JP2005160724A - Electronic endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a breakage of an image, data of a patient or the like and a defect of the recording medium when a portable recording medium is removed. <P>SOLUTION: A record detecting means detects whether an endoscopic image or the information related to the endoscope is recorded in a PC card 6 or not. A read-out detecting means detects whether the endoscopic image or the information related to the endoscope is read out from the PC card 6 or not. A protection door 26 is disposed at an aperture of a splicing connector to the PC card 6 to protect the splicing connector. A photointerrupter 33 detects the open and close situation of the protection door 26. An electric power supplying means supplies the electric power to the PC card 6. When the protection door 26 is detected to be open by the photointerrupter 33, a termination of movement forcing means forces to terminate the recording movement to the PC card 6 or the reading-out movement from the PC card 6 on the basis of the detection result of the above record detecting means or the read-out detecting means and the electric power supply by the electric power supplying means is forced to be intercepted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly to an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of recording an endoscope image obtained from a subject image of an endoscope on a portable recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique, an electronic endoscope apparatus that can insert an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity or the like and perform observation of various parts, various examinations, treatment processing, and the like is widely used.
When recording endoscopic images and patient information taken for use in medical records and papers in an electronic endoscopic device, the images are recorded on a film and recorded as a picture, or recorded as a video on a video tape by a VTR. In general, recording as digital image data in an information recording device such as a hard disk has been generally performed.

  In recent years, as the capacity of information increases, it is possible to record endoscopic images, patient information, and the like on a small portable recording medium that can be freely inserted and removed by the user and compatible with a personal computer. Electronic endoscope apparatuses have also been proposed (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The portable recording medium is, for example, a PC card with a built-in memory or a USB memory that can be connected to a USB port for recording.

  A small portable recording medium such as a PC card can be freely inserted and removed by the user due to its nature. However, if the medium is removed from the recording device while data is being recorded on or read from the portable recording medium, the data may be destroyed or the medium itself may be damaged. The same problem may occur not only during data communication but also when the recording apparatus is disconnected during power supply to the medium.

Furthermore, the electronic endoscope apparatus has been required to be designed in consideration of the use environment due to the property of being used in the medical field. That is, there is a risk that drugs, chemicals, blood, etc. may scatter during use of the electronic endoscope apparatus, adhere to the electronic endoscope apparatus, and cause an electronic circuit inside the electronic endoscope apparatus to short-circuit. It is necessary to consider. For this reason, protection from dust and liquid is important for a processor unit of an electronic endoscope apparatus, that is, a casing in which a circuit for performing video signal processing, peripheral device control, or the like is stored. . In particular, an endoscope connection connector and an operation panel are provided on the front surface of the casing called a front panel. Even if dust or liquid scatters on the front panel, there is no problem with the electronic endoscope apparatus. Such a design is essential.
JP 11-42211 A JP 2001-8154 A

  In order to prevent data destruction or failure of the portable recording medium when the recording medium is removed, first of all, it is always detected whether or not the portable recording medium is connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus. It is also necessary to constantly detect whether or not data is being transmitted / received to / from a portable recording medium. Conventionally, there has been no means for dealing with an unexpected situation such as removal of a portable recording medium by a user. For this reason, there is no means for detecting and preventing these situations, and it has been possible to take only measures to alert the user.

  Further, the connector with the portable recording medium is often installed on the front surface of the electronic endoscope apparatus. Protects the electronic circuits inside the electronic endoscope device despite the fact that the connector is installed at a place where drugs, chemicals, blood, etc. are likely to adhere to the device during use of the electronic endoscope device There was a problem that no measures were taken.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent destruction of an endoscope image, patient data, and the like when a portable recording medium is removed from an electronic endoscope apparatus, and to prevent a failure of the portable recording medium.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, an endoscope image obtained from a subject image captured by an endoscope or endoscope related information related to the endoscope image is recorded on a portable recording medium. In the electronic endoscope apparatus capable of being recorded, with respect to the recording of the endoscopic image or the endoscope related information on the portable recording medium, a recording detection means for detecting whether or not recording is in progress In connection with the reading of the endoscope image or the endoscope related information from the portable recording medium, a reading detection means for detecting whether or not reading is being performed, and a connector for connecting the portable recording medium Opening / closing protection means for protecting the connection connector, opening / closing state detection means for detecting the opening / closing state of the protection means, and power supply means for supplying power to the portable recording medium. The open / close state detection means When it is detected that the protection means is in the open state, the recording operation to the portable recording medium or the reading from the portable recording medium based on the detection result of the recording detection means or the reading detection means An electronic endoscope apparatus is provided, comprising: an operation forcible termination unit that forcibly terminates the operation and forcibly cuts off the power supply by the power supply unit.

  The access state between the electronic endoscope apparatus and the portable recording medium can be accurately grasped by the recording detection means or the read detection means. An open / close type protection means is provided, and based on the determination that the protection means is in the open state and the detection result of the recording detection means or the read detection means, a recording operation to the portable recording medium or a reading operation from the portable recording medium Is forcibly terminated and the power supply is forcibly cut off. By grasping the state of the portable recording medium in detail, it is possible to more effectively prevent the destruction of data and the failure of the portable recording medium.

A warning may be issued based on the open / close state of the protection means, the data recording state, or the reading state. This is effective from the viewpoint of preventing data destruction and failure of portable recording media.
By providing a means for removing the portable recording medium from the connection connector, it is possible to prevent a failure of the connector pin or the portable recording medium at the time of removal. When a recording operation or a reading operation is detected, a means for prohibiting removal may be further provided.

  According to the present invention, even when the user tries to remove the portable recording medium while the endoscope image data is being recorded on the portable recording medium or while the endoscope image data is being read from the portable recording medium, the portable recording medium is portable. It is possible to prevent the destruction of the endoscope image data recorded on the recording medium and the failure of the portable recording medium.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. The electronic endoscope apparatus 1 generally includes a scope 2, a light source device 3, a processor 4, a TV monitor 32, a keyboard 31, and a printer 30.
The scope 2 converts light incident from the lens at the tip into a video signal and transmits it to the processor 4. The light source device 3 supplies illumination light to the scope 2. The processor 4 performs signal processing on the video signal obtained from the tip of the scope 2. The video signal processed by the processor 4 is displayed on the TV monitor 32. The keyboard 31 is connected to the processor 4 and performs character input and various operations. The printer 30 is connected to the processor 4 and prints image data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment. Processing of a video signal obtained from a subject in a body cavity will be described with reference to FIG.
The scope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 9 for insertion into a body cavity, and a light guide 8 for transmitting illumination light supplied from the light source device 3 is inserted therein. The rear end of the light guide 8 is detachably connected to the light source device 3. Illumination light emitted from a lamp (not shown) of the light source device 3 is transmitted by the light guide 8, and enters the body cavity from the distal end surface of the light guide 8 attached to an illumination window (not shown) provided at the distal end of the insertion portion 9. Is injected into the subject.

  An observation window is provided adjacent to the illumination window at the distal end of the scope 2, and an optical image of the subject is connected to the imaging position by the objective lens 10 attached to the observation window. At this imaging position, for example, a CCD 11 is disposed as a solid-state imaging device, and an optical image is photoelectrically converted into an electrical signal and transmitted to the processor 4 through a signal line 12 as a video signal.

  The signal line 12 is provided with an endoscope side connector 13 and a processor side connector 14 in the middle thereof. The video signal is input to a preamplifier circuit 15 in the processor 4 through these connectors 13 and 14. The video signal transmitted through the signal line 12 is input to the preprocess circuit 16 after the preamplifier circuit 15 amplifies the loss in cable transmission.

  An A / D conversion circuit 17 and a Y / C separation circuit 18 are provided after the preprocess circuit 16. The video signal input to the preprocess 16 is subjected to preprocessing such as CDS (correlated double sampling) and S / H (sample hold), and then input to the A / D conversion circuit 17 to be converted into a digital signal. Is done. The video signal converted into the digital signal is input to the Y / C separation circuit 18.

  An RGB matrix circuit 19 and a white balance adjustment circuit 20 are provided at the subsequent stage of the Y / C separation circuit 18. The video signal input to the Y / C separation circuit 18 is line-sequentially separated into three systems of Y, Cr, and Cb digital signals, and input to the RGB matrix circuit 19 to be converted into RGB digital signals. The video signal converted into the RGB digital signal is input to the white balance adjustment circuit 20, and a predetermined white balance is adjusted.

  A digital video processing circuit 21, a character superimposing circuit 34, a D / A conversion circuit 28, and a post process circuit 29 are provided at the subsequent stage of the white balance adjustment circuit 20. The video signal whose balance has been adjusted by the white balance adjustment circuit 20 is subjected to digital processing such as enhancement processing, γ correction, and character superposition by the digital video processing circuit 21. After being output from the digital video processing circuit 21, the path of the video signal is superimposed on the endoscopic image and displayed as a video on the TV monitor 32, and a portable recording medium such as a PC card 6, for example. And a processing path for recording as an endoscopic image.

  In the processing path for displaying an image on the TV monitor 32, characters are superimposed by the character superimposing circuit 34. After the characters are superimposed, the D / A conversion circuit 28 converts the characters into analog signals. The video signal converted into the analog signal is input to the post process circuit 29. The video signal input to the post process circuit 29 is converted into a standard video signal and output to the TV monitor 32.

  In a processing path for recording as image data on a portable recording medium such as a PC card 6, a memory 22 for temporarily recording an endoscopic image, a desired area of the endoscopic image, is provided after the digital video processing circuit 21. Are provided, and a JPEG compression / expansion means 24 for compressing the video signal is provided. Further, a PC card control unit 36 for controlling the PC card 6 is provided at the subsequent stage. The PC card control unit 36 includes a PC card connector 7 in which the PC card 6 can be removably stored, a photo interrupter 33 for detecting whether the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7, and a PC card. And a driver 25 for performing transmission / reception processing of a video signal transmitted between the JPEG compression / decompression unit 24 and the JPEG compression / decompression unit 24. The driver 25 is controlled by the CPU 27. The connection detection result of the PC card 6 detected by the photo interrupter 33 is output to the CPU 27. The PC card 6 is supplied with power from a PC card power source 35 controlled by the CPU 27.

  When the recording switch 5 provided on the operation panel (not shown) of the processor 4 is pressed, a recording instruction signal is sent from the CPU 27 to the memory 22, and endoscope image data is read from the memory 22. The read endoscope image data is trimmed to an appropriate position and size by the area extraction means 23, compressed by the JPEG compression / expansion means 24, and then applied to the PC card 6 via the driver 25 and the PC card connector 7. Output and record.

  The data recorded on the PC card 6 is not limited to the endoscopic image, and may be character data input from the keyboard 31 or the like. The position of the recording switch 5 is not limited to the operation panel of the processor 4, and may be, for example, on the scope 2 or on input means such as a switch provided on the keyboard 31 or the processor 4.

  When data recorded in the PC card 6 is read and displayed on the TV monitor 32, the compressed digital endoscope image data stored in the PC card 6 is stored in the PC card connector 7. The data is decompressed by the JPEG compression / decompression means 24 via the driver 25, superimposed on a desired character by the character superimposing circuit 34, and then converted to an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuit 28. After such processing, the data recorded on the PC card 6 is displayed on the TV monitor 32 via the post process circuit 29.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing in detail a PC card control unit (a portion including the PC card connector 7, the driver 25, the CPU 27, and the PC card power source 35 shown in FIG. 2) according to the present embodiment. The operation of the PC card control unit will be described with reference to FIG.
A plurality of connector pins 37 are provided on the PC card connector 7. A signal line connected to the connector pin 37 is connected to the driver 25 or the PC card power source 35. When the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7, the PC card 6 comes into electrical contact with the connector pins 37 and power is supplied to the PC card 6. The voltage output from the PC card power supply 35 is 3.3 V or 5 V, and the voltage varies depending on the type of the PC card 6.

  When recording an endoscopic image on the PC card 6, the CPU 27 first outputs a recording command to the driver 25. Next, the driver 25 outputs a recording request signal to the PC card 6, and further designates an address for storing the endoscope image data using the address bus. Thus, the endoscope image data compressed and output by the JPEG compression / expansion means 24 is recorded on the PC card 6 via the driver 25 and the data bus.

  When reading endoscopic image data from the PC card 6, first, the CPU 27 outputs a read command to the driver 25. Next, the driver 25 outputs a read request signal to the PC card 6, and further designates a desired storage address of the endoscope image data using the address bus. Thus, the read endoscope image data is expanded by the JPEG compression / expansion means 24 via the data bus and the driver 25 and then output.

  The recording request signal and the read request signal are included in the control signal of FIG. Therefore, the process of recording or reading the endoscope image data with respect to the PC card 6 is based on an instruction from the CPU 27 and is under the control of the CPU 27 and software. For this reason, it is possible to determine on the software whether the recording or reading process to the PC card is being executed. Specifically, it is possible to detect the recording state or reading state of the PC card 6 by monitoring whether the recording module or the reading module in the software is being executed.

  The photo interrupter 33 is an object discrimination element having a “U” shape. This can determine the presence or absence of an object based on the light receiving state. The photo interrupter 33 is used to detect connection of the PC card 6, that is, determine whether or not the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7. This connection detection information is output to the CPU 27. The photo interrupter 33 is arranged so as to cover a part of the PC card connector and the PC card 6 when the PC card 6 is inserted.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the PC card connection detection method using the photo interrupter according to the present embodiment, which shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX ′ of FIG.
A photointerrupter 33 having a “U” shape includes a light emitting element 39 and a light receiving element 38, and these elements are in a positional relationship facing each other. When the light emitting element 39 emits light, the light receiving element 38 receives the light. In this way, it is detected whether or not there is an object that blocks light between the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38. Detection information of the light receiving element 38 is output to the CPU 27.

  The photo interrupter 33 is disposed so as to cover a part of the PC card connector 7. Furthermore, a gap is provided in a part of the PC card connector 7, and light emitted from the light emitting element 39 is provided in the PC card connector 7 when the PC card 6 is not inserted into the PC card connector 7. It passes through the formed gap and reaches the light receiving element 38.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7. In this case, since the PC card 6 exists in the PC card connector 7, the light emitted from the light emitting element 39 is blocked by the PC card 6, and the light does not reach the light receiving element 38. Thus, when the PC card 6 is inserted, it is detected that the light receiving element 38 is in a non-light receiving state, and this detection information is output to the CPU 27. Based on the detection information from the light receiving element 38, the CPU 27 determines that the PC card 6 is connected to the PC card connector 7.

  FIG. 4B shows a state in which the PC card 6 is not inserted into the PC card connector 7. In this case, the light emitted from the light emitting element 39 passes through the gap provided in the PC card connector 7 and thus reaches the light receiving element 38 without being blocked. Thus, when the PC card 6 is not inserted, the light receiving element 38 detects that it is in a light receiving state, and outputs this detection information to the CPU 27. Based on the detection information from the light receiving element 38, the CPU 27 determines that the PC card 6 is not connected to the PC card connector 7.

  As described above, the endoscope image data recording operation from the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 to the PC card 6, the endoscope image data reading operation from the PC card 6 to the electronic endoscope apparatus 1, and the PC card By detecting whether or not 6 is connected to the PC card connector 7, the access state between the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 and the PC card 6 can be grasped in detail.

  Using the fact that the access state between the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 and the PC card 6 is grasped, the destruction of the endoscope image data and the failure of the PC card 6 are prevented. When the PC card 6 changes from FIG. 4 (a) to FIG. 4 (b), that is, when the photo interrupter 33 detects a change from the inserted state to the non-inserted state, the recording operation or the reading operation is still in progress. It is determined whether or not.

  When the photo interrupter 33 detects that the inserted PC card 6 is about to be removed and it is determined that the recording or reading operation is being performed, the CPU 27 gives a notification to record or read the endoscope image data. The operation is forcibly terminated. Further, the CPU 27 prohibits the supply of power from the PC card power source 35 in FIG. 3 to the PC card 6. When the PC card power supply 35 stops supplying power to the PC card, the PC card 6 and the electronic endoscope device 1 are in an inaccessible state. For this reason, even if a user performs extraction operation, failure of the PC card 6 can be prevented.

In this embodiment, the PC card connector 7 is built in the processor 4 as shown in FIG. 2, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the PC card connector may be separately connected to the processor from the outside.
In addition, the driver 25 and the photo interrupter 33 are connected to the CPU 27, and the CPU 27 performs a PC card recording detection process, a reading detection process, or a PC card 6 connection detection process, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, various determination processes may be performed by a device such as a PLD (programmable logic device).

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the photo interrupter 33 is used as means for detecting the connection state between the PC card 6 and the PC card connector 7, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the insertion of the PC card 6 may be physically detected using a means such as a contact switch, or the software detects by monitoring the state of the control signal between the PC card 6 and the driver 25. It is good to do.

  The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in terms of the external configuration, but is different from the first embodiment in four respects. The four points are the point that a protective door (protection means) is provided in the opening of the PC card connector 7, the point that the photo interrupter detects the opening and closing of the protective door instead of detecting the connection of the PC card, The PC card power supply is controlled by the CPU and the LED is provided. A description of components having the same configuration, operation, and effects as in the first embodiment will be omitted, and differences from the first embodiment will be described.

The external configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 and is the same as that of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment.
An opening-and-closing protective door 26 is provided at an opening serving as an insertion port when the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7. The protective door 26 opens and closes in a rotating manner. The protective door 26 is always in a state of covering the opening of the PC card connector 7 except for the state opened by the user. Since the opening of the PC card connector 7 is located on the front panel of the processor 4 as shown in FIG. 6, the protective door 26 is also provided on the front panel of the processor 4. When the user performs the insertion / removal operation of the PC card 6, the protective door 26 is opened and the opening of the PC card connector 7 is opened.

The photo interrupter 33 detects the opening / closing operation of the protective door 26.
The PC card power supply 35 is permitted / prohibited by the CPU 27 to supply power to the PC card 6.
The LED lamp 41 determines whether the PC card 6 is connected, whether the endoscope image data is being recorded on the PC card 6, or whether the endoscope image data is being read from the PC card 6, Such information is provided for visually indicating and warning the user. The LED lamp 41 may be provided with the required number of LEDs of the same color, or may be provided with the required number of LEDs of different colors. In addition, only one LED may be provided, and a plurality of warning functions may be provided by changing the lighting method.

Note that the warning to the user is not limited to that by the LED lamp 41. For example, the warning content may be displayed on the TV monitor 32 of FIG.
FIG. 6 shows in detail the PC card control unit (the part comprising the PC card connector 7, the driver 25, the CPU 27, and the PC card power source 35 shown in FIG. 5) according to the present embodiment. Operations of the protective door 26, the photo interrupter 33, the PC card power supply 35, and the LED lamp 41 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A protective door 26 that can be opened and closed is provided at the opening of the PC card connector 7. When the user removes the PC card 6, the protective door 26 is opened. When the user does not remove the PC card 6, the protective door 26 is closed. By utilizing this fact, the insertion / removal of the PC card 6 is determined by monitoring the open / closed state of the protective door 26.

The photo interrupter 33 is used to monitor the open / closed state of the protective door 26. The photo interrupter 33 that has detected the open / closed state of the protective door 26 outputs the detection information to the CPU 27.
When the user tries to remove the PC card 6, that is, when the CPU 27 receives detection information from the photo interrupter 33 that the protective door 26 is open, the CPU 27 immediately notifies the driver 25 of the PC card 6. An instruction to stop the operation of recording the endoscope image data or the operation of reading the endoscope image data is issued. Further, the CPU 27 instructs the PC card power supply 35 to stop the supply of power to the PC card 6.

When the user opens the protective door 26, the PC card 6 is stopped from accessing the processor 4. For this reason, when the user removes the PC card 6, it is possible to prevent the destruction of the endoscope image data and the failure of the PC card 6.
FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the protective door and the photo interrupter according to the present embodiment. The photo interrupter 33 constantly detects the open / closed state of the protective door 26.

  FIG. 7A shows a state where the protective door 26 is closed, that is, a state where the opening of the PC card connector 7 is closed. An arm 26a extends from the protective door 26, and a light shielding plate 26b is provided at the tip of the arm 26a. When the protective door 26 is closed, the light shielding plate 26 b is located between the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38. When the protective door 26 is opened, the light shielding plate 26b is retracted to a position away from the photo interrupter 33 along with the rotation. In the state of FIG. 7A, the photo interrupter 33 outputs to the CPU 27 that the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38 are blocked, and the CPU 27 indicates that the protective door 26 is closed. recognize.

  FIG. 7B shows a state where the protective door 26 is opened, that is, a state where the opening of the PC card connector 7 is opened. The protective door 26 rotates around TT ′. When the protective door 26 is open, the protective door 26 and the photo interrupter 33 are arranged so that the protective door 26 does not exist between the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38. At this time, the photo interrupter 33 outputs to the CPU 27 that the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38 are not blocked, and the CPU 27 recognizes that the protective door 26 is open.

  In the present embodiment, the light-emitting element 39 and the light-receiving element 38 are blocked by a part of the protective door 26, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a member that moves in conjunction with the protective door 26 may block between the light emitting element 39 and the light receiving element 38.

In the present embodiment, the photo interrupter 33 is used as the opening / closing detection means of the protective door 26, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, for example, a means such as a contact switch may be used to physically detect insertion of a PC card.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing software processing of the processor 4. The processing for detecting the opening / closing state of the protective door, the recording on the PC card or the reading state from the PC card and preventing the data destruction will be specifically described below.

  First, it is detected whether or not the PC card 6 is connected to the PC card connector 7 (step S11, hereinafter referred to as S...). In the connection detection method of the PC card 6, in the first embodiment, the PC card 6 is physically detected. In the present embodiment, detection is performed using software. Specifically, a connection detection signal (not shown) defined in the PCMCIA standard, which is included in the control signal between the driver 25 and the PC card 6 shown in FIG. This connection detection signal is read by the CPU 27 via the driver 25 to determine whether or not the PC card 6 is connected. A process of detecting whether or not this PC card is always connected is performed. If it is determined in S11 that the PC card is connected, the process proceeds to S12.

In S12, it is determined whether or not the protective door 26 is open. Detection of opening / closing of the protective door is performed by the photo interrupter 33. The open / close state of the protective door is always detected. If it is determined in S12 that the protective door is open, the process proceeds to S13.
In S13, it is determined whether or not endoscope image data is recorded on the PC card. The determination of the recording operation is performed by detecting on the software whether or not the recording module in the software of the electronic endoscope apparatus is being executed. If the recording operation is in progress (Yes in S13), the process proceeds to S15. If the recording operation is not in progress (No in S13), the process proceeds to S14 without performing the process.

  In S15, the process waits until the current recording operation is completed. When a notification or the like indicating that the recording operation has been completed is received, the process proceeds to S16. In S <b> 16, the CPU 27 transmits a command for forcibly terminating the PC card recording operation to the driver 25. After sending the forced termination command, the process returns to S14.

  Next, it is determined whether or not endoscope image data is being read from the PC card (S14). This read operation determination is performed by detecting on the software whether or not the read module in the software of the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 is being executed. If the read operation is in progress (Yes in S14), the process proceeds to S18. If the read operation is not in progress (No in S14), the process is not performed and the process proceeds to S17.

  In S18, the process waits until the current reading operation is completed. When a notification or the like indicating that the reading operation has been completed is received, the process proceeds to S19. In S <b> 19, the CPU 27 transmits a command for forcibly terminating the PC card reading operation to the driver 25. After sending the forced termination command, the process returns to S17.

  In S <b> 17, the CPU 27 prohibits the PC card power supply 35 from supplying power to the PC card 6. When the PC card power supply 35 stops supplying power to the PC card, the PC card 6 and the electronic endoscope device 1 are in an inaccessible state. For this reason, even if the user performs the removal operation, the endoscope image data recorded on the PC card 6 is prevented from being destroyed and the PC card 6 from being broken.

  As described above, the endoscope image data recorded on the PC card is detected by detecting the recording state on the PC card, detecting the reading state from the PC card, and detecting the opening / closing of the protective door in this embodiment. Without destroying the PC card, it is possible to prevent the PC card from being broken and to safely remove the PC card.

  The present embodiment is represented in FIG. 1 in the appearance configuration, and is the same as the first and second embodiments. The electronic endoscope apparatus 1 is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment in that the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 includes a PC card removal means in order to prevent data destruction and failure of the PC card due to removal of the PC card by the user. The configuration of the PC card control unit according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9 that overlap with the PC card control unit 36 according to the first or second embodiment of FIG. 3 or 6 in FIG. 3 or FIG.

  The PC card 6 is connected by a plurality of connector pins 37 when connected to the PC card connector 7. Specifically, the connector pin 37 mounted on the PC card connector 7 is connected by being inserted into a connector hole (not shown) provided in the PC card 6. The connector pins 37 are numerous and very thin. Therefore, if the user carelessly removes the PC card 6 from the PC card connector 7, the connector pins 37 may be bent or the PC card 6 may be damaged.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, an eject bar 42 that can physically push out the PC card 6 from the connector pin 37 side is provided. The extraction mechanism by the eject bar 42 is composed of an eject bar 42, a support bar 43 having a rotation shaft 45, and an eject plate 44. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the PC card 6 is inserted into the PC card connector 7.

  FIG. 9B shows when the PC card 6 is removed from the PC card connector 7. In this case, the user pushes the eject rod 42 in the right arrow direction in FIG. The support bar 43 connected to the eject bar 42 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 45. Since the eject plate 44 is also connected to the support rod 43, the eject plate 44 is pushed out in the direction of the left arrow in FIG. 9B.

  The eject plate 44 is arranged so as to contact the PC card 6 without interfering with the connector pin 37 even if it moves in the direction of the left arrow. When the eject plate 44 moves in the direction of the left arrow, the PC card 6 is pushed out in the direction of the left arrow. As a result, the user can remove the PC card 6 from the PC card connector 7 without contacting the PC card 6 by pushing the eject bar 42 in the direction of the right arrow. The eject plate 44 pushes the PC card 6 in the direction of the left arrow without biasing the force. For this reason, it is possible to prevent bending of the connector pins 37 when the PC card 6 is removed and failure of the PC card 6.

  FIG. 9C is a diagram in which the eject rod 44 is invalidated and the removal of the PC card 6 is prohibited. When the removal of the PC card 6 is prohibited, a driving means (not shown) such as a motor moves the stopper 47 to the position of FIG. 9C, and the stopper 47 is instructed by the CPU 27 according to the instruction of the CPU 27. It moves in the direction of the up arrow and is arranged at the position of FIG. The stopper 47 can move smoothly by the slide rail 46.

  When the stopper 47 moves to the position shown in FIG. 9C, the stopper 47 prevents the eject rod 42 from moving in the right direction. Even if the user presses the eject rod 42, the PC card 6 cannot be removed. When the CPU 27 detects that the endoscope image data is being recorded on the PC card 6 or detects that the endoscope image data is being read from the PC card 6, the CPU 27 applies the stopper 47 to the stopper 47. An instruction is given to move to the position shown in FIG. When the recording operation or the reading operation is completed, the CPU 27 returns the stopper 47 to the original position (the position shown in FIG. 9A). Thus, the user cannot remove the PC card 6 while the endoscope image data is being recorded on the PC card 6 or while the endoscope image data is being read from the PC card 6. Therefore, destruction of the endoscope image data recorded on the PC card 6 and failure of the PC card 6 can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ejecting rod 42 is physically prohibited from being removed using the stopper 47, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the removal operation of the eject rod 42 may be prohibited by using an electromagnet electrically. For example, even if the PC card connector 7 is used to remove the PC card 6 with an electric motor, the user can prohibit the user's removal operation by instructing the electric motor to withdraw the removal prohibition instruction.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above examples, and can be implemented with various modifications.

It is the figure which showed an example of the external appearance structure of the electronic endoscope apparatus in this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the figure which showed the PC card control part which concerns on Example 1 in detail. FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a PC card connection detection method using a photo interrupter according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is the figure which showed the PC card control part which concerns on Example 2 in detail. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the protective door which concerns on Example 2, and a photo interrupter. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of software according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a PC card control unit according to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope apparatus 2 Scope 3 Light source apparatus 4 Processor 6 PC card 7 PC card connector 26 Protective door 33 Photo interrupter 38 Light receiving element 39 Light emitting element

Claims (4)

Electronic endoscope capable of recording an endoscope image obtained from a subject image picked up by an endoscope or endoscope related information related to the endoscope image on a portable recording medium In the device
Recording detection means for detecting whether or not recording is being performed with respect to recording of the endoscope image or the endoscope related information on the portable recording medium;
Read-out detection means for detecting whether the endoscope image or the endoscope-related information is being read out from the portable recording medium,
An opening-and-closing type protective means provided at an opening of a connection connector with the portable recording medium, and protecting the connection connector;
An open / close state detection means for detecting an open / close state of the protection means;
Power supply means for supplying power to the portable recording medium;
When the open / close state detection means detects that the protection means is in the open state, based on the detection result of the record detection means or the read detection means, the recording operation to the portable recording medium or the possible An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an operation forcibly ending unit that forcibly terminates a reading operation from a portable recording medium and forcibly cuts off power supply by the power supply unit. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning display unit that issues a warning based on contents detected by the record detection unit, the read detection unit, or the open / close state detection unit. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an extraction unit that extracts the portable recording medium from the connection connector. When the recording detection unit or the reading detection unit detects a recording operation on the portable recording medium or a reading operation from the portable recording medium, the recording detection unit or the reading detection unit further includes an extraction prohibiting unit that invalidates the operation of the extraction unit. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

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