JP2004223113A - Electronic endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscope system in which a noise that occurs when operating a motor-driven focusing mechanism is not superposed on an output signal of an imaging circuit system. <P>SOLUTION: In the electronic endoscope apparatus provided with: an optical imaging system; the motor-driven focusing mechanism for adjusting a focal state of the optical imaging system; and an imaging circuit system for imaging an image formed by the optical imaging system, a power source of the imaging circuit system and a power source of the motor-driven focusing mechanism are made independent of each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus provided with an electric focusing mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an electronic endoscope that includes an electric focus adjustment mechanism that electrically adjusts a focus state of an imaging optical system. This electric focus adjustment mechanism, like an imaging circuit system that captures an image formed by the imaging optical system and other various circuits provided inside the endoscope, is supplied from a commercial power supply reinforced and insulated from the endoscope. Generally, it operates by receiving power supply from the power supply.
[0003]
However, if the electric focus adjustment mechanism and the imaging circuit system are simultaneously operated by the same power supply, noise generated during the operation of the electric focus adjustment mechanism generates an output signal (video signal) of the imaging circuit system via a power supply line. It turned out that the endoscope image was disturbed.
[0004]
[Object of the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus in which noise generated during operation of an electric focusing mechanism does not appear on an output signal of an imaging circuit system.
[0005]
Summary of the Invention
The present invention includes an imaging optical system provided in an endoscope main body; an electric focusing mechanism for adjusting a focus state of the imaging optical system; and an imaging circuit system for imaging an image formed by the imaging optical system. The power supply of the imaging circuit system and the power supply of the electric focusing mechanism are made independent.
[0006]
According to this configuration, since the power supply line of the imaging circuit system and the power supply line of the electric focusing mechanism are independent of each other, noise generated when the power focusing mechanism operates is supplied to the imaging circuit system via the power supply line. It is possible to reduce image noise without entering.
[0007]
It is preferable that the electronic endoscope apparatus includes a transformer that separates a shared power supply line into a power supply line of an imaging circuit system and a power supply line of an electric focusing mechanism. More specifically, a video processor having the above-mentioned transformer built therein and detachably attached to the endoscope main body is provided. Inside the video processor, a common power supply line is connected via a transformer to an imaging circuit system and an electric focusing mechanism. It is better to supply power independently. When connecting via a transformer in this way, the primary side of the transformer is connected to the common power supply line of the video processor, the secondary side of the transformer is divided into two parts, one of which is used for the imaging circuit system, and the other is used for the electric focusing mechanism. Connect each.
[0008]
Without providing the transformer, the power supply lines for the imaging circuit system and the electric focusing mechanism can be made independent. In this aspect, the endoscope body is provided with a detachable video processor having a built-in insulation circuit, and the electric focus adjustment mechanism is supplied with power from a battery provided in the endoscope body or the video processor, and is supplied to the imaging circuit system. Supplies power from a shared power supply line of the video processor via an insulating circuit. For example, a transformer having a primary side connected to a common power supply line of a video processor and a secondary side connected to an imaging circuit system can be used as the insulating circuit.
[0009]
The imaging circuit system includes, for example, a solid-state imaging device that electronically converts an image formed by an imaging optical system, an imaging driving circuit that drives the fixed imaging device, and a signal processing that processes an output signal of the solid-state imaging device. It is practical to include a circuit.
[0010]
It is practical that the electric focus adjustment mechanism includes, for example, a motor that moves a focus adjustment lens that is a part of the imaging optical system, and a motor drive circuit that drives the motor. As the motor, a small stepping motor, a small brushless motor, or the like may be used so that the position of the focusing lens can be finely adjusted. Note that the motor may be used as a driving unit for moving a solid-state imaging device that is a part of the imaging circuit system, instead of the focusing lens.
[0011]
The above-described electronic endoscope apparatus can include a focusing unit that operates the electric focusing mechanism based on the focusing state of the imaging optical system. At this time, it is preferable that the power supply to the focusing unit is performed from the power supply of the imaging circuit system.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a medical autofocus (AF) electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The AF electronic endoscope apparatus 1 includes an endoscope main body 10, a video processor 20, a commercial power supply 30, and a TV monitor 40.
[0013]
Although not shown in detail, the endoscope main body 10 includes an insertion portion 10a to be introduced into a body cavity of a patient, an operation portion connected to a proximal end of the insertion portion 10a, and a distal end of a universal tube extending from the operation portion. And a connector 10b provided in the video processor 20 via the connector 10b. The insertion section 10a includes an objective lens 11, a focus adjustment lens 12 and a CCD 13 disposed behind the objective lens 11, a lens motor 14 for moving the focus adjustment lens 12 along the optical axis direction of the objective lens 11, and Is provided. As the lens motor 14, a small stepping motor, a small brushless motor, or the like is used so that the position of the focusing lens 12 can be finely adjusted. When the endoscope main body 10 is mounted on the video processor 20 via the connector section 10b, the CCD 13 and the lens motor 14 in the endoscope main body 10 are electrically connected to the patient-side circuit 21 in the video processor 20. Connected to. More specifically, the CCD 13 is electrically connected to the CCD drive circuit 211 and the signal processing circuit 212, and the lens motor 14 is electrically connected to the motor drive circuit 214.
[0014]
The video processor 20 includes a patient-side circuit 21, an intermediate circuit 22, an insulating circuit 23, a first insulating transformer 24, and a second insulating transformer 25, and a CCD drive for driving the CCD 13 in the patient-side circuit 21 based on a synchronization signal. A circuit 211, a signal processing circuit 212 for processing (amplifying, frequency band correction, and the like) the imaging signal output from the CCD 13, a focusing circuit 213, and a motor driving circuit 214 for driving the lens motor 14 are provided. The focusing circuit 213 inputs a part of the imaging signal from the signal processing circuit 212 to obtain contrast information, calculates an optimum focus position based on the contrast information, and moves the focus adjustment lens 12 to the optimum focus position. The lens motor 14 is operated via the motor drive circuit 214 to perform the operation. In the present embodiment, an electric focusing mechanism is configured by the focusing lens 12, the lens motor 14, and the motor driving circuit 214, and an imaging circuit system is configured by the CCD 13, the CCD driving circuit 211, and the signal processing circuit 212.
[0015]
The insulating circuit 23 is interposed between the patient-side circuit 21 and the intermediate circuit 22, and performs signal transmission and reception between the patient-side circuit 21 and the intermediate circuit 22 in an electrically insulated state. This insulating circuit 23 can be configured by an insulating element such as a photocoupler or a transformer. The intermediate circuit 22 includes an A / D conversion circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a video processing circuit 220, and the like, and can display an image signal (an output signal of the signal processing circuit 212) input via the insulating circuit 23 on the TV monitor 40. The signal is converted into a video signal and output to the TV monitor 40.
[0016]
The first insulation transformer 24 is interposed between the intermediate circuit 22 and the commercial power supply 30 and electrically disconnects the output power from the commercial power supply 30 with the intermediate circuit 22 and the commercial power supply 30 electrically insulated. Give to the side. In other words, the common power supply line from the commercial power supply 30 to the intermediate circuit 22 is insulated by the first insulating transformer 24. As a result, electrical insulation is also ensured between the shared power supply line and the video signal line output from the video processing circuit 220 to the TV monitor 40, and the video signal line is affected by the shared power supply line (noise). I do not receive.
[0017]
The second insulating transformer 25 is interposed between the patient side circuit 21 and the intermediate circuit 22 and electrically supplies the power between the patient side circuit 21 and the intermediate circuit 22 with the power supply from the intermediate circuit 22 side. It is given to the patient side circuit 21. A common power supply line from the commercial power supply 30 is connected to the primary side T1 of the second insulating transformer 25. Since the patient side circuit 21 and the intermediate circuit 22 are insulated by the second insulating transformer 25 and the insulating circuit 23, as a result, the patient side circuit 21 (endoscope main body 10) and the commercial power supply 30 and the TV monitor 40 Also, the electrical insulation properties are secured.
[0018]
The above-described AF electronic endoscope apparatus 1 has a power supply line for supplying power to the imaging circuit system including the CCD drive circuit 15 and the signal processing circuit 16 by using the shared power supply line supplied from the commercial power supply 30 by the second insulating transformer 25. Vc is separated from a power supply line Vm for supplying power to an electric focusing mechanism including the lens motor 14 and the motor drive circuit 18.
[0019]
Specifically, the primary side T1 of the second insulating transformer 25 is connected to the intermediate circuit 22, and the secondary side T2 is connected to the patient side circuit 21 separately in two stages Tc and Tm. In the patient circuit 21, the CCD drive circuit 211, the signal processing circuit 212, and the focusing circuit 213 are connected to one stage Tc of the secondary side T2, and the motor drive circuit 214 is connected to the other stage Tm. As a result, the shared power supply line supplied to the primary side T1 of the second insulating transformer 25 is divided into two at the secondary side T2 of the second insulating transformer 25, and the imaging circuit system including the CCD drive circuit 211 and the signal processing circuit 212 , And an electric focus adjustment mechanism including a lens motor 14 and a motor drive circuit 214. In the present embodiment, the focusing circuit 213 is provided on the patient side circuit 21 side, and power is supplied to the focusing circuit 213 from the power supply line Vc of the imaging circuit system.
[0020]
As described above, in the first embodiment, the common power supply line supplied from the commercial power supply 30 is separately separated by the second insulating transformer 25 to be used as the power supply line Vc of the imaging circuit system and the power supply line Vm of the electric focusing mechanism. Therefore, noise generated during the operation of the lens motor 14 does not enter the imaging circuit system via the power supply lines Vc and Vm, and a good endoscope image free of image noise can be obtained.
[0021]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the AF electronic endoscope apparatus 1 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, a battery 60 is provided in the patient-side circuit 21, and the battery 60 operates an electric focus adjustment mechanism including the lens motor 14 and the motor drive circuit 214. The battery 60 is detachable from the patient-side circuit 21. On the other hand, the imaging circuit system including the CCD drive circuit 211 and the signal processing circuit 212 is supplied with power from the commercial power supply 30 via the first insulating transformer 24, the intermediate circuit 22, and the second insulating transformer 25 '. The second insulating transformer 25 ′ has a primary side connected to the intermediate circuit 22 and a secondary side connected to the imaging circuit system of the patient side circuit 21. As described above, in the second embodiment, the power supply for the electric focus adjustment mechanism and the power supply for the imaging circuit system are separately provided, so that noise generated during operation of the lens motor 14 is generated by the power supply line Vc as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the image noise can be satisfactorily suppressed without entering the imaging circuit system. Note that the battery 60 may be provided in the endoscope main body 10.
[0022]
According to the above embodiments, the power supply of the imaging circuit system including the CCD drive circuit 211 and the signal processing circuit 212 and the power supply of the electric focusing mechanism including the lens motor 14 and the motor drive circuit 214 are independent of each other. . Therefore, noise generated during the operation of the lens motor 14 does not get on the output signal of the imaging circuit system via the power supply line. As a result, image noise can be reduced, and a clear endoscopic image can be obtained. Further, according to each of the above embodiments, even if a failure occurs in the electric focusing mechanism during inspection, the power supply of the imaging circuit system is independent of the power of the focusing mechanism. It can operate normally without receiving. As a result, the image can be handled safely without interruption.
[0023]
In the above embodiments, the CCD drive circuit 211 and the signal processing circuit 212, the focusing circuit 213, and the motor drive circuit 214 are all provided on the video processor 20 side. The focusing circuit 213 and the motor driving circuit 214 may be provided on the endoscope main body 10 side.
[0024]
In each of the above embodiments, the CCD 13 is used as the solid-state imaging device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a C-MOS may be used. Further, the AF operation in each of the above embodiments can be performed by fixing the position of the focus adjustment lens 12 and moving the CCD 13 by the lens motor 14.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic endoscope of the present invention, since the power supply of the imaging circuit system and the power supply of the electric focusing mechanism are independent, noise generated during operation of the electric focusing mechanism is generated via the power supply line. Thus, a clear endoscope image can be obtained without riding on the output signal of the imaging circuit system.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an autofocus electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of an autofocus electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 AF electronic endoscope apparatus 10 Endoscope main body 10a Insertion part 10b Connector part 11 Objective lens 12 Focus adjustment lens 13 CCD
14 Lens motor 20 Video processor 21 Patient side circuit 211 CCD drive circuit 212 Signal processing circuit 213 Focusing circuit 214 Motor drive circuit 22 Intermediate circuit 220 Video processing circuit 23 Insulation circuit 24 First insulation transformer 25 Second insulation transformer 30 Commercial power supply 40 TV monitor 60 Battery Vc Power supply line for imaging circuit system Vm Power supply line for power supply focus adjustment mechanism

Claims (8)

Imaging optical system provided in the endoscope body;
An electric focusing mechanism for adjusting the focus state of the imaging optical system; and an imaging circuit system for capturing an image formed by the imaging optical system;
An electronic endoscope apparatus wherein the power supply of the imaging circuit system and the power supply of the electric focusing mechanism are made independent. 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transformer for separating a shared power supply line into a power supply line of the imaging circuit system and a power supply line of the electric focusing mechanism. 3. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 2, further comprising a video processor having the transformer built therein and detachable from the endoscope main body, wherein the video circuit processor and the imaging circuit system are connected via a transformer from a common power supply line of the video processor. An electronic endoscope device that supplies power independently of the electric focusing mechanism. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 1, further comprising a video processor having a built-in insulation circuit and detachable from the endoscope main body,
The electric focus adjusting mechanism is supplied with power from a battery provided in the endoscope body or the video processor, and the imaging circuit system is supplied with power from a common power supply line of the video processor via the insulating circuit. Endoscope device. 5. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging circuit system includes a solid-state imaging device that electronically images an image formed by the imaging optical system, and the fixed imaging device. 6. An electronic endoscope apparatus including: an imaging drive circuit that drives the solid-state imaging device; and a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal of the solid-state imaging device. 6. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motorized focus adjustment mechanism includes a motor that moves a focus adjustment lens that is a part of the imaging optical system, and drives the motor. 7. An electronic endoscope apparatus including a motor drive circuit for causing the motor to operate. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a focusing unit that operates the electric focusing mechanism based on a focus state of the imaging optical system. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the focusing unit is supplied with power from a power supply of the imaging circuit system.

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