JP2015181586A - Endoscope apparatus, camera head, and control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope apparatus capable of preventing a failure of an endoscope due to erroneous detection of the kind of the endoscope, and achieving the reduction of a diameter of a transmission cable.SOLUTION: An endoscope apparatus 1 includes a camera head 9 for examining the inside of a subject and outputting an examination result, and a control apparatus 5 electrically connected to the camera head 9 through a transmission cable 3 that inputs the examination result through the transmission cable 3, and controls the operation of the camera head 9. The control apparatus 5 includes a power supply part 51 for supplying driving power for driving the camera head 9 to the camera head 9 through common electric wiring 3A included in the transmission cable 3. The camera head 9 includes a plurality of devices 91-98, and regulators 10A-10J for generating a power source voltage necessary for driving at least any one of the plurality of devices 91-98 on the basis of the driving power input through the common electric wiring 3A.

Description

  The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, a camera head, and a control apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the medical field and the industrial field, an endoscope apparatus that images an inside of an observation object such as a person or a machine structure using an image sensor and observes the inside of the observation object is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
An endoscope apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is an endoscope in which an inside of an observation object is imaged, a control apparatus that controls the endoscope, and the endoscope and the control apparatus are electrically connected to each other. A transmission cable for transmitting electric power and various signals necessary for driving the endoscope.

By the way, as the endoscope, a plurality of types of endoscopes are used according to the type of observation object (for example, the type of observation site in a living body). In such a plurality of types of endoscopes, the specifications and the like of a plurality of devices such as image sensors constituting the endoscope are different for each type of endoscope. Also, the power required for driving varies from device to device.
For this reason, conventionally, the following modes have been adopted as modes for supplying power from the control device to the endoscope via the transmission cable.
First, as a transmission cable, a transmission cable provided with a plurality of electric wirings for supplying power to a plurality of devices constituting the endoscope is used. Also, identification information for identifying the type of the endoscope is recorded in the endoscope (nonvolatile memory or the like).
Then, the control device determines the type of endoscope connected via the transmission cable based on the identification information, and determines the power supplied to the endoscope according to the determined type of endoscope. Switching to power (each power corresponding to a plurality of devices constituting the endoscope). In addition, the control device supplies each of the switched electric powers to the endoscope (a plurality of devices) via a plurality of electric wires provided in the transmission cable.

JP 2011-177263 A

However, in the conventional power supply mode, when the control device determines the type of the endoscope based on the identification information, if it is erroneously detected as another type of endoscope, Unspecified power will be supplied to the endoscope. In such a case, there is a problem that a defect occurs in the endoscope.
In addition, as a transmission cable, it is necessary to use a transmission cable provided with a plurality of electric wirings for supplying power to a plurality of devices constituting the endoscope, thereby inhibiting the diameter reduction of the transmission cable. There is a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and can prevent the malfunction of the endoscope due to the erroneous detection of the type of endoscope and can reduce the diameter of the transmission cable. An object is to provide a mirror device, a camera head, and a control device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an endoscope that examines the inside of a subject and outputs the examination result, and the endoscope via a transmission cable. A control device that is electrically connected to a mirror, inputs the inspection result via the transmission cable, and controls the operation of the endoscope, and the control device includes a common electrical device included in the transmission cable. A power supply unit configured to supply driving power for driving the endoscope to the endoscope via wiring, the endoscope including a plurality of devices and the common electric wiring; And a power generation unit configured to generate a power supply voltage necessary for driving at least one of the plurality of devices based on the input driving power.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the endoscope includes an oscillator that generates a clock for driving at least one of the plurality of devices. .

  Moreover, the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, the endoscope includes an imaging unit that images the inside of the subject as one device of the plurality of devices.

  The endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is the endoscope apparatus according to the above invention, wherein the endoscope apparatus transmits one endoscope selected from a plurality of types of endoscopes via the transmission cable. The controller is configured to be detachable from the plurality of types of endoscopes via the transmission cable, even if any of the endoscopes is connected via the common electrical wiring. The same driving power is supplied to the endoscope.

  Further, a camera head according to the present invention is used in an endoscope apparatus, and in a camera head that inspects the inside of a subject and outputs the inspection result, a plurality of devices including an imaging unit that images the inside of the subject, A power generation unit that generates a power supply voltage necessary for driving at least one of the plurality of devices based on driving power input via a common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable. Features.

  The control device according to the present invention is used in an endoscope apparatus, and is electrically connected to an endoscope that examines the inside of a subject and outputs the examination result via a transmission cable. In the control device that inputs the inspection result via the control and controls the operation of the endoscope, the driving power for driving the endoscope is provided via the common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable. An electric power supply unit that supplies the endoscope is provided.

In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the control device supplies driving power to the endoscope via a common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable. The endoscope generates a power supply voltage necessary for driving at least one of the plurality of devices constituting the endoscope based on the supplied driving power.
That is, the endoscope itself generates a power supply voltage necessary for driving the device. For this reason, the control device does not need to determine the type of the endoscope in order to supply electric power according to the type of the endoscope, and any of the endoscopes of a plurality of types via the transmission cable. Even when a mirror is connected, the same driving power may be supplied to the endoscope. Further, since driving power can be supplied through a common electrical wiring, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of electrical wirings for supplying power to a plurality of devices constituting the endoscope on the transmission cable.
From the above, according to the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a malfunction of the endoscope due to erroneous detection of the type of the endoscope and to reduce the diameter of the transmission cable. , Has the effect.

Since the camera head according to the present invention is a camera head used in the above-described endoscope apparatus, the same effect as the above-described endoscope apparatus can be obtained.
Since the control measure according to the present invention is a control device used in the above-described endoscope apparatus, the same effect as the above-described endoscope apparatus is achieved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera head and control device shown in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter, embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. Furthermore, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part in description of drawing.

[Schematic configuration of endoscope apparatus]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an endoscope apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The endoscope apparatus 1 is an apparatus that is used in the medical field and observes the inside (in vivo) of an observation target such as a person. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus 1 includes an endoscope 2, a transmission cable 3, a display device 4, and a control device 5.
In the present embodiment, an endoscope apparatus using a rigid endoscope (insertion unit 6 (FIG. 1)) as the endoscope 2 will be described as the endoscope apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the endoscope apparatus An endoscope apparatus using a soft mirror (not shown) as the mirror 2 may be used. In the present embodiment, an endoscope apparatus using the camera head 9 (FIG. 1) as the endoscope 2 will be described as the endoscope apparatus 1. An endoscope apparatus (ultrasonic endoscope) configured by a probe for ultrasonic examination may be used.

The endoscope 2 inspects the living body (inside the subject) and outputs the inspection result. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope 2 includes an insertion portion 6, a light source device 7, a light guide 8, and a camera head 9.
The insertion portion 6 is hard and has an elongated shape, and is inserted into the living body. The insertion unit 6 is provided with an optical system that is configured using one or a plurality of lenses and collects a subject image.

One end of the light guide 8 is connected to the light source device 7 and supplies light for illuminating the inside of the living body to one end of the light guide 8.
One end of the light guide 8 is detachably connected to the light source device 7 and the other end is detachably connected to the insertion portion 6. The light guide 8 transmits the light supplied from the light source device 7 from one end to the other end and supplies the light to the insertion portion 6. The light supplied to the insertion unit 6 is emitted from the distal end of the insertion unit 6 and irradiated into the living body. Then, the light (subject image) irradiated into the living body is collected by the optical system in the insertion unit 6.

The camera head 9 is detachably connected to the proximal end of the insertion portion 6. The camera head 9 captures the subject image collected by the insertion unit 6 under the control of the control device 5 and outputs an imaging signal (corresponding to an inspection result according to the present invention) by the imaging.
In the present embodiment, the camera head 9 photoelectrically converts the imaging signal into an optical signal and outputs the imaging signal as an optical signal.
Here, the camera head 9 is not limited to the configuration in which the imaging signal is output as an optical signal, and may be configured to output the imaging signal as an electrical signal.
The detailed configuration of the camera head 9 will be described later.

One end of the transmission cable 3 is detachably connected to the control device 5, and the other end is detachably connected to the camera head 9. Specifically, the transmission cable 3 is a cable in which first to third electrical wirings 3A to 3C (see FIG. 2) and an optical fiber 3D (see FIG. 2) are arranged inside a jacket which is the outermost layer. .
The first electric wiring 3 </ b> A corresponds to a common electric wiring according to the present invention, and is an electric wiring for supplying electric power (driving electric power for driving the camera head 9) from the control device 5 to the camera head 9. . In the present embodiment, the first electric wiring 3 </ b> A for supplying power is composed of one electric wiring.
The second electrical wiring 3 </ b> B is an electrical wiring for transmitting a control signal output from the control device 5 to the camera head 9.
The third electrical wiring 3 </ b> C is an electrical wiring for transmitting a synchronization signal output from the control device 5 to the camera head 9.
The optical fiber 3 </ b> D is an optical fiber for transmitting an imaging signal (optical signal) output from the camera head 9 to the control device 5. Here, when an imaging signal is output as an electrical signal from the camera head 9, the optical fiber may be changed to electrical wiring.

The display device 4 displays an image under the control of the control device 5.
The control device 5 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, and comprehensively controls operations of the camera head 9 and the display device 4.
The detailed configuration of the control device 5 will be described later.

[Configuration of camera head and control device]
Next, detailed configurations of the camera head 9 and the control device 5 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of the camera head 9 and the control device 5.
In FIG. 2, illustrations of a connector that allows the camera head 9 and the transmission cable 3 to be detachable and a connector that allows the transmission cable 3 and the control device 5 to be detachable are omitted. In FIG. 2, a signal line provided in the camera head 9 is a signal line for supplying a power supply voltage to each device inside the camera head 9.
Hereinafter, the configuration of the control device 5 and the configuration of the camera head 9 will be described in this order.

[Configuration of control device]
In the following description, the main part of the present invention will be mainly described as the configuration of the control device 5.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control device 5 includes a power supply unit 51 and a control unit 52.
The power supply unit 51 generates driving power for driving the camera head 9 and supplies the driving power to the camera head 9 via the first electric wiring 3A. And even if it is a case where any camera head of the multiple types of camera head (camera head provided according to the kind of observation object) is connected via the transmission cable 3, the electric power supply part 51, The same driving power is supplied to the camera head via the first electrical wiring 3A.
The control unit 52 is configured using a CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or the like. And the control part 52 acquires an imaging signal (optical signal) via optical fiber 3D, photoelectrically converts the said optical signal into an electrical signal, and performs a predetermined | prescribed process with respect to the said electrical signal after the photoelectric conversion Then, the image captured by the camera head 9 is displayed on the display device 4. In addition, the control unit 52 sends a control signal and a synchronization signal (for example, a synchronization signal for instructing the imaging timing of the camera head 9) to the camera head 9 via the second and third electric wirings 3B and 3C, respectively. Output.

[Configuration of camera head]
In the following description, the main part of the present invention will be mainly described as the configuration of the camera head 9.
As shown in FIG. 2, the camera head 9 includes a lens unit 91, an image pickup unit 92, a drive unit 93, an oscillator 94, a CPU 95, a photoelectric conversion module 96, a FLASH memory 97, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate). Array) 98 and regulators 10A to 10J.
Each of these members 91 to 98 corresponds to a device according to the present invention.

The lens unit 91 is configured by using one or a plurality of lenses, and forms an object image condensed by the insertion unit 6 on an imaging surface of an imaging element (not shown) constituting the imaging unit 92. The one or more lenses are configured to be movable along the optical axis. The lens unit 91 is provided with an optical zoom mechanism (not shown) that changes the angle of view by moving the one or more lenses, and a focus mechanism (not shown) that changes the focal point.
The imaging unit 92 images the living body under the control of the CPU 95. The imaging unit 92 receives an object image formed by the lens unit 91 and converts it into an electrical signal, such as an imaging element (not shown) such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), the imaging element. The signal processing unit (not shown) or the like that performs signal processing (A / D conversion or the like) on the electrical signal (analog signal) from and outputs an imaging signal.
The drive unit 93 operates the optical zoom mechanism and the focus mechanism under the control of the CPU 95 to change the angle of view and the focus of the lens unit 91.

The oscillator 94 is for data transmission for transmitting a reference clock for driving the imaging unit 92 (imaging element) and the driving unit 93 and an imaging signal (image data) generated by the imaging unit 92 to the control device 5. Generate a clock.
The CPU 95 outputs a control signal input from the control device 5 via the second electrical wiring 3B or an instruction output from the operation unit by a user operation on an operation unit such as a switch provided exposed on the outer surface of the camera head 9. The entire camera head 9 is controlled according to a signal or the like. Further, the CPU 95 outputs information related to the current state of the camera head 9 to the control device 5 via the second electric wiring 3B.

The FLASH memory 97 records configuration data and the like for configuring the FPGA 98.
The FPGA 98 is a programmable integrated circuit, reads configuration data recorded in the FLASH memory 97, and executes configuration (rewriting of logic circuit) independently.
Then, the FPGA 98 generates an imaging clock for driving the imaging unit 92 and a driving clock for driving the driving unit 93 based on the reference clock generated by the oscillator 94, and the imaging unit 92 and the driving are generated. The data are output to the unit 93. Further, the FPGA 98 generates timing signals for various processes in the imaging unit 92, the driving unit 93, and the CPU 95 based on the synchronization signal input from the control device 5 through the third electrical wiring 3C. Output to the unit 93 and the CPU 95, respectively.
Thereby, the imaging unit 92 operates with the imaging clock input from the FPGA 98 and performs imaging and output of the imaging signal at timing based on the timing signal input from the FPGA 98 under the control of the CPU 95. The driving unit 93 operates with the driving clock input from the FPGA 98 and adjusts the angle of view and the focus of the lens unit 91 by operating the optical zoom mechanism and the focusing mechanism under the control of the CPU 95.
The FPGA 98 converts the imaging signal output from the imaging unit 92 into an imaging signal according to a predetermined transmission method. Then, the FPGA 98 outputs the converted imaging signal to the photoelectric conversion module 96 based on the data transfer clock generated by the oscillator 94.
The photoelectric conversion module 96 photoelectrically converts the imaging signal (electric signal) output from the FPGA 98 into an optical signal, and transfers the converted imaging signal (optical signal) to the control device 5 via the optical fiber 3D.

The regulators 10A to 10J have a function as a power generation unit according to the present invention, and drive the members 92 to 98 based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5 via the first electric wiring 3A. Generate the necessary power supply voltage.
Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> A generates a first power supply voltage V <b> 1 of a certain level necessary for driving the driving unit 93 and supplies the first power supply voltage V <b> 1 to the driving unit 93.
Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10B generates the second power supply voltage V2 at a certain level necessary for driving the driving unit 93, the CPU 95, the photoelectric conversion module 96, and the FPGA 98, and the driving unit 93, the CPU 95, the photoelectric conversion module 96, and the FPGA 98, respectively. The regulator 10B supplies the generated second power supply voltage V2 to the regulators 10C, 10D, and 10E, respectively.

The regulator 10 </ b> C converts the second power supply voltage V <b> 2 supplied from the regulator 10 </ b> B into a third power supply voltage V <b> 3 having a certain level necessary for driving the CPU 95, and supplies the third power supply voltage V <b> 3 to the drive unit 93 and the CPU 95.
The regulator 10 </ b> D converts the second power supply voltage V <b> 2 supplied from the regulator 10 </ b> B into a third power supply voltage V <b> 3 having a certain level necessary for driving the imaging unit 92 and supplies the third power supply voltage V <b> 3 to the imaging unit 92.
The regulator 10 </ b> E converts the second power supply voltage V <b> 2 supplied from the regulator 10 </ b> B into a fourth power supply voltage V <b> 4 having a certain level necessary for driving the FPGA 98, and supplies it to the FPGA 98.

Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> F generates a fifth power supply voltage V <b> 5 at a certain level necessary for driving the imaging unit 92, the driving unit 93, the FLASH memory 97, and the FPGA 98. To the unit 92, the drive unit 93, the FLASH memory 97, and the FPGA 98.
Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> G generates a sixth power supply voltage V <b> 6 at a certain level necessary for driving the imaging unit 92 and the FPGA 98, and supplies the sixth power supply voltage V <b> 6 to the imaging unit 92 and the FPGA 98.

Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> H generates a sixth power supply voltage V <b> 6 having a certain level necessary for driving the FPGA 98 and supplies the sixth power supply voltage V <b> 6 to the FPGA 98.
Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> I generates a seventh power supply voltage V <b> 7 having a certain level necessary for driving the FPGA 98 and supplies the seventh power supply voltage V <b> 7 to the FPGA 98.
Based on the driving power supplied from the control device 5, the regulator 10 </ b> J generates a seventh power supply voltage V <b> 7 having a certain level necessary for driving the FPGA 98 and supplies it to the FPGA 98.
The first to seventh power supply voltages V1 to V7 described above have a voltage value that decreases in this order.

  Then, the imaging unit 92 is supplied with the third power supply voltage V3 from the regulator 10D, the fifth power supply voltage V5 from the regulator 10F, and the sixth power supply voltage V6 from the regulator 10G, and becomes operable. The drive unit 93 is supplied with the first power supply voltage V1 from the regulator 10A, the second power supply voltage V2 from the regulator 10B, the third power supply voltage V3 from the regulator 10C, and the fifth power supply voltage V5 from the regulator 10F. It becomes ready for operation. The CPU 95 is supplied with the second power supply voltage V2 from the regulator 10B and the third power supply voltage V3 from the regulator 10C and becomes operable. The photoelectric conversion module 96 is supplied with the second power supply voltage V2 from the regulator 10B and becomes operable. The FLASH memory 97 is supplied with the fifth power supply voltage V5 from the regulator 10F and becomes operable. The FPGA 98 includes a second power supply voltage V2 from the regulator 10B, a fourth power supply voltage V4 from the regulator 10E, a fifth power supply voltage V5 from the regulator 10F, each sixth power supply voltage V6 from the regulators 10G and 10H, and a regulator 10I, Each of the seventh power supply voltages V7 from 10J is supplied and becomes operable.

In the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment described above, the control apparatus 5 supplies driving power to the camera head 9 via the first electrical wiring 3 </ b> A included in the transmission cable 3. Then, the camera head 9 generates power supply voltages necessary for driving the plurality of members 92 to 98 constituting the camera head 9 based on the supplied driving power.
That is, the camera head 9 generates a power supply voltage necessary for driving the members 92 to 98 by itself. For this reason, the control device 5 does not need to determine the type of the camera head 9 in order to supply power according to the type of the camera head 9, and any one of a plurality of types of camera heads via the transmission cable 3. Even when the head is connected, the same driving power may be supplied to the camera head. In addition, since driving power can be supplied via the first electrical wiring 3A, a plurality of electrical wirings for supplying power to the members 92 to 98 constituting the camera head 9 are provided on the transmission cable 3. There is no need.
From the above, according to the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the camera head 9 due to erroneous detection of the type of the camera head 9, and to reduce the diameter of the transmission cable 3. There is an effect that it can be achieved.

By the way, conventionally, after determining the type of the camera head for the clocks necessary for driving the camera head (imaging clock, driving clock, data transfer clock, etc.), the determined camera head A clock corresponding to the type of the camera was supplied to the camera head via a transmission cable. For this reason, conventionally, as in the case of power supply, there is a problem in that the malfunction of the camera head due to erroneous detection of the type of camera head and the reduction in the diameter of the transmission cable due to the provision of electrical wiring for clock supply are hindered. was there.
On the other hand, in the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the camera head 9 includes the oscillator 94 and generates an imaging clock, a driving clock, and a data transfer clock by itself. For this reason, according to the endoscope apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment, the effect mentioned above can be achieved further more suitably by regulator 10A-10J and the oscillator 94. FIG.

(Other embodiments)
So far, the embodiment for carrying out the present invention has been described, but the present invention should not be limited only by the embodiment described above.
In the embodiment described above, the CPU 95 is provided in the camera head 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the CPU 95 is omitted and the entire camera head 9 is controlled on the control device 5 side may be employed.
In the above-described embodiment, the endoscope apparatus 1 is not limited to the medical field, and may be used in the industrial field and may be an endoscope apparatus that observes the inside of an observation object such as a mechanical structure.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Endoscope apparatus 2 Endoscope 3 Transmission cable 3A 1st electric wiring 3B 2nd electric wiring 3C 3rd electric wiring 3D Optical fiber 4 Display apparatus 5 Control apparatus 6 Insertion part 7 Light source apparatus 8 Light guide 9 Camera head 10A- 10J regulator 51 power supply unit 52 control unit 91 lens unit 92 imaging unit 93 drive unit 94 oscillator 95 CPU
96 photoelectric conversion module 97 FLASH memory 98 FPGA
V1 to V7 1st to 7th power supply voltage

Claims (6)

An endoscope that inspects the inside of the subject and outputs the test results;
A controller that electrically connects to the endoscope via a transmission cable, inputs the inspection result via the transmission cable, and controls the operation of the endoscope;
The controller is
A power supply unit that supplies driving power for driving the endoscope to the endoscope via a common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable;
The endoscope is
Multiple devices,
A power generation unit configured to generate a power supply voltage necessary for driving at least one of the plurality of devices based on the driving power input via the common electrical wiring. Endoscopic device. The endoscope is
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an oscillator that generates a clock for driving at least one of the plurality of devices. The endoscope is
The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an imaging unit that images the inside of the subject as one device of the plurality of devices. The endoscope apparatus is
One endoscope selected from a plurality of types of endoscopes is configured to be detachable from the control device via the transmission cable,
The controller is
Even when any of the plurality of types of endoscopes is connected via the transmission cable, the same driving power is supplied to the endoscope via the common electrical wiring. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus is supplied to the endoscope. In the camera head that inspects the inside of the subject and outputs the inspection result,
A plurality of devices including an imaging unit for imaging the inside of the subject;
A power generation unit that generates a power supply voltage necessary for driving at least one of the plurality of devices based on driving power input via a common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable. Characteristic camera head. An endoscope that inspects the inside of the subject and outputs the inspection result is electrically connected via a transmission cable, and the inspection result is input via the transmission cable and the operation of the endoscope is controlled. In the control device
A control apparatus comprising: a power supply unit that supplies driving power for driving the endoscope to the endoscope via a common electrical wiring included in the transmission cable.

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