JP2012085866A - Endoscopic apparatus and endoscopic apparatus control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscopic apparatus having a scope that operates even when firmware is not successfully written in the memory, and to provide a control method therefor.SOLUTION: In first update processing, firmware received from the outside is written into a scope storage part 222. Specifically, a program A as firmware being used by an endoscope MPU 221 is rewritten to program B. When the program B written in the scope storage part 222 does not properly operate, the following steps are performed: the program A is read from a first processor storage part 306, and the read program A is written in the scope storage part 222, or the program A is copied from the first processor storage part 306 to the scope storage part 222 (S208). Consequently, the defective program B is deleted from the scope storage part 222, and the non-defective program A is written in the scope storage part 222.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus having updatable firmware and a control method thereof.

  The endoscope apparatus includes a scope that is inserted into a subject's body and a video processor that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing. An MPU that controls the operation of the scope and a memory that records the firmware of the MPU are provided inside the scope.

  The user can rewrite the firmware stored in the memory via an interface with the outside (Patent Document 1). The firmware includes various information such as images and programs, and is rewritten to improve the scope performance and add functions.

JP 2005-185691 A

  When writing firmware to the scope, writing may fail due to firmware corruption or sudden power interruption. If writing fails, the scope may not operate normally. Furthermore, it is difficult for a general user to write firmware again to a scope that has once failed to operate normally to make it normal.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an endoscope apparatus in which a scope functions normally even if the firmware is not written in a memory and a control method thereof.

  An endoscope apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor including a processor storage unit that stores a program, a processor control unit that reads and writes a program from and to the processor storage unit, a scope storage unit that stores the program, and a scope A scope including a scope control unit that reads and writes programs from and to the storage unit, and the processor control unit reads the first program from the outside, writes the first program to the processor storage unit, and stores the first program stored in the scope storage unit After the second program is read through the scope control unit and written to the processor storage unit, the first program is transmitted to the scope control unit, and the scope control unit receives the first program and writes it to the scope storage unit , And inspect the first program written in the scope storage, When an error is found by this, the processor control unit transmits the first program to the scope control unit, and the scope control unit receives the first program and writes it in the scope storage unit. .

  The scope control unit inspects the first program written in the scope storage unit, and if no error is found by this, the processor control unit executes the second program stored in the processor storage unit. It is preferable to erase.

  The processor control unit may delete the first program stored in the processor storage unit after transmitting the first program to the scope control unit.

  The processor storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit, the first storage unit stores a first program read from the outside, and the second storage unit is a scope storage unit. Preferably, the second program stored in is stored.

  The first program has version information and identification information of the corresponding scope, and the processor control unit matches the identification information of the first program with the identification information of the scope and the version information of the first program is the first information. If the version information of the second program is newer, the first program may be transmitted to the scope control unit.

  The first program has version information and corresponding scope identification information, and the processor control unit matches the first program identification information with the scope identification information, and the second program version information is the first information. If it is newer than the version information of one program, the second program stored in the scope storage unit may be read out via the scope control unit and written into the processor storage unit.

  An endoscope apparatus control method according to a second invention of the present application is an endoscope apparatus control method for writing a program stored in a processor storage section into a scope storage section, and reads the first program from the outside. Writing to the processor storage unit and reading the second program stored in the scope storage unit via the scope control unit and writing to the processor storage unit; writing the first program to the scope storage unit; A step of inspecting the first program written in the storage unit, and a step of erasing the second program stored in the processor storage unit when no error is found in the first program in the step of inspecting And if an error is found in the first program during the checking step, And writing a program in the scope storing unit, characterized in that it comprises a step of erasing the first program stored in the processor memory unit.

  A step in which the first program has version information and identification information of the corresponding scope; the identification information of the first program matches the identification information of the scope; and the version information of the second program is If the version information is newer than the version information, a step of reading the second program stored in the scope storage unit via the scope control unit and writing the second program in the processor storage unit may be further included.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an endoscope apparatus and a control method for the endoscope apparatus in which the scope functions normally even if the firmware is not written in the memory.

1 is a block diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st firmware update process. It is the figure which showed the data memorize | stored in each area | region of memory. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd firmware update process by 2nd Embodiment. It is the figure which showed the data memorize | stored in each area | region of memory.

  Hereinafter, an endoscope apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  The configuration of the endoscope apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The endoscope apparatus 100 mainly includes a scope 200 that is inserted into a subject's body and a video processor 300 that is provided outside the subject's body and performs image processing.

  The scope 200 mainly includes an insertion unit 210 that is inserted into the body of a subject, an operation unit 220 that is held by an operator, and a scope storage unit 222. The operation unit 220 is connected to the scope 200 by a connector (not shown).

  The insertion portion 210 is a flexible tubular body, and has a distal end portion 211 that approaches the subject and a proximal end portion 212 that is connected to the operation portion 220. The distal end portion 211 is provided with an imaging lens 213, an illumination lens 214, and a CCD 215 that is an imaging element.

  The imaging lens 213 forms a subject image on the CCD 215. The CCD 215 captures the formed subject image and outputs an analog image signal via the analog signal output line 216.

  A light guide fiber 218 is provided from the operation unit 220 to the insertion unit 210. The light guide fiber 218 carries the illumination light generated by the video processor 300 to the illumination lens 214, and the illumination lens 214 irradiates the subject with the illumination light.

  The operation unit 220 includes an analog signal processing unit 223, an endoscope MPU 221 that forms a control unit, and a scope storage unit 222 that includes a nonvolatile memory.

  The analog signal processing unit 223 receives an analog image signal from the CCD 215 via the analog signal output line 216. Then, the analog image signal is subjected to image processing to generate an image signal, and then the image signal is transmitted to the video processor 300 via the image signal line 219.

  The endoscope MPU 221 transmits a CCD control signal to the CCD 215 via the CCD control signal line 217 to control the operation of the CCD 215. Firmware executed by the endoscope MPU 221 is stored in the scope storage unit 222. When the scope 200 is powered on, the endoscope MPU 221 reads the firmware from the scope storage unit 222 and executes it.

  The operation unit 220 includes a plurality of switches (not shown). The user operates these switches to control the operations of the endoscope apparatus 100 and the video processor 300. When the user operates these switches, an operation signal indicating that the switches have been operated is transmitted to the endoscope MPU 221. The endoscope MPU 221 controls the operation of the scope 200 according to the operation signal. When a switch corresponding to an operation performed by the video processor 300 is operated, the endoscope MPU 221 transmits an operation signal to the video processor MPU 301. The video processor MPU 301 controls the operation of the scope 200 according to the operation signal.

  The video processor 300 includes a video processor MPU 301 constituting a processor control unit, a first processor storage unit 306 and a second processor storage unit 307 formed of a nonvolatile memory, an external interface 302, a front panel 303, an image signal processing unit 304, a light source 305 is mainly included.

  The video processor MPU 301 controls the operation of the video processor 300. The endoscope MPU 221 and the video processor 300 each have a UART and are connected to each other via a control signal line 312.

  The first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 are connected to the video processor MPU 301 and store firmware such as the video processor MPU 301 and the image signal processing unit 304.

  The external interface 302 is a USB, for example, and connects a USB memory provided outside the endoscope apparatus 100 and the video processor 300. The data file stored in the USB memory is transmitted to the video processor MPU 301 via the external interface 302. The video processor MPU 301 stores the data file in the first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 via the control signal line 312 or transmits them to the endoscope MPU 221.

  The front panel 303 is exposed on the outer surface of the video processor 300 and displays the operation status of the endoscope apparatus 100. The image signal processing unit 304 performs image processing on the image signal received from the scope 200 and outputs the image signal to the monitor 400. The light source 305 is controlled by the video processor 300 and supplies illumination light to the light guide fiber 218.

  Next, the first update process will be described with reference to FIGS. The first update process is a process of writing firmware received from the outside into the scope storage unit 222, and is executed by the video processor MPU 301 and the endoscope MPU 221 when the scope 200 is powered on. Specifically, this is a process of rewriting the A program, which is the firmware currently used by the endoscope MPU 221, into the B program.

  In step S201, the video processor MPU 301 reads the B program from a memory (external memory) provided outside the endoscope apparatus 100. In step S202, the B program is stored in the second processor storage unit (second memory) 307. To remember.

  Step S31 in FIG. 3 shows the states of the first processor storage unit (first memory) 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operations in steps S201 and S202 are completed. The first processor storage unit 306 stores nothing, the second processor storage unit 307 stores the A program, the B program, and the C program, and the scope storage unit 222 stores the A program and user information. . Here, the A program, the B program, and the C program are firmware of the endoscope MPU 221, and the A program is currently stored in the scope storage unit 222 and used for the operation of the endoscope MPU 221. The B program is newer firmware than the A program.

  In step S203, the A program is read from the scope storage unit 222 (scope memory), and in the next step S204, the read A program is written in the first processor storage unit 306. That is, the A program is copied from the scope storage unit 222 to the first processor storage unit 306.

  Step S32 in FIG. 3 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operations in steps S203 and S204 are completed. The first processor storage unit 306 stores the A program, and the second processor storage unit 307 and the scope storage unit 222 remain unchanged from step S31.

  In step S <b> 205, the B program is read from the second processor storage unit 307, and the read B program is written in the scope storage unit 222.

  Step S33 in FIG. 3 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operation in step S205 is completed. The first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 remain unchanged from step S32, and the scope storage unit 222 stores the B program and user information.

  In step S206, it is confirmed whether or not the B program written in the scope storage unit 222 operates correctly. If it does not operate correctly, the process proceeds to step S208 in step S207, and if it operates correctly, the process proceeds to step S209.

  A case where the B program written in the scope storage unit 222 does not operate correctly will be described. When the process proceeds from step S207 to step S208, in step S208, the A program is read from the first processor storage unit 306, and the read A program is written in the scope storage unit 222. That is, the A program is copied from the first processor storage unit 306 to the scope storage unit 222. As a result, the B program that does not operate is deleted from the scope storage unit 222, and the A program that operates correctly is written to the scope storage unit 222.

  Step S34 in FIG. 3 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operation in step S208 is completed. The first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 remain unchanged from step S33, and the scope storage unit 222 stores the A program and user information.

  In step S209, the B program is deleted from the second processor storage unit 307, and in the next step S210, the A program is deleted from the first processor storage unit 306. Then, the process ends.

  Step S35 in FIG. 3 shows the state of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after steps S209 and S210 are completed when the B program does not operate correctly. The first processor storage unit 306 stores nothing, the second processor storage unit 307 stores the A program and the C program, and the scope storage unit 222 stores the A program and user information.

  A case where the B program written in the scope storage unit 222 operates correctly will be described. When the process proceeds from step S207 to step S209, the B program is deleted from the second processor storage unit 307 in step S209, and the A program is deleted from the first processor storage unit 306 in the next step S210. Then, the process ends.

  Step S36 in FIG. 3 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after steps S209 and S210 are completed when the B program operates correctly. The first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 are the same as in step S35, but the scope storage unit 222 stores the B program and user information.

  According to the present embodiment, even if a program that cannot operate the scope 200 correctly is written in the scope storage unit 222, the scope 200 can be moved using the program that was operating correctly.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The endoscope apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment executes a second update process instead of the first update process. In the present embodiment, scope identification information, firmware version, and firmware determined for each type of scope 200 are stored in a data file.

  The second update process will be described with reference to FIGS. The second update process is a process for writing firmware received from the outside into the scope storage unit 222, and is executed by the video processor MPU301 and the endoscope MPU221. Specifically, this is a process of rewriting the A program currently used by the endoscope MPU 221 into the B program.

  Step S51 in FIG. 5 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 before executing the second update process. The scope storage unit 222 stores the A program, which is firmware currently in use, the scope identification information of the scope corresponding to the A program, and the version of the A program as one data file. The second processor storage unit 307 stores the firmware B program, the scope identification information of the scope corresponding to the B program, and the version information of the B program as one data file. The first processor storage unit 306 stores nothing. Hereinafter, the scope identification information and the version information are collectively referred to as program specific information. Note that the scope identification information stored in the scope storage unit 222 is information unique to the scope 200 and is not rewritten in this process.

  Referring to FIG. 4, in the first step S 401, the scope 200 is connected to the video processor 300. In the next step S402, the unique information of the A program stored in the scope storage unit 222 is compared with the unique information of the B program stored in the second processor storage unit 307. Referring to step S52 of FIG. 5, the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 are not changed from step S51.

  In the next step S403, it is confirmed whether or not the type of the currently connected scope 200 matches the scope identification information of the B program and whether the version of the B program is newer than the version of the A program. If the scope identification information matches and the version is new, the process proceeds to step S404, and if not, the process proceeds to step S406.

  A case where the scope identification information matches and the version is new will be described. When the process proceeds from step S403 to step S404, the first update process is executed in step S404. In the first embodiment, only the program is written in each storage unit. However, in this embodiment, the version information of the program is also written in each storage unit at the same time. As a result, the version information of the B program and the B program are written in the scope storage unit 222. In the present embodiment, step S209 in the first update process is not executed. Therefore, even after step S404 ends, the second processor storage unit 307 stores version information of the B program and the B program. In the next step S405, the program stored in the scope storage unit 222 is checked again for errors, and the process ends.

  Step S53 in FIG. 5 shows the states of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operation in step S404 is completed. The first processor storage unit 306 stores version information of the A program and the A program, the second processor storage unit 307 does not change from step S52, the scope storage unit 222 includes scope identification information, version information of the B program, And B program.

  A case where the scope identification information does not match and / or the version is not new will be described. When the process proceeds from step S403 to step S406, the version information of the B program and the B program stored in the second processor storage unit 307 are deleted in step S406. In the next step S 407, the version information of the A program and the A program are read from the scope storage unit 222 and written to the second processor storage unit 307. Then, the process ends.

  Step S54 in FIG. 5 shows the state of the first processor storage unit 306, the second processor storage unit 307, and the scope storage unit 222 after the operation in step S407 is completed. The first processor storage unit 306 and the scope storage unit 222 do not change from step S52, but the second processor storage unit 307 stores the scope identification information, the version information of the A program, and the A program. As a result, the latest program is always stored in the second processor storage unit 307.

  According to the present embodiment, the latest program is always stored in the second processor storage unit 307, and the same effect as in the first embodiment is obtained.

  In either embodiment, the scope 200 and the computer may be connected by directly connecting the control signal line 312 to a computer provided outside, and the data file may be directly transmitted from the computer to the scope 200.

  Further, the image sensor is not limited to the CCD 215.

  The external interface 302 may be, for example, RS-232C, and connects a video processor 300 and a computer provided outside the endoscope apparatus 100. In this case, the computer provided outside transmits the firmware to the video processor MPU 301 via the external interface 302.

  The firmware may be compressed and transmitted to the endoscope apparatus 100. The transmission / reception time can be shortened, and the storage areas of the first processor storage unit 306 and the second processor storage unit 307 can be saved. Run length coding or the like is used as a compression algorithm.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Endoscope apparatus 200 Scope 210 Insertion part 211 Distal end part 212 Proximal end part 213 Imaging lens 214 Illumination lens 215 CCD
216 Analog signal output line 217 CCD control signal line 218 Light guide fiber 219 Image signal line 220 Operation unit 221 Endoscope MPU
222 Scope storage unit 223 Analog signal processing unit 300 Video processor 301 Video processor MPU
302 External Interface 303 Front Panel 304 Image Signal Processing Unit 305 Light Source 306 First Processor Storage Unit 307 Second Processor Storage Unit 312 Control Signal Line 400 Monitor

Claims (8)

A processor comprising a processor storage unit for storing a program, and a processor control unit for reading and writing the program from and to the processor storage unit;
A scope storage unit that stores a program; and a scope that includes a scope control unit that reads and writes a program from and to the scope storage unit;
The processor control unit reads the first program from the outside, writes the first program in the processor storage unit, and reads the second program stored in the scope storage unit via the scope control unit to read the processor storage unit And writing the first program to the scope control unit,
The scope control unit receives the first program, writes it to the scope storage unit, and checks the first program written in the scope storage unit, and if an error is found by this, The processor control unit transmits the first program to the scope control unit, and the scope control unit receives the first program and writes it to the scope storage unit.   The scope control unit examines the first program written in the scope storage unit, and if no error is found by this, the processor control unit is stored in the processor storage unit. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second program is erased.   The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor control unit deletes the first program stored in the processor storage unit after transmitting the first program to the scope control unit.   The processor storage unit includes a first storage unit and a second storage unit, the first storage unit stores the first program read from the outside, and the second storage unit The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second program stored in the scope storage unit is stored. The first program has version information and identification information of a corresponding scope,
The processor control unit, when the identification information of the first program matches the identification information of the scope, and the version information of the first program is newer than the version information of the second program, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first program is transmitted to the scope control unit. The first program has version information and identification information of a corresponding scope,
The processor control unit, when the identification information of the first program matches the identification information of the scope, and the version information of the second program is newer than the version information of the first program, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second program stored in the scope storage unit is read out via the scope control unit and written into the processor storage unit. An endoscopic device control method for writing a program stored in a processor storage unit to a scope storage unit,
Reading the first program from the outside and writing it to the processor storage unit, and reading the second program stored in the scope storage unit via the scope control unit and writing it to the processor storage unit;
Writing the first program into the scope storage unit;
Inspecting the first program written in the scope storage unit;
Erasing the second program stored in the processor storage unit when no error is found in the first program in the checking step;
A step of writing the first program to the scope storage unit when an error is found in the first program in the checking step;
A method of controlling the endoscope apparatus, comprising: erasing the first program stored in the processor storage unit. The first program has version information and identification information of a corresponding scope;
When the identification information of the first program matches the identification information of the scope, and the version information of the second program is newer than the version information of the first program, stored in the scope storage unit The endoscopic apparatus control method according to claim 7, further comprising: reading the second program being read via the scope control unit and writing the second program in the processor storage unit.

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