JP2008035883A - Endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus capable of accurately detecting the temperature of an imaging means and an illumination means arranged inside an endoscope distal end. <P>SOLUTION: A temperature detection part 110 is arranged so as to come into contact with a CCD 109. Also, the temperature detection part 110 and an LED 107 are connected by a heat conductive member 111 constituted of a material with excellent heat conductivity. A system control part 114 controls an LED control part 112 on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detection part 110. The LED control part 112 controls the driving current value of the LED 107 by the instruction of the system control part 114. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus in which an imaging unit that images a subject and an illumination unit that illuminates the subject are provided at a distal end of an endoscope insertion unit that is inserted into an inspection object.

Conventionally, a temperature detection unit is arranged around the tip of an endoscope inserted into an inspection object, and the light amount of the illumination unit is controlled based on the detection result of the surface temperature of the endoscope tip by the temperature detection unit. An endoscope apparatus has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-286234

  However, in the conventional endoscope apparatus, the surface temperature of the endoscope tip is detected, and the temperature of an electric element (imaging means or illumination means) disposed inside the endoscope tip is accurately detected. There was a problem that could not. For this reason, in an endoscope apparatus in which the imaging means and the illumination means are arranged at the distal end of the endoscope, the light amount of the illumination means is increased in a situation where an accurate temperature is not obtained, and the life of the imaging means or the illumination means Could become shorter.

  Further, due to the fact that the temperature of the electric element arranged inside the endoscope tip cannot be accurately detected, even if the temperature of the imaging means and the illumination means is not the limit of performance, the illumination means There is a possibility that the amount of light may be reduced, and there is a possibility that an image finally obtained will be dark. As a technique for correcting the brightness of the image by reducing the light amount of the illumination means, there are an increase in the gain setting value of AGC (Auto Gain Control) and a decrease in the shutter speed due to the long-time exposure control, both of which deteriorate the S / N. This causes image noise (random noise) to increase. It is obvious that the phenomenon that the image becomes dark or the image noise increases prevents the user from performing the inspection.

  Furthermore, in the conventional endoscope, since the drive control of the illumination means is performed according to the temperature detection result of the endoscope tip surface, it is possible to continuously drive and control the illumination means at a current value close to the performance limit of the illumination means. There is sex. It is generally known that the lifetime of an LED used as a lighting means is shortened by temperature stress, and there is a problem that the lifetime is remarkably lowered when it is always driven at a current value close to the performance limit. Actually, when the object to be observed is close to the endoscope tip, it is not necessary for the illumination means because there is no problem in observation even if the illumination means is not driven with a current value close to the performance limit. It gives a lot of temperature stress.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides an endoscope apparatus that can accurately detect the temperature of an imaging unit and an illuminating unit arranged inside an endoscope tip. This is the first purpose. The second object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that can prevent unnecessary temperature stress on the illumination means.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem. An imaging means for imaging a subject and an illuminating means for illuminating the subject are inserted into a tip of an endoscope insertion means into an inspection object. In the endoscope apparatus provided in the endoscope insertion means, a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the imaging means and the illumination means in the previous period, and the temperature detection means detected by the temperature detection means An endoscope apparatus comprising: illumination control means for controlling the illumination means based on temperature.

  In addition, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention further includes an operation detection unit that detects a user operation, and the detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than a first threshold, and the operation detection When a predetermined operation is detected by the means, the illumination control means drives the illumination means with a second current value larger than the first current value that is a normal drive current value.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, when the illumination control unit further controls the illumination unit with the second current value, the detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is When the first threshold value is exceeded, the illuminating means is driven with the first current value.

  In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, when the illumination control unit further controls the illumination unit with the second current value, the detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is When the second threshold value larger than the first threshold value is exceeded, the illumination means is driven with a third current value that is larger than the first current value and smaller than the second current value. Features.

  Further, in the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the illumination control means further calculates based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means after starting the control of the illumination means with the second current value. The illumination means is driven with the first current value after a predetermined time has elapsed.

  In the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, the endoscope apparatus further includes storage means for storing the first current value and the second current value according to the type of the illumination means, and the illumination control means includes the storage means The illumination means is driven based on the first current value and the second current value read out from.

  According to the present invention, since the temperature detecting means is provided inside the distal end of the endoscope, the effect that the temperatures of the imaging means and the illuminating means can be accurately detected is obtained. In addition, when the detected temperature value is equal to or lower than the first threshold value and a predetermined operation by the user is detected, the illumination unit is driven with a current value larger than the normal drive current value, thereby eliminating the need for the illumination unit. The effect that it is possible to prevent various temperature stresses is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope apparatus 101 includes an elongated insertion unit 102 to be inserted into an inspection object, a main body unit 103 in which a configuration related to various processes is stored, and an LCD display that displays an image captured by the endoscope. A device 104 and a remote controller 105 for a user to perform various operations are provided. The endoscope apparatus 101 can be connected to an external storage medium 106 and can store an image in the external storage medium 106.

  Inside the endoscope distal end portion 102 a located at the distal end of the insertion portion 102, an LED 107 that is a light source for illuminating the subject, an objective lens 108 that collects light from the subject and forms an image, and an objective lens 108 are connected. A CCD 109 (charge coupled device) serving as a solid-state image pickup device that picks up the imaged subject image, and a temperature detection unit 110 that detects the temperature of the LED 107 and the CCD 109 are arranged.

  The LED 107 is connected to the LED control unit 112 inside the main body 103 that controls the driving of the LED 107 through a cable. The LED control unit 112 is connected to a system control unit 114 that controls each unit in the endoscope apparatus 101 with a cable. The LED control unit 112 can control turning on / off of the LED 107 and the drive current value of the LED 107 according to an instruction from the system control unit 114.

  The system control unit 114 can issue an instruction to the LED control unit 112 based on signals output from the LED-SW and LED_BOOST-SW provided in the remote controller 105. LED-SW is a switch for inputting an instruction to turn on / off the LED 107, and LED_BOOST-SW is a switch for inputting an instruction to drive the large amount of light of the LED 107 when the subject is dark or the like.

  The type of the LED 107 varies depending on the outer diameter and application of the insertion portion 102, and a different normal driving current value and large light amount driving current value are set depending on the type. For example, when the heat dissipation of the substrate on which the LED 107 is mounted is high, relatively high current values are set as the normal drive current value and the large light amount drive current value. In addition, when an LED that emits special light such as infrared light or ultraviolet light is used as the LED 107, a normal driving current value and a large light amount driving current value different from those of a normal LED are set.

  In the present embodiment, a control current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 is stored in advance in the storage unit 116 configured by an EEPROM or the like, and the LED 107 is driven and controlled according to the control current value. When the user operates the remote controller 105 to input the type of the LED 107, the system control unit 114 identifies the type of the LED 107 based on the signal output from the remote control 105, and stores a control current value corresponding to the type of the storage unit 116. To control the drive of the LED 107.

  The temperature detection unit 110 is disposed so as to contact the CCD 109. Moreover, the temperature detection part 110 and LED107 are connected by the heat conductive member 111 comprised with the material with favorable heat conductivity. In other words, the temperature detection unit 110 is physically connected to the CCD 109 and the LED 107 directly or via a member having good thermal conductivity. The temperature of the CCD 109 and the LED 107 can be detected with higher accuracy than when the temperature detection means is provided on the outer periphery. Note that the temperature detection unit 110 may be disposed so as to be in contact with the LED 107, and the temperature detection unit 110 and the CCD 109 may be connected by the heat conducting member 111.

  The temperature detection unit 110 is connected to the system control unit 114. The system control unit 114 performs A / D conversion on the signal obtained from the temperature detection unit 110, and controls the LED control unit 112 based on the converted digital temperature data.

  The light from the subject illuminated by the LED 107 enters the objective lens 108, forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 109 arranged at the imaging position by the objective lens 108, and is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 109. The CCD 109 is connected to the image processing unit 113 inside the main body 103 by a composite coaxial cable. The image processing unit 113 outputs a CCD drive signal for driving the CCD 109 to the CCD 109 through the composite coaxial cable. The CCD 109 performs photoelectric conversion at a timing based on the received CCD drive signal.

  The signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 109 is transmitted to the image processing unit 113 through a composite coaxial cable. The image processing unit 113 communicates with the system control unit 114 and performs various video signal processing in accordance with instructions from the system control unit 114. Based on the signals output from the remote controller 105 (ZOOM signal and FREEZE signal, signals related to contrast correction setting, gamma correction setting, Rrightness setting, etc.), the system control unit 114 provides instructions corresponding to each signal to the image processing unit It outputs to 113.

  The image data output from the image processing unit 113 is input to the image recording control unit 115. An external storage medium 106 is connected to the image recording control unit 115, and the image recording control unit 115 can record input image data (still image or moving image) on the external storage medium 106. At the time of recording, the system control unit 114 issues an instruction to the image recording control unit 115 based on a signal from the remote controller 105.

  Next, the operation (first operation example) of the endoscope apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a method for controlling the control current of the LED 107 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2A, the horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is the control current of the LED 107. Also, the horizontal axis of FIG. 2B is time, and the vertical axis is the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110.

  The LED 107 is driven with a normal drive current value (first current value) immediately after lighting. When the LED_BOOST-SW of the remote controller 105 is pressed at the time t1 when the LED 107 is lit, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold value 1 (first threshold value), the large light amount driving current value The LED 107 is driven with (second current value). Since the large light amount driving current value is larger than the normal driving current value, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 110 increases immediately after switching the current value. When this temperature rise continues and it is detected that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is higher than the control threshold value 1 at time t2, the control current value is changed from the large light amount drive current value to the normal drive current value. Switch to

  Here, the control threshold value 1 should be set with a slight margin from the element limit temperature that greatly affects the lifetime of the element. The element limit temperature indicates the limit temperature of the CCD 109 or the LED 107. Since both are desired to be protected, the lower limit temperature of both should be set.

  Note that, at any time on the time axis, when the LED-SW is turned off, control for turning off the LED 107 is performed. Further, when LED_BOOST-SW is released at any time on the time axis, control is performed to switch the control current from the large light amount drive current value to the normal drive current value at that time. Furthermore, as described above, current values corresponding to the type of the LED 107 are set as the large light amount driving current value and the normal driving current value. Further, the control threshold 1 is also a temperature value corresponding to the type of the LED 107, and the value is stored in the storage unit 116.

  Next, a specific procedure for performing the above control will be described with reference to FIG. When the power of the endoscope apparatus 101 is turned on (step S1-1), the system control unit 114 determines whether LED-SW, which is a user interface attached to the remote controller 105, is turned on (step S1-1). S1-2). When LED-SW is OFF, it is in a standby state until LED-SW is turned ON.

  On the other hand, if the LED-SW is ON, the system control unit 114 determines whether the LED_BOOST-SW is ON (step S1-3). When LED_BOOST-SW is OFF, the system control unit 114 reads the normal drive current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and causes the LED control unit 112 to operate the LED 107 with the normal drive current. (Step S1-5). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value.

  On the other hand, if the LED_BOOST-SW is ON in the determination in step S1-3, the system control unit 114 determines whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold value 1 (step S1). -4). When the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the control threshold 1, the system control unit 114 reads a large light amount driving current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and causes the LED control unit 112 to output the LED 107 with a large light amount. An instruction is issued to operate with the drive current (step S1-6). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with a large light amount driving current value.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1-4 that the detected temperature is higher than the control threshold 1, the process proceeds to step S1-5, and as described above, the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value. The Note that if the process is completed by reaching step S1-5 or S1-6, the process returns to step S1-2. By repeatedly executing the same processing, the LED 107 can be controlled in real time.

  According to the above, since the temperature detection unit 110 is provided inside the distal end of the endoscope, the temperatures of the CCD 109 and the LED 107 can be accurately detected. In particular, since one of the CCD 109 and the LED 107 is in contact with the temperature detection unit 110 and the other is connected to the temperature detection unit 110 by the heat conducting member 111, the temperatures of the CCD 109 and the LED 107 can be detected more accurately.

  As a result, the light quantity of the LED 107 is not increased more than necessary, and the lifetime of the CCD 109 and the LED 107 can be prevented from being reduced. Further, if the large light amount driving current value at the time of large light amount driving is set to the performance limit of the LED 107, it is possible to prevent the S / N from deteriorating due to a decrease in the light amount at the time of observation.

  Further, when the detected temperature value is equal to or lower than the control threshold 1 and the ON state of the LED_BOOST-SW is detected, the LED 107 is driven with a large light amount driving current value larger than the normal driving current value, so that the user can The LED 107 can be driven with a large amount of light only when necessary. Therefore, if the normal drive current value of the LED 107 is set low with a margin with respect to the performance limit, unnecessary temperature stress on the LED 107 can be prevented, and the lifetime of the LED 107 will not be extremely shortened.

  Next, a second operation example of the endoscope apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a method for controlling the control current of the LED 107 will be described with reference to FIG. The horizontal axis of FIG. 4A is time, and the vertical axis is the control current of the LED 107. In FIG. 4B, the horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110.

  The LED 107 is driven with a normal drive current value (first current value) immediately after lighting. When the LED_BOOST-SW of the remote controller 105 is pressed at the time t1 when the LED 107 is lit, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold value 1 (first threshold value), the large light amount driving current value The LED 107 is driven with 1 (second current value). Since the large light amount drive current value 1 is larger than the normal drive current value, the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 increases immediately after switching the current value. While this temperature increase continues and it is detected that the temperature detected by the temperature detector 110 is higher than the control threshold 1 and lower than the control threshold 2 (second threshold), the control current value is The large light amount driving current value 1 remains unchanged.

  When the temperature rise continues and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is higher than the control threshold 2 and lower than or equal to the control threshold 3 at time t2, the control current value is calculated from the large light quantity driving current value 1. Gradually lowering control is performed. By decreasing the control current value, the slope of the temperature increase detected by the temperature detection unit 110 becomes gentler. Finally, at time t3, temperature equilibrium is reached and the temperature does not increase. The current value at that time is the large light amount driving current value 2, and the large light amount driving current value 2 is maintained unless the LED-SW and LED_BOOST-SW of the remote controller 105 are operated.

  Here, the control threshold value 3 should be set with a slight margin from the element limit temperature that greatly affects the lifetime of the element. The element limit temperature indicates the limit temperature of the CCD 109 or the LED 107. Since both are desired to be protected, the lower limit temperature of both should be set.

  Note that, at any time on the time axis, when the LED-SW is turned off, control for turning off the LED 107 is performed. Also, if LED_BOOST-SW is released at any time on the time axis, the control current is switched from the large light amount driving current value 1 or the large light amount driving current value 2 to the normal driving current value at that time. Done. Further, current values corresponding to the types of the LEDs 107 are set as the large light amount driving current value 1 and the normal driving current value. The control threshold values 1 to 3 are also temperature values corresponding to the type of the LED 107, and the values are stored in the storage unit 116.

  Next, a specific procedure for performing the above control will be described with reference to FIG. When the power of the endoscope apparatus 101 is turned on (step S2-1), the system control unit 114 determines whether LED-SW, which is a user interface attached to the remote controller 105, is ON (step S2-1). S2-2). When LED-SW is OFF, it is in a standby state until LED-SW is turned ON.

  On the other hand, if the LED-SW is ON, the system control unit 114 determines whether the LED_BOOST-SW is ON (step S2-3). When LED_BOOST-SW is OFF, the system control unit 114 reads the normal drive current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and causes the LED control unit 112 to operate the LED 107 with the normal drive current. (Step S2-5). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value.

  On the other hand, when the LED_BOOST-SW is ON in the determination in step S2-3, the system control unit 114 determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold value 1 (step S2). -4). When the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the control threshold 1, the system control unit 114 reads the large light amount driving current value 1 corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and increases the LED 107 to the LED control unit 112. An instruction is issued to operate with the light amount driving current (step S2-6). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with the large light amount driving current value 1.

  Subsequently, the system control unit 114 determines whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is higher than the control threshold 2 and lower than or equal to the control threshold 3 (step S2-7). When the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the control threshold 2, the process returns to step S2-6 again, and the LED driving state with the large light amount driving current value 1 is maintained.

  When the detected temperature is within the range of the control threshold 2 and the control threshold 3, the system control unit 114 gradually changes the current value from the large light amount driving current value 1 to the LED control unit 112. An instruction is issued to decrease the value (step S2-8). Finally, the system control unit 114 instructs the LED control unit 112 to operate the LED 107 with the large light amount driving current value 2 which is a current value when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 maintains temperature equilibrium. (Step S2-9).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2-4 that the detected temperature is higher than the control threshold 1, the process proceeds to step S2-5, and as described above, the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value. The Note that if the processing is completed by reaching step S2-5 or S2-9, the processing returns to step S2-2. By repeatedly executing the same processing, the LED 107 can be controlled in real time.

  According to this operation example, the same effect as in the first operation example can be obtained. Further, when the LED 107 is driven with the large light amount driving current value 1, the control current value is set to the large light amount driving current value after detecting that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 110 has reached the control threshold value 2. By decreasing from 1 to a large light amount driving current value 2 higher than the normal driving current value, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the LED 107 from increasing while maintaining a state in which the light amount of the LED 107 is higher than that in the first operation example. Although the control current value may be switched suddenly from the large light amount driving current value 1 to the large light amount driving current value 2, the state in which the light amount of the LED 107 is high is maintained for as long as possible by gradually decreasing the control current value as described above. can do.

  Next, a third operation example of the endoscope apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a method for controlling the control current of the LED 107 will be described with reference to FIG. The horizontal axis of FIG. 6A is time, and the vertical axis is the control current of the LED 107. In FIG. 6B, the horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110.

  The LED 107 is driven with a normal drive current value (first current value) immediately after lighting. When the LED_BOOST-SW of the remote controller 105 is pressed at the time t1 when the LED 107 is lit, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold value 1 (first threshold value), the large light amount driving current value The LED 107 is driven with (second current value). Since the large light amount driving current value is larger than the normal driving current value, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit 110 increases immediately after switching the current value.

  The slope of this temperature rise is determined according to the characteristics of the LED 107 and the value of the current flowing through the LED 107. In this operation example, the gradient of the temperature rise obtained in advance by measurement or the like is stored in the storage unit 116 in association with the type of the LED 107 and the current value. Further, when the temperature rise continues from the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 with a previously determined slope of the temperature rise, a time point t2 at which the temperature is predicted to exceed the control threshold 1 is set by the system control unit 114. The calculated LED 107 is driven with the large light amount driving current value only during the period of time t1 to t2.

  Here, the control threshold value 1 should be set with a slight margin from the element limit temperature that greatly affects the lifetime of the element. The element limit temperature indicates the limit temperature of the CCD 109 or the LED 107. Since both are desired to be protected, the lower limit temperature of both should be set.

  Note that, at any time on the time axis, when the LED-SW is turned off, control for turning off the LED 107 is performed. Further, when LED_BOOST-SW is released at any time on the time axis, control is performed to switch the control current from the large light amount drive current value to the normal drive current value at that time. Furthermore, as described above, current values corresponding to the type of the LED 107 are set as the large light amount driving current value and the normal driving current value. Further, the control threshold 1 is also a temperature value corresponding to the type of the LED 107, and the value is stored in the storage unit 116.

  Next, a specific procedure for performing the above control will be described with reference to FIG. When the power of the endoscope apparatus 101 is turned on (step S3-1), the system control unit 114 determines whether LED-SW, which is a user interface attached to the remote controller 105, is ON (step S3-1). S3-2). When LED-SW is OFF, it is in a standby state until LED-SW is turned ON.

  On the other hand, if the LED-SW is ON, the system control unit 114 determines whether the LED_BOOST-SW is ON (step S3-3). When LED_BOOST-SW is OFF, the system control unit 114 reads the normal drive current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and causes the LED control unit 112 to operate the LED 107 with the normal drive current. (Step S3-6). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value.

  On the other hand, when the LED_BOOST-SW is ON in the determination in step S3-3, the system control unit 114 determines whether the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 110 is equal to or lower than the control threshold 1 (step S3). -4). If the detected temperature is higher than the control threshold 1, the process proceeds to step S3-6, and the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value as described above.

  When the detected temperature is equal to or lower than the control threshold 1, the system control unit 114 reads the large light amount driving current value corresponding to the type of the LED 107 from the storage unit 116, and also corresponds to the type and current value of the LED 107. Read the slope of temperature rise. The system control unit 114 calculates a time point t2 at which the temperature is expected to exceed the control threshold 1 based on the temperature detection value and the temperature increase slope, and causes the LED control unit 112 to drive the LED 107 with a large light amount driving current. An instruction is issued so as to operate (step S3-5). As a result, the LED 107 is driven with a large light amount driving current value.

  When the system control unit 114 detects that the time t2 calculated in advance is reached, the process proceeds to step S3-6, and the LED 107 is driven with the normal drive current value. Note that if the processing is completed after reaching step S3-6, the processing returns to step S3-2. By repeatedly executing the same processing, the LED 107 can be controlled in real time. According to this operation example, the same effect as in the first operation example can be obtained.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and includes design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement (1st operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of operation | movement (1st operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement (2nd operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of operation | movement (2nd operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a timing chart for demonstrating operation | movement (3rd operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of operation | movement (3rd operation example) of the endoscope apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Endoscope apparatus, 102 ... Insertion part (endoscope insertion means), 103 ... Main-body part, 104 ... LCD display apparatus, 105 ... Remote control, 106 ... External storage Medium 107 107 LED (illumination means) 108 Objective lens 109 CCD (imaging means) 110 Temperature detector (temperature detection means) 111 Heat conduction member DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 ... LED control part (illumination control means), 113 ... Image processing part, 114 ... System control part (illumination control means, operation detection means), 115 ... Image recording control part, 116 ...・ Storage unit

Claims (6)

In an endoscope apparatus in which an imaging unit that images a subject and an illuminating unit that illuminates the subject are provided at a distal end of an endoscope insertion unit that is inserted into an inspection object.
A temperature detection means provided inside the tip of the endoscope insertion means, for detecting the temperature of the previous imaging means and the illumination means;
Illumination control means for controlling the illumination means based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection means;
An endoscope apparatus comprising:   Operation detection means for detecting a user's operation is further provided, and when the detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection means is not more than a first threshold value and a predetermined operation is detected by the operation detection means The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination control unit drives the illumination unit with a second current value larger than the first current value that is a normal drive current value.   The illumination control means further controls the illumination means with the second current value, and when the detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection means exceeds the first threshold value, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the illumination unit is driven with a first current value.   When the illumination control unit is further controlling the illumination unit with the second current value, a second detected value of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is greater than the first threshold value. 3. The endoscope according to claim 2, wherein the lighting unit is driven with a third current value that is larger than the first current value and smaller than the second current value when the threshold value is exceeded. Mirror device.   The illumination control unit further starts the control of the illumination unit with the second current value, and then, after the time calculated based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit has elapsed, the first control unit The endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the illuminating unit is driven with a current value of 2. Storage means for storing the first current value and the second current value according to the type of the illumination means;
6. The lighting control unit drives the lighting unit based on the first current value and the second current value read from the storage unit. The endoscope apparatus described.

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