicates the structure and increases the manufacturing cost. , The whole equipment is big and heavy,
There is a problem that operability deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of supporting a plurality of types of endoscopes with a simple configuration, improving system performance and obtaining a stereoscopic image at low cost. It is intended to provide a device.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is provided with an endoscope for picking up an image of an observation site in a body cavity, and is detachably mounted on the endoscope. And a camera head device having a single imaging device for imaging the left and right images of the observation site in the stereoscopic endoscope device, wherein the camera head device adjusts the brightness of the left and right images of the observation site. The apparatus is provided with a brightness stop for observation, and brightness stop adjusting means for adjusting at least one of the size and the interval of the brightness stop for stereoscopic viewing.

In the stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, in the camera head apparatus, the brightness stop adjusting means adjusts at least one of the size and the interval of the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation, thereby providing a simple operation. With this configuration, a plurality of types of endoscopes can be used, and the system performance can be improved and a stereoscopic image can be obtained at low cost.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of, for example, a large-diameter scope 2a and a small-diameter scope 2b. It has the following configuration.

That is, the large-diameter scope 2a is an endoscope such as a laparoscope or a thoracoscopy, and is a large-diameter endoscope having an outer diameter of about 10 mm in the insertion portion 3a.
The small-diameter scope 2b is an endoscope such as an arthroscope, a nasal scope, or a vesicoureteroscope, and has an insertion portion 3 for the endoscope.
b is an endoscope with a small diameter of about 4 mm.

The large diameter scope 2a includes an insertion portion 3a, an eyepiece 4a connected to a base end of the insertion portion 3a, and an insertion portion 3a.
a light guide 5a connected to a light source device (not shown) extending from the base end side of the light guide 5a and transmitting the illumination light. Similarly, the small-diameter scope 2b includes an insertion portion 3b and a base of the insertion portion 3b. An eyepiece 4b connected to the end;
and a light guide 5b connected to a light source device (not shown) extending from the base end side of b and transmitting illumination light.

Appropriate pupil interval (interval of the aperture stop) of the endoscope shown in the large diameter scope 2a and the small diameter scope 2b
And the size of the pupil (the size of the aperture stop) are different from each other, and the insertion portions 3a and 3b have a built-in relay lens system (not shown).

In the large-diameter scope 2a, the eyepiece 4a is provided with an eyepiece 6a that is optically connected to a relay lens system (not shown) built in the insertion section 3a. 2b, the eyepiece 4b
Is provided with an eyepiece 6b which is optically connected to a relay lens system (not shown) built in the insertion portion 3b. The eyepieces 4a and 4b are selectively and detachably connected to the endoscope connection section 12 of the adapter 11.

The adapter 11 is configured such that a camera head 14 is detachably connected to the camera head connection unit 13. The adapter 11 and the camera head 14 constitute a camera head device 15.

When the large diameter scope 2a or the small diameter scope 2b and the camera head 14 are connected to the endoscope connecting portion 12 and the camera head connecting portion 13 of the adapter 11, the large diameter scope 2a or the small diameter An image incident on a relay lens system (not shown) of the scope 2b passes through the adapter 11 and forms an image on an imaging surface of a CCD 17 as imaging means through a lens 16 built in a camera head 14.

The image pickup means may be any image pickup device,
For example, the solid-state imaging device, specifically, the CCD 17 described above, or an imaging device such as an imaging tube may be used.

The adapter 11 includes a brightness stop unit 18, a rotary shutter 19, a motor 20 for driving the rotary shutter 19 to rotate, a control circuit 21, and a driver 22. The rotary shutter 19 has an opening 19R for the right eye.
And an opening 19L for the left eye.

In the adapter 11, the motor 20 operates the rotary shutter 19 in synchronism with the drive signal of the CCD 17 so that when the right image is picked up, the opening 19 is opened.
When R captures an image for the left eye, the opening 19L is interposed between the eyepiece 6a or the eyepiece 6b and the CCD 17, that is, the image emitted from the eyepiece 6a or the eyepiece 6b is sent to the CCD 17. Let it reach.

The eyepieces 4a and 4b are provided with an identification signal generator 2
The identification signal generator 23 includes, for example, open electrical contacts 25a and 25b, and the identification signal generator 24 includes, for example, short-circuited electrical contacts 26a and 26b. I have.

When the eyepieces 4a and 4b of the large-diameter scope 2a or the large-diameter scope 2b are selectively connected to the endoscope connection unit 12, the electric contacts 25a and 25b or 26a and 26b are set inward. The electrical contacts 27a and 27b provided on the endoscope connection section 12 are electrically connected, and the state of the electrical contacts 25a and 25b or 26a and 26b is input to the control circuit 21 as an identification signal, and the control circuit 21 The driver 22 is controlled by detecting whether the large-diameter scope 2a or the small-diameter scope 2b is connected by detecting open / short of the 27a and 27b.

The control circuit 21 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG.
a and 27b open and short-circuits are detected to determine whether the large-diameter scope 2a or the small-diameter scope 2b is connected, and a determination circuit 28
And an aperture adjustment circuit 29 that controls the driver 22 based on the result of the determination.

In the control circuit 21, the electric contacts 27
The open / short state of a and 27b is detected, and the determination circuit 28 determines whether the large-diameter scope 2a or the small-diameter scope 2b is connected. The determination circuit 28 outputs the determination result to the aperture adjustment circuit 29, and the aperture adjustment circuit 29 drives the driver 22 according to the determination result.

If the determination circuit 28 determines that the large-diameter scope 2a is connected, for example, the driver 22
Is a large-diameter scope 2 that forms parallax enabling stereoscopic vision
Adjust the size and interval of the aperture stop suitable for a. When the small-diameter scope 2b is connected, the size and interval of the aperture stop are adjusted to be suitable for the small-diameter scope 2b that forms parallax that enables stereoscopic viewing.

That is, the driver 22 includes the opening amount adjusting motors 30R and 30L and the aperture distance adjusting motors 31R and 31R.
By driving L, the brightness stop 32 on the right side of the brightness stop unit 18 that forms parallax enabling stereoscopic viewing.
The opening amount and the interval of the R and the left aperture stop 32L are adjusted.

Next, the operation of the thus configured endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the endoscope 1, for example, when the eyepiece 4 a of the large-diameter scope 2 a is connected to the camera head 15, the output of the identification signal generator 23 is controlled by the control circuit 2.
1. More specifically, a brightness stop 32R suitable for the connected large-diameter scope 2a, which forms parallax that enables stereoscopic viewing by detecting by the discrimination circuit 28 and driving the driver 22 by the stop adjustment circuit 29, Adjust the opening amount and interval of 32L appropriately.

The image obtained by the large-diameter scope 2a is formed on the image forming surface of the CCD 17 through the aperture diaphragms 32R and 32L, further through the rotary shutter 19 and the lens 16, and is picked up by the CCD 17. The endoscope image is stereoscopically displayed on a stereoscopic monitor (not shown).

That is, the right image passing through the aperture stop 32R is formed on the CCD 17 through the lens 16 through the right opening 19R of the rotary shutter 19 and further through the lens 16. Similarly, the left image passing through the aperture stop 32L passes through the left opening 19L of the rotary shutter 19 and further passes through the lens 1A.
An image is formed on the CCD 17 through 6. Here, CCD1
For example, a right image is formed in the odd field 7 and a left image is formed in the even field.

At this time, the motor 20 rotates the rotary shutter 19 in synchronization with the even and odd fields of the CCD 17.

When the small-diameter scope 2b is connected to the camera head device 15, similarly to the large-diameter scope 2a, the control circuit 21 determines the output of the identification signal generator 24 and drives the driver 22. The driver 22 is a small-diameter scope 2
The aperture adjustment motors 30R and 30L, the aperture interval adjustment motor 31
R and 31L are driven. As a result, the right aperture 32
R, the left aperture stop 32L is set to an appropriate opening amount and an interval for forming parallax enabling stereoscopic viewing. When the small-diameter scope 2 is connected, a three-dimensional image is displayed in the same manner as when the large-diameter scope 2a is connected, but the description is omitted because it is the same as the case of the large-diameter scope 2a.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the adapter 1
In 1, the type of the connected scope is automatically determined, and the distance between the apertures and the aperture of the aperture stop for forming parallax enabling stereoscopic vision are adjusted, so that the operation is very simple. Thus, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of endoscopes with a simple configuration, to improve systemicity and to obtain a stereoscopic image at low cost.

The camera head device 15 is composed of the camera head 14 and the adapter 11 and can be separated from each other. Therefore, various camera heads can be connected to the adapter 11, but the camera head 14 and the adapter 11 May be integrated to form an integrated camera head device.

In the adapter 11, a liquid crystal shutter may be used instead of the rotary shutter 19.

Further, although the type of the connected scope is determined and the aperture amount and the interval of the aperture stop are automatically adjusted, manual adjustment may be performed.

FIGS. 3 to 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing the structure of a shutter unit, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a blind type shutter constituted by the shutter unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state 1 and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second state of the blind shutter constituted by the shutter unit in FIG.

Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
The difference is that a blind shutter is used instead of the rotary shutter 19.

As shown in FIG. 3, the blind shutter has a rectangular parallelepiped shutter unit 4 comprising two upper and lower light shielding plates 41 and a supporting column 42 connecting the light shielding plates 41 to each other.
3 are overlapped so as to match the light shielding plate 41 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, the blind shutter 44 includes a right shutter section 45R corresponding to the right aperture stop 32R (see FIG. 2) of the rotary shutter 19.
And a brightness stop 32L on the left side of the rotary shutter 19 (FIG. 2).
(See FIG. 2).

In FIG. 4, for example, the right shutter portion 45R is configured such that the light incident from the left translucent portion 46 on the right shutter portion 43 of the right shutter portion 43 is kept in the right shutter portion 43R. The light passes through the light transmitting portions 46 and passes through the lens 16 to the CCD 17.
The light reaches. On the other hand, in the left shutter portion 45L, the rectangular parallelepiped shutter unit 43 is deformed by the driver 22 into a parallelogram, and
The light incident from 6 is blocked by the light shielding plate 41 so that the light does not reach the CCD 17. That is, the right shutter portion 45R is in a light transmitting state, and the left shutter portion 45L is in a light shielding state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the right shutter portion 45R is deformed like a parallelogram by the driver 22 and the left shutter portion 45L keeps a rectangular parallelepiped, only the left image is transferred to the CCD 17. As a result, the right shutter portion 45R enters a light blocking state, and the left shutter portion 45L enters a light transmitting state.

As described above, the shutter unit 43
The state of the rectangular parallelepiped shown in FIG.
Since the light shielding plate 41 and the support pillar 42 form a parallelogram link, it is possible to selectively take a state of being transformed into a parallelogram shown in the left shutter portion 45L of FIG. 4 or the right shutter portion 45R of FIG. It has become.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment configured as described above,
For example, when the CCD 17 captures an image of an odd field, the right shutter 45R is in a light transmitting state and the left shutter 45L is in a light shielding state as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the CCD 17 captures an even field, as shown in FIG. 5, the right shutter 45R is in a light-shielding state, the left shutter 45L is in a light-transmitting state, and only the left image enters the CCD 17.

Other functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the type of the connected scope is automatically determined, and the blind shutter 4 is controlled by the driver 22.
By selectively setting a plurality of left and right shutter units 43 to a state of a rectangular parallelepiped and a state of being transformed into a parallelogram,
Adjustment of the aperture and aperture of the aperture stop to form a parallax that enables stereoscopic vision is very easy to operate, and can be used with multiple types of endoscopes with a simple configuration. And a three-dimensional image can be obtained at low cost.

The means for deforming or restoring the shutter unit 43 from a rectangular parallelepiped to a parallelogram is as follows:
For example, a linear actuator such as a solenoid may be used.

FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the rotary shutter of FIG.

Since the third embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, a large-diameter shivering adapter 53a is detachably connected to the eyepiece 52a of the large-diameter scope 51a, and the eyepiece 52b of the small-diameter scope 51b is connected to the eyepiece 52b. The small-diameter shiver adapter 53b is detachably connected.

The large-diameter shiver adapter 53a is provided with a right-side brightness stop 54R and a left-side brightness stop 54L, and the interval A thereof is adjusted to an optimum distance for the large-diameter scope 51a. The size is set appropriately for the scope 51a. In addition, small-diameter shibo adapter 53
Similarly, the right opening 55R and the left opening 55L of b are also set to the optimum interval B for the small-diameter scope 51b, and the size is set to the optimum size for the small-diameter scope 51b.

The camera head device 56 includes the camera head 5
7 comprises an adapter 58 which is detachably connected to the adapter 7. The CCD 17 is built in the camera head 57. The adapter 58 has a built-in rotary shutter 19 and lens 16. Then, the rotary shutter 19 is rotated by the motor 20.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

When the eyepiece 52a of the large-diameter scope 51a to which the large-diameter shivering adapter 53a is connected is connected to the endoscope connection section 12, light passing through a relay lens system (not shown) built in the insertion section 3a. Is imaged on the CCD 17 through the right opening 54R of the large-diameter shivering adapter 53a, through the right opening 19R of the rotary shutter 19, and further through the lens 16. Similarly, light that has passed through a relay lens system (not shown) is transmitted to the left opening 54L of the large-diameter shivering adapter 53a and the left opening 1 of the rotary shutter 19.
9L, and an image is formed on the image forming surface of the CCD 17 via the lens 16. Incidentally, as in the first embodiment, the rotation shutter 19 and the CCD 17 are synchronized.

Next, when the small-diameter scope 51b is connected to the endoscope connection section 12, the small-diameter shivering adapter 53b is used.
The light passing through the right opening 55R is formed on the CCD 17 via the right opening 19R of the rotary shutter 19 and the lens 16. On the other hand, the light passing through the left opening 55L forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 17 through the left opening 19L of the rotary shutter 19 and the lens 16.

Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the large-diameter shibo adapter 53a and the small-diameter shibo adapter 53b in which the optimum distance and the aperture of the stop are set to an appropriate size are used.
Eyepiece 52a of large diameter scope 51a and small diameter scope 5
By connecting to the eyepiece 52b of 1b, it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of endoscopes with a simpler configuration than in the first embodiment without identifying the scope type, etc. It is possible to obtain a three-dimensional image at an improved cost.

When the large diameter adapter 53a or the small diameter adapter 53b is removed from the eyepieces 52a and 52b of the large diameter scope 51a and the small diameter scope 51b, normal endoscope observation can be performed.

When only stereoscopic observation is available, the large-diameter shibo adapter 53a and the small-diameter shibo adapter 53b may be connected to the large-diameter scope 51a and the small-diameter scope 51b, respectively. Then, just by connecting the large-diameter scope 51a to the endoscope connection section 12, the optimal aperture stop interval and the size of the aperture are set, and optimal stereoscopic observation is always possible. Similarly, small-diameter scope 5
1b is simply connected to the connection portion 12, and the small-diameter scope 5
The optimal aperture stop interval and aperture size are set for 1b.

As a modification of the present embodiment, a rotary shutter 61 shown in FIG.
May be provided. The rotary shutter 61 includes a right opening 61A corresponding to the right opening 54R and a left opening 6 corresponding to the left opening 54L of the large diameter shivering adapter 53a.
1B and the right opening 55R of the small diameter shivering adapter 53b.
And a left opening 61D corresponding to the left opening 55L.

When the large-diameter scope 51a is connected to the endoscope connection section 12, the light emitted from the right opening 54R is imaged on the CCD 17 via the right opening 61A of the rotary shutter 61 and the lens 16. . The light passing through the left opening 54L is imaged on the CCD 17 through the left opening 61B of the rotary shutter 61 and the lens 16.

Similarly, the light emitted from the right opening 55R of the small-diameter scope 51b is imaged on the CCD 17 via the left opening 61C of the rotary shutter 61 and the lens 16. The light passing through the left opening 55L is imaged on the CCD 17 via the left opening 61D and the lens 16.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining a liquid crystal shutter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Since the fourth embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, in addition to the large-diameter scope 2a and the small-diameter scope 2b, a scope having an intermediate thickness (not shown) is provided as a system. Then, the rotary shutter 19, the motor 20, the aperture stop unit 18
Instead, a liquid crystal shutter 70 having a brightness stop function in addition to the shutter function shown in FIG. 8 is provided.

In the liquid crystal shutter 70, that is, when the large diameter scope 2a is connected to the endoscope connection section 12, the portion in the range A in FIG. When a scope (not shown) is connected, FIG.
The portion in the range of the middle B repeatedly transmits and blocks light. When the small-diameter scope 2b is connected to the endoscope connection section 12, the portion C in FIG. 8 repeatedly transmits and blocks light.

The types of the large-diameter scope 2a, the intermediate-diameter scope, and the small-diameter scope 2b are determined in the control circuit 21 and provided in place of the driver 22, as in the first embodiment. Driven by a liquid crystal driver (not shown).

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[Supplementary note] (Supplementary note 1) An endoscope for imaging an observation site in a body cavity,
A stereoscopic endoscope device, which is detachably provided to the endoscope, and includes a camera head device having a single image sensor that captures the right and left images of the observation region in a time-division manner with a time-division switching shutter; The camera head device includes a brightness stop for stereoscopic observation that adjusts the brightness of the left and right images of the observation site, and a brightness stop adjustment that adjusts at least one of the size and interval of the aperture of the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation. A stereoscopic endoscope apparatus comprising:

(Supplementary Note 2) The brightness stop for stereoscopic observation is detachably provided on the camera head device, and has a size and an interval of an opening corresponding to a type of the endoscope. Item 3. The stereoscopic endoscope device according to item 1.

(Additional Item 3) The camera head device may include:
3. The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stereoscopic endoscope apparatus is a camera head.

(Additional Item 4) The camera head device may include:
The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a camera head, and an adapter for detachably fixing the camera head and the endoscope.

(Additional Item 5) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 4, wherein the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation and the time-division switching shutter are provided in the adapter.

(Additional Item 6) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the brightness stop adjusting means adjusts the size of the aperture of the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation.

(Additional Item 7) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the brightness stop adjusting means adjusts an interval of the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation.

(Additional Item 8) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the time division switching shutter is a rotary shutter.

(Appendix 9) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to Appendix 1, wherein the time-division switching shutter is a liquid crystal shutter.

(Additional Item 10) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the time-division switching shutter is a blind type shutter.

(Additional Item 11) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 1, wherein the image pickup device is a solid-state image pickup device.

(Additional Item 12) The image pickup device is a CCD
3. The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

(Supplementary Item 13) An endoscope for imaging an observation site in a body cavity, and a single endoscope that is detachably provided to the endoscope and captures the left and right images of the observation site in a time-division manner by a time-division switching shutter. In a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus provided with a camera head device having one imaging element, a brightness stop for stereoscopic observation for adjusting the brightness of the left and right images of the observation site is provided on the endoscope side. Characteristic stereoscopic endoscope device.

(Additional Item 14) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the camera head device is a camera head.

(Appendix 15) The three-dimensional camera according to Appendix 13, wherein the camera head device comprises a camera head and an adapter for detachably fixing the camera head and the endoscope. Endoscope device.

(Additional Item 16) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 15, wherein the time-division switching shutter is provided in the adapter.

(Additional Item 17) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the time division switching shutter is a rotary shutter.

(Additional Item 18) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 17, wherein the rotary shutter has a plurality of pairs of left and right image switching openings.

(Attachment 19) The stereoscopic endoscope according to attachment 17, wherein the rotary shutter has a plurality of pairs of left and right image switching openings corresponding to the type of the endoscope to be connected. apparatus.

(Additional Item 20) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the time-division switching shutter is a liquid crystal shutter.

(Additional Item 21) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the time-division switching shutter is a blind type shutter.

(Additional Item 22) The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein the image pickup device is a solid-state image pickup device.

(Appendix 23) The image pickup device is a CCD
Item 14. The stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to additional item 13, wherein

[0094]

As described above, according to the stereoscopic endoscope apparatus of the present invention, in the camera head device, the aperture stop adjusting means adjusts at least one of the size and the interval of the aperture stop for stereoscopic observation. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to cope with a plurality of types of endoscopes with a simple configuration, to improve systemicity and to obtain a stereoscopic image at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a control circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a shutter unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first state of a blind shutter configured by the shutter unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second state of the blind shutter configured by the shutter unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the rotary shutter of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a liquid crystal shutter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Stereoscopic endoscope device 2a ... Large diameter scope 2b ... Small diameter scope 3a, 3b ... Insertion section 4a, 4b ... Eyepiece section 5a, 5b ... Light guide 6a, 6b ... Eyepiece lens 11 ... Adapter DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Endoscope connection part 13 ... Camera head connection part 14 ... Camera head 15 ... Camera head device 16 ... Lens 17 ... CCD 18 ... Brightness stop unit 19 ... Rotary shutter 19R, 19L ... Aperture 20 ... Motor 21 ... Control circuit 22 Driver 23, 24 Identification signal generator 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 27a, 27b Electrical contact 28 Identification circuit 29 Aperture adjustment circuit 30R, 30L Aperture adjustment motor 31R, 31L Aperture interval adjustment motor 32R, 32L ... Brightness aperture

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope for imaging an observation site in a body cavity,
A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: a camera head device that is detachably provided to the endoscope and has a single image sensor that captures a left and right image of the observation region in a time-division manner with a time-division switching shutter. A camera head device, a brightness stop for stereoscopic observation for adjusting the brightness of the left and right images of the observation region, and a brightness stop adjustment unit for adjusting at least one of the size and the interval of the brightness stop for stereoscopic observation. A stereoscopic endoscope device comprising: