JP2003061905A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope capable of reducing the time required for setting a light source device and a camera control unit, and realizing the optimum performance by the combination. SOLUTION: The light source 5 and a CPU 6 used for endoscopy are provided with RFID tags 34a, 34b storing product information, and antennas 35a, 35b for transmitting and receiving information, whereby when the information on the products is read, a circuit constant required for a dimming operation is automatically set in a short time to conduct the dimming operation, photometry information from an imaging signal imaged by a CCD 16 is transmitted from the CCU 6 side through the antenna 35a to the light source 5 side, so that the dimming operation can be performed without requiring the connection using a dimming cable.

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus for inspecting the inside of a body cavity or the like with an endoscope. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. For example, as disclosed in JP-A-8-123518 and JP-A-11-206703, a light source device for an endoscope is conventionally used,
Camera control unit (or TV camera device) as an image processing device that performs signal processing on the image pickup means
Was connected by a cable via a camera control cable or a commercially available I / F. There was no communication of product information. [0003] Therefore, the connection work has become complicated and time has been required for setting. Further, since the product information is not communicated, for example, depending on the product in which the loop gain, which is the dimming characteristic, is combined, it is not optimal. (Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an endoscope capable of realizing optimum performance by shortening and combining the setting time of a light source device and a camera control unit (or an image processing device). It is an object to provide a mirror device. [0005] A light source device having a light source lamp for generating illumination light for illuminating a subject is connected to imaging means for imaging the subject illuminated by the illumination light of the light source lamp. An endoscope device provided with the imaging processing device, the first antenna provided in the imaging processing device, capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined radio wave, and the first antenna based on an imaging signal from the imaging means. Photometric means for outputting photometric information to an antenna, a second antenna provided on the light source device, capable of transmitting and receiving the predetermined radio wave, and a second antenna from the first antenna received by the second antenna. Dimming means for controlling the illumination light based on the photometric information; and a light control unit provided in at least one of the light source device and the imaging processing device, wherein characteristic information of the light source device or the imaging processing device is provided. Storage means for storing information, and reading means provided in the other device of the light source device or the imaging processing device, for reading the characteristic information stored in the storage device via the first or second antenna. , The characteristic information of the light source device and the image processing device that are actually used in combination can be read, and by reading the information, the control system of the dimming operation can be set to an optimum state, and the setting can be performed in a short time. To be able to do it. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration of an endoscope light source device, FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an RFID tag, and FIG. 4 shows an operation explanatory diagram. As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is a camera head mounted endoscope in which a TV camera head 3 having a built-in image pickup device is mounted on an optical endoscope 2. A mirror 4, an endoscope light source device (hereinafter simply abbreviated as a light source device) 5 for supplying illumination light to the optical endoscope 2, and a TV
It comprises a TV camera device or a camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) 6 as an image processing device for performing signal processing on an image sensor of the camera head 3, and a monitor 7 for displaying a video signal output from the CCU 6. . The optical endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 8 inserted into a body cavity or the like, and an eyepiece 9 provided at the rear end of the insertion portion 8. The light guide connector 11 at the end of the extended light guide cable 10 can be detachably connected to the light guide connector receiver 12 of the light source device 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 3 has a built-in main lamp 13 as a light source lamp for generating illuminating light, and the illuminating light from the main lamp 13 passes through a stop 14 and a condenser lens 15 to a light guide connector. 11 is supplied to the entrance end face. The illumination light is emitted from the illumination window provided at the distal end of the insertion section 8 by the light guide 20 of the endoscope 2, and illuminates a subject such as an affected part. [0010] An objective lens (not shown) is attached to an observation window adjacent to the illumination window, and the formed optical image is transmitted to the rear side by a relay lens system, and the TV camera head 3 attached to the eyepiece unit 9. An image is formed on, for example, a CCD 16 as an image pickup device built in the camera. The CCD 16 is connected to the CCU 6 by an electric connector 18 provided at the end of a camera cable 17 shown in FIG.
Can be detachably connected to the connector receiver 19. As shown in FIG. 2, the CCU 6 has a built-in video signal processing circuit 21 for generating a video signal for an image signal picked up by the CCD 16, and outputs the video signal from the video output terminal to the monitor 7 via the video cable 22. The endoscope image captured by the CCD 16 is displayed on the display surface of the monitor 7. Further, the imaging signal of the CCD 16 is also input to a photometry circuit 23 which performs photometry (or detection) of the brightness of the imaging signal. As shown in FIG. 1, a front operation panel 24 is provided in front of the CCU 6, and the brightness and color of an image displayed on the monitor 7 can be set arbitrarily according to the preference of the operator. The value set by the front operation panel 24 is transmitted from the internal front panel control circuit 25 to the CPU 26 as shown in FIG. CPU26
Controls the color correction circuit 27 that performs color correction on the video signal processing circuit 21 according to a signal input by the operator so as to correspond to an arbitrary value of the operator. The light source device 5 is provided with a front operation panel 28 at the front thereof similarly to the CCU 6, and the operator can arbitrarily set the front operation panel 28 so that the front panel inside the light source device 5 is provided. Control circuit 29
A signal is transmitted to the CPU 31 to control the dimming circuit 32 for adjusting the brightness so as to be set to an arbitrary value by the operator. The dimming circuit 32 adjusts the opening / closing amount of the aperture 14 to increase or decrease the amount of illumination. Also, by increasing or decreasing the amount of illumination, the brightness of the endoscope image when the image is captured by the CCD 16 can be increased or decreased. In this case, the main lamp 13 of the light source device 5
Since the light-emitting characteristics of the light source, the opening / closing characteristics of the aperture 14, the amplification characteristics of the CCU 6, etc., the loop gain for appropriately dimming is different, the characteristics of the light source device 5, CCU 6 actually used in combination as described below are detected. Thus, the optimum dimming characteristics can be automatically set. In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the RFID tags 34a and 34b and the antennas 35a and 34a are provided on the side surfaces of the light source device 5 and the CCU 6, respectively.
35b are provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna 35a is connected to the CPU 31 via the controller 36a, and the antenna 35b is connected to the CPU 26 via the controller 36b. In this case, the antenna 34a can mutually transmit and receive signals to and from the other antenna 34b by RF signals, and the controllers 36a and 36b perform the control.
The antenna 34a is connected to the other device (in this case, C
The information written in the RFID tag 35b on the CU 6) side is read, and the CPU 31 reads the information via the controller 36a.
Send to The other antenna 34b reads information written in the RFID tag 34a on the light source device 5 side and sends the information to the CPU 26 via the controller 36b. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the RFID tag 35a, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID tag 35a includes an antenna 37 for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a modulation and demodulation circuit 38 for modulating and demodulating radio waves transmitted and received by the antenna 37, and a memory 39 as a non-volatile storage unit for reading and writing information to be modulated and demodulated. And The other RFID tag 35b has the same configuration except that the information written in the memory 39 is different. Generally, an RFID tag is a medium tag (label type, in which a predetermined pattern corresponding to stored information is formed).
(Cylinder, card, box, coin, stick, etc.) is provided with a non-contact type data carrier that transmits and receives radio wave information in a non-contact state at a part where a predetermined pattern is not formed. The data carrier consists of an antenna that transmits and receives radio waves, and an antenna that receives radio wave information from the outside via the antenna and performs electromagnetic induction (in addition to this electromagnetic induction method, an electromagnetic coupling method,
There are an electrostatic coupling method, a microwave method, and an optical method. ), Obtains necessary power and information and oscillates a processing result, and a non-volatile information storage means for storing radio wave information and specific information received by the information communication means in a readable manner. And control means for performing processing to the outside based on the information received by the information communication means and the specific information stored in the information storage means. In the present embodiment, each memory 39 of the RFID tags 35a and 35b of the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 is used.
Is registered (written) at the time of shipment from the factory. The antenna 34 of the light source device 5 or the CCU 6
a and 34b read the information in the memory 39 in the RFID tags 35b and 35a, give the information to the CPUs 31 and 26 through the light source device 5 or the controllers 36a and 36b inside the CCU, and adjust them according to the respective products and versions. The constants of the optical circuit 32 and the photometric circuit 23 are automatically changed, and the loop gain of a circuit system for performing light control is set to an optimum value. For this purpose, a flash memory or other non-volatile storage medium or a storage device (not shown) capable of reading characteristic information corresponding to a product or version is provided inside or outside the CPUs 31 and 26. Then, as described above, the corresponding characteristic information is read from the storage medium or the like from the information on each product or version, and the constants of the dimming circuit 32 and the photometric circuit 23 are automatically changed, and a loop of a circuit system that performs dimming is performed. The gain can be set to the optimal one. The memory 39 of the RFID tag 35a of the light source device 5 also contains information on the type of the main lamp 13. The CCU 6 automatically sets the color information of the color correction circuit 27 via the CPU 26 according to the type of the main lamp 13 of the light source device 5 and the like. Even when the main lamp 13 of the light source device 5 is switched to an emergency light due to non-lighting or the like, the color correction circuit 27 of the CCU 6 automatically switches the setting of the color information and changes the color information suitable for the emergency light. I have to set. For this reason, the memory 39 of the RFID tag 35a of the light source device 5 also contains information on the type of emergency lamp. At the time of an endoscopic procedure or diagnosis by the endoscope 4, since the brightness is constantly changing in accordance with the relative position with respect to the subject, the brightness of the illumination light by the light source device 5 is adjusted ( (It also adjusts the brightness of the image on the CCU 6 side.) It is desirable to change the adjustment value of the illumination light of the dimming circuit 32 in real time. In the present embodiment, the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 are different from each other. , The antennas 34a and 34b constantly communicate to exchange information of brightness, and control to maintain a state of displaying an image of brightness that is easy to observe. As described above, the antennas 34a and 34b
RFID tag 35 of each of CCU 6 and light source device 5
b, 35a as well as the CCU 6 and the light source device 5 to communicate with each other by transmitting and receiving between the respective antennas 34b, 34a of the light source device 5 to exchange brightness information in almost real time. ,
A state in which an image having a brightness that is easy to observe is displayed is maintained. In this embodiment, the antennas 34a and 34b
The RFID tags 35a and 35b mainly use an electromagnetic induction method, and the frequency of the transmitted / received radio wave is 250 KHz or lower or a 13.56 MHz band medium / long-wave electromagnetic wave is used. RFID tags 35a and 35b and antennas 34a and 3
Communication is performed by using a coil as 4b and using an induced voltage due to induced magnetic flux of the two coils. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the operation according to the present embodiment. Light source device 5 and CCU
6 is turned on (turned on), the light source device 5 performs the processing of steps S1a and S2a, and then proceeds to step S3.
Then, the CCU 6 performs the processing of steps S1b and S2b, and then proceeds to step S3. More specifically, as shown in step S1a, the RF on the CCU 6 is controlled by the antenna 34a on the light source device 5 side.
The information in the memory 39 of the ID tag 35b is read. Then, as shown in step S2a, based on the information read from the memory 39, each circuit setting value is set to an optimum value according to the CCU 6, and the process proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, the CCU 6 reads information from the memory 39 of the RFID tag 35a on the light source device 5 side by the antenna 34b on the CCU 6 side as shown in step S1b. Then, each circuit setting value is set to an optimum value according to the light source device 5, and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the light source device 5 and the CCU 6
a, communication by 34b is started. Thereafter, the state becomes such that the endoscope inspection in step S4 can be started. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the staff performing the endoscopy, such as an operator or a nurse, connects the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 that are actually used with the dimming cable or the like so that the dimming operation can be performed. It is not necessary to carry out the setting work necessary for the dimming operation in each device so that the optimal dimming operation can be performed by combining the two devices. The optimal setting for the dimming operation is automatically performed by the transmission and reception of the characteristic information between the devices, so that the endoscope inspection can be performed in a short time (automatic setting time). When the endoscope inspection is to be ended after the endoscope inspection is performed by the endoscope 4, the end key or the like is operated in response to the determination whether the endoscope inspection is ended in step S5. By doing so, the power is turned off as shown in step S6, and the endoscope inspection ends. On the other hand, if nothing is input in the judgment of step S5, the process returns to step S4 and the antennas 34a, 3a
The state in which the communication by 4b is performed is maintained, and the endoscope inspection is continued. In this case, for example, when the endoscope 2 is moved to change the part where the endoscopic examination is to be performed, the illumination state by the illumination light changes and the CC displayed on the monitor 7 changes.
The brightness and the like of the image captured by the D16 change. In this case, the brightness of the image captured by the CCD 16 is measured by the photometric circuit 23, radiated from the antenna 34b via the CPU 26 and the like by radio waves, and The amount of illumination is variably controlled almost in real time so that an image of appropriate brightness can be obtained by opening / closing control of the aperture 14 via the dimming circuit 32. Accordingly, even when the operator changes the observation site by moving the endoscope 2 or the like, an image of appropriate brightness is always displayed on the monitor 7, and a state where diagnosis is easy can be maintained. According to the present embodiment performing such an operation, it is possible to automatically correct the difference in the dimming characteristics between the products of the light source device 5 and the difference in the color characteristics due to the light source lamp of the light source device 5. And color characteristics can be provided. Further, by transmitting and receiving and communicating with the antennas 34a and 34b, there is an advantage that a wired connection is not required and a dimming operation can be appropriately performed without performing complicated connection work. The RFI of the light source device 5 or the CCU 6
As information to be written into the memory 39 in the D tags 35b and 35a, characteristic information necessary for a dimming operation or the like may be used instead of product information and version information. In this case, storage means for reading out the corresponding characteristic information from the product information and the version information is not necessarily required. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a configuration of the light source device 5, the CCU 6, and the like in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, for example, in the endoscope 2 and the TV camera 3 shown in FIG.
The FID tags 41 and 42 are provided. The RFID tag 41 of the endoscope 2 stores transmission characteristics of the light guide 20 inside the endoscope 2 with respect to the illumination light, product information in a state where the characteristics can be understood, and the like. In the RFID 42 of the TV camera, imaging characteristics of the built-in CCD 16 and the like and product information in a state in which the characteristics are known are stored. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the light source device 5 enables the information of the RFID tag 41 of the endoscope 2 to be read by the antenna 34a, and the CCU 6 allows the information of the RFID tag 42 of the TV camera 3 to be read by the antenna 34b. To be able to read. Then, by using the read information for setting a circuit system for dimming, a more appropriate dimming operation can be performed. That is, in the first embodiment, the light guide 20 and the CCD 16 are assumed to have almost standard characteristics, and are set to perform a dimming circuit system and color correction. However, in the present embodiment, the setting can be performed using information on the characteristics of the light guide 20 and the CCD 16 that are actually used, so that a more appropriate state can be set. This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, and also uses the light guides 20 used when the endoscope 2 and the TV camera 3 having different characteristics are used.
And appropriate dimming and color correction corresponding to the characteristics of the CCD 16 and the like. As another embodiment of the present invention, for example, in the first embodiment, the RFID tag 34a and the antenna 35a are provided on the side surface of the housing of the light source device 5 as shown in FIG. The light source device 5 has a configuration in which an RFID tag 34a and an antenna 35a are built in the housing. This housing is formed of a non-conductive member, for example, plastic or the like. If the RFID 34a is formed of a conductive member that blocks electromagnetic waves for non-contact transmission and reception, transmission and reception cannot be performed. With this configuration, the RFID tag 34a and the antenna 35a can be protected from entry of liquid or the like from the outside. The same configuration may be applied to the CCU 6. In each of the embodiments described above,
Still another embodiment may be configured as follows. To avoid being affected by noise due to the clock frequency for operating the CPU 26 or the like of the CCU 6, switching frequency of the power supply of the light source device 5, or noise due to the ignition operation at the time of lighting, the RFID tag 34.
a, 34b, and a microwave system in which the transmitting and receiving frequencies of the antennas 35a and 35b are higher. For example, the communication frequency is 2.45 GHz.
The measurement is performed using microwaves in the z band. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiments. With such a configuration, communication can be performed without affecting the noise of the light source device 5 or the clock accompanying the operation of the CPU 26 such as the CCU 6. In the second embodiment, for example, the endoscope 2 and the TV camera 3 are provided with RFID tags 41 and 42 to detect characteristic information of the light guide 20 and the CCD 16 and to dimming the information. Although the light guide connector 11 and the electric connector 18 are provided with a ROM or a resistor for generating identification information or characteristic information in the light guide connector 11 and the electrical connector 18 as another embodiment, By providing means for reading the identification or characteristic information when the electric connector 18 is detachably connected to the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 side, operations such as dimming may also be appropriately performed. . In the above-described embodiments, when one of the light source device 5 and the CCU 6 is commonly used for endoscopy, one of the commonly used devices (for example, On the CCU) side, characteristic information storing characteristics required for dimming operation and the like is stored in the characteristic information storage means in accordance with a product or version of the other device side (for example, the light source device 5 side) which is not commonly used. In addition, when actually used in combination, the information of the product and version of the other device is read via the antenna, and the corresponding characteristic information stored in the characteristic information storage means is read from the information. , The dimming operation and the like may be appropriately performed. [Supplementary Notes] A non-contact ID device is provided in each of the light source device and the camera control unit (TV camera device), and a non-contact ID device provided in the light source device and the camera control unit.
An endoscope system capable of reading / writing information of a D device. 2. 2. An endoscope system according to claim 1, further comprising an antenna for transmitting and receiving information to and from the light source device and the camera control unit. 3. 2. The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the antenna provided in the light source device and the camera control unit communicates states of the light source device and the camera control unit. 4. In Appendix 3, the housing is made of a non-conductive member, and an antenna is connected to an information reader / writer for receiving and recording transmitted / received information.
An endoscope system comprising a writable element inside a housing. 5. 3. An endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein the transmitting and receiving method is a microwave method. As described above, according to the present invention, a light source device having a light source lamp for generating illumination light for illuminating a subject, and the subject illuminated by the illumination light of the light source lamp, In an endoscope apparatus including an imaging processing device connected to imaging means for imaging, a first antenna provided in the imaging processing device and capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined radio wave;
A photometric unit that outputs photometric information to the first antenna based on an imaging signal from the imaging unit; a second antenna provided in the light source device and capable of transmitting and receiving the predetermined radio wave; A light control unit that controls the illumination light based on the photometric information from the first antenna received by the antenna, and a light source device provided in at least one of the light source device and the imaging processing device; A storage unit that stores characteristic information of the imaging processing device; and the first or second antenna provided in the light source device or the other device of the imaging processing device, and stores the characteristic information stored in the storage unit. And reading means for reading the characteristic information of the light source device and the image processing device which are actually used in combination. With a control system of the optical operation can be set to the optimum condition, it enables the setting in a short time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a camera control unit and a light source device for an endoscope. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an RF-ID tag. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a camera control unit, an endoscope light source device, and the like according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope device 2 ... Optical endoscope 3 ... TV camera 4 ... Endoscope with camera head 5 ... Light source device 6 ... Camera control unit (CCU) 7 ... Monitor 8 ... Insertion unit 13 ... Main lamp 14 ... Aperture 16 ... CCD 20 ... Light guide 21 ... Video signal processing circuit 23 ... Photometry circuits 24 and 28 ... Front operation panels 26 and 31 ... CPU 27 ... Color correction circuit 32 ... Dimming circuits 34a and 34b ... Antenna 35a, 35b ... RF-ID tags 36a, 36b ... controller

   ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page    (72) Inventor Keisuke Miura             2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Furukawa             2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinya Masuda             2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeaki Nakamura             2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Keiji Shioda             2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Ori             Inside of Opus Optical Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 4C061 CC06 GG01 JJ15 JJ18 JJ19                       LL03 NN01 QQ09 RR02 RR15                       RR23                 5C022 AA09 AB12 AB15 AC02 AC08                       AC42                 5C054 AA05 CA04 CB02 CC03 CH02                       ED03 EE06 FA01 FB03 HA12

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A light source device having a light source lamp for generating illumination light for illuminating a subject, and an imaging unit for imaging the subject illuminated by the illumination light of the light source lamp. An endoscope apparatus comprising: an imaging processing device; a first antenna provided in the imaging processing device and capable of transmitting and receiving a predetermined radio wave; and a first antenna based on an imaging signal from the imaging unit. Photometric means for outputting photometric information to the light source device; a second antenna provided in the light source device, capable of transmitting and receiving the predetermined radio wave; and the photometric signal from the first antenna received by the second antenna. Dimming means for controlling the illuminating light based on the information; provided in at least one of the light source device and the imaging processing device; and writing characteristic information of the light source device or the imaging processing device. A reading unit provided in the other device of the light source device or the imaging processing device and reading the characteristic information stored in the storage unit via the first or second antenna. An endoscope apparatus comprising: