JP2001281559A - Endoscope instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute illumination allowing easy observation by illuminating only the range necessary for observation like a spot light. SOLUTION: The illumination range brightness pattern signal from an illumination range brightness pattern generating circuit 54 based on the brightness signal from a brightness control circuit 47 of a video signal processor 7 and the signal from an input device 25 and the ambient brightness pattern from an ambient brightness pattern generating circuit 52 based on the setting switch of a control panel 51 of a light source device 2 are synthesized by a drive signal synthesizing circuit 53. The synthesized drive pattern signal is outputted to a liquid crystal drive circuit 55. The drive signal for driving liquid crystals 23 is outputted from the liquid crystal drive circuit 55, by which brightness control is executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to an endoscope apparatus characterized by a control section for supplying illumination light to a subject.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an endoscope apparatus for imaging and observing an observation site by a CCD which is a solid-state imaging device has been widely used. In this type of endoscope device, an electronic endoscope in which a CCD is arranged at the distal end of an insertion portion or a CC
A rigid camera or the like to which a TV camera head having a built-in D is detachably attached is used, and illumination light from a light source device is applied to an observation site to capture an image with a CCD.

When an endoscope image is observed by connecting an external TV camera to a conventional rigid endoscope, illumination light is emitted from the tip of the endoscope by a light guide from a light source device to illuminate the observation object. An observation image obtained by the reflected light is obtained by an objective lens, a relay lens, and an eyepiece.

In such an observation method, it is necessary to uniformly illuminate the range of the viewing angle of the objective optical system of the endoscope or more.

[0005] For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-28663, a movable means for moving a part or all of an imaging optical system of an imaging means for imaging an endoscope image to change an imaging range of the imaging means, And a control means for controlling the movable means based on the position information to change the imaging range of the imaging means so that the position of the endoscope can be observed.

[0006]

However, in a conventional observation method for uniformly illuminating the entire range of the viewing angle of the objective optical system of the endoscope or a range larger than the range, the conventional observation method is not limited to the range of the observation target portion. For example, if there is adipose tissue,
The observation target site may be difficult to observe due to the reflected light from the fatty tissue. Also, in the endoscope device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-28663, only the visual field range moves, and the observable range remains uniformly illuminated throughout. For example, when there is fat tissue outside the visual field range, the reflected light may leak into the visual field range and become difficult to observe.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an endoscope apparatus that illuminates only a range necessary for observation in the form of a spotlight and provides illumination that is easy to observe. The purpose is.

[0008]

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A light source lamp that supplies illumination light, an illumination optical system that is provided on an optical path of the light source lamp, forms the illumination light into a predetermined light flux, and guides the light to a subject, and a plurality of optical elements that limit the predetermined light flux A two-dimensionally arranged light modulation device, an imaging unit for imaging the subject, a dimming control unit for generating a brightness control signal based on an imaging signal obtained by the imaging unit, A spot control means for generating a spot control signal for narrowing, and a control means for controlling the plurality of optical elements based on the brightness control signal and the spot control signal are provided.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 to FIG. 1 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a brightness pattern output by the ambient brightness pattern generation circuit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a brightness pattern output by the illumination range brightness pattern generation circuit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the endoscope apparatus in FIG.

(Construction) As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a rigid endoscope 2 which is inserted into a body to obtain an endoscopic image, and a light source apparatus which supplies illumination light to the rigid endoscope 2. 3, an external camera head 5 which is detachably attached to the eyepiece 4 of the rigid endoscope 2 and captures an endoscopic image, and an image pickup signal captured by the external camera head 5 is signal-processed and viewed on the monitor 6 And a video signal processing device 7 for displaying a mirror image.

The rigid endoscope 2 includes a light guide 1 for guiding illumination light to the distal end of the insertion portion 11 and the light guide cable 12.
3 and the light guide cable 12 is attached to the connector 14 of the light source device 3 so that the light source device 3
Is guided to the distal end of the insertion portion 11 by the light guide 13 to irradiate the front end of the insertion portion 11.

The endoscope image of the observation site in front of the distal end of the insertion portion 11 irradiated with the illumination light is taken into the distal end of the insertion portion 11 by the objective optical system 15, and the endoscope image is brought into contact with the relay lens system 16. Is transmitted to the eye part 4,
The objective optical system 15, the relay lens system 16, and the eyepiece 17 in the eyepiece 4 form an optical system capable of observing an endoscope image.

The light source device 3 includes an illumination lamp 21 that emits illumination light by a lamp power supply 20 and an infrared cut filter 22 that cuts infrared light of illumination light from the illumination lamp 21.
And a liquid crystal 23 as a light modulation device that two-dimensionally shields and transmits illumination light through the infrared cut filter 22.
And a condenser lens 24 for condensing the light on the light guide 13. The illumination lamp 21 is provided with a parabolic mirror and emits parallel light. A high-pressure discharge lamp is used as the lamp. In the present embodiment, a xenon discharge tube is used.

An input device 25 is connected to the light source device 3, and an instruction signal from the input device 25 is input to an instruction input circuit 26. This input device 25
Stick-shaped operation unit 27 for inputting the position in the XY directions
And a switch 28 for expanding the illumination range and a switch 29 for reducing the illumination range. In the light source device 2, the position designated by the operation unit 27 from the instruction input circuit 26 is input to the CPU 30 as X and Y coordinates, and the illumination range by the switches 28 and 29 is the value of the radius of the illumination range. Is input to the CPU 30, and the radius of the range is enlarged or reduced according to the input of the switches 28 and 29.

The external camera head 5 includes an eyepiece 17
And a CCD 31 for capturing an endoscope image through the camera.

The video signal processing device 7 is provided with a connector 41 for connecting the external camera head 5 and the video signal processing device 7, and a driving signal to the CCD 31 is supplied to the CCD driving circuit 4.
2 and the imaging signal from the CCD 31 is input to the video signal processing circuit 43. In the video signal processing circuit 43, the imaging signal is processed into a video signal that can be observed on the monitor 6. The video signal from the video signal processing circuit 43 is also input to the brightness signal detection circuit 44.

An operation switch (not shown) for setting the brightness level of the observation range is provided on the operation panel 45 of the video signal processing device 7, and a switch signal from the operation panel 45 is read by the CPU 46. The CPU 46 sets a brightness level in accordance with the read switch input, and inputs the brightness level to the brightness control circuit 47 so that the brightness control circuit 4
7 compares the brightness level of the illumination range detected by the brightness signal detection circuit 44 with the brightness level setting from the CPU 46, and outputs a brightness control signal to the light source device 3 based on the comparison result. ing.

On the other hand, the CPU 30 provided in the light source device 3
Is read from the setting switch of the operation panel 51 of the light source device 3 via the panel operation input circuit 50 to set the brightness of the surrounding portion corresponding to the outside of the illumination range. The ambient brightness level is set according to the input, and the setting signal is output to the ambient brightness pattern generation circuit 52. Then, the surrounding brightness pattern generation circuit 52 converts the brightness pattern of the surrounding portion into, for example, FIGS.
The signal is generated as shown in (c), and a pattern signal is output to the drive signal synthesis circuit 53.

In the light source device 3, the brightness control signal from the brightness control circuit 47 of the video signal processing device 7 and the CP
The XY coordinates indicating the illumination range from U46 and the value of the radius of the illumination range are input to the illumination range brightness pattern generation circuit 54, and the illumination range brightness pattern generation circuit 54
A brightness pattern for controlling the brightness of the illumination range based on the X-Y coordinates and the radius of the illumination range is shown in, for example, FIG.
The driving signal synthesizing circuit 5 generates the signals as shown in FIGS.
3, an illumination range brightness pattern signal is output.

When generating a driving pattern from the XY coordinates and the radius of the illuminating range, the illuminating range includes a so-called vector-raster conversion procedure, and a pattern signal is generated corresponding to the two-dimensionally arranged elements of the liquid crystal 23. Is to occur.

The driving signal synthesizing circuit 53 synthesizes the ambient brightness pattern and the illumination range brightness pattern, outputs a synthesized driving pattern signal to the liquid crystal driving circuit 55, and the driving signal for driving the liquid crystal 23 from the liquid crystal driving circuit 55. Is output, and brightness control is performed.

As described above, the liquid crystal 23 is provided as a light modulation device, and the liquid crystal cell is driven as a two-dimensionally arranged element so that transmission or cutoff is controlled for each element. In this example, a monochrome panel for a data projector having 800 × 600 two-dimensional array elements is used.

FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show the control state of the cells of the liquid crystal 23, that is, the two-dimensional array elements. In practice, such a pattern is generated in all the two-dimensional array elements. The liquid crystal 23 serving as a light modulation device is driven as described above.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

An external camera head 5 is connected to the rigid endoscope 2 to observe, for example, an insufflated abdominal cavity. At this time, the observation range is determined by the size of the endoscope image of the rigid endoscope 2, and the input device 25 is operated so that only a portion required for illumination within the observation range is illuminated as the illumination range.

The brightness control circuit 47 of the video signal processing device 7
Range brightness pattern signal from the brightness range brightness pattern generation circuit 54 based on the brightness control signal from the input device 25 and the ambient brightness pattern generation circuit based on the setting switch of the operation panel 51 of the light source device 2 52
The driving signal synthesizing circuit 53 synthesizes the ambient brightness pattern from the driving signal and the liquid crystal driving circuit 5
5, a driving signal for driving the liquid crystal 23 is output from the liquid crystal driving circuit 55, and brightness control is performed.

Thus, the image of the endoscope image is as shown in FIG. 4. For example, only a necessary portion (spot-like illumination range) in a circle in the figure is brightly illuminated. At this time, if the illumination range is narrow, the switch 28 of the input device 25 is pressed to increase the size of the illumination range (the radius of the circle in FIG. 4), and if the illumination range is wide, the switch 29 of the input device 25 is switched.
Is pressed to reduce the size of the illumination range (the radius of the circle in FIG. 4). In addition, by operating the stick-shaped operation unit 27 of the input device 25, the position of the portion requiring bright illumination of the endoscope image (the center position of the circle in FIG. 4) can be changed.

Although the brightness around the illumination range (circle in FIG. 4) can be identified when the brightness is low, the surrounding situation needs to be observed. An operation is performed by a switch on the operation panel 45 of the signal processing device 7, and an illumination range (circle in FIG. 4) where the observation target exists
The surroundings are illuminated by setting the desired brightness at a darker level.

The liquid crystal 23 used has a number of 800 × 600 elements. However, a liquid crystal 23 having a number of elements such as 1024 × 768 may be used. In this case, a finer range can be controlled.

In the present embodiment, the method of obtaining the illumination range and the surrounding brightness by a pattern has been described. However, the brightness may be obtained by obtaining an intermediate level. The intermediate gray level may be set between the light-shielding state and the open state of the liquid crystal 23. The method is to change the transmittance by changing the voltage applied to the liquid crystal 23, and the cut-off time by pulse width modulation PWM or PFM. Is temporally changed to obtain an intermediate level.

(Effect) As described above, in the present embodiment, in the endoscope observation, a desired illumination range can be illuminated with a desired brightness, and illumination that makes it easy to observe the observation target can be performed. In addition, by illuminating not only the illumination range but also the surroundings with appropriate brightness, it is possible to perform illumination that makes it easy to observe the periphery of the observation target.

Although a transmissive liquid crystal panel is used as the light modulation device in the present embodiment, a liquid crystal panel having a reflection structure can be used. In a reflection type liquid crystal, a so-called aperture ratio is improved and a light utilization rate can be increased as compared with a transmission type liquid crystal.

FIGS. 5 to 8 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an input unit in FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the visual field moving means of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the endoscope apparatus of FIG.

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

(Structure) In this embodiment, a method of limiting an illumination range corresponding to an external camera head provided with an observation visual field moving means will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the external camera head 5
a, an input unit 61 for inputting a visual field movement and a zoom instruction is provided, and an instruction signal from the input unit 61 is input to an instruction input circuit 26 provided in the video signal processing device 7a. The obtained visual field movement position is converted into X and Y coordinates (XY coordinate signals), and the zoom instruction is converted into a zoom magnification signal and input to the CPU 46. Then, the CCD3 is set at the designated XY coordinate position.
1 is moved by the XY driving circuit 63 to the XY of the CPU 46.
It is driven to the position indicated by the coordinate signal. In the external camera head 5a, a zoom optical system 64 for enlarging and reducing the viewing field of the CCD 31 is provided. When a zoom magnification signal is input from the instruction input circuit 26 to the CPU 46, the CPU 46 controls the zoom drive circuit 65. The zoom drive circuit 65 moves the zoom lens of the zoom optical system 64 in the external camera head 5a by a movable means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the input unit 61 includes a field-of-view shift switch 66 composed of four switches for instructing a visual field to move up, down, left and right, an enlargement zoom switch 67 for giving an enlargement zoom instruction in the zoom instruction, and a zoom. And a reduction zoom switch 68 for performing a reduction zoom instruction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the visual field moving means 62 includes a Y table 71 that moves in the Y direction and an X table that moves in the X direction.
The table 72 is configured to be moved by the X moving means and the Y moving means, respectively.
D31 is provided, and the X moving means and the Y moving means include stepping motors 73 and 74, an X table 72,
The Y-table 71 is moved by gears 75 and 76 provided on the Y-table 71.
74 is configured to be driven by the XY drive circuit 63.

The connection lines of the CCD 31 are connected by a flexible cable (not shown), and the CCD drive circuit 13 and the imaging signal processing circuit 1 of the video signal processing device 7a are connected.
4 is connected.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the light source device 3a according to this embodiment
Has changed the optical modulation device to a digital micromirror device (hereinafter referred to as DMD) 81 instead of the liquid crystal. The DMD arranges a micromirror on a silicon chip, and the micromirror is held by a holding member on a yoke that rotates between two stable states around a diagonal,
This is an element capable of changing the angle by ± 10 ° with respect to the plane direction of the silicon chip. In the present embodiment, 80
D of 0 × 600 (SVGA) two-dimensional array element number
Although an MD is used, a DMD having a number of elements such as 1024 × 768 (XGA) or 1280 × 1024 (SXGA) can also be used.

The two-dimensional array elements of the DMD 81 provided in the light source device 3a are driven so as to limit the illumination range in accordance with the movement based on the XY position and the enlargement / reduction of the field of view by zooming. A drive signal for the two-dimensional array element of the DMD 81 is generated based on an XY coordinate signal from the CPU 46 and a signal indicating the radius of the visual field range for determining the zoom magnification.

The light source device 3a includes an infrared cut filter 2
A mirror 82 is provided to guide the illumination light from the illumination lamp 21 through the DMD 2 to the DMD 81, so that the illumination light enters the DMD 81. Further, there is provided an imaging light guide lens 83 that forms illumination light reflected by each micromirror serving as a two-dimensional array element of the DMD 81 on the incident end face of the light guide 13 and condenses the light on the light guide 13. .

Each micromirror of the DMD 81 is driven by the DMD drive circuit 84 at any angle of ± 10 degrees. For example, when the micromirror is driven at +10 degrees, the light reflected by the micromirror enters the light guide 13. You.

The light guide 13 uses an aligned light guide to effectively guide the illumination light of the pattern generated by the DMD 81 to the observation target. A general, non-aligned light guide may be used, but an aligned light guide is more effective.

The drive signal of the DMD 81 is generated by the drive signal synthesizing circuit 53 in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and is output to the DMD drive circuit 84. In the present embodiment, the brightness of the illumination range is controlled by the video signal processing device 7a from the input unit 61 provided in the external camera head 5a, and the setting of the ambient brightness is also performed by the video signal processing device 7a. The operation is performed by the operation panel 45. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

As in the first embodiment, observation using a rigid endoscope is performed. When the visual field movement switch 66, which is the operation means of the input unit 61, is operated, that is, when the operator moves in the direction to be observed, the visual field movement means 62 is moved by the XY drive circuit 63 to the position indicated by the XY coordinate signal of the CPU 46. , The CCD 31 is moved to a desired position, and the viewing direction of the observation image of the rigid endoscope 2 displayed on the display monitor 6 is changed in that direction.

At the same time, the illumination is performed following only the necessary range with respect to the movement of the visual field. That is, the change in the viewing direction results in a change in the XY coordinate signal, and the drive signal synthesizing circuit 53 moves the position of the illumination range. Thereby, C
At the same time as the visual field direction changes due to the movement of the CD 31, the illumination position is also changed, so that the observation image is appropriately illuminated, and the surrounding illumination other than the range necessary for observation is performed in a dark state. The surrounding illumination level is set by a switch on the operation panel 45 of the video signal processing device 7a.

Similarly, the zoom magnification signal by operating the enlargement zoom switch 67 and the reduction zoom switch 68 gives
When the zoom drive circuit 65 moves the zoom lens of the zoom optical system 64 in the external camera head 5a by a movable means (not shown), the CCD 31 displays the observation image of the rigid mirror 2 displayed on the display monitor 6 at a desired zoom magnification. Is imaged.

At the same time, when the observation range is reduced, for example (when the observation image is enlarged by zooming), FIG.
As shown in the figure, based on the zoom magnification signal, a zoom magnification signal is also input to the drive signal generation circuit 54 so that a range equivalent to a visual field range corresponding to the zoom magnification out of the illuminable range is illuminated. Controlled. In this way, even if the zoom magnification changes, only the range necessary for observation is illuminated,
Illumination of the surroundings outside the required range is performed in a dark state.

(Effect) As described above, in the present embodiment, in the external camera head provided with the observation visual field moving means,
Even if there is, for example, adipose tissue outside the field of view, even if the reflected light leaks into the field of view and becomes difficult to observe when illuminating the subject uniformly, the illumination range is controlled so that good observation is performed. be able to. That is, even when the field of view is moved or the field of view is enlarged or reduced, the effect that the illumination range is limited to a necessary range can be obtained.

Even if a DMD is used, the illumination range can be controlled without lowering the light utilization factor because the reflectance of the micro mirror of the DMD is high. For example, the DMD reflection method can increase the utilization rate more than the liquid crystal transmission method.

Although only the observation field is irradiated with the illumination light, it is needless to say that it is possible to illuminate at an intermediate level so as not to affect the surroundings when the surroundings are difficult to see. For the intermediate gradation, a method of obtaining an intermediate level by temporally changing the cutoff time by the micromirror using pulse width modulation PWM or PFM can be used.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

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

In this embodiment, the image of the distal end portion of the treatment tool (forceps) inserted into the body cavity is captured in the observation field, and the field of view of the endoscope can be changed following the movement of the treatment tool. Even in this case, the illumination light can be illuminated only in a visual field range necessary for observation of the endoscope. That is, the illumination is performed only in a necessary range following the movement of the treatment tool.

(Structure) As shown in FIG. 9, the rigid endoscope 2 is inserted into a trocar 91 and inserted into the abdomen insufflated by an insufflation device (not shown). A forceps 92 serving as a treatment tool is inserted into the affected part of the patient from the insertion part different from the insertion part of the rigid endoscope 2 on the abdominal wall. A handle 94 is provided on the operator's hand side of the insertion portion 93 of the forceps 92, and the treatment section 95 at the distal end is opened and closed by operating the handle 94. The treatment section 95 at the tip is provided with a color marker 96 for detecting the position and orientation of the tip from a video signal.

The forceps tracking device 97 has a function of image calculation processing inside, and uses the color marker 96 of the forceps 92 based on the video signal.
Is detected, the positions and orientations of three axes (x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis) are detected, and the enlargement ratio and the tip position based on the coordinates are calculated.

It should be noted that the forceps tracking device 97 has the same configuration as the video signal processing device 7a of the second embodiment. Field of view moving means, zoom optical system, D
Control such as MD driving is performed.

In order to perform the operation of tracking the forceps 92, when the operation switch 98 is operated, a switch signal is input to the forceps tracking device 97, and the tracking operation is performed. Various operation switches can be used as the operation switch, such as one that is attached to the handle portion 74 by the forceps tracking device 97, and one that is operated by foot like a foot switch.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the present embodiment thus configured will be described.

The operator uses the forceps 9 to obtain a desired visual field.
When the user moves the forceps 2, the forceps tracking device 97 detects the color marker 96 of the forceps 55 based on the video signal, and performs three axes (x axis, y
(Axis, z-axis) and the azimuth are detected, and the tip position based on the magnification and coordinates is calculated. According to the calculation result, the forceps 92
The observation image is set in a state suitable for the operation of the forceps 92. Thus, the surgeon can use the rigid endoscope 2
A desired field of view can be ensured without moving the lens, and the illumination range also moves following the movement of the field of view, so that illumination required for observation can be obtained.

(Effect) As described above, in the present embodiment, even if the visual field is moved by following the forceps 92 by the forceps tracking device 97, the illumination range also moves following the visual field movement and only the range necessary for observation is obtained. Since the illumination is performed, good observation can be performed even when, for example, fat tissue is present outside the visual field range, even when the reflected light leaks into the visual field range when the subject is uniformly illuminated and observation becomes difficult. That is, even when the field of view is moved in combination with the forceps tracking device, the effect that the illumination range is limited to a necessary range can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the light source lamp 2
It is preferable to use a high-intensity high-pressure discharge lamp for 1, and a lamp such as a xenon lamp or a metal halide lamp is suitable.

[Supplementary notes] (Supplementary note 1) Imaging means for taking an image of an observation site in a lumen, an illumination lamp for supplying illumination light for illuminating the observation site, and transmitting the illumination light to the observation site A light transmitting device, a light modulation device provided between the light transmitting device and the illumination lamp, the light modulation device having a two-dimensional array element for two-dimensionally modulating the illumination light, and the observation of the illumination light. Instructing means for instructing an illumination range to a part, and control means for controlling the light modulation device so as to illuminate separately from the illumination range instructed by the instruction means and a range other than the instructed illumination range. An endoscope apparatus comprising:

(Appendix 2) Imaging means for capturing an image of the observation site in the lumen, an illumination lamp for supplying illumination light for illuminating the observation site, and light transmission for transmitting the illumination light to the observation site Means, a light modulation device provided between the light transmitting means and the illumination lamp, the light modulation device having a two-dimensional array element for two-dimensionally modulating the illumination light, and a light modulation device for transmitting the illumination light to the observation site. Instructing means for instructing an illumination range, instructing means for instructing an imaging range of the imaging means, imaging range converting means for converting the imaging range based on an instruction of the instructing means, and An endoscope apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the light modulation device so that an illumination range corresponding to an imaging range on the observation region and a range other than the illumination range are illuminated separately.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, only the range necessary for observation is illuminated in the form of a spotlight, so that illumination that is easy to observe can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a brightness pattern output by an ambient brightness pattern generation circuit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a brightness pattern output by an illumination range brightness pattern generation circuit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an input unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a visual field moving unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the operation of the endoscope apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Rigid endoscope 3 ... Light source apparatus 5 ... External camera head 6 ... Monitor 7 ... Video signal processing apparatus 13 ... Light guide 20 ... Lamp power supply 21 ... Illumination lamp 22 ... Infrared cut filter 23 ... Liquid crystal 24 Condenser lens 25 Input device 26 Instruction input circuit 30, 46 CPU 31 CCD 42 CCD drive circuit 43 Video signal processing circuit 44 Brightness signal detection circuit 45, 51 Operation panel 47 Brightness Control circuit 50 ... Panel operation input circuit 52 ... Ambient brightness pattern generation circuit 53 ... Drive signal synthesis circuit 54 ... Illumination range brightness pattern generation circuit 55 ... Liquid crystal drive circuit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H040 BA11 CA04 CA10 DA02 DA43 GA01 4C061 AA00 BB01 CC06 DD00 GG01 LL01 NN10 QQ09 RR02 RR06 RR12 RR23

Claims (1)

[Claims] A light source lamp for supplying illumination light; an illumination optical system provided on an optical path of the light source lamp, forming the illumination light into a predetermined light flux, and guiding the light to a subject; A light modulation device in which a plurality of optical elements to be restricted are two-dimensionally arranged; an imaging unit for imaging the subject; and a dimming control for generating a brightness control signal based on an imaging signal obtained by the imaging unit Means, a spot control means for generating a spot control signal to narrow the predetermined light flux, and a control means for controlling the plurality of optical elements based on the brightness control signal and the spot control signal. An endoscope device characterized by the above-mentioned.