JP2006075302A - Antenna unit and receiver using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record information related to the use histories of all the provided receiving antennas and facilitate confirmation whether all the receiving antennas can normally receive radio signals or not. <P>SOLUTION: An antenna unit 4 has receiving antennas 4a-4d detachably and electrically connected to a receiver body 5 for accumulating image data imaged by a capsule endoscope introduced to the interior of a subject, and a history storage part 42 capable of storing use history information related to the use histories of the receiving antennas 4a-4d so as to be updated as an antenna unit for sending the image data received through any of the receiving antennas 4a-4b to the receiver body 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna unit provided with a receiving antenna for receiving a radio signal including image data captured by a capsule endoscope introduced into a subject, and a receiving apparatus using the antenna unit. is there.

  In recent years, in the field of endoscopes, capsule endoscopes, which are swallowable endoscopes that are provided with an imaging function and a wireless communication function, have appeared, and a subject that has been imaged by the capsule endoscope has been introduced. A capsule endoscope system that acquires image data in a specimen has been developed. In this capsule endoscope system, the capsule endoscope is swallowed from the subject's mouth for observation (examination) until it is naturally discharged from the subject. For example, the inside of an organ such as the stomach or the small intestine moves in accordance with the peristaltic motion, and functions to image the inside of the subject at a predetermined interval, for example, an interval of 0.5 seconds.

  While the capsule endoscope moves in the subject, image data captured by the capsule endoscope is sequentially transmitted to the outside by wireless communication, and is transmitted to the receiving device via a receiving antenna provided outside. Received. This receiving apparatus reconstructs image data based on radio signals sequentially received via the receiving antenna, and thereby can acquire image data in the subject by the capsule endoscope. This receiving apparatus sequentially stores acquired image data in a memory. The subject can freely act by carrying the receiving device having the wireless communication function and the memory function from when the capsule endoscope is swallowed to when the capsule endoscope is naturally discharged. Thereafter, the doctor or nurse causes the display device to capture the image data stored in the memory of the receiving device, and displays an image in the subject, for example, an organ image based on the obtained image data, on the display device. A doctor or nurse can diagnose a subject using an organ image or the like displayed on a display (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This receiving apparatus generally includes an antenna unit having one or more receiving antennas for receiving a radio signal transmitted from a capsule endoscope introduced into a subject, and the antenna unit. It is configured using a receiving apparatus body having a function of reconstructing and acquiring image data of a subject based on a received radio signal from a capsule endoscope. In this case, the antenna unit and the receiving device main body are detachably electrically connected by connector connection.

JP 2001-231186 A

  By the way, in order to receive the radio signal from the capsule endoscope introduced into the subject, the receiving antenna described above usually has a body surface of the subject corresponding to the movement path of the capsule endoscope. And is electrically connected to the antenna unit via a cable. As described above, the process of acquiring the image data of the subject using the receiving antenna is repeated, and the cable that electrically connects the receiving antenna and the antenna unit gradually deteriorates as the number of times the receiving antenna is used is increased. In addition, this cable may break. In this case, it is difficult to normally receive a radio signal from the capsule endoscope introduced into the subject.

  However, since the conventional antenna unit described above does not have a configuration capable of recording the number of times of use of the reception antenna electrically connected via the cable, it is determined whether or not the received reception antenna exceeds the use limit. It is difficult to confirm. For this reason, when an operation of receiving a radio signal from a capsule endoscope in a subject is performed, there is a risk of using a receiving antenna in a state where the radio signal cannot be normally received due to, for example, a cable disconnection. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can record information on the usage history of all the receiving antennas possessed, and whether or not all these receiving antennas can receive radio signals normally. An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna unit and a receiving apparatus using the antenna unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the antenna unit according to claim 1 is attached to and detached from a receiving apparatus main body that accumulates image data captured by a capsule endoscope introduced into the subject. The image data received via any one of the one or more receiving antennas, having one or more receiving antennas that are electrically connected to each other and wirelessly communicate with the capsule endoscope Storage means is provided that can transmit to the receiving device main body and update usage history information regarding the usage history of the reception antenna in an updatable manner.

  In the antenna unit according to claim 2, in the above invention, the usage history information includes usage count information indicating the usage count of the reception antenna, usage time information indicating a usage time of the reception antenna, and disconnection of the reception antenna. It includes at least one of disconnection presence / absence information indicating presence / absence of occurrence and inspection execution history information indicating an execution history of disconnection inspection processing for the receiving antenna.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the storage means is a nonvolatile memory.

  A receiving apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured so that the antenna unit according to any one of the first to third aspects and the antenna unit are detachably electrically connected to each other through the antenna unit. A receiving apparatus main body for receiving image data picked up by a capsule endoscope introduced therein and storing the received image data.

  The receiving apparatus according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the receiving apparatus main body includes control means for controlling the storage means to store the use history information.

  Further, in the receiving device according to claim 6, in the above invention, the control unit controls driving of the receiving device main body that receives the image data, and each time the driving of the receiving device main body is started, The use frequency information in the storage means is updated.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the control means controls the driving of the main body of the receiving apparatus that receives the image data, and starts to control the driving of the main body of the receiving apparatus. The usage time information in the storage means is updated every time a unit time elapses.

  The receiving device according to claim 8 is the receiving device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit reads the usage history information in the storage unit before starting to control the driving of the receiving device body, and the read usage history information. Based on the contents of the above, it is determined whether or not to start controlling the driving of the receiving apparatus main body.

  The receiving device according to claim 9 is the above invention, wherein the control unit is configured to receive at least one of the one or more receiving antennas based on a reception result of the one or more receiving antennas held by the antenna unit. A disconnection inspection process for inspecting whether one is in a disconnected state is performed.

  Further, in the receiving device according to claim 10, in the above invention, when the control unit determines that at least one of the one or more receiving antennas is disconnected, the disconnection is performed with respect to the storage unit. Control is performed so as to store information indicating that it is in a disconnected state as the disconnection presence / absence information.

  In the receiver according to claim 11, in the above invention, the control unit determines the number of times the reception antenna is used when the disconnection inspection process is performed based on the number of times of use information in the storage unit. It detects, and it is controlled to memorize | store the information which shows this detected use frequency in the said memory | storage means as said test implementation history information.

  A receiving device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes a display unit that displays warning information about the antenna unit in the invention, and the control unit is configured to display the display unit based on the content of the read usage history information. The warning information is controlled to be displayed.

  In the receiver according to claim 13, in the above invention, the warning information is information that warns that at least one of the one or more receiving antennas of the antenna unit is disconnected, and is disconnected to the antenna unit. It is information that warns that it is necessary to carry out inspection processing, or information that warns that the antenna unit needs to be replaced.

  According to the present invention, the antenna unit can record information on the usage history of all the received antennas for each unit, and can easily check whether or not all these received antennas can receive radio signals normally. And the effect that the receiving device using this is realizable is produced.

  Exemplary embodiments of an antenna unit and a receiving apparatus using the same according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

  First, a configuration of a capsule endoscope system including an antenna unit and a receiving apparatus using the antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described, and subsequently, a configuration of the antenna unit and the receiving apparatus will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a configuration example of the capsule endoscope system. As shown in FIG. 1, the capsule endoscope system includes a capsule endoscope 2 that moves along a passage route in the subject 1 and images the inside of the subject 1, and a capsule endoscope 2 A receiving device 3 that receives the image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2, a display device 6 that displays an image in the subject 1 based on the image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2, and the receiving device 3 and the display device. 6 and a portable recording medium 7 for exchanging information with 6.

  The capsule endoscope 2 has an imaging function for imaging the inside of the subject 1 and a wireless communication function for transmitting image data obtained by imaging the inside of the subject 1 to the receiving device 3. The capsule endoscope 2 passes through the esophagus in the subject 1 by being swallowed by the subject 1, and advances in the body cavity by peristalsis of the digestive tract cavity. At the same time, the capsule endoscope 2 sequentially captures images in the body cavity of the subject 1 and sequentially transmits the obtained image data in the subject 1 to the receiving device 3.

  The display device 6 is for displaying an image or the like in the subject 1 imaged by the capsule endoscope 2, and is an image based on image data obtained through the portable recording medium 7, for example, It has a configuration such as a workstation that displays an image of an organ or the like in the subject 1. The display device 6 may display an image on a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, or may output an image to another medium such as a printer. Further, the display device 6 has a processing function for a doctor or nurse to make a diagnosis based on an image of an organ or the like in the subject by the capsule endoscope 2.

  The portable recording medium 7 is a portable recording medium such as compact flash (registered trademark) or smart media. The portable recording medium 7 is detachable from the receiving device 3 and the display device 6 and has a structure capable of outputting and recording information when attached to both. Specifically, when the portable recording medium 7 is attached to the receiving device 3, image data in the subject 1 received by the receiving device 3 from the capsule endoscope 2 can be sequentially stored. The portable recording medium 7 is taken out from the receiving device 3 after the capsule endoscope 2 is ejected from the subject 1 and attached to the display device 6. The stored image data and the like are read out by the display device 6. It is. By exchanging data between the receiving device 3 and the display device 6 using the portable recording medium 7, the subject 1 is different from the case where the receiving device 3 and the display device 6 are connected by wire in the capsule type. Even when the endoscope 2 is moving inside the subject 1, the user can freely act while carrying the receiving device 3.

  The receiving antennas 4a to 4d are realized by using, for example, a loop antenna, and receive a radio signal transmitted from the capsule endoscope 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the receiving antennas 4 a to 4 d are arranged at predetermined positions on the body surface of the subject 1, for example, at positions corresponding to the passage route of the capsule endoscope 2. The receiving antennas 4a to 4d may be arranged at predetermined positions of a jacket to be worn on the subject 1. In this case, the receiving antennas 4a to 4d are arranged at predetermined positions on the body surface of the subject 1 when the subject 1 wears this jacket. The subject 1 may be provided with one or more receiving antennas, and preferably a plurality of receiving antennas. In this case, the number of receiving antennas is not particularly limited to four.

  The receiving apparatus 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention is for performing a receiving process of a radio signal received via any of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d. The receiving device 3 includes an antenna unit 4 and a receiving device body 5 which are embodiments of the present invention. The antenna unit 4 is electrically connected to the receiving antennas 4a to 4d via cables, respectively, and image data based on radio signals received from the capsule endoscope 2 via any of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d. Is transmitted to the receiving device body 5. The receiving device body 5 sequentially acquires image data in the subject 1 by the capsule endoscope 2 via a predetermined radio wave transmitted and received between the capsule endoscope 2 and any of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d. To do. In this case, the receiving device 3 is provided with a plurality of receiving antennas on the subject 1, so that the receiving device 3 receives a radio signal in a position suitable for receiving a radio signal according to the position of the capsule endoscope 2 in the subject 1. Image data from the capsule endoscope 2 can be received via the antenna.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view schematically illustrating a state in which the receiving device 3 is configured using the antenna unit 4 and the receiving device main body 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the antenna unit 4 has receiving antennas 4 a to 4 d via respective cables, and is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the receiving device body 5. In this case, the antenna unit 4 is detachably electrically connected to the receiving apparatus body 5 via a connector or a terminal. The receiving device 3 is realized by electrically connecting the antenna unit 4 and the receiving device body 5 in this way. The receiving device body 5 also displays a power supply unit 51 that supplies driving power to each component of the receiving device 3, an input unit 52 that inputs instruction information for instructing the receiving device 3, and information. And a display unit 53 for outputting.

  Next, the configuration of the receiving device 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of the receiving device 3. As described above, the receiving device 3 is realized by electrically connecting the antenna unit 4 and the receiving device body 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna unit 4 records information about the usage history of the antenna unit 4 and an antenna switching unit 41 that switches the reception antennas 4 a to 4 d to reception antennas suitable for receiving radio signals. A history storage unit 42.

  The antenna switching unit 41 performs an antenna switching operation for electrically connecting any of the reception antennas 4 a to 4 d possessed by the antenna unit 4 and the reception device body 5. The antenna switching unit 41 performs this antenna switching operation and outputs a radio signal received via any one of the reception antennas 4a to 4d to the reception device body 5.

  The history storage unit 42 is realized using a nonvolatile memory capable of rewriting information, such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, and stores various types of information related to the usage history of the antenna unit 4 as antenna history information. The antenna history information includes antenna usage count information indicating the number of times the antenna unit 4 has been used, disconnection detection information indicating that one of the received reception antennas 4a to 4d is disconnected, and possession. At the time of inspection indicating the number of times the antenna unit 4 is used at the time when the disconnection inspection process for the received antenna is performed, and the disconnection antenna information for identifying the reception antenna determined to be the disconnection state among the reception antennas 4a to 4d to be performed The number-of-uses information and normal state information indicating that all the received antennas can normally receive radio signals (normal state) are considered.

  On the other hand, as described above, the reception device main body 5 includes a power supply unit 51 that supplies driving power to each component of the reception device 3 and an input unit 52 that inputs instruction information for instructing the reception device 3. And a display unit 53 for displaying and outputting information. Further, the receiving device body 5 performs a demodulation process or the like on the radio signal received via any of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d selected by the antenna switching unit 41, and detects the received electric field strength of the radio signal. A circuit 54, a switching control circuit 55 for controlling the antenna switching operation of the antenna switching unit 41 based on the received electric field intensity detected by the receiving circuit 54, and a capsule based on the image signal extracted by the receiving circuit 54, for example. And a signal processing circuit 56 for extracting image data and the like by the mold endoscope 2. Further, the receiving device body 5 includes a storage unit 57 that stores information such as image data, a reception that includes control relating to storage processing of antenna history information by the history storage unit 42 and control relating to storage processing of image data and the like by the storage unit 57. And a control unit 58 that controls driving of each component of the device 3.

  As described above, the power supply unit 51 supplies driving power to each component of the reception device 3. That is, the power supply unit 51 supplies driving power to each component of the receiving device body 5 and supplies driving power to each component of the antenna unit 4 that is electrically connected to the receiving device body 5. In this case, the power supply unit 51 supplies driving power to each component of the receiving device 3 even when the receiving device 3 is carried by the subject 1 as shown in FIG. Examples of the power supply unit 51 include a dry battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, or a nickel metal hydride battery. The power supply unit 51 may be rechargeable.

  The input unit 52 is realized using a plurality of input keys or a rotary switch. The input unit 52 inputs, for example, instruction information for instructing the switching of the operation mode of the control unit 58 to the image reception mode or the disconnection inspection mode as instruction information to be instructed to the receiving device 3. Specifically, the input unit 52 receives image reception mode instruction information for instructing to switch the operation mode to the image reception mode or disconnection inspection mode instruction information for instructing to switch the operation mode to the disconnection inspection mode in accordance with a user's input operation. Input to the controller 58. Note that this image reception mode is an operation mode in which the reception device 3 sequentially performs operations until image data captured by, for example, the capsule endoscope 2 is received and acquired. The disconnection inspection mode is an operation mode for performing disconnection inspection processing on the reception antennas 4a to 4d held by the antenna unit 4.

  The display unit 53 is realized using a thin display such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic EL panel, and displays information based on the control of the control unit 58. For example, the display unit 53 displays and outputs warning information related to the antenna history information or information related to the result of the disconnection inspection process.

  The receiving circuit 54 is for performing demodulation processing or the like on the radio signal input from the antenna switching unit 41 and detecting the received electric field strength of this radio signal. Specifically, when the reception circuit 54 receives a radio signal from the capsule endoscope 2 via any one of the reception antennas 4a to 4d and the antenna switching unit 41, the image signal included in the radio signal is received. Demodulation processing to restore and extract is performed. The receiving circuit 54 outputs the obtained image signal to the signal processing circuit 56. In addition, the reception circuit 54 detects the received electric field strength of the radio signal and outputs an intensity detection signal indicating the detected received electric field strength to the switching control circuit 55.

  The switching control circuit 55 controls the antenna switching operation by the antenna switching unit 41 described above. Specifically, the switching control circuit 55 determines a receiving antenna suitable for receiving a radio signal from the receiving antennas 4a to 4d based on the intensity detection signal input from the receiving circuit 54, and determines the received signal. The antenna switching unit 41 is controlled so that the antenna and the receiving circuit 54 are electrically connected. Further, when the control unit 58 sets the disconnection inspection mode as the operation mode, the switching control circuit 55 is driven and controlled by the control unit 58 and outputs this intensity detection signal to the control unit 58.

  The signal processing circuit 56 is for extracting image data and the like included in the image signal based on the image signal extracted by the receiving circuit 54. For example, when the image signal extracted by the receiving circuit 54 is an image signal generated by the capsule endoscope 2, the signal processing circuit 56 uses the capsule type based on the image signal input from the receiving circuit 54. Image data and the like captured by the endoscope 2 are extracted. The signal processing circuit 56 outputs the obtained image data and the like to the control unit 58.

  The storage unit 57 can detachably mount the portable recording medium 7 described above, and sequentially writes information based on the control of the control unit 58, for example, image data extracted by the signal processing circuit 56, to the portable recording medium 7. The storage unit 57 may include a memory IC such as a RAM or a flash memory so that the storage unit 57 itself stores information.

  The control unit 58 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that executes various processing programs, a ROM in which various processing programs and the like are recorded in advance, and a RAM that stores various types of information such as calculation parameters of each processing or antenna history information. To be realized. The control unit 58 controls driving of each component of the receiving device body 5 and controls driving of each component of the antenna unit 4 electrically connected to the receiving device body 5. In this case, the control unit 58 constantly monitors whether or not the above-described image reception mode instruction information or disconnection inspection mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52, sets an operation mode based on the input instruction information, and receives it. Drive control based on the set operation mode is performed on each component of the device 3.

  For example, in the image reception mode, the control unit 58 determines the number of times the antenna unit 4 is used based on the antenna history information in the history storage unit 42 or disconnection of the received reception antenna before starting the drive control in the image reception mode. The usage history such as presence or absence is confirmed, and a warning display corresponding to the confirmed result is displayed on the display unit 53. Alternatively, the control unit 58 starts driving control of the image reception mode for each component of the reception device 3 based on the confirmed result. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for controlling the warning display based on the result of confirming the antenna history information or starting the drive control in the image reception mode.

  In FIG. 4, if the image reception mode instruction information is not input from the input unit 52, the control unit 58 does not detect the image reception mode instruction information (No in step S101), and the image reception mode instruction information is received from the input unit 52. This step S101 is repeated until input. That is, the control unit 58 constantly monitors whether the image reception mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52.

  On the other hand, when the image reception mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52, the control unit 58 detects the input image reception mode instruction information (Yes in step S101), and based on the detected image reception mode instruction information. The image reception mode is set as the operation mode. The control unit 58 first reads the antenna history information recorded in the history storage unit 42 in the image reception mode (step S102). In this case, the control unit 58 confirms the content of the antenna history information read from the history storage unit 42.

  Next, as a result of confirming the antenna history information read in step S102, the control unit 58 detects disconnection detection information based on the antenna history information (step S103, Yes), based on the disconnection detection information. Then, it is determined that at least one of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d is in a disconnected state, and a control for displaying a disconnection detection warning for warning this to the outside is performed on the display unit 53 (step S104). . In this case, the control unit 58 may display the disconnection antenna information on the display unit 53 together with the disconnection detection warning. Thereafter, the control unit 58 ends the processing procedure without starting the drive control in the image reception mode.

  On the other hand, as a result of confirming the antenna history information read in step S102, the control unit 58 does not detect disconnection detection information based on the antenna history information (No in step S103), and stores the antenna history information. In addition, antenna usage count information and inspection usage count information are extracted, and the post-test usage count of the antenna unit 4 is calculated using the extracted antenna usage count information and inspection usage count information (step S105). The number of times of use after the inspection is, for example, the number of times the antenna unit 4 has been used since the previous disconnection inspection process was performed on the antenna unit 4. Therefore, the control unit 58 can obtain the post-inspection usage count by calculating the difference between the usage count of the antenna unit 4 based on the antenna usage count information and the usage count of the antenna unit 4 based on the inspection usage count information. . Note that if the inspection use frequency information based on the antenna history information cannot be extracted, the control unit 58 sets the use frequency based on the extracted antenna usage frequency information as the post-inspection usage frequency.

  Next, the control unit 58 compares the number of times of use after the inspection calculated in step S105 with a reference number of times recorded in advance as determination criterion information, and when the number of times of use after inspection is equal to or greater than the reference number (step S106, Yes). ) The display unit 53 is controlled to display a disconnection inspection execution warning prompting execution of the disconnection inspection process for the antenna unit 4 (step S107). The reference count is determination reference information for adjusting the frequency of performing the disconnection inspection process. The controller 58 can frequently display and output a disconnection inspection execution warning by using the reference number set to a smaller value.

  After the processing procedure of step S107 is performed, the control unit 58 compares the number of times of antenna use based on this antenna history information with the limit number of times recorded in advance as determination criterion information, and the number of times of antenna use is equal to or greater than the limit number of times. If present (step S108, Yes), the display unit 53 is controlled to display an antenna replacement warning that prompts the user to replace the antenna unit 4 with another antenna unit (step S109). The limit number is determination criterion information indicating a desired limit value of the number of times the antenna unit 4 can maintain the normal state described above. The controller 58 can display and output an antenna replacement warning at an early stage by using the limit number of times set to a smaller value.

  Thereafter, the control unit 58 starts driving control of the image reception mode for each component of the receiving device 3 (step S110), and as described above, for example, image data captured by the capsule endoscope 2 or the like Are sequentially acquired, and the acquired image data and the like are sequentially transferred to the storage unit 57. As a result, the storage unit 57 sequentially writes the image data and the like transferred from the control unit 58 on the portable recording medium 7, for example.

  Further, the control unit 58 counts up the number of antenna use based on the antenna history information read in step S102 described above, triggered by the start of image reception mode drive control (step S111). Increase +1. Thereafter, the control unit 58 causes the history storage unit 42 to write the antenna use count information indicating the counted antenna use count (step S112). In this case, the history storage unit 42 overwrites the counted antenna use count input from the control unit 58 with the previously stored antenna use count. Thereby, the number of times the antenna is used in the history storage unit 42 is updated.

  On the other hand, the control unit 58 compares the number of times of use after the inspection calculated in step S105 described above and the reference number of times, and when the number of times of use after inspection is less than the reference number of times (step S106, No), Without performing the processing procedure, the number of antenna uses based on the antenna history information read in step S102 described above is compared with the limit number. As a result of comparing the number of times the antenna is used and the limit number, if the number of times the antenna is used is less than the limit number (step S108, No), the control unit 58 does not perform the processing procedure of step S109 described above, The processing procedure after S110 is performed.

  Here, the user visually recognizes the disconnection detection warning displayed and displayed on the display unit 53 based on the processing procedure of step S104 described above, thereby indicating that the antenna unit 4 is not in a state in which the radio signal can be normally received. Easy to grasp. Further, the user can easily grasp which of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d is in a disconnected state by visually checking the disconnected antenna information displayed and output on the display unit 53. The user may electrically connect a normal antenna unit to the receiving device main body 5 instead of the antenna unit 4 indicated by the disconnection detection warning. In addition, the user may electrically connect a normal reception antenna to the antenna unit 4 instead of the reception antenna indicated by the disconnected antenna information.

  Further, the user visually recognizes the disconnection inspection execution warning displayed and output on the display unit 53 based on the processing procedure of step S107 described above, so that the disconnection inspection process for the antenna unit 4 has not been performed for a predetermined period or more. Can be easily grasped. The user may perform a disconnection inspection process for the antenna unit 4 every time this disconnection inspection execution warning is displayed and output on the display unit 53.

  Further, the user can easily confirm that the number of uses of the antenna unit 4 is equal to or greater than the desired limit number by visually recognizing the antenna replacement warning displayed on the display unit 53 based on the processing procedure of step S109 described above. Can grasp. The user only has to replace the antenna unit to be electrically connected to the receiving apparatus main body 5 with another normal antenna unit each time this antenna replacement warning is displayed on the display unit 53. As a result, the user can exchange this antenna unit with the normal antenna unit before any of the reception antennas held by the antenna unit is disconnected. The receiving device 3 provided with the main body 5 can always be used.

  On the other hand, in the disconnection inspection mode described above, the control unit 58 performs a disconnection inspection process on the antenna unit 4 by, for example, determining each reception state of radio signals from the reception antennas 4a to 4d. In this case, the user generates a radio signal generator (not shown) that generates and outputs a test radio signal in the same frequency band as the radio signal transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2 and receives the reception antennas 4a to 4d that are subject to disconnection inspection. The test antennas from the radio signal generator are received by the receiving antennas 4a to 4d. The controller 58 performs a disconnection inspection process on the antenna unit 4 based on the received electric field strength of the test radio signal received via the receiving antennas 4a to 4d.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the disconnection inspection process performed by the control unit 58 in the disconnection inspection mode. In FIG. 5, if the disconnection inspection mode instruction information is not input from the input unit 52, the control unit 58 does not detect the disconnection inspection mode instruction information (No in step S <b> 201), and the disconnection inspection mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52. This step S201 is repeated until input. That is, the control unit 58 constantly monitors whether or not the disconnection inspection mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52.

  On the other hand, when the disconnection inspection mode instruction information is input from the input unit 52, the control unit 58 detects the input disconnection inspection mode instruction information (step S201, Yes), and based on the detected disconnection inspection mode instruction information. The disconnection inspection mode is set as the operation mode. In the disconnection inspection mode, first, the control unit 58 instructs the switching control circuit 55 to sequentially switch the receiving antennas to be electrically connected to the receiving circuit 54 from the receiving antennas 4a to 4d in a predetermined order (step S202). . In this case, the switching control circuit 55 controls the antenna switching operation of the antenna switching unit 41 based on the control of the control unit 58, and performs control to sequentially switch the receiving antennas to be electrically connected to the receiving circuit 54 in a predetermined order.

  In this state, the above-described radio signal generator is already arranged in the vicinity of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d, and transmits test radio signals to the receiving antennas 4a to 4d. The reception circuit 54 detects the reception field strength of the test radio signal received via each of the reception antennas 4a to 4d that are sequentially switched for each reception antenna, and switches the intensity detection signal corresponding to each reception field strength. Sequentially output to 55. The switching control circuit 55 sequentially transfers the intensity detection signals sequentially input from the reception circuit 54 to the control unit 58. The control unit 58 receives the intensity detection signal from the switching control circuit 55 for each reception antenna, and receives the test radio signals received via the reception antennas 4a to 4d based on the received intensity detection signals. The electric field strength is acquired for each receiving antenna (step S203).

  The control unit 58 determines the reception states of the reception antennas 4a to 4d for each reception antenna using the reception field strength for each reception antenna acquired in step S203 and the threshold value recorded in advance as determination criterion information ( Step S204). In this case, the control unit 58 performs a comparison process for comparing each acquired reception field strength and the threshold value for each reception antenna, and the reception state of the reception antenna that has received the reception field strength equal to or greater than the threshold value is good. And the reception states of the other receiving antennas are determined to be defective.

  In step S204, the control unit 58 determines whether or not the reception states of all the receiving antennas 4a to 4d to be subjected to the disconnection inspection are good, and if not determined to be good (step S205, No), It is confirmed whether or not the reception states of all reception antennas 4a to 4d have been determined. In this case, the control unit 58 detects that a period sufficient to repeat the antenna switching operation in which each of the reception antennas 4a to 4d to be subjected to the disconnection inspection is electrically connected to the reception circuit 54 has elapsed a predetermined number of times. If not, it is determined that the reception state of any of these reception antennas 4a to 4d has not been determined (No at Step S206), and the processing procedure after Step S202 described above is repeated. On the other hand, when detecting that this period has elapsed, the control unit 58 determines that the reception states of all the reception antennas 4a to 4d are complete (step S206, Yes), and the reception antennas 4a to 4 to be subject to disconnection inspection. A reception antenna having a bad reception state among 4d is determined as a disconnection state, and the antenna unit 4 having these reception antennas 4a to 4d is determined as a disconnection state (step S209).

  Thereafter, the control unit 58 is in a state where at least one of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d to be inspected for disconnection is disconnected, that is, the disconnection detection information indicating that the antenna unit 4 is in the disconnected state, and the reception state is determined to be bad in step S204 described above. Disconnection antenna information for identifying the determined reception antenna, that is, the reception antenna determined to be in a disconnection state, and inspection use count information indicating the number of times the antenna is used when this disconnection inspection process is performed are output to the history storage unit 42 Then, the output disconnection detection information, disconnection antenna information, and inspection use count information are written in the history storage unit 42 (step S210). In this case, the history storage unit 42 stores the disconnection detection information and the disconnection antenna information as the antenna history information related to the antenna unit 4, and overwrites the use count information at the time of inspection. Then, the control part 58 repeats the process sequence after step S201 mentioned above.

  The disconnected antenna information may be information that can identify the receiving antennas 4a to 4d, and may be, for example, a number, a symbol, a character, or the like assigned to each of the receiving antennas 4a to 4d.

  On the other hand, in step S204, the control unit 58 determines whether or not the reception state of all the receiving antennas 4a to 4d to be subjected to the disconnection inspection is good, and if it is determined that they are good (step S205, Yes), these The antenna unit 4 having the receiving antennas 4a to 4d is determined to be in a normal state (step S207).

  Thereafter, the control unit 58 performs the disconnection inspection process with all the reception antennas 4a to 4d subject to disconnection inspection being in a state in which the radio signal can be normally received, that is, normal state information indicating that the antenna unit 4 is in a normal state. The inspection use count information indicating the number of times the antenna is used at this time is output to the history storage section 42, and the output normal state information and inspection use count information are written to the history storage section 42 (step S208). In this case, the history storage unit 42 stores the normal state information as the antenna history information related to the antenna unit 4 and overwrites the inspection use frequency information. Then, the control part 58 repeats the process sequence after step S201 mentioned above.

  Note that the control unit 58 may perform control to display and output normal state information on the display unit 53 after performing the processing procedure of step S208 described above. Further, the control unit 58 may perform control to display and output the disconnection detection information and the disconnection antenna information on the display unit 53 after performing the processing procedure of step S210 described above. Thereby, the user can confirm the disconnection inspection processing result of the antenna unit subject to the disconnection inspection processing in real time.

  In addition, the above-described wireless signal generation device only needs to be able to transmit a test wireless signal in the same frequency band as the wireless signal transmitted by the capsule endoscope 2, but the image signal having the same signal pattern as the capsule endoscope 2 can be transmitted. It is desirable to generate and output a test radio signal including it. Accordingly, the control unit 58 can perform the disconnection inspection process using a more practical test radio signal. In addition, as the wireless signal generator, a dummy capsule having a function for generating and outputting the test signal may be used in the same housing structure as the capsule endoscope, or the capsule endoscope itself may be used. There may be.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the antenna usage count information indicating the usage count of the antenna unit 4 is recorded in the history storage unit 42 as one of the antenna history information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a usage time counter indicating the usage time of the antenna unit 4 using a unit time value where the predetermined unit time is “1” may be recorded in the history storage unit 42 instead of the number of times the antenna is used. In this case, in the image reception mode described above, the control unit 58 sequentially counts up the usage time counter every time a predetermined unit time, for example, 30 minutes elapses after starting the drive control in the image reception mode. Control is performed to overwrite the history storage unit 42 with the usage time counter. Moreover, the control part 58 may use the information regarding the usage time counter and the time based on this instead of the information regarding the frequency | count of use of an antenna unit in each processing procedure of step S101-S112 mentioned above.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of times the antenna is used is counted up every time the drive control of the image reception mode is started. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the initial state of the antenna unit 4 is 2, a limit time counter indicating the use limit time is recorded in advance in the history storage unit 42 using the limit number of use of the antenna unit 4 or the unit time value described above, and the control unit 58 starts driving control in the image reception mode. Each time, the usage limit count or limit time counter may be counted down. In this case, when the control unit 58 detects that the use limit number or limit time counter has become zero, the control unit 58 determines that the use number or use time of the antenna unit 4 is the use limit, and issues an antenna replacement warning. The display unit 53 outputs the display. This facilitates the setting of the use limit number or use limit time for each antenna unit, and there is no need to change the setting on the receiver side, for example, the reference number or limit number described above for each antenna unit. Simplifies the process of checking the history.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the reception state of the receiving antenna is determined based on the received electric field strength of the radio signal received by the receiving antenna subject to disconnection inspection, but the present invention is limited to this. However, when image data based on a radio signal received via the receiving antenna is detected, the reception state of the receiving antenna may be determined to be good, or the radio signal received via the receiving antenna may be determined to be good. When synchronization is detected, the reception state of the reception antenna may be determined to be good.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, reception is performed using the antenna unit 4 including the antenna switching unit 41 and the history storage unit 42 to which the reception antennas 4 a to 4 d are electrically connected, and the reception device body 5. Although the apparatus 3 is configured, the present invention is not limited to this, and the antenna switching unit 41, the history storage unit 42, the reception circuit 54, and the switching unit to which the reception antennas 4a to 4d are electrically connected respectively. A receiving apparatus may be configured using an antenna unit including the control circuit 55 and a receiving apparatus main body including the power supply unit 51, the input unit 52, the signal processing circuit 56, the storage unit 57, and the control unit 58. .

  As described above, the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a history storage unit capable of recording various types of information related to the usage history of the received antenna, for example, antenna history information such as the number of times of use, usage time, or disconnection. Therefore, the usage history of the receiving antenna can be easily confirmed based on the antenna history information recorded in the history storage unit, and whether or not all the receiving antennas are in a state of being able to receive radio signals normally. It is possible to realize an antenna unit that can be easily confirmed for each unit.

  In addition, a function for acquiring image data from the capsule endoscope based on a radio signal from the capsule endoscope received via the antenna unit, and an antenna recorded in the history storage unit of the antenna unit A function that checks the usage history of this antenna unit based on the history information, displays a warning based on the confirmed usage history, and a function that sequentially updates the antenna history information according to the usage history of this antenna unit. The receiving apparatus is configured by electrically connecting the receiving apparatus main body and the antenna unit in a detachable manner. Therefore, before performing the process of acquiring image data by the capsule endoscope, the use history of this antenna unit, in particular, all the reception antennas electrically connected to this antenna unit can receive radio signals normally. It is possible to realize a receiving apparatus that can easily visually recognize whether or not a state is present.

  According to this receiving apparatus, it is possible to prevent the start of the process of acquiring image data by the capsule endoscope while using a disconnected receiving antenna, and the user can receive a radio signal in a normal state. It is possible to perform processing for acquiring this image data by always using a receiving device including an antenna unit. Accordingly, the receiving apparatus can reliably accumulate image data picked up by the capsule endoscope, and can improve the reliability of the examination on the subject.

It is a schematic diagram which illustrates typically one structural example of a capsule type endoscope system. It is a schematic diagram which illustrates typically the state which comprises a receiving device using an antenna unit and a receiving device main body. It is a block diagram which illustrates typically the example of 1 composition of the antenna unit which is an embodiment of this invention, and a receiving device using the same. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process sequence for starting drive control of image reception mode based on the result of having confirmed antenna history information. It is a flowchart which illustrates the process sequence of the disconnection inspection process in a disconnection inspection mode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Subject 2 Capsule endoscope 3 Receiving device 4 Antenna unit 4a-4d Receiving antenna 5 Receiving device main body 6 Display device 7 Portable recording medium 41 Antenna switching part 42 History memory | storage part 51 Power supply part 52 Input part 53 Display part 54 receiving circuit 55 switching control circuit 56 signal processing circuit 57 storage unit 58 control unit

Claims (13)

  A receiving apparatus body for accumulating image data captured by a capsule endoscope introduced into a subject is detachably electrically connected to perform wireless communication with the capsule endoscope 1 Having the above receiving antennas, the image data received via any one of the one or more receiving antennas can be transmitted to the main body of the receiving apparatus, and the usage history information related to the usage history of the receiving antenna can be updated. An antenna unit comprising storage means capable of storing.   The usage history information includes usage number information indicating the number of times the receiving antenna is used, usage time information indicating a usage time of the receiving antenna, disconnection presence / absence information indicating whether the receiving antenna is disconnected, and disconnection with respect to the receiving antenna. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein the antenna unit includes at least one of inspection execution history information indicating an inspection processing execution history.   The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a nonvolatile memory. The antenna unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Removably electrically connected to the antenna unit, receives image data captured by a capsule endoscope introduced into the subject via the antenna unit, and stores the received image data A receiving device body;
A receiving apparatus comprising:   The receiving apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the receiving apparatus main body includes control means for controlling the storage means to store the usage history information.   The control means controls the driving of the receiving apparatus main body that receives the image data, and updates the usage count information in the storage means every time the driving of the receiving apparatus main body starts to be controlled. The receiving device according to claim 5.   The control means controls the driving of the receiving apparatus main body that receives the image data, and the use in the storage means every time a predetermined unit time elapses after starting the driving of the receiving apparatus main body. The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the time information is updated.   The control means reads the usage history information in the storage means before starting to control the driving of the receiving apparatus body, and controls the driving of the receiving apparatus body based on the contents of the read usage history information It is judged whether it starts or not, The receiving apparatus as described in any one of Claims 5-7 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The control unit is configured to check whether at least one of the one or more receiving antennas is disconnected based on reception results of the one or more receiving antennas held by the antenna unit. The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the receiving apparatus performs processing.   When the control unit determines that at least one of the one or more receiving antennas is in a disconnected state, the control unit stores information indicating the disconnected state as the disconnection presence / absence information to the storage unit. The receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein control is performed to   The control means detects the number of times the receiving antenna is used at the time when the disconnection inspection process is performed based on the number of times of use information in the storage means, and the detected number of uses is stored in the storage means. The receiving apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein control is performed such that information to be stored is stored as the examination execution history information.   Display means for displaying warning information related to the antenna unit, and the control means controls to display the warning information on the display means based on the content of the read usage history information. The receiving device according to claim 5, wherein the receiving device is characterized in that: The warning information is information that warns that at least one of the one or more receiving antennas of the antenna unit is in a disconnected state, information that warns that it is necessary to perform a disconnection inspection process on the antenna unit, or 13. The receiving apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the receiving apparatus is information for warning that the antenna unit needs to be replaced.

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