JP2004329721A - Electronic endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the use of the image of rectangular pixels on a computer handling the image of square pixels and to display the recorded image of the square pixels in a standard television system. <P>SOLUTION: A recording device 19 using a PC memory card or the like can be mounted to a processor 11. A first scanning conversion circuit 18 is provided for converting the image of rectangular pixels obtained by a CCD (charge coupled device) 14 of rectangular pixels, into the image of square pixels and outputting a progressive signal, and the image of square pixels is recorded in the recording device 19. A second scanning conversion circuit 28 is provided for converting the image of square pixels read from the recording device 19, into the image of rectangular pixels and forming an interlacing signal. Conversion between the rectangular pixels and square pixels is performed by discriminating the type of the CCD 14 mounted to an electronic endoscope 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an electronic endoscope device, in particular, a plurality of electronic endoscopes having different pixel shapes of solid-state imaging devices so as to be connectable to a processor device, and not only displays on an NTSC display, but also personal computers and the like. The present invention relates to a configuration of an apparatus for displaying an image of an object to be observed on a screen.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic endoscope apparatus, an image of an inside of an object to be observed is imaged by a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) arranged at a distal end of an insertion portion of an electronic endoscope (electronic scope). Supplied to the device. In this processor device, an image (video) signal subjected to various signal processing is formed, and the image signal is output to a monitor, so that the object to be observed can be observed on a monitor screen.
[0003]
In the solid-state imaging device of such an electronic endoscope device, conventionally, for example, a 270,000 pixel CCD, a 400,000 pixel CCD, and the pixel shape is formed into a vertically long rectangle corresponding to the scanning of a television system such as NTSC. In recent years, for example, a pixel having a hexagonal shape such as a 170,000-pixel honeycomb CCD and a pixel having a square shape such as an 850,000-pixel CCD have been manufactured. Are used together.
[0004]
On the other hand, in a computer such as a personal computer, a square pixel image having a square pixel shape is recorded on a recording medium, and the square pixel image read from the recording medium is displayed on a personal computer monitor. Also, the image signal of the computer is not an interlaced scanning signal as in a television system, but a progressive signal in which horizontal line signals are arranged in order. By performing non-interlaced scanning of the progressive signal, image display is performed. Done.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-157665 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-287203 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in recent years, recording, management or analysis of image data obtained by an electronic endoscope apparatus is often performed using a computer such as a personal computer, and the present applicant can also use the external computer. An electronic endoscope apparatus for outputting a progressive signal has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-287203.
[0007]
However, as described above, a computer uses an image of a square pixel, whereas a CCD used in an electronic endoscope includes an image forming device of a rectangular pixel and an image forming device of a square pixel. In order to maintain the aspect ratio of the image captured by the electronic endoscope well in the display image of the computer monitor, it is necessary to eliminate the difference in the aspect ratio between the rectangular pixel and the square pixel. There is a problem that the processing for this becomes complicated.
[0008]
In addition, the electronic endoscope apparatus normally displays an image on an NTSC system monitor, and an image which is once converted into a square pixel for use by a computer and recorded in a progressive system is also used as a standard monitor for the NTSC system. If it can be displayed to, the usability can be improved.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it easier to use a computer that handles a square pixel image with a square pixel image, and to use a recorded square pixel progressive image as a standard image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a user-friendly electronic endoscope apparatus capable of displaying an image by a television system.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an electronic endoscope equipped with a solid-state imaging device having a rectangular pixel (for example, a CCD) and an electronic endoscope equipped with a solid-state imaging device having a square pixel. In an electronic endoscope device configured to be connectable to the device, an image of a rectangular pixel (digital image) obtained by the solid-state imaging device of the rectangular pixel is converted into a square pixel image, and a progressive signal is output. And a recording device detachably attached to the processor device and recording an image of a square pixel output from the first scan conversion circuit.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the processor unit converts the square pixel image read from the recording device into a rectangular pixel image, and converts a progressive signal (image signal) to an interlace signal (television system). A second scan conversion circuit for performing conversion into an image signal).
The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a control unit for determining the type of the solid-state imaging device of the electronic endoscope connected to the processor device, and based on the determination by the control unit, the first and second control units. It is characterized in that conversion between a rectangular pixel image and a square pixel image in the scan conversion circuit is performed.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, the recording device attached to the processor device includes a card reader / writer device or a hard disk into which a recording medium such as a PC card is inserted and mounted, and the first scan conversion circuit has, for example, a 400,000 pixel CCD. Is converted into a square pixel image (digital image). In this scan conversion, square pixels are formed by adjusting the pixel width in either the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. At this time, the process of adjusting the aspect ratio (pixel number adjustment) of the entire image is also performed at the same time. That is, when the width (horizontal width) in the horizontal direction of the vertically long pixel is enlarged, pixels in the vertical direction are added in accordance with the enlargement ratio (multiplication ratio), and the width (vertical width) in the vertical direction is reduced. If so, pixels in the horizontal direction are reduced according to the reduction ratio (division ratio).
[0012]
If the image signal before the conversion is an interlace signal, one frame of horizontal line data having no distinction between an odd field and an even field is sequentially converted into a progressive signal to be arranged. The use signal is recorded in the recording device. Therefore, if an image signal is read from this recording device, the observation target can be displayed on a monitor of a personal computer or the like, and can be recorded on an external filing device or the like.
[0013]
According to the configuration of the second aspect, the inverse conversion of the square pixel conversion is performed by the second scanning conversion circuit, and the image of the square pixels read from the recording device is converted into the image of the rectangular pixels, Since the conversion from the progressive signal to the interlaced signal of, for example, the NTSC system (or other television system) (including the conversion corresponding to the number of pixels of the NTSC system) is performed, the NTSC system performs the conversion based on the image data of the recording device. The observation target image can be displayed on the system monitor.
[0014]
The conversion between the rectangular pixel image and the square pixel image in the first and second scan conversion circuits is performed by communication between the processor device and the electronic endoscope, and the type of the CCD. (E.g., whether a rectangular pixel CCD is mounted or a square pixel CCD is mounted) is determined and executed by a microcomputer or the like.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, in the embodiment, various electronic endoscopes (electronic scopes) 10 are connected to a processor device 11. Can be removably connected to. In the electronic scope 10, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 14 is disposed at the distal end of the insertion section. The CCD 14 is driven by a CCD drive circuit (not shown), and an output signal of the CCD is determined by a signal processing circuit. Is supplied to the processor device 11.
[0016]
As the CCD 14, for example, a 270,000-pixel or 400,000-pixel CCD having a rectangular pixel whose pixel shape is a vertically long rectangle or a 170,000-pixel honeycomb CCD having a square pixel whose pixel shape is a square (this honeycomb CCD) Although the CCD has a hexagonal pixel shape, it can be regarded as a square pixel having the same vertical and horizontal lengths) and a CCD having 850,000 pixels. In addition, the electronic scope 10 is provided with a microcomputer 15 that supervises processing of internal circuits and executes communication with the processor device 11.
[0017]
On the other hand, the processor device 11 is provided with a recording device 19 such as a card reader / writer device or a hard disk in which a recording medium 19a such as a PC card can be freely attached and detached. A first scan conversion circuit 18 for recording an image is provided. The first scan conversion circuit 18 receives a digitally processed digital image signal. If the input is a square pixel image, no conversion is performed, and the input data is a rectangular pixel image. Is converted to a square pixel image and to a progressive signal.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows the state of the above square pixel conversion. FIG. 2A shows a method of adjusting the width in the horizontal direction, and FIG. 2B shows a method of adjusting the width in the vertical direction. In the square pixel conversion shown in FIG. 2A, for example, when the pixel shape of a 400,000 pixel CCD is a vertical pixel e ₁ and a horizontal pixel d ₁ is a rectangular pixel G ₁ , the horizontal width d _{1 is set} to d ₂ (= e ₁ ). / d ₁ is multiplied by the vertical width e ₁ thereto and the width of the same length d _{2 (=} e ₁₎ is converted to square pixels G ₂ of the same time, to increase (interpolate) the vertical pixel data Expands the number of vertical pixels by a factor of d ₂ / d ₁ (> 1). The square pixel of FIG. 2 (B), the same vertical width _{e 1} and above, the longitudinal width _{e 1} of rectangular pixels _{G 1} of the width _{d 1 e 2 (= d 1} ) / e 1 is multiplied by the _{d 1} It was converted to the same vertical width _e 2 (= _{d 1)} and the square pixel _{G 3} of the width _{d 1,} and at the same time, _e 2 _{/ e} 1 the number of vertical pixels by reducing the horizontal pixel data (thinning) ( <1) Reduce by a factor of two. In this manner, the image of the rectangular pixel G ₁ is converted into an image of the square pixel G _2, G _3, and also so that its aspect ratio remains the same throughout the image.
[0019]
A switching unit 21 and a D / A converter 22 for switching between a terminal a connected to the first scanning conversion circuit 18 and a terminal b connected to the recording device 19 are provided at a stage subsequent to the recording device 19. An external progressive monitor (personal computer monitor) 23 is connected to the A converter 22. Further, a second scanning conversion circuit 28 is provided via a switch 27 for switching a terminal a connected to an output line from the CCD 14 and a terminal b connected to an output line of the recording device 19. The second scan conversion circuit 28 converts a square pixel image stored in the recording device 19 into a long pixel image, and converts a progressive signal into an NTSC interlace signal, while outputting the signal from the CCD 14. If necessary, the number of pixels is converted to match the number of pixels in the NTSC system.
[0020]
That is, the second scan conversion circuit 28 converts an image signal converted into a square pixel into a signal of the NTSC system, and performs an inverse conversion of the conversion described with reference to FIG. For example, when the image of the CCD (14A) of 400,000 pixels is converted into a square pixel and the horizontal direction is adjusted as shown in FIG. 2A, the width d ₂ of the square pixel G ₂ is set to d ₁ / d reducing the number of vertical pixels by ₂ times, to adjust the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 2 (B), a larger number of vertical pixels in the vertical width e ₂ square pixels G ₃ is _doubled e _{1 /} e Then, the number of pixels is adjusted so that the number of pixels becomes 720 (horizontal direction) × 480 (vertical direction) in accordance with the scanning of the NTSC system. The image of other square pixels based on the CCD 14 such as 170,000 pixels (honeycomb) and 850,000 pixels is converted into a rectangular pixel, and the pixel number conversion is performed to match the number of pixels of the 720 × 480 NTSC system. Is
[0021]
A D / A converter 30 is connected to the subsequent stage of the second scan conversion circuit 28 via a digital encoder 29. The D / A converter 30 is connected to an external interlace monitor (for an electronic endoscope device). A standard monitor 31 to be used is connected. Further, the processor device 11 is provided with a microcomputer 33 that executes communication with the electronic scope 10 and controls conversion between a rectangular pixel and a square pixel and conversion of the number of pixels. That is, the microcomputer 33 communicates with the microcomputer 15 on the electronic scope 10 side when the power is turned on, so that the type of the CCD 14 mounted on the electronic scope 10, for example, 270,000 pixels (510 × 480, rectangular Pixel) CCD, 400,000 pixel (768 × 480, square pixel) CCD, 170,000 pixel honeycomb (640 × 480, square pixel) CCD or 850,000 pixel (1024 × 768, square pixel) CCD, etc. In the first scan, control signals such as the enlargement ratio and the reduction ratio of the pixel width and the number of pixels in the conversion between the rectangular pixel and the square pixel and the enlargement ratio and the reduction ratio for adjusting to the number of pixels of the NTSC system are used. Output to the conversion circuit 18 and the second scan conversion circuit 28.
[0022]
The embodiment has the above configuration, and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the power of the processor device 11 is turned on, the microcomputer 33 communicates with the microcomputer 15 of the electronic scope 10 to determine the type of the CCD 14 of the electronic scope 10. Here, a case where the 400,000 pixel CCD 14A and the 850,000 pixel CCD 14B are used will be described as an example. Then, during normal observation and recording on the recording device 19, both the switches 21 and 27 are connected to the terminal a, and the operation shown in FIG. 3 is performed.
[0023]
First, when it is determined that the 400,000 pixel CCD 14A having a rectangular pixel is mounted, the first scan conversion circuit 18 converts the pixel to a square pixel under the control of the microcomputer 33. For example, as described in FIG. 2 (A), a square pixel G ₂ by d _{1 /} d ₂ times the width, and by adjusting the number of pixels to expand the number of vertical pixels, the image of the rectangular pixels The image is converted into a square pixel image while maintaining the aspect ratio. In the embodiment, since an interlace signal is formed from the output of the CCD 14A, the interlace odd field signal and the even field signal are converted into one frame progressive image signal.
[0024]
Then, the progressive signal of the square pixel can be output to the progressive monitor 23 via the D / A converter 22 and written into the recording device 19. On the other hand, in the case of an image signal obtained by the CCD 14A, the pixel number is not converted by the second scan conversion circuit 28, but is output to the interlace monitor 31 after signal processing by the digital encoder 29 and the like.
[0025]
On the other hand, if the microcomputer 33 determines that the 850,000-pixel CCD 14B having square pixels is mounted, the first scan conversion circuit 18 records the image as it is without conversion. Further, the second scan conversion circuit 28 converts the image from square pixels to rectangular pixels, and then converts the number of pixels of 850,000 pixels (1024 × 768) to the number of pixels of the NTSC system (720 × 480). Is performed. Accordingly, in this case, a high-resolution object image obtained by the 850,000-pixel CCD 14B can be recorded on the recording device 19 (the recording medium 19a or the like) and can be observed on the progressive monitor 23.
[0026]
Next, when the reproduction of the recorded image of the recording device 19 is executed by the operation of the operation unit or the like, both the switches 21 and 27 of FIG. 1 are connected to the terminal b, and the operation shown in FIG. 4 is performed. As described above, the progressive image data of the square pixels obtained by the 400,000 pixel CCD 14A or the 850,000 pixel CCD 14B is recorded in the recording device 19, and when the progressive image is reproduced, By outputting the image data read from the recording device 19 to the progressive monitor 23 via D / A conversion, an image of the object to be observed in the progressive system is displayed on the monitor screen.
[0027]
On the other hand, the image data read from the recording device 19 is also output to the second scan conversion circuit 28, which performs control corresponding to the 400,000 pixel CCD 14A and the 850,000 pixel CCD 14B. Based on the conversion, square pixels are converted to rectangular pixels, and the number of pixels is adjusted to maintain the aspect ratio. The conversion into square pixels (reverse conversion of square pixels) is performed, and the number of pixels in the NTSC system (720 × 480). And the conversion to the interlace signal is performed. Then, the NTSC interlace signal is output to the interlace monitor 31 after signal processing by the digital encoder 29 and the like, whereby an NTSC observation object image is displayed on the monitor screen.
[0028]
In the above embodiment, the case of the 400,000 pixel CCD 14A and the 850,000 pixel CCD 14B has been described. However, based on the communication judgment of the microcomputer 33, if the CCD is 270,000 pixel CCD (square pixel), the same as the above 400,000 pixel CCD. In the case of a 170,000 pixel honeycomb CCD (square pixel), the same processing operation as that of the above described 850,000 pixel CCD is performed.
[0029]
Note that the recording device 19 is detachable, and the detached recording device 19 can be used by a computer such as a personal computer. In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-157665, the output clock frequency is limited to a square pixel frequency. In the present embodiment, however, the output image frequency of the recording device 19 is changed to a square pixel, so that the output clock frequency is There is an advantage that it can be set freely.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in an electronic endoscope device in which an electronic endoscope equipped with various solid-state imaging devices can be connected to the processor device, based on the determination of the type of the solid-state imaging device, The first scan conversion circuit converts the rectangular pixel image obtained by the rectangular pixel solid-state imaging device into a square pixel image, and records the progressive image of the square pixel in the recording device. Based on the signal output from the endoscope apparatus, an image having the same aspect ratio can be easily displayed and used on a monitor of a computer such as a personal computer.
[0031]
Further, by providing a second scan conversion circuit for converting a square pixel image stored in the recording device into a rectangular pixel image and performing a conversion from a progressive signal to an interlace signal, The recorded image can be displayed and observed on a standard interlace monitor of the electronic endoscope apparatus, and the usability can be improved. Further, the second scan conversion circuit is used both during normal observation and during reproduction, and by sharing this circuit configuration, the size and cost of the apparatus are reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of square pixel formation according to an embodiment; FIG. 2A is a diagram of a method of adjusting a horizontal width by enlarging the width; FIG. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a processing operation during normal observation according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a processing operation during recording and reproduction according to the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: electronic endoscope, 11: processor device,
14, 14A, 14B ... CCD,
15, 33 ... microcomputer,
18 first scan conversion circuit 19 printing device
21, 27 ... Switcher,
23, 31 ... monitor,
28 second scanning conversion circuit.

Claims (3)

An electronic endoscope equipped with a solid-state image sensor of a rectangular pixel and an electronic endoscope equipped with a solid-state image sensor of a square pixel are configured to be connectable to a processor device.
A first scan conversion circuit that converts a rectangular pixel image obtained by the rectangular pixel solid-state imaging device into a square pixel image, and outputs a progressive signal;
An electronic endoscope apparatus, further comprising: a recording device attached to the processor device for recording an image of a square pixel output from the first scan conversion circuit. The processor device further includes a second scan conversion circuit that converts a square pixel image read from the recording device into a rectangular pixel image, and performs a conversion from a progressive signal to an interlace signal. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The processor unit includes a control unit that determines a type of a solid-state imaging device of the electronic endoscope connected thereto, and a rectangular pixel image in the first and second scan conversion circuits based on the determination of the control unit. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein conversion between a square pixel image and a square pixel image is performed.

Images