JP2001170007A - Electronic endoscopic system and signal switching device for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To substantially extend the, service life of a lamp by reducing the power consumption of the lamp of an electronic endoscopic system with plural electronic endoscopic devices having the common peripheral equipment via a signal switching device (picture switching device) for an electronic endoscope. SOLUTION: A system control circuit 15 is mounted in a picture switching device 10. The system control circuit 15 is connected to system control circuits 43 and 63 of signal processing devices 40 and 60 of the electronic endoscope with signal cables. Switches 11-14 are operated based on the switching operation of a control panel 16 so that picture signals and synchronisation signals of the signal processing devices 40 and 60 are selected in an alternative way, to be outputted to a TV monitor 20 and a VCR 21. Control signals are outputted from the system control circuit 15 to the system control circuits 43 and 63 and the selection situation of the electronic endoscope is informed. According to the selection situation, the system control circuits 43 and 63 control the output of lamp power source circuits 46 and 66.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television monitor and a VCR (video cassette recorder) for a plurality of electronic endoscope apparatuses.
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system that shares peripheral devices such as ecorder) and a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope that selectively switches a video signal output to a peripheral device in the electronic endoscope system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the medical field, an endoscope system using an RGB monochrome plane sequential imaging system, a single color plate imaging system, an ultrasonic endoscope system, and an endoscope for imaging a fluorescent image using an excitation wavelength. Various endoscope systems (electronic endoscope systems) such as a mirror system are used depending on the application. In order to observe an image photographed by these electronic endoscope systems, unlike an endoscope system including only an optical system for observing an end face using an optical fiber, a TV is used.
An image display device such as a monitor is used.

[0003] Since each electronic endoscope system has different uses and characteristics, there are many facilities that use a plurality of electronic endoscope systems for one inspection. In such a facility, installing a TV monitor, a VCR for recording an image, and the like for each electronic endoscope system is wasteful in terms of location and equipment, and the operation is complicated. Therefore, peripheral devices such as a TV monitor and a VCR that perform the same function in each electronic endoscope system are shared between the systems. At this time, each electronic endoscope device (endoscope and signal processing device) is connected to the peripheral device via an electronic endoscope signal switching device for selectively switching signals output to the peripheral device. Is done.

[0004]

In an electronic endoscope system in which one TV monitor is shared by a plurality of electronic endoscope devices, an image displayed on the TV monitor is selected by a signal switching device for the electronic endoscope. This is for the electronic endoscope apparatus which has been selected. However, the power of the electronic endoscope devices other than the selected electronic endoscope device is also turned on during that time, and the power is consumed. Particularly, in the illumination light source unit for the endoscope, a high-intensity lamp is used, so that the power consumption thereof is large. In addition, this high-intensity lamp is expensive, but its life is 300 to 500 hours (actual use limit is 100 to 200 hours).
About as short. Therefore, in a conventional electronic endoscope system including a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope, it is desired to reduce the power consumed in the light source unit and extend the substantial use period of the illumination lamp. ing.

According to the present invention, in an electronic endoscope system in which a plurality of electronic endoscope apparatuses share a peripheral device, power consumed by a light source section of the electronic endoscope apparatus is low, and a substantial amount of an illumination lamp is provided. An electronic endoscope system with a long service life,
An object of the present invention is to obtain a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope used in the electronic endoscope system.

[0006]

An electronic endoscope system according to the present invention outputs only signals of a selected electronic endoscope apparatus to peripheral apparatuses among signals input from a plurality of electronic endoscope apparatuses. An electronic endoscope system including a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope, wherein a selection signal corresponding to whether or not the electronic endoscope device is selected is output to each of the plurality of electronic endoscope devices. A selection signal output unit, provided in each of the plurality of electronic endoscope apparatuses, determines whether the electronic endoscope apparatus is selected based on the selection signal, and the electronic endoscope apparatus is selected. In some cases, the output of the light source for shooting illumination is set to an output required for shooting, and when not selected, the output of the light source is reduced by light source output control means.

Preferably, the electronic endoscope apparatus includes an operation switch for operating the electronic endoscope apparatus, and an electronic endoscope in the electronic endoscope signal switching apparatus when a predetermined operation switch is operated. Selection switching signal output means for outputting a selection switching signal for switching the selection of the device.
At this time, the electronic endoscope signal switching device includes selection switching means for switching the selection to the electronic endoscope device that has output the selection switching signal. Thereby, the operator can quickly and easily switch the selection of the electronic endoscope apparatus.

For example, a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope and a plurality of electronic endoscope devices are connected by an electric signal line,
The selection signal is a first signal having a relatively high potential output to the signal line.
And one of the first and second signals is output to the selected electronic endoscope apparatus, and the other is not selected. The other is output to the device.

Preferably, the selection signal output means and the selection switching means are provided in a signal switching device for an electronic endoscope. Thereby, the electronic endoscope system has a simpler and less wasteful configuration.

Preferably, the signal switching device for an electronic endoscope comprises:
A system control circuit is provided, and the selection switching signal is an interrupt signal to the system control circuit.

The signal switching device for an electronic endoscope according to the present invention selectively switches signals input from a plurality of electronic endoscope devices and outputs the signals to peripheral devices. Selection signal output means for outputting a corresponding selection signal to each of the plurality of electronic endoscope devices.

The signal switching device for an electronic endoscope is preferably
There is provided switching control means for controlling driving of the selection switching means based on a signal from the electronic endoscope apparatus.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a signal switching device (video switching device) for an electronic endoscope in an electronic endoscope system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and two conventionally known electronic endoscope devices (internal) connected to the video switching device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an endoscope and a signal processing device).

The video switching device 10 includes a signal processing device 40 of an RGB plane sequential imaging system, a signal processing device 60 of a color single plate imaging system, and a TV monitor 20 and V
The CR 21 is detachably connected via a connector (not shown). The signal processing device 40 of the RGB plane sequential imaging method includes an endoscope 30 adapted to the RGB plane sequential imaging method.
Are connected, and an endoscope 50 adapted to the color single-chip imaging method is connected to the signal processing device 60 of the color single-chip imaging method. The connection between the endoscopes 30 and 50 and the signal processing devices 40 and 60 is detachably performed via respective scope connectors (not shown). The TV monitor 20 has an endoscope 3
One of the video captured at 0 or the video captured by the endoscope 50 is displayed. At this time, the image displayed on the TV monitor 20 can be switched by operating switches (not shown) arranged on the image switching device 10 or the operation panels 16, 44, 64 of the signal processing devices 40, 60. . The video displayed on the TV monitor 20 is simultaneously sent to the VCR 21 and can be recorded on a video cassette tape.

First, an electronic endoscope apparatus of an RGB plane sequential imaging system comprising an endoscope 30 and a signal processing device 40 will be described.

A light guide 34, which is a bundle of ultra-fine optical fiber cables, is provided inside the endoscope 30. An emission end 32, which is one end surface of the light guide 34, is a distal end of the endoscope 30. It is located in. An illumination lens (not shown) is disposed in front of the emission end 32, and the emission end 3
Light emitted from 2 is emitted as illumination light via an illumination lens. The illumination light is supplied from a lamp (light source) 37 provided in the signal processing device 40 via a light guide 34.

The lamp 37 emits white light substantially in parallel, and is condensed on the incident end 35 of the light guide 34 via a condenser lens 36, an RGB rotation filter 38 and the like. Accordingly, the light incident on the incident end 35 is transmitted to the exit end 32 via the light guide 34 and is transmitted to the distal end of the endoscope 30 (the exit end 3).
It is emitted as illumination light from 2).

The RGB rotating filter 38 is a thin rotating disk, and three openings are formed on the surface of the rotating disk at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction, and each opening is provided with red (R) and green (G), respectively. , Blue (B) color filters.
The RGB rotation filter 38 is rotated by a motor 39,
The rotation axis is parallel to the optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the lamp 37, and each opening is arranged so as to cross the optical path of the illumination light when the disk rotates. That is, the white illumination light transmitted through the condenser lens 36 is converted into the RGB rotation filter 38.
Rotates when each opening crosses the optical path of the illumination light.
And is condensed on the incident end 35 through each of the color filters. The illumination light transmitted through the RGB color filters is R
The light is sequentially and intermittently incident on the light guide 34 as GB light. Therefore, RGB light is sequentially and intermittently emitted as illumination light from the distal end (output end 32) of the endoscope 30 for each color component.

The output of the lamp 37 is controlled by a lamp power supply circuit 46, and the lamp power supply circuit 46 is controlled by a system control circuit 43. The control signal output from the system control circuit 43 is a digital signal, which is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 45 and output to the lamp power supply circuit 46. The rotation of the motor 38 is controlled based on a synchronization signal of the timing control circuit 42.

An image pickup device 31 is provided at the end of the endoscope 30, and an image is picked up by RGB illumination light emitted from an emission end 32. Since the illumination light is sequentially and intermittently emitted for each of the RGB color components, the RGB
Are sequentially detected as monochrome images. The detected RGB video is transmitted to the video signal processing circuit 41 of the signal processing device 40 via the cable 33 in the endoscope 30 as a time-series RGB video signal.

The video signal input to the video signal processing circuit 41 is appropriately amplified and subjected to pre-stage signal processing such as filtering, S / H processing, amplification, clamping, clipping, and gamma processing of the video band. After that, it is converted into a digital image signal. Digital image signal is RGB
Each time, it is temporarily stored in an image memory (not shown). R
When one set of the GB image signals is prepared, it is converted into an analog signal again and the subsequent signal processing is performed. In the latter-stage signal processing, filtering processing, amplification processing, gamma processing, clamping processing, clipping processing, enhancement processing, level adjustment, and the like are performed, and are converted to standardized RGB component video signals.

The signal processing in the video signal processing circuit 41 and the drive timing of the image sensor 31 are performed based on the synchronization signal of the timing control circuit 42. The timing control circuit 42 is controlled by the system control circuit 43. System control circuit 4
3, an operation panel 44 is connected, and the operation panel 44 is provided with a switch group (not shown).
The system control circuit 43 is provided with the image switching device 1.
0 through the interface cable to transmit and receive control signals.

RG output from the video signal processing circuit 41
The B component video signals R1, G1, and B1 are respectively supplied to the changeover switches 11 of the video changeover device 10 via cables.
Input to 12 and 13. Further, a synchronization signal T1 is output from the timing control circuit 42 and is input to the changeover switch 14 of the video switching device 10.

Next, a description will be given of an electronic endoscope apparatus of a color single-chip imaging system comprising the endoscope 50 and the signal processing device 60.

A light guide 54, which is a bundle of ultra-fine optical fiber cables, is provided inside the endoscope 50. One end face of the light guide 54, ie, an exit end 52, is a distal end of the endoscope 50. It is located in. An illumination lens (not shown) is provided in front of the emission end 52, and the emission end 5
Light emitted from 2 is emitted as illumination light via an illumination lens. The illumination light is supplied from a lamp (light source) 57 provided in the signal processing device 60 via a light guide 54 connected to a scope connector. The lamp 57 emits white light substantially in parallel, and the condensing lens 5
The light is condensed on the incident end 55 of the light guide 54 via 6 and the like. As a result, the light that has entered the incident end 55 is transmitted to the emission end 52 via the light guide 54, and emitted from the end of the endoscope 50 (the emission end 52) as illumination light.

The output of the lamp 57 is controlled by a lamp power supply circuit 66, and the lamp power supply circuit 66 is controlled by a system control circuit 63. The control signal output from the system control circuit 63 is a digital signal, which is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 65 and output to the lamp power supply circuit 66.

At the end of the endoscope 50, an image pickup device 51 is provided, and an image is picked up by white illumination light emitted from an emission end 52. In the image sensor 51, the image for each of RGB is simultaneously detected, and the image signal processing circuit 6 of the signal processing device 60 is connected via a cable 53 provided in the endoscope 50.
1 is transmitted.

The video signal input to the video signal processing circuit 61 is appropriately amplified and subjected to pre-stage signal processing such as filtering, S / H processing, amplification, clamping, clipping, and gamma processing of the video band. After that, it is converted into a digital image signal. Digital image signal is RGB
Each time, it is temporarily stored in an image memory (not shown). R
When one set of the GB image signals is prepared, it is converted into an analog signal again and the subsequent signal processing is performed. In the latter-stage signal processing, filtering processing, amplification processing, gamma processing, clamping processing, clipping processing, enhancement processing, level adjustment, and the like are performed, and are converted to standardized RGB component video signals.

The signal processing in the video signal processing circuit 61 and the drive timing of the image sensor 51 are performed based on a synchronization signal from the timing control circuit 62. The timing control circuit 62 is controlled by the system control circuit 63. System control circuit 6
An operation panel 64 is connected to 3, and the operation panel 64 is provided with a switch group (not shown).
Further, the system control circuit 63 is provided with the image switching device 1.
0 through the interface cable to transmit and receive control signals.

RG output from the video signal processing circuit 61
The B component video signals R2, G2, and B2 are respectively supplied to the changeover switches 11 of the video changeover device 10 via cables.
Input to 12 and 13. Further, a synchronization signal T2 is output from the timing control circuit 62 and is input to the changeover switch 14 of the video switching device 10.

Next, a signal switching operation in the video switching device 10 will be described. The changeover switches 11 to 14
For example, a conventionally known analog switch, relay switch, or the like is used.
This is a device that selects and outputs one signal from the two signals. RG selected by changeover switches 11 to 14
The B component video signal and the synchronization signal are output to the TV monitor 20 and the VCR 21 via the cable. That is, the TV monitor 20 and the VCR 21 output the R image output from the RGB surface sequential imaging method or the color single-chip imaging method.
A set of the GB component video signal and the synchronization signal (R1,
G1, B1, T1) or (R2, G2, B2, T2)
Is output according to the selection.

The switching operations of the changeover switches 11 to 14 are executed based on a signal command from the system control circuit 15, and these changeover operations are performed by the changeover switches 11
１４14 at the same time. An operation panel 16 is connected to the system control circuit 15, and the operation panel 16 is provided with a switch group (not shown). The operator can operate the switching operation of the changeover switches 11 to 14 by, for example, pressing a changeover button (not shown) in a group of switches provided on the operation panel 16. Further, the switching operation of the changeover switches 11 to 14 is also performed based on a control signal (selection switching signal) transmitted from the system control circuits 43 and 63 of the signal processing devices 40 and 60.

Next, a signal switching operation and a lamp power supply control operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the details of the control signal in FIG.
1 is not connected to the signal processing device 60 in FIG.
3 shows a circuit configuration similar to that shown in FIG. However, in this figure, the TV
The monitor 20 and the VCR 21 are omitted. Also R
The signal lines of the GB component video signal are collectively shown as one line. The changeover switches 11 to 14 are arranged as a changeover switch group 17, and the video signal processing circuits 41 and 61 are collectively formed as one timing control circuit 42 and 62, respectively. Shown as blocks 47,67.

A control signal (selection signal) output from the system control circuit 15 of the video switching device 10 to the system control circuits 43 and 63 is supplied to an output terminal O
Output from UT1 and OUT2 respectively. Output terminal O
The UT1 and OUT2 are assigned to the lower 1 bit and the lower 2 bits of an 8-bit output port (hereinafter referred to as PortA), for example. Output terminals OUT1, OUT2
Are output from the input terminals IN_A and IN_A of the system control circuits 43 and 63, respectively.
_B. The switching operation of the changeover switch group 17 is also controlled by the output from PortA.

The control signals output from the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 correspond to the signal processing devices 40 and 60 connected to the selection state of the electronic endoscope device in the video switching device.
Is a signal for notifying the user. That is, the low-potential signal L is output to the selected signal processing device, and the high-potential signal H is output to the non-selected signal processing devices.
System control circuit 4 of signal processing devices 40 and 60
3 and 63 control the lamp power supply circuits 46 and 66 according to the control signal. The output terminal O
The control signals output from UT1 and OUT2 are:
The changeover switch group 17 serves as a control signal for instructing a changeover operation.

On the other hand, control signals output from the system control circuits 43 and 63 of the signal processing devices 40 and 60 are output from output terminals OUT_A and OUT_B, respectively, and are input signals IRQ1 and IRQ2 of the system control circuit 15 as interrupt signals. Is input to This interrupt signal is generated when the endoscope is connected to the signal processing device.
Alternatively, the signal is output when a predetermined switch of a switch group provided on the operation panel of the signal processing device is operated while the endoscope is connected to the signal processing device. The connection state of the endoscope is determined by the signal line 4 provided at the connection with the endoscope.
8, 68. For example, when the endoscope is connected, the signal lines 48 and 68 are turned on, and the system control circuits 43 and 63 detect the connection state of the endoscope based on this signal. The predetermined switch for generating the interrupt signal is a switch for setting an automatic light control mode, a switch for setting the brightness of the automatic light control, a switch for setting the RB color balance, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a signal switching operation program executed in the system control circuit 15 of the video switching device 10.

When the video switching device 10 is turned on,
In step 101, PortA is initialized. When the video switching device 10 is started, the output terminal O
First, a signal processing device connected to the UT1 is selected. That is, the signal L is output to the terminal OUT1, and the output terminal OUT
2, the signal H is output. 1 and 2, the output terminal OU
Since the RGB plane sequential imaging signal processing device 40 is connected to T1, in the initialization process of step 101, R
The electronic endoscope apparatus of the GB plane sequential imaging system is selected.

In step 102, the output terminal OUT is output in accordance with the depression of the switch button provided on the operation panel 16.
1, the output of OUT2 is changed, and the switching operation of the changeover switch group 17 is performed. In step 103, the switching operation of the changeover switch group 17 is performed based on the interrupt signal from the signal processing device (processor). That is, when a predetermined switch on the operation panel 44 or the operation panel 64 is operated,
The switching operation of the changeover switch group 17 is performed. Thereafter, the process returns to step 102 again, and thereafter, steps 102 and 103 are repeated. When the changeover button on the operation panel 16 and the predetermined switches on the operation panels 44 and 64 are not operated, nothing is performed in each of the steps 102 and 103, and the process proceeds to the next step.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show portions of the program executed in the system control circuit of the signal processing device connected to the output terminal OUT1, which are related to the signal switching operation and the lamp power control operation. is there. In the present embodiment, since the signal processing device 40 of the RGB plane sequential imaging method is connected to the output terminal OUT1, the programs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are executed by the system control circuit 43.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a lamp power control operation program executed based on a control signal output from the system control circuit 15 of the video switching device 10.

In step 200, it is determined whether or not the signal input to the input terminal IN_A is L. When it is determined that the signal input to the input terminal IN_A is L, in step 201, the light amount of the lamp is set to the maximum. That is, the lamp power supply circuit 46 is controlled so that the lamp current supplied to the lamp is maximized,
This process ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 200 that the signal is input to the input terminal IN_A and the signal is not L, then in step 202, the light amount of the lamp is set to the minimum. That is, the lamp power supply circuit 46 is controlled so that the lamp current is minimized, and this processing ends.

FIG. 5 shows a program executed when the endoscope 30 is connected to the signal processing device 40 or when a predetermined switch of the operation panel 44 is operated while the endoscope 30 is connected. Is shown.

When a predetermined switch on the operation panel 44 is operated while the endoscope 30 is connected or the endoscope 30 is connected, step 300 is executed. Step 30
At 0, an interrupt signal using the falling edge of the signal is output from the output terminal OUT_A. That is, the output terminal OUT
A signal H is normally output to _A, and the output signal is temporarily switched to L when an interrupt occurs. In step 301, the light amount of the lamp is set to the maximum. That is, the lamp power supply circuit 46 is controlled so that the lamp current is maximized,
This process ends.

Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a description will be given of the PortA initialization processing executed in step 101. FIG. FIG.
Is a flowchart (PortA processing 1) of a program for outputting the signal L to the terminal OUT1 of PortA and outputting the signal H to the terminal OUT2. In the present embodiment, RGB is used.
This corresponds to a switching operation when the signal processing device 40 of the frame sequential imaging method is selected.

Since PortA is an 8-bit output port, an 8-bit output signal is represented by 8-digit binary data SIG. At this time, the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 correspond to the first and second digits of the binary data SIG, respectively, and the signal L corresponds to 0 and the signal H corresponds to 1. That is, the signal L is output to the output terminal OUT1, and the signal H is output to the output terminal O1.
When output to UT2, the lower 2 of binary data SIG
When the digit becomes 10, the signal H is output to the output terminal OUT1, and the signal L is output to the output terminal OUT2,
The last two digits of the binary data SIG are 01. Since the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is for selecting the signal processing device 40 of the RGB plane sequential imaging system connected to the output terminal OUT1, the last two digits of the binary data SIG are 10
The processing is performed so that

In step 400, SIG and 11111
The logical product of 100 is calculated, and the calculation result is substituted into SIG. The logical product of SIG and 11111100 is an operation that converts the lower two digits of an arbitrary SIG to 00 and does not change the upper six digits. That is, the output terminal OUT of PortA
1, Only the output corresponding to OUT2 is changed. For example, when 11111111 is assigned to SIG as initial data when the video switching device 10 is activated, step 4
11111100 is assigned to SIG after executing 00.

In step 401, the logical sum of SIG obtained in step 400 and 00000010 is calculated, and the calculation result is substituted into SIG. The logical sum of SIG with the last two digits of 00 and 00000010 is SIG
This is an operation of changing the lower 2 digits to 10 without changing the upper 6 digits. Therefore, by the operations of steps 400 and 401, only the lower two digits of the arbitrary SIG are changed to 10, and the upper six digits remain at the initial value. In step 402, step 40
The binary data SIG to which the operation result of 1 is substituted is Port
A is output to A, and the PortA initialization processing (PortA processing 1) ends.

Next, the processing executed in step 102 of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the program executed in step 102.

At step 500, it is determined whether or not the switch button on the operation panel 16 has been pressed. If it is determined that the switch button has been pressed, it is determined in step 501 whether the last two digits of the SIG are 10. When the last two digits of SIG are 10, that is, when the currently selected signal processing device is the RGB surface sequential imaging type signal processing device 40 connected to the output terminal OUT1,
The process moves to step 502. In step 502, P
The output of ortA is updated, and the selection is switched to the signal processing device 60 of the color single-chip imaging system connected to the output terminal OUT2. That is, in step 502, the signal H is output to the terminal OUT1 of PortA, and the signal L is output to the terminal OUT2.
Is output. Thus, the process of step 102 in FIG. 3 ends.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the program executed in step 502 (PortA processing 2). In step 600, the logical product of SIG and 11111100 is calculated, and the calculation result is substituted for SIG. SI
The logical product of G and 11111100 is an operation that converts the lower two digits of an arbitrary SIG to 00 and does not change the upper six digits. That is, only the output corresponding to the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 of PortA is changed. In step 501, the last two digits of SIG are 10, but after execution of step 600, they are converted to 00.

In step 601, the logical sum of SIG obtained in step 600 and 00000001 is calculated, and the calculation result is substituted into SIG. The logical sum of SIG with the last two digits of 00 and 00000010 is SIG
This is an operation for converting the lower two digits to 01 without changing the upper six digits. Therefore, by the calculations in steps 600 and 601, only the lower two digits of any SIG are changed to 01, and the upper 6
The digits remain at the starting value. In step 602, the binary data SIG into which the calculation result of step 601 is substituted is output to PortA, and the switching processing to the signal processing device 60 (PortA processing 2) ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 501 that the last two digits of the SIG are not 10, the processing proceeds to step 50.
3 and the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is executed. That is, the signal L is output to the terminal OUT1 of PortA, the signal H is output to the terminal OUT2, and the selected signal processing device is switched to the RGB plane sequential imaging type signal processing device 40 connected to the output terminal OUT1.
Thereby, the switching process to the signal processing device 40 (Port A
Processing 1) ends.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, step 103 in FIG.
Will be described.

In step 701, it is determined whether or not a fall of the signal is detected at the input terminal IRQ1 of the system control circuit 15. That is, it is determined whether or not an interrupt from the signal processing device 40 has occurred. If it is determined in step 700 that the falling of the input signal has been detected, the process proceeds to step 701. In step 701, it is determined whether or not the falling of the signal is detected at the input terminal IRQ2. That is, it is determined whether or not an interrupt from the signal processing device 60 has occurred. If it is determined in step 701 that the fall of the input signal is not detected, in step 702, the PortA process 1 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
The mode is switched to the signal processing device 40 of the GB plane sequential imaging system. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 701 that the fall of the signal at the input terminal IRQ2 has not been detected, this processing ends assuming that the selection of the electronic endoscope has not been switched.

In step 700, the input terminal I
If it is determined that the fall of the signal at RQ1 is to be detected, the process proceeds to step 703. Step 70
In 3, it is determined whether a falling edge of the signal is detected at the input terminal IRQ2 as in step 701. If it is determined in step 703 that the fall of the input signal has been detected, then in step 704, FIG.
Is executed, and the selection of the electronic endoscope in the video switching device 10 is switched to the signal processing device 60 of the color single-chip imaging system. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 703 that the fall of the signal at the input terminal IRQ2 has been detected, this processing ends assuming that the selection of the electronic endoscope has not been switched.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the electronic endoscope apparatus selected by the electronic endoscope signal switching apparatus (video switching apparatus) and needing to emit illumination light for photographing. Only the output of the lamp is set to the maximum, and the outputs of the lamps of the other electronic endoscope devices are set to the minimum.
Therefore, the power consumption of the lamp can be minimized and the lamp can be used without waste, so that the usable period is substantially extended. Further, the setting of the lamp output is automatically performed according to the selection of the electronic endoscope apparatus, so that the operation is simple.

Although the imaging method of the electronic endoscope apparatus used in the present embodiment is the RGB plane sequential imaging method and the color single plate imaging method, other imaging methods may be used.
An ultrasonic endoscope or an endoscope that captures a fluorescent image using an excitation wavelength may be used. In the present embodiment, two electronic endoscope devices are used as a signal switching device (video switching device) for an electronic endoscope.
However, three or more electronic endoscope devices may be connected.

In the present embodiment, the RGB component video signal and its synchronizing signal have been described as an example, but the type of the transmitted signal may be another type.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an electronic endoscope system in which a plurality of electronic endoscope devices share a peripheral device, the power consumed by the light source section of the electronic endoscope device is low, and It is possible to obtain an electronic endoscope system in which a substantial use period of the lamp for use is long and a signal switching device for the electronic endoscope used in the electronic endoscope system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic endoscope system in which a portion related to a control signal in the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 is shown in more detail;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program executed in the electronic endoscope signal switching device (video switching device).

FIG. 4 is a program flowchart of a program executed in the signal processing device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a program of a program executed in the signal processing device.

FIG. 6 is a program (PortA processing 1) for switching a selected electronic endoscope apparatus to an RGB plane sequential imaging method.
It is a flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a switching operation when a selected electronic endoscope apparatus is switched by operating an operation switch (switch button) of the electronic endoscope signal switching apparatus (video switching apparatus).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a program (PortA processing 2) for switching a selected electronic endoscope apparatus to a color single-chip imaging method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a switching operation when a selected electronic endoscope apparatus is switched by operating an operation switch of the electronic endoscope apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Signal switching device for electronic endoscope (video switching device) 15 System control circuit 37, 57 Lamp (light source) 40 Signal processing device of RGB plane sequential imaging method 60 Signal processing device of color single plate imaging method 43, 63 System control Circuit 45, 65 D / A converter 46, 66 Lamp power supply circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H040 BA11 CA04 CA06 CA10 GA02 GA10 GA11 4C061 AA00 BB02 CC06 DD00 LL02 NN01 NN03 RR02 RR26 UU02

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope having an electronic endoscope signal switching device that outputs only signals of a selected electronic endoscope device to peripheral devices among signals input from a plurality of electronic endoscope devices. A mirror system, comprising: a selection signal output unit that outputs a selection signal corresponding to whether or not an electronic endoscope device is selected to each of the plurality of electronic endoscope devices; and the plurality of electronic endoscopes. It is provided in each of the devices, determines whether the electronic endoscope device is selected based on the selection signal, when the electronic endoscope device is selected, the output of the light source for shooting illumination An electronic endoscope system comprising: light source output control means for setting an output required for photographing and reducing the output of the light source when not selected. 2. An electronic endoscope device comprising: an operation switch for operating the electronic endoscope device; and a signal switching device for the electronic endoscope when a predetermined switch of the operation switch is operated. Selection switching signal output means for outputting a selection switching signal for switching the selection of the electronic endoscope device in the electronic endoscope, wherein the electronic endoscope signal switching device outputs the selection switching signal. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a selection switching unit that switches the selection. 3. The electronic endoscope signal switching device and the plurality of electronic endoscope devices are connected by an electric signal line, and the selection signal is output to the signal line at a relative potential. And a second signal having a relatively low potential. The selected electronic endoscope apparatus is provided with the first signal.
The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein one of the second signals is output, and the other is output to a non-selected electronic endoscope device. 4. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the selection signal output unit and the selection switching unit are provided in the electronic endoscope signal switching device. 5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the signal switching device for an electronic endoscope includes a system control circuit, and the selection switching signal is an interrupt signal to the system control circuit. Endoscope system. 6. A selection switching means for selectively switching signals input from a plurality of electronic endoscope devices and outputting the signals to a peripheral device, and a selection signal corresponding to a selection state in the selection switching means. A signal switching device for an electronic endoscope, comprising: a selection signal output unit that outputs to each of the endoscope devices. 7. The signal switching device for an electronic endoscope according to claim 6, further comprising a switching control unit that controls the driving of the selection switching unit based on a signal from the electronic endoscope device. .