JP2004236725A - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the light source device of an endoscope from causing a malfunction when an instantaneous power failure occurs. <P>SOLUTION: A control circuit 16 normally operates when a reference voltage is impressed upon the circuit 16 and a lamp power source 20 normally operates when a driving voltage is impressed upon the power source 20. A system power source 35 supplies electric power to the control circuit 16 including a CPU 15 and the lamp power source 20. The CPU 15 controls the lamp power source 20, an RGB-filter 42, and a diaphragm 27. The power source 20, filter 42, and diaphragm 27 are initialized when the CPU 15 is actuated. A lamp 26 is turned on when the lamp power source 20 is turned on and continuously emits light while the power source 20 normally operates. When the driving voltage unexpectedly drops while the reference voltage is impressed upon the control circuit 16, the lamp power source 20, RGB-filter 42, and diaphragm 27 are initialized after the restoration of the driving voltage is confirmed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a light source control system of an endoscope system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the endoscope system, when a power failure of the input power source occurs, power supply to all devices including the control circuit of the endoscope system is stopped, so that the operations of all devices are stopped. In this case, when the power failure is restored, all the devices are restarted by the control circuit, so that a malfunction does not easily occur.
[0003]
On the other hand, when the power supply is momentarily stopped, that is, momentary interruption occurs, for example, while the power supply to the control circuit is continued, the power supply to the driven device such as the lamp device may be insufficient. In this case, the steady operation of the driven device stops, while the steady operation of the control circuit does not stop. Therefore, when the power supply is restored, the driven device is not restarted by the control circuit, and the driven device may malfunction.
[0004]
When a power outage occurs in the endoscope apparatus, power may be supplied from a standby power supply provided in the endoscope (for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-72106 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-125484 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to prevent a malfunction of a driven device of an endoscope when a momentary interruption of power supply occurs.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the endoscope system according to the present invention, a control circuit that operates when a reference voltage is applied, and an initial operation is performed when a drive voltage that is controlled by the control circuit and is different from the reference voltage is applied. After that, a driven device in which a steady operation is performed, abnormal state detecting means for detecting that the drive voltage suddenly decreases and returns while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained, and an abnormal state An initial operation executing means for executing an initial operation in the driven device after the detection means has confirmed that the driving voltage has been restored, is provided. This allows the driven circuit to operate without malfunction even if the drive voltage suddenly drops while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained.
[0008]
The reference voltage and the drive voltage are preferably applied by the same system power supply, and the signal supply means for outputting a power supply monitoring signal from the system power supply to the control circuit is provided. The power supply monitoring signal applies the reference voltage to the control circuit. It is preferable to change when the drive voltage is reduced while the voltage is maintained. Thus, the control circuit can easily know from the power supply monitoring signal that the drive voltage has suddenly dropped while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained.
[0009]
For example, if the drive voltage suddenly drops while the control circuit keeps applying the reference voltage, a warning is issued. Thereby, the user of the endoscope can easily know that the drive voltage has suddenly dropped while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained.
For example, if the drive voltage suddenly decreases while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained, the steady operation is stopped. As a result, the driven device does not malfunction due to a sudden decrease in the drive voltage.
[0010]
For example, the driven device is caused to perform at least a part of the initial operation by inputting a lamp lighting instruction signal (becoming True) by operating a manual switch. When the driven device is a device that includes a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of a living body, the initial operation includes an operation for turning on the light source for illumination, and the normal operation includes an operation for causing the light source for illumination to emit light. .
[0011]
When an aperture is controlled by the control circuit and adjusts the amount of light of the illumination light source, for example, after the abnormal state detection unit confirms that the drive voltage has returned, the aperture is initialized. In addition, when a color filter is controlled by the control circuit and sequentially transmits a specific color from light emitted by the illumination light source, for example, after it is confirmed that the driving voltage has been restored by the abnormal state detection unit, the color An initial setting operation of the filter is performed. Thus, even if the drive voltage suddenly decreases while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained, a malfunction in the operation of the endoscope system is prevented. Further, the drive voltage is preferably higher than the reference voltage.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an endoscope light source device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The operation panel 11 is provided with switches such as a lamp switch 12 and a warning lamp 13.
The ROM 15, the RAM 19, and the flash ROM 14 are connected to the CPU 15. When the switches are operated, switch information is sent to the CPU 15. The CPU 15 controls a lamp device and other driven devices based on switch information sent from the operation panel 11 and information stored in the ROM 18 and the RAM 19. Further, the CPU 15 controls the aperture 27 and the RGB filter 42 for dimming the light emitted from the lamp 26.
[0013]
An input voltage (for example, 100 V AC voltage) is supplied to the system power supply 35 from a commercial power supply (AC power supply). The input voltage is converted into a DC voltage by the system power supply 35, and the DC voltage that is the reference voltage (for example, 5 V) is applied to the entire control circuit 16 including the CPU 15, and the drive voltage (for example, 24 V) is higher than the reference voltage for the lamp power supply 20. A certain DC voltage is supplied. The control circuit 16 operates normally when the reference voltage is applied. Further, the lamp power supply 20 normally performs the initial operation and the steady operation, that is, the lighting and the light emission operation of the lamp in accordance with the instruction from the CPU 15 in the state where the driving voltage is applied.
[0014]
The lamp power supply 20 is connected to a lamp house 25, and the lamp house 25 has a lamp 26. The lamp 26 is, for example, a xenon lamp, and is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of a living body. The amount of light emitted by the lamp 26 is controlled by the aperture 27, three colors are sequentially transmitted by the RGB filter 42, and are condensed on the light guide 41. The light condensed on the light guide 41 is sent to a distal end portion (not shown) of an insertion portion of an endoscope (not shown).
[0015]
When the power of the system power supply 35 is turned on, a reference voltage is applied to the control circuit 16 and a drive voltage is applied to the lamp power supply 20. When a reference voltage is applied to the control circuit 16, the entire system is started up. For example, data of an endoscope (not shown) connected to the light source device 10 is read by the CPU 15, and the data is stored in the RAM 19. Is done. Next, an initial operation is performed by the CPU 15. Here, the initial operation includes an initial setting operation and a lamp lighting operation.
[0016]
The initial setting operation is performed on the RGB filter 42, the aperture 27, and the lamp power supply 20. That is, based on the data stored in the ROM 18 and the RAM 19, the RGB filter 42 is set to the starting point position by the CPU 15, and the aperture 27 for controlling the light amount of the lamp 26 is set to the open position. Further, the CPU 15 sends the lamp current control value to the D / A converter 17, and the D / A converter 17 outputs a lamp current control voltage based on the lamp current control value to the lamp power supply 20. Then, the lamp current of the lamp power supply 20 is controlled to a constant value (for example, 20 A) by the lamp current control voltage.
[0017]
After completion of the initial setting operation, a lamp lighting operation is performed, and the lamp 26 is lit by applying an initial voltage. That is, when the lamp switch 12 is pressed, switch information is transmitted from the lamp switch 12 to the CPU 15, and the CPU 15 changes the lamp lighting instruction signal from False to True to the lamp power supply 20. In the lamp power supply 20, when the lamp lighting instruction signal becomes True, the lamp lighting operation is performed, and the lamp 26 is turned on.
[0018]
After turning on the lamp 26, the lamp power supply 20 enters a steady state, in which the voltage input to the lamp 26 is reduced to a voltage lower than the initial voltage, and the lamp 26 continues to emit light.
[0019]
When the lamp switch 12 is pressed again, switch information is sent to the CPU 15, and the CPU 15 sets the lamp lighting instruction signal to False. When the lamp lighting instruction signal becomes False, the lamp power supply 20 ends the application of the voltage to the lamp 26, and the lamp 26 is turned off.
[0020]
The system power supply 35 outputs a PGS signal (power supply monitoring signal), and the PGS signal is input to the CPU 15. The PGS signal is a signal that is inverted from a high level (True) to a low level (False) when the input voltage of the system power supply is lowered to a certain voltage range α (see FIG. 2). α is a voltage range in which the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit 16 can be maintained, but the supply of the driving voltage to the lamp power supply 20 cannot be maintained. The PGS signal returns to the high level (True) when the input voltage returns to the original normal voltage.
[0021]
When the CPU 15 detects that the PGS signal has been inverted from True to False, the lamp lighting instruction signal is set to False, the lamp power supply 20 stops applying the voltage to the lamp 26, and the light is turned off. Further, the CPU 15 turns on the warning lamp 13 provided on the operation panel 11. Here, the reason why the lamp power supply 20 performs the turn-off operation is that there is a possibility that the lamp power supply 20 does not perform a normal operation and malfunctions due to a decrease in the driving voltage.
[0022]
Thereafter, when the CPU 15 detects that the PGS signal has been inverted from False to True, the CPU 15 performs the above-described initial setting operation. When the lamp switch 12 is pressed again after the initial setting operation, the lamp lighting instruction signal becomes True and is input to the lamp power supply 20. Thus, a lamp lighting operation is performed, and the lamp 26 is turned on.
[0023]
In other words, even if the drive voltage suddenly decreases while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit can be maintained, and the drive voltage is restored again, the lamp 26 does not turn on again. This is because a high voltage needs to be applied as an initial operation to turn on the lamp. Also, if the lamp switch 12 is pressed and a high voltage is applied to the lamp 26, a malfunction may occur because a part of the initial operation, that is, the initial setting operation is not performed in the endoscope system. Thus, in the present embodiment, after the drive voltage is restored, the CPU 15 performs the initial setting operation again to prevent a malfunction. Here, the malfunction may be a malfunction caused by a change in the setting of the lamp current flowing through the lamp power supply 20 because, for example, when the driving voltage suddenly decreases, the lamp power supply 20 does not operate normally. Further, for example, since the RGB filter 42 is not set at the start point position, a malfunction may occur in which an image captured by a CCD (not shown) is different from an object. Furthermore, since the aperture 27 is not set to the open position, a malfunction may occur in which the amount of light applied to the subject is different from the set value.
[0024]
When the input voltage further falls below the reference range α, the control circuit 16 does not operate normally, so a reset signal is output from the system power supply 30 to the CPU 15, and the operation of the CPU 15 stops. Thereafter, when the output of the reset signal stops, the CPU 15 restarts. Therefore, the entire system is started up again, and the CPU 15 reads, for example, data of the endoscope connected to the light source device 10, and stores the data in the RAM 19. Thereafter, the above-described activation operation is started.
[0025]
The principle of generating the PGS signal will be described with reference to FIG. (A) shows the input voltage from the AC power supply to the system power supply, and (B) shows the PGS signal. The input voltage is kept almost constant in a normal state, but instantaneously drops when the AC power suddenly drops due to, for example, a lightning strike. Here, when the input voltage decreases to the constant voltage range α, that is, when the input voltage can maintain the reference voltage but cannot maintain the drive voltage, the PGS signal is inverted from True to False. Then, in that case, when the input voltage returns to the fixed voltage range α or more, the PGS signal is inverted from False to True. On the other hand, when the input voltage has dropped to a certain voltage range α or less, that is, when the input voltage is a voltage at which neither the reference voltage nor the drive voltage is maintained, the PGS signal remains True without being inverted.
[0026]
A flowchart according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In step 100, when the system power supply 35 is turned on, the control circuit 16 is driven. When the control circuit 16 is driven, the CPU 15 starts up the entire system in step 101. For example, data of an endoscope connected to the light source device 10 is read, and the data is stored in the RAM 19.
[0027]
In step 110, the initial setting operation shown in FIG. 4 is performed. In the initial setting operation, in step 111, the RGB filter 42 is set to the start point position by the CPU 15, and in step 112, the diaphragm 27 is set to the open position. Further, at step 113, the CPU 15 controls the lamp current of the lamp power supply 20 to a constant value (for example, 20 A).
[0028]
At step 120, it is confirmed whether or not the initial setting operation is abnormal. If an abnormality is found in step 120, the process proceeds to step 121, and this flowchart ends. When it is confirmed that there is no abnormality in the initial setting operation, the process proceeds to step 130. Here, the abnormality of the initial setting operation means that the RGB filter 42 is not set to the start point position, the aperture 27 is not set to the open position, and that the lamp current is not controlled to a constant value.
[0029]
In step 130, it is confirmed whether or not the lamp switch 12 is pressed. When the lamp switch 12 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 140. On the other hand, when the lamp switch 12 is not pressed, the process waits at step 130 until the switch 12 is pressed. In step 140, a lamp lighting operation is performed. When the lamp is turned on in step 140, the process proceeds to step 150, in which the voltage applied to the lamp is reduced, and the lamp 26 continues to emit light.
[0030]
In step 160, it is determined whether the PGS signal output from the system power supply 35 is False. If the PGS signal is not False, that is, it is determined to be True, the routine proceeds to step 170, where it is determined whether or not the lamp switch 12 has been pressed. When the lamp switch 12 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 171 to perform a lamp extinguishing operation. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lamp switch 12 has not been pressed, the process returns to step 160. That is, if the PGS signal is True and the lamp switch 12 is not pressed, the light emission of the lamp 26 is continued.
[0031]
When it is determined in step 160 that the PGS signal is False, the process proceeds to step 180, in which the application of the voltage to the lamp 26 is interrupted, and the light-off operation is performed. When the lamp is turned off, the process proceeds to step 190, where the warning lamp 13 is turned on. In step 200, it is determined whether or not the PGS signal is False. If it is determined that the signal is not False, the process proceeds to step 110, and the above-described initialization operation is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the signal is False, the process waits in step 200 until it is determined that the PGS signal is not False.
[0032]
As described above, when the PGS signal is inverted to False, the operation of the driven device, that is, the lamp power supply 20 and the lamp 26 is stopped, and it is confirmed that the PGS signal has returned to True. Is performed. That is, in the present embodiment, if the drive voltage suddenly drops while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit can be maintained, after confirming that the drive voltage has been restored, the initial setting operation and the lamp By performing the lighting operation, a malfunction due to a momentary interruption is prevented.
[0033]
Although the PGS signal is generated by the system power supply 35 in the present embodiment, the PGS signal may be generated on the control circuit 16 using a power supply monitoring IC or the like. In this case, as in the embodiment, the PGS signal is set to a high level (True) when the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit 16 can be maintained while the supply of the driving voltage to the lamp power supply 20 cannot be maintained. ) To a low level (False). The PGS signal returns to the high level (True) when the drive voltage returns to the normal voltage.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the endoscope system according to the present invention, the driven device can be restarted without causing a system abnormality even when the power supply is momentarily interrupted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an endoscope light source device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a relationship between an input voltage and a PGS signal.
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a lamp lighting operation.
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an initial setting operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Endoscope light source device 12 Lamp switch 15 CPU
16 Control circuit 20 Lamp power supply 26 Lamp 27 Aperture 35 System power supply 41 Light guide

Claims (11)

A control circuit that operates when a reference voltage is applied;
A driven device that is controlled by the control circuit and that receives a drive voltage different from the reference voltage, performs an initial operation, and then performs a steady operation.
While the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained, an abnormal state detection unit that detects that the drive voltage suddenly decreases and returns.
An endoscope system comprising: an initial operation execution unit that executes the initial operation in the driven device after the abnormal state detection unit confirms that the drive voltage has returned. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the reference voltage and the drive voltage are applied by the same system power supply. Signal output means for outputting a power supply monitoring signal from the system power supply to the control circuit,
The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the power supply monitoring signal changes when the drive voltage decreases while the control circuit keeps applying the reference voltage. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein a warning is issued when the drive voltage suddenly decreases while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the steady-state operation is stopped when the drive voltage suddenly decreases while the application of the reference voltage to the control circuit is maintained. . The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the driven device executes at least a part of the initial operation by inputting a lamp lighting instruction signal by operating a manual switch. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the driven device is a device including a light source for illumination light that illuminates a living body. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein the initial operation includes an operation for turning on the illumination light source, and the steady operation includes an operation for causing the illumination light source to emit light. An aperture is controlled by the control circuit and adjusts a light amount of the illumination light source,
The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein after the abnormal state detection unit confirms that the drive voltage has returned, the aperture setting operation is performed. A color filter controlled by the control circuit, for sequentially transmitting a specific color from light emitted by the illumination light source,
8. The endoscope system according to claim 7, wherein the operation of initializing the color filter is performed after it is confirmed by the abnormal state detection unit that the drive voltage has been restored. 9. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the drive voltage is higher than the reference voltage.

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