CN210631192U - Electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic endoscope system in which a signal processing parameter can be reliably set in a signal processing circuit without increasing the size of the distal end portion of an electronic endoscope. The electronic endoscope includes a first storage unit provided closer to the image pickup device than a connector unit connected to the processor, and the first storage unit stores image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup device and a signal processing parameter corresponding to the image pickup characteristic information. The electronic endoscope has a first communication unit that generates a communication signal for wirelessly communicating the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter in response to a request for information, and includes an antenna that wirelessly transmits the communication signal. The connector portion includes: a second storage unit that stores the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the first communication unit and received by the second communication unit; and a signal processing circuit that sets the signal processing parameter as a parameter for performing signal processing on the image signal output from the image pickup element before image processing in the processor.

Description

Electronic endoscope system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system including an electronic endoscope and a processor, the processor including an image processing unit connected to the electronic endoscope and configured to process an image captured by an image pickup element.

Background

The electronic endoscope system is used for observation and treatment of living tissues in a body cavity. An electronic endoscope system includes: an electronic endoscope that takes an image of a living tissue by an image pickup element and transmits the taken image to a processor; and a processor that performs signal processing on a signal of the captured image to create an image for display. An electronic endoscope is provided with a connector portion for connection to a processor. In recent years, an electronic endoscope in which a connector portion is provided with a signal processing circuit on which electronic components are mounted in order to perform signal processing before transmitting a signal of a captured image captured by an image pickup device to a processor has been widely used.

In the electronic endoscope system, a captured image is displayed on a monitor, whether or not a lesion exists in a living tissue in the captured image is checked based on color information, or data of a color component of each pixel of the captured image is processed to digitize a lesion degree and the like of the lesion. Therefore, color information of the captured image becomes more important than ever.

A signal processing circuit in the connector unit is provided with a color correction circuit for performing color correction in accordance with the characteristics of the color filter of the image pickup device. The correction parameter performed in the color correction circuit is set to a predetermined value.

For example, an endoscope apparatus is known which can form an image with good reproducibility in the same wavelength region even when characteristics of an image pickup device or an endoscope and a type of a light source are different, and which is convenient to use (patent document 1).

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2006-239204

The endoscope apparatus includes: an image forming circuit which is disposed in a processor device of the endoscope apparatus and performs a matrix operation based on a color image signal obtained by the image pickup device to form an image in a desired wavelength region; a characteristic information holding/generating unit which is disposed in an endoscope of the endoscope apparatus and has endoscope characteristic identification information that affects the image formation, the identification information including at least a type of a color filter of an imaging device or spectral characteristics; a characteristic information acquisition unit disposed in the processor device to acquire endoscope characteristic identification information of the characteristic information generation unit; a storage unit that stores a plurality of matrix (operation) data for image formation corresponding to the endoscope characteristic information; and a control processing unit that reads out corresponding matrix data (coefficient data) from the storage unit based on the endoscope characteristic identification information obtained by the characteristic information obtaining unit, and causes the image forming circuit to perform matrix operation based on the read-out matrix operation data.

In the endoscope apparatus, the endoscope characteristic identification information including the type of the color filter of the image pickup device and the spectral characteristic is held in the characteristic information holding/generating section disposed in the endoscope, but when the image pickup device is replaced with a new image pickup device for repair of the endoscope, if only the endoscope characteristic identification information is acquired, appropriate matrix data (coefficient data) corresponding to the new image pickup device may not be reliably set in the image forming circuit. Hereinafter, the matrix data (coefficient data) is referred to as matrix coefficients.

In addition, in the above-described endoscope apparatus, since the characteristic information holding/generating portion is provided at the distal end portion of the endoscope in which the imaging element is provided, the size of the distal end portion of the endoscope becomes large, which causes great pain to the patient inserted into the body cavity.

In particular, even with the same specification of image pickup devices, since there is variation in the image pickup performance of the image pickup devices among individuals, there is a difference in signal processing parameters used for signal processing, such as appropriate matrix coefficients corresponding to the individuals, in many cases.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope system in which signal processing parameters such as the matrix coefficients corresponding to the respective image pickup elements can be reliably set in a signal processing circuit without increasing the size of the distal end portion of the endoscope.

An embodiment of the present invention is an electronic endoscope system. The electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope including an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of a living tissue, and a processor including an image processing unit electrically connected to the electronic endoscope through a first signal line and configured to process an image picked up by the image pickup device and transmitted through the first signal line, the electronic endoscope system including: a first communication unit including a communication chip main body and an antenna, the communication chip main body being provided closer to the image pickup element side than a connector portion of the electronic endoscope mechanically and electrically connected to the processor, the communication chip main body including a first storage portion in which image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup element and a signal processing parameter corresponding to the image pickup characteristic information are stored, the signal processing parameter being used to perform signal processing on an image signal output from the image pickup element, the communication chip main body being configured to generate a communication signal for performing wireless communication between the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter in response to a request for information, the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter, the antenna being provided in an operation portion for manually operating the electronic endoscope or being provided closer to the connector side than the operation portion, and the antenna being provided in an operation portion of the electronic endoscope A part side electrically connected to the communication chip main body through a second signal line and configured to wirelessly transmit the communication signal transmitted from the communication chip main body through the second signal line; a second communication unit configured to receive the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit in response to a request for the information, and acquire the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter included in the communication signal; a control processing unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the second communication unit via a transmission line, and configured to receive the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the second communication unit; a second storage unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the control processing unit via a third signal line, and configured to store the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the control processing unit via the third signal line; and a signal processing circuit provided in the connector portion, electrically connected to the control processing portion via a fourth signal line, and configured to perform the signal processing by setting the signal processing parameter transmitted from the control processing portion via the fourth signal line as a processing parameter for performing signal processing on an image signal output from the image pickup element via the first signal line before processing of the image in the processor.

Preferably, the second storage unit stores and holds image pickup characteristic information held in advance and signal processing parameters held in advance, and when the image pickup characteristic information acquired by the second communication means is different from the image pickup characteristic information held in advance, the second storage unit is configured to store and hold the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameters received by the control processing unit in place of the image pickup characteristic information held in advance and the signal processing parameters held in advance, and the signal processing circuit is configured to reset the signal processing parameters transmitted from the control processing unit via the fourth signal line to the parameters for signal processing in place of the signal processing parameters held in advance which were previously set to the parameters for signal processing.

Another embodiment of the present invention is also an electronic endoscope system. The electronic endoscope system includes an electronic endoscope including an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of a living tissue, and a processor including an image processing unit electrically connected to the electronic endoscope through a first signal line and configured to process an image picked up by the image pickup device and transmitted through the first signal line to generate an image for monitoring display, and includes: a first communication unit including a communication chip main body and an antenna, the communication chip main body being provided closer to the image pickup element than a connector portion of the electronic endoscope mechanically and electrically connected to the processor, and includes a first storage unit that stores image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup element, the communication chip main body is configured to generate a communication signal for wirelessly communicating the image pickup characteristic information in response to a request for information, the communication signal includes the imaging characteristic information, the antenna is provided in an operation section for manually operating the electronic endoscope or is provided closer to the connector section than the operation section, a communication chip main body electrically connected to the communication chip main body through a second signal line and configured to wirelessly transmit the communication signal transmitted from the communication chip main body through the second signal line; a second communication unit configured to receive the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit in response to a request for the information, and acquire the image pickup characteristic information included in the communication signal; a control processing unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the second communication unit via a transmission line, and configured to receive the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the second communication unit; a second storage unit which is provided in the connector unit, is electrically connected to the control processing unit via a third signal line, and stores reference data for extracting signal processing parameters from the imaging characteristic information transmitted by the control processing unit, the reference data including a plurality of association sets in which associations between imaging characteristic information and signal processing parameters are established; and a signal processing circuit provided in the connector portion, electrically connected to the control processing portion via a fourth signal line, and configured to set a signal processing parameter obtained based on the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the control processing portion via the fourth signal line as a processing parameter for signal processing performed on an image signal output from the imaging element and transmitted via the first signal line before processing of the image in the processor. The control processing unit is configured to, based on the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the control processing unit via the fourth signal line, the signal processing parameter is extracted by referring to the reference data, the second storage section is connected to the signal processing circuit through a fifth signal line, and configured to store and hold the signal processing parameter and the imaging characteristic information which have been set by the signal processing circuit and transmitted from the signal processing circuit through the fifth signal line, the second communication unit is configured to transmit the signal processing parameter set by the signal processing circuit through the wireless transmission and transmitted from the signal processing circuit through the fourth signal line, the first storage unit is configured to store the signal processing parameter, which is transmitted from the antenna to the first storage unit via the second signal line after the antenna receives the image data wirelessly, together with the image pickup characteristic information.

Preferably, the communication chip main body is provided to the operation portion.

Preferably, the antenna is provided to the connector section.

Preferably, the second communication unit is connected to the processor through a sixth signal line, and is electrically connected to the control processing unit by the processor and the electronic endoscope being mechanically and electrically connected through the connector portion.

Preferably, the second communication unit is incorporated in the processor as a part of the processor, and the second communication unit is configured to be electrically connected to the control processing unit by the processor and the electronic endoscope being mechanically and electrically connected to each other through the connector portion.

Preferably, the transmission line is a transmission path of an electromagnetic wave, and the control processing unit includes a third communication unit configured to communicate with the second communication unit by radio, and the third communication unit is configured to transmit and receive with the first communication unit via the second communication unit.

Preferably, a filter is provided on a light receiving surface of the image pickup element, the image pickup characteristic information is information on a wavelength transmission characteristic of the filter, and the signal processing parameter is a coefficient used for performing color correction of the image signal.

Preferably, the imaging characteristic information is information relating to a light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the imaging element, and the signal processing parameter is a gain coefficient for performing gain adjustment on the image signal.

Effect of the utility model

According to the electronic endoscope system, the size of the distal end portion of the endoscope does not increase, and the signal processing parameters such as the matrix coefficients corresponding to the respective image pickup elements can be reliably set in the signal processing circuit.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic endoscope and a processor for the electronic endoscope in a medical electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the electronic endoscope system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of the flow of imaging characteristic information and signal processing parameters in the endoscope system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of another embodiment different from the configuration shown in fig. 3.

Description of the reference numerals

1 an electronic endoscope system; 2a flexible tube handling section; 3 bending the tube; 4 an operation part; 5 bending the operating rod; 6 front end part; 7 general purpose tube; 10 a connecting part; 12 an insertion portion; 100 electronic endoscopes; 102 LCB; 103 an operation section; 104 light distribution lens; 106 an objective lens; 108 an image pickup element; 108a cut-off filter; 108b bayer array color filters; 108c a first signal line; 109a first communication unit; 109a communication chip main body; 109b a first storage unit; 109c an antenna; 109d second signal lines; 110 a connector portion; 111a microcomputer control processing part; 111a third signal line; 111b a fourth signal line; 112 driver signal processing circuitry; 112a fifth signal line; 114 memory (second storage section); 200 a processor for an electronic endoscope; 202 a system controller; 204 a memory; 206 a timing controller; 208 an operation panel; 220 an image processing unit; 230 a light source unit; 300 a monitor; a 400 printer; 500 a network; 600, a server; 700a second communication unit; 700a sixth signal line.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view of an electronic endoscope (electronic endoscope) 100 and a processor 200 for an electronic endoscope in a medical electronic endoscope system 1 according to an embodiment. In the front-rear direction in the following description, the front end side of the flexible tube 2 of the endoscope is defined as "front", and the front end side (connector portion 110 side) of the universal tube 7 is defined as "rear".

The electronic endoscope 100 includes: an operation portion 4, a flexible tube 2 extending forward from the operation portion 4 and having flexibility, a bent tube 3 connected to the front of the flexible tube 2 via a connection portion 10, a universal tube 7 extending rearward from the operation portion 4, and a connector portion 110 fixed to the rear end of the universal tube 7. A plurality of bending operation wires are inserted into the operation portion 4, the flexible tube 2, and the bending tube 3, and a front end portion of each bending operation wire is connected to a rear end of the front end portion 6, and the rear end is connected to a bending operation lever 5 (bending operation mechanism) of the operation portion 4. The bending tube 3 is bent in an arbitrary direction at an arbitrary angle according to the operation of the bending operation lever 5.

The bent tube 3 has a distal end portion 6 provided at its distal end portion. The distal end portion 6 is made of a hard resin material substantially incapable of elastic deformation, and a distal end surface formed by a flat surface of the distal end portion 6 is provided with: comprises an opening of an objective lens, an emergent port provided with an illuminating lens, an air and water supply port, a pincer port and the like.

An LCB (Light harvesting Bundle) cable, which is an optical fiber Bundle whose tip is connected to the illumination lens, is provided inside the operation unit 4, the flexible tube 2, the bendable tube 3, the universal tube 7, and the connector unit 110. Further, an image pickup device (see an image pickup device 108 shown in fig. 2) immediately after the objective lens is provided inside the distal end portion 6.

The flexible tube 2, the bending tube 3, the distal end portion 6, and the coupling portion 10 form an insertion portion 12 to be inserted into a body cavity. A signal line extending from the image pickup device provided at the distal end portion extends to the inside of the connector portion 110 through the inside of the bent tube 3, the flexible tube 2, the operation portion 4, and the universal tube 7. The connector unit 110 is connected to the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope. The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope performs processing on an image sent from the image pickup device and controls the image of the subject picked up by the image pickup device to be displayed on a monitor (see the monitor 300 shown in fig. 2). The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope includes a light source unit (see the light source unit 230 shown in fig. 2) that emits light as illumination light for illuminating a living tissue. Light emitted from the Light source unit is transmitted to the distal end portion 6 in an LCB (Light harvesting Bundle) cable via the connector unit 110. The LCB cable is arranged within the universal tube 7 as well as the flexible tube 2.

In order to make the endoscope including the connector portion 110 reusable by cleaning and sterilization, the connector portion 110 is watertight and airtight, and the internal structure of the connector portion 110 is in a sealed state. Therefore, a case for sealing the internal structure is provided outside the connector 110.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic endoscope system 1. As shown in fig. 2, the electronic endoscope system 1 includes: an electronic endoscope (electronic endoscope) 100, a processor 200 for an electronic endoscope, a monitor 300, and a printer 400. The electronic endoscope 100 includes an image pickup device 108 configured to pick up an image of a living tissue. The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope includes an image processing unit 220, and the image processing unit 220 is electrically connected to the electronic endoscope 100 via a signal line, and is configured to process an image captured by the image pickup device 108 transmitted via the signal line.

The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope includes a system controller 202 and a timing controller 206. The system controller 202 executes various programs stored in the memory 204, and generally controls the entire electronic endoscope system 1. The system controller 202 changes various settings of the electronic endoscope system 1 in accordance with instructions from a user (surgeon or assistant) input to the operation panel 208. The timing controller 206 outputs a clock pulse for adjusting the timing of the operation of each unit to each circuit in the electronic endoscope system 1.

The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope includes a light source unit 230 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 100. Although not illustrated, the light source section 230 includes, for example, a high-luminance lamp such as a xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp, a mercury lamp, or a halogen lamp that emits illumination light of white color by receiving supply of driving power from a lamp power supply. The Light source unit 230 is configured such that illumination Light emitted from the high-intensity lamp is condensed by a condenser lens (not shown) and then enters an entrance end of an LCB (Light harvesting Bundle)102, which is a fiber Bundle of the electronic endoscope 100, through a Light control device (not shown).

Alternatively, the light source unit 230 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit light in a wavelength band of a predetermined color. The Light source unit 230 is configured to combine Light emitted from the Light emitting diode with an optical element such as a dichroic mirror, and the combined Light is condensed by a condenser lens (not shown) as illumination Light and then enters an entrance end of an LCB (Light harvesting Bundle)102 of the electronic endoscope 100. Laser diodes may also be used instead of light emitting diodes. Since light emitting diodes and laser diodes have characteristics such as low power consumption and small heat generation amount as compared with other light sources, they have an advantage that they can obtain a bright image while suppressing power consumption and heat generation amount. Since a bright image can be acquired, the accuracy of the evaluation relating to the lesion can be improved.

Note that, in the example shown in fig. 2, the light source unit 230 is provided in the electronic endoscope processor 200, but may be provided in the electronic endoscope system 1 as a separate device from the electronic endoscope processor 200. The light source unit 230 may be provided at the distal end of the electronic endoscope 100, which will be described later. In this case, the LCB102 that directs the illumination light is not required.

Illumination light incident into the LCB102 from the incident end propagates through the LCB102, is emitted from the emitting end of the LCB102 disposed in the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100, and illuminates a living tissue as an object via the light distribution lens 104. The reflected light from the subject is optically focused on the light-receiving surface of the image sensor 108 via the objective lens 106.

The imaging element 108 is a single-plate color CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor in which various filters, for example, an IR (Infra Red) cut filter 108a and a bayer array color filter 108b are disposed on a light receiving surface, and generates an image signal corresponding to an optical image formed on the light receiving surface. Instead of a single plate type color CCD image sensor, a single plate type color CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor may be used. In this way, the electronic endoscope 100 uses the image pickup device 108 to pick up an image of a living tissue in a body cavity.

An operation unit 103, in which an operation button and an operation lever for manual operation by a surgeon are disposed for various operations at a distal end portion of a flexible tube incorporating an LCB102 of the electronic endoscope 100. The operation unit 103 includes, for example: an operation button for operating the start and end of image capturing by the image capturing element 108, an operation button for operating a bending portion provided at the distal end portion to change the orientation of the distal end portion and the image capturing position of the image capturing element 108, and an operation lever. The distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100 is provided with a suction port for sucking gas located in a living tissue from the distal end portion or a gas/water feeding port for feeding liquid or gas for cleaning deposits adhering to the living tissue or the objective lens 106. Therefore, the operation portion 103 is also provided with operation buttons for operating the suction operation of the suction port and the air/water supply. The operation unit 103 is a portion gripped by the surgeon for the operation, and is not inserted into the body cavity.

A driver signal processing circuit 112 and a memory 114 are provided in a connector unit 110 of the electronic endoscope 100 connected to a processor 200 for an electronic endoscope. The driver signal processing circuit 112 is connected to the image pickup device 108 via a first signal line 108c, performs predetermined signal processing such as color interpolation, matrix operation, and gain adjustment on the image signal output via the first signal line 108c, generates different types of image signals (luminance signal Y, color difference signals Cb and Cr), and outputs the generated image signals to the image processing unit 220 of the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope. In addition, the driver signal processing circuit 112 accesses the memory 114 to read out information specific to the electronic endoscope 100. The information unique to the electronic endoscope 100 recorded in the memory 114 includes, for example, the number of pixels of the image pickup device 108, sensitivity, frame rate and model number at which the operation can be performed. The driver signal processing circuit 112 outputs the intrinsic information read out from the memory 114 to the system controller 202.

The system controller 202 performs various calculations based on information specific to the electronic endoscope 100 to generate a control signal. The system controller 202 controls the operation and timing of each circuit in the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope using the generated control signal so as to perform processing suitable for the electronic endoscope 100 being connected to the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope.

The timing controller 206 supplies clock pulses to the driver signal processing circuit 112, the image processing unit 220, and the light source section 230 in accordance with timing control by the system controller 202. The driver signal processing circuit 112 controls driving of the image pickup device 108 at a timing synchronized with the frame rate of the image processed on the side of the processor 200 for the electronic endoscope, in accordance with a clock pulse supplied from the timing controller 206.

The image processing unit 220 generates a video signal for monitoring display of an endoscopic image and the like based on the image signal input from the driver signal processing circuit 112 under the control of the system controller 202, and outputs the video signal to the monitor 300. Further, image processing section 220 evaluates the degree of lesion of the lesion portion in the image with a numerical value for each pixel from the image of the living tissue obtained by electronic endoscope 100. Further, image processing section 220 generates a color map image in which colors are replaced, based on the evaluation result obtained by digitizing the lesion level for each pixel. The image processing unit 220 generates a video signal for monitoring information of the display evaluation result and the color map image, and outputs the video signal to the monitor 300. Thus, the surgeon can receive the evaluation result concerning the feature of the target portion of the living tissue through the image displayed on the display screen of the monitor 300. The image processing unit 220 outputs the color map image and the information of the above evaluation result to the printer 400 as necessary.

The electronic endoscope processor 200 is connected to the server 600 via an NIC (Network Interface Card) 210 and a Network 500. The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope can download information related to endoscopy (e.g., electronic medical record information of a patient, information of a surgeon) from the server 600. The downloaded information is displayed on, for example, the display screen of the monitor 300 or the operation panel 208. The processor 200 for an electronic endoscope can upload the endoscopic result (endoscopic image data, examination conditions, image analysis results, surgeon observation results, and the like) to the server 600, and thereby can store the endoscopic result in the server 600.

In such an electronic endoscope system 1, even with the same specification and the same model of the image pickup device 108, there is a variation in the image pickup performance of the image pickup device 108 among individuals, and in many cases, there is a variation in signal processing parameters used for signal processing such as appropriate matrix coefficients corresponding to the individual individuals. In this case, since the signal processing parameters are not suitable for each image pickup device 108, the color information of the picked-up image varies, and it is difficult to confirm whether or not a lesion exists in the living tissue in the picked-up image and to digitize the lesion level of the lesion by processing the image data of the color component of each pixel of the picked-up image based on the color information.

Therefore, the electronic endoscope system 1 according to the present embodiment uses the configuration shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration in which, in the electronic endoscope system 1 according to the embodiment, the size of the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100 is not increased and signal processing parameters corresponding to the respective image pickup devices 108 can be reliably set in the main portion of the signal processing circuit.

The electronic endoscope system 1 includes: a first communication unit 109, a second communication unit 700, a microcomputer control processing section 111, a driver signal processing circuit 112, and a second storage section 114.

The electronic endoscope 100 is provided with a first communication unit 109, a microcomputer control processing section 111, a driver signal processing circuit 112, and a memory 114. The memory 114 is also referred to as a second storage unit 114 hereinafter.

The first communication unit 109 includes a communication chip main body 109a and an antenna 109 c. The communication chip main body 109a is provided in the operation portion 103. The communication chip main body 109a includes a first storage section 109 b. The first storage unit 109b stores image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup device corresponding to the image pickup device 108 and signal processing parameters for performing signal processing on an image signal output from the image pickup device 108 corresponding to the image pickup characteristic information. The imaging characteristic information is information indicating, for example, a color component and a degree of deviation of a wavelength transmission characteristic from a target transmission characteristic in a filter of a certain color component in a color filter of the imaging element 108, by at least one of a sign and a numerical value so as to be distinguishable. Alternatively, the light receiving sensitivity characteristics may vary from one image sensor 108 to another, and the value of the image signal for the same amount of light received may vary from one image sensor 108 to another. Therefore, as the imaging characteristic information corresponding to the imaging element 108, for example, information indicating the light receiving sensitivity characteristic in a manner that can be recognized by at least one of a symbol and a numerical value may be used. Such wavelength transmission characteristics or light reception sensitivity characteristics can be obtained by measuring the imaging element 108 in advance. The signal processing parameters are also found in advance based on the imaging characteristic information.

The communication chip main body 109a is configured to generate a communication signal including imaging characteristic information and signal processing parameters for performing wireless communication with the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameters stored and held in the first storage unit 109b in response to a request for information. The request for information is made by the system controller 202 of the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope through the second communication unit 700. As the first communication unit 109, for example, RFID (Radio Frequency identification) that operates using electromagnetic waves from the second communication unit 700 functioning as a reader as an energy source is used.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the communication chip main body 109a is provided in the operation portion 103, and the antenna 109c is provided in the connector portion 110, but the arrangement positions of the communication chip main body 109a and the antenna 109c are not limited to the above-described positions. The position of the communication chip main body 109a is not limited as long as the communication chip main body 109a is provided closer to the image pickup device 108 than the connector section 110, and the position of the antenna 109c is not limited as long as the antenna 109c is provided on the operation section 103 or closer to the connector section 110 than the operation section 103.

The communication chip main body 109a and the antenna 109c are electrically connected by a second signal line 109d, and a communication signal is transmitted from the communication chip main body 109a through the second signal line 109 d. The antenna 109c emits an electromagnetic wave corresponding to the communication signal in such a manner as to wirelessly transmit the communication signal.

The second communication unit 700 is configured to receive a communication signal including image pickup characteristic information and signal processing parameters transmitted by wireless from the first communication unit 109 in response to a request for information, and acquire the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameters included in the communication signal. Although not shown, the second communication unit 700 includes: an antenna that receives or transmits a communication signal; and a communication chip main body that acquires the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter from the communication signal received by the antenna or generates a communication signal including the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter for transmission from the antenna.

The connector unit 110 is provided with a microcomputer control processing unit 111, a driver signal processing circuit 112, and a second storage unit 114.

The microcomputer control processing unit 111 includes a microcomputer, is a part that performs predetermined processing and control, is electrically connected to the second communication unit 700 through the sixth signal line 700a, and is configured to receive the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the second communication unit 700. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the transmission line connecting the microcomputer control processing unit 111 and the second communication unit 700 is the sixth signal line 700a electrically connected to each other, but may be connected to each other through a transmission path of electromagnetic waves. That is, the transmission line connecting the microcomputer-controlled processing unit 111 and the second communication unit 700 may be a transmission path of electromagnetic waves, that is, may be wireless.

The second storage unit 114 includes a memory, is electrically connected to the microcomputer control processing unit 111 through a third signal line 111a, and is configured to store the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameters transmitted from the microcomputer control processing unit 111 through the third signal line 111 a.

As described above, the driver signal processing circuit 112 is configured to perform predetermined signal processing such as color interpolation, matrix operation, gain adjustment, and the like on the image signal output from the image pickup device 108 through the first signal line 108c, and generate different types of image signals (the luminance signal Y, the color difference signals Cb, Cr). The driver signal processing circuit 112 is electrically connected to the microcomputer control processing unit 111 through a fourth signal line 111b, and is configured to perform signal processing on the image signal output from the image pickup element 108 through the first signal line 108c, using the signal processing parameter transmitted from the microcomputer control processing unit 111 through the fourth signal line 111 b. This signal processing is performed before image processing in the image processing unit 220 of the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope. The signal processing parameter is not particularly limited, and is, for example, a matrix coefficient used for matrix operation for color correction or a gain coefficient for reducing a deviation of an image signal value from a target value due to light reception sensitivity characteristics of the image pickup device 108 by gain adjustment. For example, when the image pickup element 108 outputs an image signal corresponding to a complementary color, the matrix coefficients are coefficients of a matrix for converting the image signal corresponding to the complementary color into image signals of three primary colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

Since the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter stored in the first storage unit 109b are unique information corresponding to each image pickup device 108, the signal processing parameter set in the driver signal processing circuit 112 is a unique parameter corresponding to each image pickup device 108. Therefore, the signal processing parameters corresponding to the respective image pickup elements 108 can be reliably set in the driver signal processing circuit 112. Further, since the antenna 109c having a large volume in the first communication unit 109 is provided on the operation unit 109 or on the connector unit 110 side of the operation unit 109, the size of the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100 inserted into the body cavity does not increase, and therefore, the burden on the patient is small, and the operability of the surgeon is improved.

Such an operation can be used as an initial setting when the electronic endoscope 100 is new.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a flow of imaging characteristic information and signal processing parameters. As shown in (1) in fig. 4, the image pickup characteristic information I and the signal processing parameter P stored in the first storage section 109b are read in response to an information request from the second communication unit 700, acquired by the second communication unit 700 via a communication signal using the antenna 109c, and stored in the second storage section 114 via the microcomputer control processing section 111. Further, the microcomputer control processing section 111 transmits the signal processing parameter P to the driver signal processing circuit 112, and the driver signal processing circuit 112 sets the received signal processing parameter P as a parameter for signal processing.

When the pre-held image pickup characteristic information and the pre-held signal processing parameter are stored and held in advance in the second storage unit 114, if the image pickup characteristic information I acquired via the second communication unit 700 is different from the stored and held pre-held image pickup characteristic information, the second storage unit 114 is configured to store and hold the image pickup characteristic information I and the signal processing parameter P received by the microcomputer control processing unit 111 instead of the image pickup characteristic information and the pre-held signal processing parameter, that is, to perform rewriting. The driver signal processing circuit 112 is configured to reset the signal processing parameter P transmitted from the microcomputer control processing section 111 through the fourth signal line 112 as a parameter for signal processing, instead of previously holding the signal processing parameter set as a parameter for signal processing. Thus, the connector unit 110 can rewrite the previously stored information and perform signal processing using the signal processing parameter corresponding to the image pickup device 108.

In order to repair the electronic endoscope 100, the image pickup element 108 is sometimes replaced with another image pickup element 108. In this case, the following operation is also performed so that signal processing can be performed using the signal processing parameters corresponding to the image pickup device 108.

When the image pickup device 108 is replaced, the measured image pickup characteristic information I of the new image pickup device 108 is stored in the first storage unit 109b as shown in (2) of fig. 4. The imaging characteristic information I is information indicating, for example, a color component and a degree of deviation of a wavelength transmission characteristic from a target transmission characteristic in a filter of a certain color component in a color filter by a sign or a numerical value so as to be distinguishable.

In the communication chip main body portion 109a, a communication signal including the imaging characteristic information I is generated from the imaging characteristic information I, and the communication signal is transmitted via the antenna 109 c. The communication signal is received by the second communication unit 700, and the image pickup characteristic information I is acquired by the second communication unit 700 and sent to the microcomputer control processing section 111.

On the other hand, the second storage section 114 in the connector section 110 stores and holds reference data including a plurality of association sets in which associations between image pickup characteristic information and signal processing parameters are established. Therefore, the microcomputer control processing unit 111 reads the reference data from the second storage unit 114, and extracts the signal processing parameter P corresponding to the imaging characteristic information I by referring to the reference data based on the imaging characteristic information I received by the microcomputer control processing unit 111.

The microcomputer control processing unit 111 transmits the extracted signal processing parameter P and the image pickup characteristic information I received by the microcomputer control processing unit 111 to the second storage unit 114, and the second storage unit 114 stores and holds the image pickup characteristic information I and the signal processing parameter P. Further, the microcomputer control processing section 111 transmits the extracted signal processing parameter P to the driver signal processing circuit 112.

The driver signal processing circuit 112 is configured to set the signal processing parameter P as a processing parameter for using the image signal output from the image pickup element 108 and transmitted through the first signal line 108c for signal processing. The signal processing is processing performed before image processing in the image processing unit 220. Note that the first signal line 108c extends to the image processing unit 220.

The second storage unit 114 is connected to the driver signal processing circuit 112 via a fifth signal line 112a, and is configured to store and hold the signal processing parameter P and the imaging characteristic information I, which are transmitted from the driver signal processing circuit 114 via the fifth signal line 112a and have been set by the driver signal processing circuit 112.

Further, the second communication unit 700 is configured to wirelessly transmit the signal processing parameter P extracted by the microcomputer control processing unit 111 and transmitted from the microcomputer control processing unit 111 to the first communication unit 109. The first storage unit 109b is configured to store the imaging characteristic information I together with the signal processing parameters P that the antenna 109c receives wirelessly and that the antenna 109c transmits to the first storage unit 109b via the second signal line 109 d.

In this way, the image pickup characteristic information I is stored and held in the first storage unit 109b, and even when the signal processing parameter P is not stored and held, the signal processing parameter P corresponding to the image pickup device 108 can be set in the driver signal processing circuit 112 and used for processing the image signal. That is, the signal processing parameters such as the matrix coefficients corresponding to the respective image pickup elements 108 can be reliably set in the driver signal processing circuit 112. Further, since the antenna 109c having a large volume in the first communication unit 109 is provided on the operation unit 109 or on the connector unit 110 side of the operation unit 109, the size of the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100 inserted into the body cavity does not increase, and therefore, the burden on the patient is small, and the operability of the surgeon is improved.

According to one embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the communication chip main body 109a is preferably provided to the operation portion 103. Since the first signal line 108c extending to the connector portion 110 through the operation portion 103 is replaced at the same time when the image pickup element 108 is replaced, the image pickup characteristic information I in the first storage portion 109a of the operation portion 103 can be reliably rewritten without forgetting at the time of replacement.

The antenna 109c is preferably provided in the connector section 110 or the operation section 103. Since the antenna 109c is larger than the communication chip main body 109a, if it is provided outside the operation unit 103 or the connector unit 110, the electronic endoscope 100 is bulky and is likely to have a bad influence on the operability of the surgeon.

The second communication unit 700 is preferably configured to: as shown in fig. 1, the electronic endoscope is connected to the processor 200 via a sixth signal line 700a, and is mechanically and electrically connected to the microcomputer control processing unit 111 via the connector unit 110 via the processor 200 and the electronic endoscope 100. In a surgical field where contact with a liquid containing water is likely, the liquid is likely to contact with a terminal and leak electricity, and it is not preferable to provide the terminal of the sixth signal line 700a to the connector portion 110. Therefore, in order to be able to electrically connect the microcomputer control processing unit 111 of the connector unit 110 while maintaining the waterproof function of the connector unit 110, it is preferable that the processor 200 for the electronic endoscope and the electronic endoscope 100 are mechanically and electrically connected by the connector unit 110, and the second communication unit 700 and the microcomputer control processing unit 111 are electrically connected.

Further, according to an embodiment, the second communication unit 700 is incorporated in the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope as a part of the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope, and the second communication unit 700 is preferably also configured to be electrically connected to the microcomputer control processing unit 111 by being mechanically and electrically connected to the electronic endoscope 100 through the connector unit 110 by the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope. By incorporating the second communication unit 700 in the processor 200 for an electronic endoscope, the device configuration does not become complicated, and as described above, the size of the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100 does not become large, and signal processing parameters such as matrix coefficients corresponding to the image pickup device 108 can be reliably set in the signal processing circuit.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the transmission line connecting the second communication unit 700 and the microcomputer controlled processing unit 111 may be wireless. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration in an embodiment different from the embodiment shown in fig. 3. In this case, the microcomputer control processing section 111 includes a third communication unit 800 configured to communicate with the second communication unit 700 by wireless. In this case, the third communication unit is preferably configured to transmit and receive with the first communication unit 109 via the second communication unit 700.

Note that, in order to generate a color image, a filter such as a bayer array color filter 108b is provided on the light receiving surface of the image pickup element 108, as shown in fig. 2.

The imaging characteristic information used in one embodiment is information related to the wavelength transmission characteristic of the filter, and the signal processing parameter is a coefficient used for color correction of an image signal obtained by imaging by the imaging element 108, for example, a matrix coefficient. The filter often has a subtle difference in wavelength transmission characteristics among the image pickup elements 108, and in the case of a color filter, colors in a color image also often have a subtle difference. Therefore, it is preferable that signal processing using signal processing parameters corresponding to the image pickup device 108, for example, signal processing for color correction is performed in order to generate a stable image without variation due to the image pickup device 108.

The imaging characteristic information may be information related to the light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the imaging device 108. In this case, the signal processing parameter is preferably a gain coefficient for adjusting the gain of the image signal output from the image pickup element 108. Even if the wavelength transmission characteristics of the filters are the same, when the light reception sensitivity characteristics of the light receiving surface vary among the image pickup devices 108, the values of the image signals output from the image pickup devices 108 vary and vary. Therefore, in order to reduce the variation, it is preferable to perform gain adjustment using a gain value for adjusting the value of the image signal in order to generate a stable image without variation by the image pickup device 108.

The electronic endoscope system of the present invention has been described in detail, but the electronic endoscope system of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. An electronic endoscope system including an electronic endoscope including an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of a living tissue, and a processor including an image processing unit electrically connected to the electronic endoscope through a first signal line and configured to process an image picked up by the image pickup device and transmitted through the first signal line, the electronic endoscope system comprising:

a first communication unit including a communication chip main body and an antenna, the communication chip main body being provided closer to the image pickup element side than a connector portion of the electronic endoscope mechanically and electrically connected to the processor, the communication chip main body including a first storage portion in which image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup element and a signal processing parameter corresponding to the image pickup characteristic information are stored, the signal processing parameter being used to perform signal processing on an image signal output from the image pickup element, the communication chip main body being configured to generate a communication signal for performing wireless communication between the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter in response to a request for information, the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter, the antenna being provided in an operation portion for manually operating the electronic endoscope or being provided closer to the connector side than the operation portion, and the antenna being provided in an operation portion of the electronic endoscope A part side electrically connected to the communication chip main body through a second signal line and configured to wirelessly transmit the communication signal transmitted from the communication chip main body through the second signal line;

a second communication unit configured to receive the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit in response to a request for the information, and acquire the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter included in the communication signal;

a control processing unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the second communication unit via a transmission line, and configured to receive the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the second communication unit;

a second storage unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the control processing unit via a third signal line, and configured to store the imaging characteristic information and the signal processing parameter transmitted from the control processing unit via the third signal line; and

and a signal processing circuit provided in the connector portion, electrically connected to the control processing portion via a fourth signal line, and configured to perform the signal processing by setting the signal processing parameter transmitted from the control processing portion via the fourth signal line as a processing parameter for performing signal processing on the image signal output from the image pickup element via the first signal line before the processing of the image in the processor.

2. The electronic endoscope system of claim 1,

the second storage portion stores and holds image pickup characteristic information held in advance and signal processing parameters held in advance,

in a case where the image pickup characteristic information acquired by the second communication unit is different from the previously held image pickup characteristic information stored and held, the second storage unit is configured to store and hold the image pickup characteristic information and the signal processing parameter received by the control processing unit in place of the previously held image pickup characteristic information and the previously held signal processing parameter,

the signal processing circuit is configured to reset the signal processing parameter transmitted from the control processing unit through the fourth signal line as a parameter for signal processing instead of the previously held signal processing parameter set as a parameter for signal processing.

3. An electronic endoscope system including an electronic endoscope including an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of a living tissue, and a processor including an image processing unit electrically connected to the electronic endoscope through a first signal line and configured to process an image picked up by the image pickup device and transmitted through the first signal line to generate an image for monitoring display, the electronic endoscope system comprising:

a first communication unit including a communication chip main body and an antenna, the communication chip main body being provided closer to the image pickup element than a connector portion of the electronic endoscope mechanically and electrically connected to the processor, and includes a first storage unit that stores image pickup characteristic information unique to the image pickup element corresponding to the image pickup element, the communication chip main body is configured to generate a communication signal for wirelessly communicating the image pickup characteristic information in response to a request for information, the communication signal includes the imaging characteristic information, the antenna is provided in an operation section for manually operating the electronic endoscope or is provided closer to the connector section than the operation section, a communication chip main body electrically connected to the communication chip main body through a second signal line and configured to wirelessly transmit the communication signal transmitted from the communication chip main body through the second signal line;

a second communication unit configured to receive the communication signal including the image pickup characteristic information wirelessly transmitted from the first communication unit in response to a request for the information, and acquire the image pickup characteristic information included in the communication signal;

a control processing unit provided in the connector unit, connected to the second communication unit via a transmission line, and configured to receive the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the second communication unit;

a second storage unit which is provided in the connector unit, is electrically connected to the control processing unit via a third signal line, and stores reference data for extracting signal processing parameters from the imaging characteristic information transmitted by the control processing unit, the reference data including a plurality of association sets in which associations between imaging characteristic information and signal processing parameters are established; and

a signal processing circuit provided in the connector portion, electrically connected to the control processing portion via a fourth signal line, and configured to set a signal processing parameter obtained based on the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the control processing portion via the fourth signal line as a processing parameter for signal processing of an image signal output from the imaging element and transmitted via the first signal line prior to processing of the image in the processor,

the control processing unit is configured to extract the signal processing parameter by referring to the reference data based on the imaging characteristic information transmitted from the control processing unit through the fourth signal line,

the second storage unit is connected to the signal processing circuit via a fifth signal line, and is configured to store and hold the signal processing parameter and the imaging characteristic information which are transmitted from the signal processing circuit via the fifth signal line and have been set by the signal processing circuit,

the second communication unit is configured to transmit the signal processing parameter set by the signal processing circuit through the wireless transmission and transmitted from the signal processing circuit through the fourth signal line,

the first storage unit is configured to store the signal processing parameter, which is transmitted from the antenna to the first storage unit via the second signal line after the antenna receives the image data wirelessly, together with the image pickup characteristic information.

4. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the communication chip main body is provided to the operation portion.

5. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the antenna is provided to the connector portion.

6. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the second communication unit is connected to the processor through a sixth signal line, and is mechanically and electrically connected to the control processing unit through the connector unit by the processor and the electronic endoscope.

7. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the second communication unit is incorporated in the processor as a part of the processor, and is configured to be electrically connected to the control processing unit by the processor and the electronic endoscope being mechanically and electrically connected by the connector portion.

8. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the transmission line is a transmission path of electromagnetic waves,

the control processing unit includes a third communication unit configured to communicate with the second communication unit by radio,

the third communication unit is configured to transmit and receive with the first communication unit via the second communication unit.

9. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

a filter is provided on a light receiving surface of the image pickup element,

the imaging characteristic information is information related to a wavelength transmission characteristic of the filter,

the signal processing parameter is a coefficient used in performing color correction of the image signal.

10. The electronic endoscope system of any one of claims 1 to 3,

the imaging characteristic information is information relating to a light receiving sensitivity characteristic of the imaging element,

the signal processing parameter is a gain coefficient for gain adjustment of the image signal.

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