JP2002085343A - Electronic endoscope instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a static image itself positioned on the optimum condition in an arbitrarily enlarged state, and record the enlarged static image in a recorder by simple operation. SOLUTION: A video signal is formed according to an output signal of a CCD 24 and displayed on a monitor. When the first stage of a freeze switch 11 is depressed, an image at that time is stored as a static image in an image memory 32, and when an electronic variable power switch 12 is operated in such a condition, an electronic variable power circuit 33 forms a static image electronically enlarged according to a signal of the image memory 32. When the second stage of the freeze switch 11 is depressed, the enlarged static image is recorded in the recorder 17. An enlarged static image can be formed by single operation of the electronic variable power switch 12, and simultaneously the enlarged static image can be recorded in the recorder 17.

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 capable of enlarging and reducing an image picked up by a solid-state image sensor by an electronic zoom function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic endoscope apparatus, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), which is a solid-state image pickup device, is arranged at a distal end, and an object to be observed is imaged by the CCD. This C
The output signal from the CD is converted into a video signal (moving image) to be output to a monitor after various processes, and a still image can be formed by operating a freeze switch. That is, a video signal (video signal) when the freeze switch is turned on is stored in an image memory, and a video signal in the image memory is read to form a still image. This still image is formed on a monitor or various recording devices. Can be output.

In recent electronic endoscope apparatuses, an electronic magnification (electronic zoom) function is provided, and an object to be observed picked up by the CCD is magnified to a predetermined magnification and observed on a monitor or the like. Alternatively, it can be recorded on a recording device.

FIG. 7 shows a partial circuit in a processor device of a conventional electronic endoscope device. In this processor device, an electronic variable power inputting a signal output from a CCD on the electronic endoscope side is shown. A circuit 1 and an image memory 2 connected to the subsequent stage are provided, and these circuits are controlled by the microcomputer 3.

[0005] According to such a configuration, when the electronic variable power switch is operated, the microcomputer 3 outputs a variable power command signal to the electronic variable power circuit 1, and the electronic variable power circuit 1 receives the input video signal. The signal is subjected to processing of the operation magnification, and this video signal is stored in the image memory 2. Normally, a moving image of the observed object image is displayed on a monitor or the like by sequentially reading the video signals in the memory 2. On the other hand, when the freeze switch is operated, the microcomputer 3 inhibits data writing to the image memory 2 at a predetermined timing, and performs control to repeatedly read an image when the freeze switch is pressed,
This is output to a monitor or a recording device as a still image. As a result, the still image is observed on the monitor and recorded on a recording device such as a hard copy.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned electronic endoscope apparatus, when an image once frozen by the freeze switch is to be electronically magnified and observed, the freeze operation is canceled and enlarged, and then the freeze operation is performed again. There was a problem that had to be. That is, as understood from FIG. 7, the electronic scaling circuit 1 is provided before the image memory 2 for storing the still image signal, and cannot perform electronic scaling after freezing. Therefore, when a still image of a different magnification is required, the user has to start over again, which requires a lot of operation.

On the other hand, in order to observe an object to be observed at a desired site under optimum conditions, it is better to search in a state in which the entire viewing angle is large than in a state in which the site is enlarged and the viewing angle is small. In many cases, it is better to position the camera. However, there is a demand for capturing a magnified still image as an image for detailed observation and diagnosis, and leaving it as a recorded image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily form a desired enlarged image,
In addition, the present invention provides an electronic endoscope apparatus that can obtain a still image itself positioned under optimal conditions in an arbitrarily enlarged state and can record an enlarged still image on a recording device by a simple operation. It is in.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a video signal of an object to be observed is formed by an output signal of an image sensor, and the video signal is output to a recording device. In an electronic endoscope apparatus, an image memory for storing a still image signal at the time of a freeze operation, an electronic scaling circuit for forming a still image electronically enlarged based on the signal in the image memory, and control of the image memory And a control circuit for controlling the output of the still image from the electronic scaling circuit. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the control circuit, a still image signal is stored in the image memory by a first operation of a freeze switch, and the electronic magnification circuit executes a magnification process by an operation of an electronic magnification switch. The still image signal subjected to the scaling process is controlled so as to be output to the recording device by the second operation of the freeze switch. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the control circuit, a still image signal is stored in the image memory by operating a freeze switch, and the electronic scaling circuit executes a scaling process by operating an electronic scaling switch. It is characterized in that control is performed so as to output the still image signal subjected to the scaling process to the recording device.

According to the above arrangement, the video signal at that time is stored in the image memory by, for example, the first-stage ON operation of the freeze switch, and if the electronic variable power switch is operated in this state, the signal in the image memory will be displayed. , It is possible to form an electronically enlarged still image. Then, when the second stage of the freeze switch is turned on, a trigger for recording an image is output, whereby a hard copy,
A still image is recorded on a recording device such as a printer or a filing device. It should be noted that the video signal (moving image, still image) of the image memory is always output and displayed on the monitor as the display device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, after the still image signal is stored in the image memory by the freeze switch,
When the electronic zoom switch is operated, for example, image enlargement is performed, and at the same time, the enlarged still image signal is automatically output to the recording device.

[0012]

1 and 2 show a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, an electronic endoscope 10 as a scope is provided. Is a freeze switch 11, an electronic zoom (electronic zoom) switch 1
2 are arranged. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a light source device 14 and a processor device 15 via a cable,
A monitor 16 and a recording device 17 such as a hard copy, a printer, a filing device, and a VTR are connected to the processor device 15.

The processor unit 15 is provided with foot switches 19a and 19b which can also be used as electronic zooming switches, and has an operation panel for up / down operations for various settings and operations including electronic zooming. , An operation key 20 having left and right keys is arranged.

FIG. 1 shows an internal circuit of the electronic endoscope 10 and the processor device 15. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope 10 has a CCD disposed at a distal end.
24, a timing generator (TG) 25 for providing a drive signal for the CCD 24 is provided. In addition, the above CC
D24 receives a CDS (correlated double sampling) / AGC (automatic gain control) circuit 26, A /
A D converter 27 and a DVP (digital video processor) 28 that performs various kinds of video processing such as gamma processing on the digital video signal output from the A / D converter 27 are connected.

Further, a microcomputer 30 for inputting operation signals of the freeze switch 11 and the electronic variable power switch 12 and performing various controls is provided. For example, when a two-stage operation type switch is used as the freeze switch 11, the microcomputer 30 outputs a freeze operation control signal by operating the switch 11 in the first stage (half-press operation). The microcomputer 30 outputs a recording trigger signal to the recording device 17 by the second stage operation (further pressing operation). In the case where a switch of a two-operation type (which distinguishes the first operation and the second operation performed during the freeze) is used as the freeze switch 11,
The first operation outputs a freeze operation control signal, and the second operation outputs a trigger signal for recording.

Also, a single operation switch is used as the electronic variable power switch 12, and the microcomputer 30 (and a 3
In (6), for example, as shown in (A ₁ ) and (A ₂ ) of FIG. 3, one of 1 × (standard) and 2 × (or 1 ×,
It can be controlled to alternately (or cyclically) double, triple, or the like.

In FIG. 1, an image memory 3 for inputting the output signal of the DVP 28 is provided on the processor device 15 side.
2 is provided, and an electronic scaling circuit 33 is connected to a stage subsequent to the image memory 32. The electronic scaling circuit 33 is provided with a character generator 34 for generating a character such as a character or a figure to be added to an image, and a D / A converter 35. It is supplied to the recording device 17.

A microcomputer 36 for performing various controls is also provided on the processor device 15 side. The microcomputer 36 controls electronic scaling and transmits a recording trigger signal to the recording device 17. . That is, an operation signal of the electronic zoom switch 12 on the electronic endoscope 10 side is supplied to the microcomputer 36 via the microcomputer 30 to operate the electronic zoom circuit 33 to form a double-magnified image. Is done.

Further, in this example, the electronic zoom operation can be performed by the foot switch 19 or the operation key 20 shown in FIG. That is, when the foot switches 19a and 19b are set to be electronic variable power switches, as shown in (B ₁ ), (B ₂ ) and (B ₃ ) of FIG. The operation can be performed in the enlargement direction, such as 1.5 times to 2 times, and the switch 19b can be operated in the opposite reduction direction. On the other hand, when the operation key 20 is set to an electronic variable power switch, for example, the operation in the enlargement direction is performed by using the upper operation key 20a, and the operation is performed by 2 times → 1.5 times → 1
The operation in the reduction direction of double can be performed.

The embodiment has the above configuration, and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First,
The imaging signal of the object to be observed output from the CCD 24 of the electronic endoscope 10 is subjected to sampling and amplification processing by a CDS / AGC circuit 26, and a video signal digitized by an A / D converter 27 in a DVP 28. Is subjected to predetermined image processing, and this video signal is
5. In the processor device 15, the video signal is transmitted to the image memory 32 (or not through the image memory 32), the electronic scaling circuit 33, and the character generator 3.
4. It is supplied to the monitor via the D / A converter 35, whereby the moving image of the object to be observed is displayed on the monitor.

On the other hand, when the freeze switch 11 is operated, a still image is formed.
As shown in FIG. 1, when the first-stage switch is turned on by half-pressing the freeze switch 11, it is determined in the next Step 102 whether or not the freeze (operation) is being performed.
(NO) ", the freeze operation is executed in Step 103. That is, by inhibiting the writing of the image memory 32, the image data stored at the time of the freeze operation is repeatedly read out, and the monitor 16 displays the image of the observation object. When a still image is displayed, and then the trigger prohibition flag is turned off in Step 104, a standby state for a recording operation is set.

When the electronic zooming switch 12 is pressed while the freeze switch 11 is half-pressed, the microcomputer 3
Electronic zoom circuit 33 is operated by 0,36, the enlarged image signals based on the video signal read from the image memory 32 is formed, for example, monitor the twice enlarged still image as shown in FIG. 3 (A ₂₎ 16 Display to Here, St in FIG.
As shown in ep111, when the second stage switch is turned on by further pressing the freeze switch 11, the St.
At ep112, it is determined whether or not a freeze is currently in progress.
(YES), it is determined in step 113 whether the trigger prohibition flag is on.

At this time, since the trigger prohibition flag is turned off in the above Step 104, "In Step 113"
N ", a recording trigger signal is generated in Step 114, and the trigger prohibition flag is turned on in Step 115. In this manner, when the recording trigger signal is output to the recording device 17 by the microcomputers 30 and 36, a hard copy is performed. And the like, the enlarged still image is recorded by the output signal of the D / A converter 35.

As described above, an enlarged still image is recorded. In this example, when searching for a specific part of the object to be observed or a predetermined state of the part on a monitor, an image having a large viewing angle that is not enlarged is used. The endoscope can be operated while looking at a wide range. On the other hand, when a specific portion or a predetermined state can be confirmed by a still image, the enlarged still image can be easily displayed and recorded.

In this example, the electronic variable power switch 1
2, foot switches 19 a and 19 b and operation keys 20 a and 20 b can be used. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 3 (B ₁ ) to (B ₃ ), the switches 19
a, 19b or the operation keys 20a, 20b can be set to a desired magnification, and this arbitrary enlarged still image can be displayed on the monitor 16 and recorded on the recording device 17. In the above description of the operation, the freeze switch 11 is set to 2
Although the description has been made on the assumption that the apparatus is of the two-stage operation type, the freeze operation and the recording operation can be similarly performed on the two-operation type.

FIG. 5 shows the second configuration of the still image recording.
The operation of the example is shown. In the second example, a recording trigger signal is also output when the electronic zoom switch is operated. That is, the microcomputer 36 determines in step 201 that the electronic variable power switch 12 (or 19a, 19b, 20a, 20)
When b) is turned on, electronic enlargement or reduction is executed in Step 202. In the next Step 203, it is determined whether or not a freeze is currently being performed (by operating the freeze switch 11). In the case of Y, the trigger prohibition flag is turned off in Step 204, and a recording trigger signal is generated in Step 205 immediately after. In the next Step 206, control is performed so that the trigger prohibition flag is turned on.

According to this, one of the electronic variable power switches 12
The operation is performed electronically at the same time as the recording device 17.
The second step or the second operation for generating the recording trigger signal by the freeze switch 11 becomes unnecessary. Further, the recording of the still image by the electronic variable power switch 12 is not limited to the operation of the enlargement operation, and for example, both 1 × and 2 × may be recorded together with the still image which is not enlarged, or several sheets of preset magnification [e.g., FIG. 3 _(B 1) ~
(B ₃ )] may be recorded as a set.

FIG. 6 shows a third configuration of the still image recording system.
The operation of the example is shown. In the third example, a confirmation is requested from the photographer before outputting the recording trigger signal by the electronic variable power switch. That is, the operations from Step 301 to Step 303 are the same as those in the second example shown in FIG. 5, but in the next Step 304, it is determined whether or not the current enlargement ratio is sufficient. This determination is made, for example, by displaying a message such as "OK at current magnification rate?" On the monitor 16 using the character generator 34, and when OK is determined by operating any key on the operation panel or the like (this The determination may be made by various methods such as OK when there is no key operation for canceling within a predetermined time), and control is made to proceed to the next Step 305.

In step 305, the trigger prohibition flag is turned off, a recording trigger signal is generated in step 306 immediately after, and the trigger prohibition flag is turned on in the next step 307. This third example corresponds to the foot switch 1 shown in FIG.
This is effective in a configuration in which the enlargement magnification can be set finely and arbitrarily by using the keys 9a and 19b and the operation keys 20a and 20b.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The still image is stored in the image memory based on the freeze operation,
Since the still image stored in the image memory is configured to be electronically enlarged, a desired enlarged still image can be easily obtained without performing freeze release and re-freezing.
It is possible to display or record, as an enlarged image, the still image itself under the optimum conditions in which the specific part search and the positioning in the predetermined state have been performed in the display with a large viewing angle.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the enlarged still image obtained by operating the electronic variable power switch can be recorded in the recording device by operating the second stage (or second time) of the freeze switch. According to the third aspect of the present invention, an enlarged still image can be formed by a single operation of the electronic variable power switch, and the enlarged still image can be recorded on the recording device at the same time. There is an advantage that it can be recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows two patterns of an enlarged image set in the embodiment.
(A₁, A₂And B₁~ B ₃FIG.
You.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a freeze operation [FIG. (A)] and a still image recording operation (first example) [FIG. (B)] in the microcomputer of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second example of the still image recording operation in the microcomputer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a third example of the still image recording operation in the microcomputer.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a processor device side circuit of a conventional electronic endoscope device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 33: electronic magnification circuit, 2, 32: image memory, 3, 30, 36: microcomputer, 10: electronic endoscope, 11: freeze switch, 12: electronic magnification switch, 15: processor device, 17: Recording device, 19 (a, b) ... foot switch, 20
(A, b) ... operation keys, 24 ... CCD.

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H040 BA03 GA02 GA10 GA11 4C061 CC06 LL01 NN05 SS21 WW01 WW03 YY01 5C022 AA09 AB19 AB36 AC01 AC11 AC13 AC32 AC42 AC69 AC79 5C054 CC07 EB05 EB07 ED04 ED13 EH01 GA04 GD07 FD04 HA05 HA12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope apparatus for forming a video signal of an object to be observed from an output signal of an imaging element and outputting the video signal to a recording device, comprising: an image memory for storing a still image signal during a freeze operation; An electronic scaling circuit that forms a still image that is electronically enlarged based on the signal in the image memory; and a control circuit that controls the image memory and controls the still image output from the electronic scaling circuit. An electronic endoscope apparatus characterized in that: 2. The control circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:
The still image signal is stored in the image memory by the second operation, and the electronic scaling circuit executes the scaling process by operating the electronic scaling switch, and the scaled still image signal is stored in the freeze switch 2. 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus is controlled so as to output to a recording device by a second operation. 3. The control circuit stores a still image signal in the image memory by operating a freeze switch, and the electronic scaling circuit executes a scaling process by operating an electronic scaling switch. 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so as to output the processed still image signal to a recording device.