JP2010152371A - Endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscope which can be operated while observing an endoscope image by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic endoscope 1 includes an insertion part 10 in which an illumination part 12 having an illumination LED arranged at the top end 11 thereof and a C-MOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) 13 are disposed and an operation part 15 in which an LCD monitor is disposed as a display part. The monitor is a monitor with a backlight 20 in which an LED backlight 21 is arranged. A battery 17 for supplying electric power to the illumination part 12, the C-MOS 13 and the monitor 20, is arranged in the operation part 14. The battery 17 is connected to the illumination part 12 and the C-MOS 13 by a power supply cable 18. A current restriction circuit 19 for preventing the supply of an excess current is provided in the power supply cable 18. The monitor 20 is driven by the electric power supplied from the battery 17 through the current restriction circuit 19 and an image signal transmission cable 22 extending from the C-MOS 13 is connected to the monitor 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

 The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope that is excellent in portability and allows a user to perform endoscopic observation.

 In recent years, endoscopes that can observe various organs in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion part into a body cavity, or can perform various treatments using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel as necessary are widely used. Has been. Also in the industrial field, industrial endoscopes are widely used for observing and inspecting internal scratches and corrosion of boilers, turbines, engines, chemical plants, and the like.

 The endoscope used as described above includes an electronic endoscope (hereinafter abbreviated as an endoscope) in which an imaging element such as a CCD that photoelectrically converts an optical image into an image signal is disposed at the distal end portion of an insertion portion. is there. In this endoscope, an observation image of an observation site illuminated by illumination light supplied from a light source device is formed on an imaging surface of an imaging element, and an image signal of the observation image photoelectrically converted by the imaging element is output to an external device. Is transmitted to a signal processing unit of a camera control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CCU) to generate a video signal, and an endoscopic image is displayed on a monitor screen for observation.

 For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-117184, in order to provide an endoscope apparatus that realizes high functionality with a small diameter and a simple configuration by eliminating a light guide fiber made of an optical fiber, an observation site is provided at the distal end. An endoscope apparatus is disclosed that includes a solid-state imaging device that captures an image and a surface-emitting light source that illuminates an observation site.

 Some endoscopes used in the industrial field are used in hazardous locations (hereinafter referred to as dangerous locations) such as explosive atmospheres, such as chemical plant piping and gas tanks. And the equipment used in this hazardous area must satisfy at least the safety standard condition of “DC28V or less, 93mA or less, 0.66W or less” in order to prevent this equipment from becoming an ignition source.

 However, since the CCD provided in the endoscope has a characteristic that the rising current value generated during driving is high, even if the problem of power consumption can be solved, the above-mentioned current value condition is satisfied. Can not be used, so the problem remains when used in hazardous areas.

 In addition, heat generated by electronic components such as resistors provided in the vicinity of the CCD and the tip portion becomes high due to illumination LEDs, so that the ignition point is low temperature such as 80 ° C. ethyl nitrite or 85 ° C. ethyl nitrate. There is a problem that it is difficult to use an electronic endoscope in a pipe or the like that handles a gas that may ignite at the same time.

 Furthermore, when a user who operates an endoscope in a hazardous location observes an endoscopic image, the display device itself must be configured to satisfy safety standard conditions. In case of using a non-explosion-proof type display device, this display device is arranged in a safe area, and an observer in the safe area has to observe and give instructions for observation. .

 The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic endoscope that can be handled while a user in a hazardous location observes an endoscopic image.

 The electronic endoscope of the present invention is disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, has an imaging surface on which an optical image is formed, and photoelectrically converts the optical image formed on the imaging surface and outputs it as a video signal. A MOS image sensor, an illuminating unit that is arranged at the distal end of the insertion unit and that is configured by at least one illumination LED that supplies illumination light to an observation site, and a proximal end of the insertion unit And an LCD monitor that displays an endoscopic image based on a video signal output from the C-MOS image sensor.

 According to this configuration, the user can observe the dangerous place while directly observing the endoscopic image displayed on the LCD monitor.

 As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic endoscope that can be handled while a user in a dangerous place observes an endoscopic image.

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the electronic endoscope of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an electronic endoscope using an LED backlight for an LCD monitor. It is a figure explaining the example of a specific structure.

 As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic endoscope 1 according to this embodiment includes an illuminating unit 12 configured by disposing, for example, one or a plurality of illuminating LEDs as surface emitting light sources as an illuminating unit at a distal end portion 11 of an insertion unit 10. In addition, an insertion unit 10 provided with a C-MOS (abbreviation of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensor 13 as an image pickup means, and an LCD monitor 15 as a display unit at the base end portion also serving as a gripping portion. The operation unit 14 is mainly configured.

 The insertion portion 10 is composed of, for example, a distal end portion 11 formed of a hard member in order from the distal end side, a bending portion (not shown) formed to be rotatable by connecting a plurality of bending pieces, and a flexible member. A flexible tube portion (not shown) is provided continuously. In addition, the insertion part 10 may be formed so that the entire insertion part is rigid. Reference numeral 16 denotes an objective lens that forms an observation image of an observation site illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit 12 on the imaging surface of the C-MOS 13.

 The C-MOS 13 used as the image pickup means is suitable for high density mounting all functions as a camera such as a drive signal generator, a noise reduction circuit, an output signal level stabilization circuit, an A / D converter, etc. The feature is that the system satisfies the conditions of 93 mA or less and 0.66 W or less as a system including an illumination LED. The LCD monitor 15 is specifically an LCD monitor with an LED backlight (hereinafter abbreviated as a monitor with a backlight) 20 in which an LED backlight 21 is disposed as a backlight as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, it operates under the conditions of 93 mA or less and 0.66 W or less.

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operation unit 14 of the endoscope 1 includes a battery such as a dry battery as a power supply unit that supplies power to the illumination unit 12, the C-MOS 13, and the monitor 20 with backlight. 17 is arranged.

 The battery 17 is electrically connected to the illumination unit 12 and the C-MOS 13 through a power supply cable 18 that branches into an illumination power cable 18a and an image sensor power cable 18b in the middle. .

 A current limiting circuit 19 is provided in the middle of the power supply cable 18 to prevent an excessive current from flowing due to a short circuit or the like in the illumination unit 12 and the C-MOS 13. In addition, a video signal transmission cable 22 that extends from the C-MOS 13 and transmits a video signal is electrically connected to the monitor 20 with backlight. Further, the backlit monitor 20 is configured to be driven by electric power supplied from the battery 17 via the current limiting circuit 19.

 As a result, the endoscope 1 satisfies the safety standard condition of “DC 28 V or less, 93 mA or less, 0.66 W or less”, and can observe the target observation site in a dangerous place.

 The operation of the electronic endoscope 1 configured as described above will be described. First, the user brings the endoscope 1 into a dangerous place and operates a power switch (not shown) provided in the operation unit 14. Then, power is supplied from the battery 17 provided in the operation unit 14 to the illumination unit 12, the C-MOS 13, and the monitor with backlight 20 through the current limiting circuit 19.

 As a result, the illumination LED of the illumination unit 12 is turned on, and illumination light is emitted toward the observation site. Further, an observation image of the observation site passes through the objective lens 16 and is formed on the imaging surface of the C-MOS 13, and signal processing is performed on the video signal in the C-MOS 13. The video signal processed by the C-MOS 13 is transmitted to the monitor with backlight 20 through the video signal transmission cable 22, and an endoscopic image of the observation site is displayed on the screen. Therefore, the observer can observe while viewing the endoscopic image displayed on the screen of the monitor 20 with backlight.

 As described above, a battery in which a C-MOS and an illumination LED are provided at the distal end, a monitor with a backlight is provided in the operation unit, and a power source for the C-MOS, the illumination LED and the monitor with backlight is provided in the operation unit. As an electronic endoscope, the system is operated at DC28V or lower, 93mA or lower, and 0.66W or lower, so that it is highly portable and observable and can be used in hazardous areas. An endoscope can be provided.

 In addition, by providing a current limiting circuit in the operation unit, it is possible to reliably prevent an excessive current from being supplied to the C-MOS, the LED for illumination, and the monitor with backlight, thereby improving the safety of the electronic endoscope. Can do.

 As shown in FIG. 3, a temperature sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the distal end portion 11 is provided at the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 1A, and the temperature sensor 31 is provided in the middle of the illumination power cable 18a. By providing a safety circuit 32 that controls the supply of electric power to the illuminating unit 12 and adjusts the amount of illumination light according to the transmitted temperature information, the tip 11 is heated to a predetermined temperature or more due to heat generation of the illuminating unit 12. It is possible to reliably prevent the rise.

 Further, a circuit for supplying power from the first battery 17a through the first current limiting circuit 19a to the illumination unit 12 provided at the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 1A through the illumination power cable 18a, A circuit for supplying power from the second battery 17b to the C-MOS 13 via the second current limiting circuit 19b through the power cable 18b for the image sensor, and further from the third battery 17c to the monitor 20 with backlight. By configuring the circuits that supply power via the third current limiting circuit 19c to be independent of each other, each circuit satisfies the safety standard condition that can be used in the hazardous area, and the lighting unit 12, the C-MOS 23, and the backlight You may comprise so that electric power may be supplied to the attached monitor 20, respectively.

 As a result, the characteristics of the illuminating unit 12, the C-MOS 23, and the backlit monitor 20 are sufficiently extracted, such as increasing the number of illumination LEDs constituting the illuminating unit to increase the amount of illuminating light, and performing good observation. be able to.

 Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a transmission unit 33 for transmitting a video signal is provided in the operation unit 14 of the electronic endoscope 1B, and a display device (including a reception unit arranged in a safety area from the transmission unit 33). (Not shown) by outputting weak radio waves and infrared light that can be used in hazardous locations and displaying endoscopic images on the screen, not only the user but also multiple parties concerned Consideration may be made.

 In this case, power is supplied to the transmitter 33 by the fourth battery 17d, and a fourth current limiting circuit 19d is provided between the fourth battery 17d and the transmitter 33.

 Further, a recording C-MOS memory 34 may be provided in the operation unit 14 so that image recording or the like is stored in the recording C-MOS memory 34 during observation. At this time, power is supplied to the recording C-MOS memory 34 by using, for example, any one of the batteries 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d via a current limiting circuit, or by using another Install with dry batteries.

 Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the objective lens and the illumination unit are provided on the distal end surface, but the objective lens and the illumination unit side surface may be provided.

 The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

 [Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention as described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

 (1) a C-MOS image sensor disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, having an imaging surface on which an optical image is formed, photoelectrically converting the optical image formed on the imaging surface and outputting as a video signal; Arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion portion, an illumination portion composed of an illumination LED for supplying illumination light to an observation site, and an operation portion disposed at a proximal end portion of the insertion portion, the C- An electronic endoscope comprising: an LCD monitor that displays an endoscopic image based on a video signal output from a MOS image sensor.

 (2) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1, wherein the LCD monitor includes an LED backlight.

 (3) The electronic endoscope according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, wherein a power source of the LCD monitor including the C-MOS image sensor, the illumination LED and the LCD monitor or the LED backlight is a battery provided in the operation unit.

 (4) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 3, wherein a current limiting circuit is provided between the battery and the illumination unit, the C-MOS image sensor, the LCD monitor, and the LED backlight.

 (5) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein the C-MOS image sensor operates while satisfying safety standard conditions.

 (6) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein the illumination LED emits illumination light that satisfies a safety standard condition.

 (7) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein the LCD monitor or the LCD monitor provided with the LED backlight is driven while satisfying safety standard conditions.

 (8) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein a temperature sensor and a safety circuit are further provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion.

 (9) The electronic endoscope according to supplementary note 1 or supplementary note 2, wherein a signal transmission unit is provided in the operation unit.

 (10) The electronic endoscope according to appendix 1 or appendix 2, wherein a recording C-MOS memory is provided in the operation unit.

1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the electronic endoscope of the present invention. The figure explaining the specific structural example of the electronic endoscope which used LED backlight for LCD monitor The figure explaining the other structural example of an electronic endoscope The figure explaining another structural example of an electronic endoscope

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope 10 ... Insertion part 12 ... Illumination part 13 ... C-MOS image sensor 14 ... Operation part 17 ... Battery 18a ... Illumination power cable 18b ... Imaging element power cable 19 ... Current limiting circuit 20 ... LED back LCD monitor with light 21 ... LED backlight 22 ... Video signal transmission cable

Claims (1)

A C-MOS image sensor disposed at the distal end of the insertion portion, having an imaging surface on which an optical image is formed, photoelectrically converting the optical image formed on the imaging surface and outputting as a video signal;
An illuminating unit that is arranged at the distal end of the insertion unit and is configured by at least one illumination LED that supplies illumination light to the observation site;
An LCD monitor that is disposed in an operation unit disposed at a proximal end of the insertion unit and displays an endoscopic image based on a video signal output from the C-MOS image sensor;
An electronic endoscope comprising:

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