JP2000261821A - Electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow an electronic endoscope to use a processor of an old processing system even if the endoscope adopts a new processing form for a color difference signal. SOLUTION: A microcomputer 16 of the electronic endoscope 10 decides an output form of color difference signals for processes 18, 19 connected to the microcomputer 16 and activates a color data conversion circuit 15 so as to cope with this decision output form. For example, a digital signal processor DSP 14 in the electronic endoscope 10 generates a luminance signal Y and color difference signals R-Y, B-Y in an output form of B type as Y:R-Y:B-Y =4:2:2. When the processor 19 of the B type is connected to the endoscope 10, the endoscope outputs signals as they are, and when a processor 18 of A type is connected to the endoscope 10, the endoscope 10 converts the output form of A type into Y:R-Y:B-Y=4:1:1 and outputs the Y, R-Y, B-Y. adopting this form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic endoscope apparatus that can use processor apparatuses having different color signal processing formats with a single electronic endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic endoscope apparatus, based on light irradiation from a light source, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) as a solid-state image pickup device is used.
Device), an image signal (video signal) inside the object to be observed
Are formed from the output signal of the CCD, for example, a luminance signal and a color difference signal (color signal), and these signals are subjected to various processes to obtain a video signal to be supplied to a monitor.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional electronic endoscope apparatus, the processing speed is increased, and the like.
In some cases, a color difference signal processing format is produced, and in this case, both the electronic endoscope and the processor device connecting the electronic endoscope are new, so that both the device configuration and cost are wasted. There was a problem that there is. That is, even if the processing format of the color difference signal or the like changes, if a processor device or the like having an old processing format can be used, variations in the use of devices that promote the replacement of new and old devices will increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an electronic endoscope that can use a processor device of an old processing format even when a new processing format such as a color difference signal is adopted. A mirror device is provided.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention digitally processes an image signal obtained by an image pickup device and converts at least a color signal (color difference signal, RGB signal). And an electronic endoscope having a digital image processing circuit for forming and outputting a color digital signal from the digital image processing circuit for output to a monitor. A control circuit for determining the output format of a color signal to the processor device connected to the electronic endoscope, the control circuit determining the output format of the color signal on the electronic endoscope side; And a color data conversion circuit for converting the color signal into data corresponding to the color signal output format determined by the control circuit.

According to the above-described configuration, the control circuit on the electronic endoscope (scope) side processes information on color signals of the processor device through information communication with the various processor devices (identification information communication of the processor device) and the like. That is, the output format of the electronic endoscope is determined. If the output format is the same as that of the digital image processing circuit of the electronic endoscope, the signal is output as it is. If the output format is different, the signal is converted into a signal of that format by the color data conversion circuit. And output. This makes it possible to connect an electronic endoscope having a new processing format to the old processor device.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment. In an electronic endoscope (scope) 10 of the embodiment, a light guide (not shown) is provided. Thus, the light source light is emitted from the distal end portion, and thereby the inside of the object to be observed is imaged by the CCD 11 which is a solid-state image sensor. The CCD 11 has a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor-DSP) via an A / D converter 12.
14 are arranged.

The DSP 14 converts, for example, a luminance signal (Y) and an R signal from the video signal obtained by the CCD 11.
The color difference signals of (red) -Y and B (blue) -Y are arithmetically formed, and various processes such as gamma processing and white balance are performed. Then, the above-mentioned luminance signal and color difference signal are processed so as to have the outputs shown in FIGS. That is, the luminance signals Y0, Y1, Y2,... Are sequentially output every cycle of the clock signal shown in FIG. 2A, and the color difference signals are R-Y0, BY-0, R-.
The (RY) signal and the (BY) signal are alternately output, such as Y1, BY1. Therefore, the output ratio of each signal is Y: RY: BY = 4: 2: 2,
This is a new output format (B type).

A color data conversion circuit 15 is connected to the DSP 14, and a microcomputer 16 for controlling each circuit is arranged. The color data conversion circuit 15 is controlled by the microcomputer 16 to control the A / D converter. The color difference signal is converted and output according to the type (old type) and the B type (new type). That is, the A type is an old output format, and as shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, the luminance signal is output four times (Y
0 to Y3) Outputs color difference signals of R-Y0 and B-Y0 during the output, and the output ratio of each signal is Y: R-
Y: BY = 4: 1: 1. Therefore, the color data conversion circuit 15 uses DS
When the output from P14 is passed as it is and adapted to the A type, conversion is performed so that each of RY and BY formed in one cycle period of the clock signal is output in two cycles of the clock signal. Will do.

Further, the electronic endoscope 10 includes a processor device 18 which employs the A type output format and the B type output format.
The processor device 19 adopting the type output format can be connected. The one processor unit 18 is provided with a circuit for performing a process of outputting a monitor for a video signal, and a microcomputer 20 is provided. The other processor unit 19 is also provided with a video signal processing circuit. A microcomputer 21 is provided. Then, for example, communication of identification information is performed between the processor devices 18 and 19 and the electronic endoscope 10 when the power is turned on or the like, whereby the microcomputer 16 on the electronic endoscope 10 side
The output format of the color signal to the connected processor devices 18 and 19 can be determined.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the electronic endoscope 10 shown in FIG. 1 communicates information with the processor 18 (or 19) by the microcomputer 16 when the power is turned on. From the identification information 18 (or 19) or the like, it is determined whether the processing of the color difference signal is the A type or the B type. For example, when it is determined that the old type A processor device 18 is connected, the microcomputer 16 instructs the color data conversion circuit 15 to convert to the A type.

At the same time, the video signal read from the CCD 11 shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to the DSP 14 via the A / D converter 12, and the DSP 14 outputs the video signal shown in FIG. Luminance signals Y0, Y1, Y
.., And the color difference signals R-Y0, B shown in FIG.
-Y0, RY1, BY1 ... are formed and output. This is a new type B, Y: RY: BY
= 4: 2: 2 output format.

In the next stage of the color data conversion circuit 15, the color difference signals RY and B- as shown in FIG.
The output format of Y is converted. That is, R-Y0 during two cycles of the clock signal at which Y0 and Y1 are output, and B-Y0, Y4 and Y during two cycles at which Y2 and Y3 are output.
The output is converted to the old output format of Y: RY: BY = 4: 1: 1, such as RY4, during the two cycles in which 5 is output. Thereafter, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal R-
Y and BY are supplied to the processor device 18 and a predetermined process is performed, so that an image of the inside of the body to be observed is displayed on the monitor.

On the other hand, when it is determined that a new type B processor 19 is connected to the electronic endoscope 10, the microcomputer 16 instructs the color data conversion circuit 15 not to perform conversion. Thereby, the color data conversion circuit 1
5 performs, for example, an operation of switching to a through line. Therefore, in this case, the signal of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY formed by the DSP 14 are converted into Y: RY: B-.
Y = 4: 2: 2 format is output as it is,
The processor unit 19 will form a new type of video signal.

In the above embodiment, Y: RY: B-
Although the conversion of the output format in which Y is 4: 2: 2 and the ratio of 4: 1: 1 has been described, other formats can be converted. In addition, although the conversion example of the color difference signal has been described, the present invention can be similarly applied to other color signals such as R (red) and G (green) B.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The output format of the color signal to the processor device connected to the electronic endoscope is determined, the color signal formed by the digital image processing circuit is converted into data according to the determined color signal output format, and the processor device , So that even when a new processing format such as a color difference signal is adopted in the electronic endoscope device, the processor device of the old processing format can be used, and cost reduction when promoting the replacement of the old and new ones can be achieved. There is an advantage that can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing in a DSP and a color data conversion circuit according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10: electronic endoscope (scope), 11: CCD, 14: digital signal processor (DSP), 15: color data conversion circuit, 16, 20, 21 ... microcomputer (microcomputer), 18, 19: processor device.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 11/20 H04N 11/20 5C066 // H04N 5/225 5/225 C F-term (Reference) 2H040 GA02 GA05 4C061 AA00 BB01 CC06 DD00 LL02 MM02 NN05 SS11 SS22 TT12 5C022 AA09 AB00 AC42 AC69 5C054 AA01 CA04 DA08 EA05 EE00 EF01 HA12 5C057 AA01 BA19 DA03 EA06 EE01 EL01 GF01 GF03 GM01 5A066 GM01 A0119

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope having a digital image processing circuit for digitally processing an image signal obtained by an image sensor and forming and outputting at least a color signal, and is detachably connected to the electronic endoscope. A processor for inputting a color digital signal from the digital image processing circuit and performing processing for outputting the digital signal to a monitor; and a processor for the processor connected to the electronic endoscope. A control circuit that determines an output format of the color signal; and a color data conversion circuit that converts the color signal output from the digital image processing circuit into data corresponding to the color signal output format determined by the control circuit. Electronic endoscope device.