JP2005040260A - Light source equipment for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source equipment for an endoscope in which a main lamp is automatically relighten at the time of instantaneous power failure. <P>SOLUTION: Glow discharge is caused by applying a predetermined voltage to a main lamp 26. An initial current flows through the main lamp 26 by the glow discharge. A control circuit 15 confirms that the initial current flows. After the current is confirmed, the power source 20 for the lamp apply a stationary voltage lower than the predetermined voltage to the main lamp 26. A light emission current flows through the main lamp 26 and the main lamp 26 emits light. When the light emission current stops by an instantaneous power failure, the main lamp 26 is extinguished, the lighting signal output from the power 20 for the lamp is reversed. The control circuit 15 instruct the power source 20 for the lamp so as to again apply the predetermined voltage according to the reversed lighting signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the endoscope light source device, when an instantaneous stop of power supply, that is, an instantaneous interruption occurs, power supply to the lamp may be insufficient and the lamp may turn off. Here, when the lamp is, for example, a xenon lamp, it is necessary to apply a higher voltage when re-lighting than when the lamp is lit constantly. Therefore, even if the power supply to the lamp is restored, the lamp does not light up again.
[0003]
Conventionally, for example, when a main lamp is turned off by a power failure other than by a switch operation, a configuration is known in which a secondary lamp that is an emergency lamp is turned on by a standby power supply (for example, Patent Document 1). However, in this configuration, it is assumed that power cannot be completely supplied to the lamp power supply, and it is impossible to relight the main lamp in response to a power failure due to a momentary interruption.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-72106
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to relight a lamp when a current flowing through the lamp causes a momentary interruption or the like.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An endoscope light source device according to the present invention includes a main lamp that is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of a living body, a voltage applying unit that applies a predetermined voltage to the main lamp in order to flow an initial current to the main lamp, A lamp light emitting means for emitting a main lamp by applying a steady voltage lower than a predetermined voltage to the main lamp after the initial current flows to the main lamp and causing the light emission current to flow to the main lamp, and the voltage when the light emission current is interrupted The applying means applies a predetermined voltage to the main lamp again. Thereby, in an endoscope light source device, when a momentary interruption occurs, the main lamp can be automatically turned on again.
[0007]
The main lamp is, for example, a xenon lamp.
When the light emission current is interrupted, a sub-lamp that is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of the living body when the voltage application means applies a predetermined voltage to the main lamp again but no light emission current flows through the main lamp. It is preferable to light up. Thereby, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the main lamp again, even if the main lamp does not light up again, in-vivo observation can be continued with the sub lamp.
[0008]
The endoscope light source device according to the present invention includes a control circuit for controlling the voltage applying means and the lamp light emitting means, switch information input means for inputting lamp switch information to the control circuit, and a current in the main lamp. There may be provided lighting signal output means for outputting a lighting signal that changes from an initial state to an excited state when flowing. In this case, the control circuit applies a predetermined voltage to the main lamp by the voltage applying means when the lamp switch information is input when the lighting signal is in the initial state, and the lamp switch information is displayed when the lighting signal is in the excited state. When inputted, the application of the steady voltage is stopped.
[0009]
A lamp lighting determination unit that determines the state of the lighting signal after a predetermined time has elapsed after application of the predetermined voltage by the voltage applying unit, and when the lamp lighting determination unit determines that the lighting signal remains in the initial state, It is preferable to turn on a sub lamp that is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the living body. As a result, the sub lamp can be turned on even when the main lamp is not lit even though a predetermined voltage is applied and the main lamp is turned on.
[0010]
It is preferable that a predetermined voltage is applied by the voltage application unit at least once after the lamp lighting determination unit determines that the initial state is reached and before the sub lamp is turned on.
[0011]
When the lamp extinction determining means for determining the status of the lighting signal is provided after the main lamp emits light, the lamp extinction determining means determines that the lighting signal is in the initial state even though the lamp switch information is not input. The voltage applying means preferably applies a predetermined voltage to the main lamp again.
Thereby, when the current stops flowing to the main lamp, the main lamp can be automatically turned on again.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an endoscope light source device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operation panel 11 is provided with various switches such as a lamp switch 12, and switch information such as lamp switch information for turning on or off the lamp 26 is input to the control circuit 15 by operating the various switches. Is done. The control circuit 15 controls the lamp power source 20 and the like based on the switch information input from the operation panel 11 and the information stored in the control circuit 15.
[0013]
The system power supply 35 and the lamp power supply 20 are supplied with an input voltage (for example, 100 V) from a commercial power supply (AC power supply). The input voltage is converted into a DC voltage by the system power supply 35, and a reference voltage (for example, 5V DC voltage) is supplied to the control circuit 15.
[0014]
The lamp power supply 20 is connected to a lamp house 25, and the lamp house 25 has a main lamp 26 and a sub lamp 27 which are illumination light sources for illuminating the living body. Here, the main lamp 26 is a xenon lamp, and is a lamp that emits light when an arc current (light emitting current) flows after an inrush current (initial current) is supplied after dielectric breakdown by a predetermined voltage (for example, 23 KV). is there. The amount of light emitted from the lamps 26 and 27 is controlled by the diaphragm 28, and the three colors are sequentially transmitted by the RGB filter 42 and condensed on the light guide 41. The light condensed on the light guide 41 is sent to the distal end portion (not shown) of the insertion portion of the endoscope (not shown). The sub lamp 27 is an emergency light used when the main lamp 26 is not lit.
[0015]
A lighting signal is output from the lamp power supply 20 and input to the control circuit 15. The lighting signal is a signal for confirming that the lamp is turned on and off, and is at a high level (initial state) when no current flows through the main lamp 26, and at a low level (excitation) when a current flows through the main lamp 26. State).
[0016]
When the system power supply 35 is turned on, a reference voltage is applied to the control circuit 15 and a drive voltage is applied to the lamp power supply 20. When the reference voltage is applied to the control circuit 15, the entire system is started up, and data such as an endoscope (not shown) connected to the light source device 10 is read by the control circuit 15 to control the data. It is stored in the circuit 15. Next, an initial setting operation is performed by the control circuit 15.
[0017]
The initial setting operation is performed for the RGB filter 42, the diaphragm 28, the lamp power source 20, and the like. That is, based on the data stored in the control circuit, the RGB filter 42 is set at the start position by the control circuit 15, and the diaphragm 28 for controlling the light quantity of the lamp 26 is set at the open position.
[0018]
After completion of the initial setting operation, when no current flows through the main lamp 26, that is, when the lighting signal is at a high level, the lamp switch 12 is pushed and lamp switch information is sent from the lamp switch 12 to the control circuit 15. The control circuit 15 outputs a lamp lighting instruction signal for lighting the main lamp 26 to the lamp power supply 20. When the lamp power supply instruction signal is input, the lamp power supply 20 applies a predetermined voltage (for example, 40 KV) to the main lamp 26 to light the main lamp 26, and the main lamp 26 performs glow discharge. The main lamp 26 is supplied with an inrush current after being broken down by glow discharge. Subsequently, the main lamp 26 is applied with a steady voltage (for example, 14 V) lower than a predetermined voltage, and a light emission current is applied thereto, thereby starting light emission by arc discharge. When the light emission current flows through the main lamp 26 stably for a predetermined time or more, the lighting signal is inverted from the high level to the low level.
[0019]
Here, when the control circuit 15 determines that the lighting signal does not reverse from the high level to the low level after a lapse of a certain time (for example, 1 second) after the lamp lighting instruction signal is output, that is, the glow discharge has been performed. However, if arc discharge is not started, a predetermined voltage is again applied to the main lamp 26 to perform glow discharge. After the glow discharge, when the lighting signal is not inverted to the low level, the same operation is further repeated. The control circuit 15 repeats the same operation a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 times), and if the lighting signal does not invert to the low level, it determines that a failure has occurred in the main lamp 26 and turns on the sub lamp 27.
[0020]
When the main lamp 26 continues to emit light, that is, when the lighting signal is at a low level, when the lamp switch information for turning off the main lamp 26 is output from the lamp switch 12, the control circuit 15 supplies the lamp power supply 20. On the other hand, a lamp lighting instruction signal for turning off the main lamp 26 is output. The lamp power supply 20 ends the application of voltage to the main lamp 26 based on the lamp lighting instruction signal, and turns off the main lamp 26. When the main lamp 26 is turned off, no current flows through the main lamp 26, so that the lighting signal is inverted from the low level to the high level.
[0021]
With reference to FIG. 2, the principle of operation when a momentary interruption occurs during main lamp emission in the present embodiment will be described. The graph (A) shows the input voltage, the graph (B) shows the current flowing through the main lamp 26 at that time, the graph (C) shows whether or not the main lamp 26 is lit, and the graph (D) shows that time. The lamp lighting signal is shown. As shown in (A), the input voltage is kept almost constant in the normal state. However, for example, when the AC power supply suddenly drops due to a lightning strike, the voltage drops instantaneously. When the input voltage drops beyond a certain value, the current flowing through the lamp also decreases. Here, as shown in (B), when the current flowing through the lamp 26 decreases beyond a certain value as shown in (B), the main lamp 26 cannot continue to emit light as shown in (C), and is turned off. In addition, the current flowing through the main lamp 26 is interrupted. When no current flows to the main lamp 26, the lighting signal is inverted from the low level to the high level as shown in (D). Here, even if the input voltage returns to a certain value or higher, the lamp 26 does not light up again. This is because in order to light the lamp, it is necessary to apply a predetermined voltage as a lighting operation.
[0022]
When an instantaneous interruption occurs as described above, that is, when the lighting signal is inverted to a high level even though the lamp lighting instruction signal for turning off the lamp is not output, the control circuit 15 An instruction is output to the power supply 20 to apply a predetermined voltage to the main lamp 26 again. The lamp power supply 20 performs glow discharge according to the instruction, and after glow discharge is performed, the same operation as described above is performed.
[0023]
In Step 100 for explaining the flowchart of the lamp lighting operation in this embodiment with reference to FIG. 3, when the system power supply 35 is turned on, the control circuit 15 is driven. When the control circuit 15 is driven, in step 101, the control circuit 15 starts up the entire system. For example, data of an endoscope connected to the light source device 10 is read, and the data is stored in the control circuit 15. To store.
[0024]
In step 110, an initial setting operation is performed. In the initial setting operation, the RGB filter 42 is set to the start position, and the diaphragm 28 is set to the open position.
[0025]
In step 120, it is confirmed whether or not the lamp switch 12 has been pressed. When the lamp switch 12 is pressed, the process proceeds to step 130. That is, when the lamp switch 12 is pressed and lamp switch information is sent to the control circuit 15, the control circuit 15 outputs a lamp lighting instruction signal to the lamp power supply 20. This lamp lighting instruction signal is a signal for lighting the main lamp 26 because the lighting signal output from the lamp power supply 20 is at a high level (initial state). On the other hand, if the lamp switch 12 is not pressed in step 120, the process waits until the switch 12 is pressed in step 120.
[0026]
When the lamp switch 12 is pressed, the lamp power source 20 turns on and emits the main lamp 26 in response to the lamp lighting instruction signal in step 130 and subsequent steps. First, in step 130, the main lamp 26 is broken down by glow discharge and supplied with an inrush current. Thereafter, when a steady voltage is applied to the main lamp 26, a light emission current flows, arc discharge starts, and the main lamp 26 lights up. Here, the lighting signal is inverted to a low level when it is determined that arc discharge has started in the lamp 26 and a light emission current is flowing. On the other hand, if it is determined that no light emission current is flowing through the lamp 26, it remains at the high level.
[0027]
In step 140, it is determined whether or not the lighting signal is at a high level. Here, if it is determined that the level is high (initial state), it is determined that the lamp lighting operation is not performed, that is, the light emission current is not flowing through the main lamp 26 and the main lamp 26 is not lit. Proceed to 150. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lighting signal is at a low level (excited state), it is determined that the lamp lighting operation has been performed normally, that is, it is determined that the light emission current has flown through the main lamp 26 and the main lamp 26 has been lit. .
[0028]
In step 150, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) has elapsed after glow discharge. Here, if it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed after the glow discharge, the process returns to step 140, and the state of the lighting signal is confirmed again. If it is determined in step 150 that a predetermined time has elapsed after the glow discharge, it is determined that the lamp has not been lit by the glow discharge in step 130, and the process proceeds to step 160. In step 160, it is confirmed whether or not the glow discharge in step 130 has been performed a predetermined number of times (for example, 10 times). If it is determined that the predetermined number of times has not been performed, the process returns to step 130, where glow discharge is performed again, and the lamp lighting operation described above is performed. If it is determined in step 160 that the glow discharge has been performed a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the main lamp 26 has failed, and the process proceeds to step 170. In step 170, the error lamp, that is, the sub lamp 27 which is an emergency lamp is turned on.
[0029]
In step 220, it is determined whether the lamp switch 12 has been pressed and lamp switch information has been input to the control circuit 15. If it is determined that the lamp switch information has been input to the control circuit 15, the process proceeds to step 240. In step 240, a lamp lighting instruction signal for turning off the main lamp 26 is output from the control circuit 15, application of the steady voltage to the main lamp 26 is stopped, and the lamp lighting signal is inverted to a high level. Then, the process returns to step 120 and waits until the lamp switch 12 is pressed again. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 220 that the lamp switch information has not been input, the process proceeds to step 230.
[0030]
In step 230, it is determined whether the lighting signal is low level or high level. If it is determined that the lighting signal is at a low level, the process returns to step 220. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 230 that the lighting signal is at a high level, the process returns to step 130. That is, the main lamp 26 continues to emit light until the lamp switch 12 is pressed and the lamp switch information is input in steps 220 and 230 unless the current suddenly drops due to a momentary interruption or the like. On the other hand, if it is determined that the lighting signal is at the high level (initial state) even though the lamp switch information is not input, it is determined that a momentary interruption or the like has occurred, and the process returns to step 130 and is similar to the operation described above. In addition, a predetermined voltage is applied to the main lamp 26 again, and a lighting operation is performed, so that the main lamp 26 is lit again. When the main lamp 26 is lit, the in-vivo observation is performed using the main lamp 26 as it is. However, when the light emission current does not flow through the main lamp 26, that is, when the main lamp 26 is not lit, the sub lamp is lit in step 170. Is done.
[0031]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when the light emission current causing the main lamp 26 to emit light does not flow and the main lamp is turned off, a predetermined voltage is automatically applied to the main lamp 26 again and the main lamp 26 is turned on again. Therefore, the danger due to momentary interruption can be avoided.
[0032]
When a predetermined voltage is applied to the main lamp 26 again, if the initial current does not flow through the main lamp 26, that is, the main lamp 26 does not light up again, the auxiliary lamp 27, which is an emergency lamp, is automatically turned on. Therefore, it is possible to avoid turning off the lamp due to a failure of the main lamp 26 or the like.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a momentary interruption occurs, the stop of the light emission of the lamp can be effectively prevented, and the risk of endoscope operation can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an endoscope light source device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the behavior of the current (B) flowing through the lamp, the lighting condition (C) of the lamp, and the lighting signal (D) when the input voltage (A) is momentarily interrupted.
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a lamp lighting operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Endoscope light source device 12 Lamp switch 15 Control circuit 20 Lamp power supply 26 Main lamp 27 Sub lamp

Claims (7)

A main lamp that is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of the living body;
Voltage application means for applying a predetermined voltage to the main lamp in order to flow an initial current to the main lamp;
Lamp light emitting means for causing the main lamp to emit light by applying a steady voltage lower than the predetermined voltage to the main lamp after the initial current flows through the main lamp and causing a light emission current to flow through the main lamp;
The endoscope light source device, wherein, when the light emission current is interrupted, the voltage applying means applies the predetermined voltage to the main lamp again. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the main lamp is a xenon lamp. When the light emission current is interrupted, when the light emission current does not flow through the main lamp even though the voltage application means applies the predetermined voltage again to the main lamp, The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein a sub lamp as a light source is turned on. A control circuit for controlling the voltage applying means and the lamp light emitting means;
Switch information input means for inputting lamp switch information to the control circuit;
A lighting signal output means for outputting a lighting signal that changes from an initial state to an excited state when the light emission current flows through the main lamp;
The control circuit applies the predetermined voltage to the main lamp by the voltage applying means when the lamp switch information is input when the lighting signal is in an initial state, and when the lighting signal is in an excited state. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein when the lamp switch information is input, the application of the steady voltage is stopped. A lamp lighting determining means for determining a state of the lighting signal after a predetermined time has elapsed after application of the predetermined voltage by the voltage applying means;
5. The internal lamp according to claim 4, wherein when the lighting signal is determined to remain in the initial state by the lamp lighting determination unit, a sub lamp that is a light source for illumination light that illuminates the inside of the living body is turned on. Endoscopic light source device. 6. The predetermined voltage is applied by the voltage applying unit at least once after the lamp lighting determining unit determines the initial state and before the sub lamp is turned on. The endoscope light source device described. A lamp extinction judging means for judging the state of the lighting signal after the main lamp emission;
When the lamp turn-off determining means determines that the lighting signal is in an initial state even though the lamp switch information is not input, the voltage applying means applies the predetermined voltage to the main lamp again. The endoscope light source device according to claim 4.

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