JP2019076665A - Imaging device and endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging device for stably outputting an optical signal for a long period of time.SOLUTION: An imaging device 1 comprises: an illumination optical system 10 for emitting illumination light; an imaging unit 21 for receiving reflected light of the illumination light to output an imaging signal; a drive unit 30 for converting the imaging signal to a drive signal and outputting the drive signal; a light emission array 40 including a plurality of light emission units 42A, 42B to generate an optical signal in response to the drive signal; a light collection unit 50 for guiding an optical signal generated by each of the plurality of light emission units 42 to an optic fiber 60; and a selection unit 31 for inputting the drive signal to only one light emission unit of the plurality of light emission units 42A, 42B.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device that converts an electrical imaging signal output from an imaging unit into a light imaging signal and outputs the light imaging signal, and an endoscope including the imaging device.

  The endoscope has an imaging device including an imaging element such as a CCD at the tip of the elongated insertion portion. In recent years, use of an imaging element having a large number of pixels in an endoscope has been considered. When an imaging element with a large number of pixels is used, the amount of imaging signals transmitted from the imaging device to the signal processing device (processor) increases, so the outer diameter of the insertion portion in electric signal transmission via an electric cable by electric signals Becomes larger. In order to reduce the invasiveness, optical signal transmission through a thin optical fiber by an optical signal is preferable. The imaging signal is converted into a light signal by the light emitting element of the imaging device.

  For example, when the tip is inserted into a body cavity of a subject and observed, if a failure occurs in the imaging device or the optical fiber, the inserted insertion portion is removed and the insertion operation is performed again. There is a need to do.

  Japanese Patent No. 5155496 discloses an endoscope which transmits an imaging signal using an electric cable when an optical fiber for transmitting an optical signal is broken and can not be observed.

  The product life of the light emitting element is, for example, about 5000 hours. When the light amount of the light emitting element decreases due to deterioration with time, the imaging device needs to be replaced, but the replacement operation is not easy.

Patent No. 5155496 specification

  An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide an imaging device that stably outputs an optical signal over a long period of time, and an endoscope having the imaging device.

  An imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes: an illumination optical system that emits illumination light; an imaging unit that receives reflected light of the illumination light and outputs an imaging signal; and a driving unit that converts the imaging signal into a drive signal and outputs the drive signal. A light emitting array that includes a plurality of light emitting units and generates an optical signal according to the drive signal; a light collecting unit that guides the optical signal generated by each of the plurality of light emitting units to an optical fiber; And a selection unit that inputs the drive signal to only one of the light emitting units.

  The endoscope according to another embodiment has an imaging device at the distal end of the insertion portion, and the imaging device receives an illumination optical system that emits illumination light, receives reflected light of the illumination light, and outputs an imaging signal. An imaging unit, a driving unit for converting the imaging signal into a driving signal and outputting the driving signal, and a plurality of light emitting units, and a light emitting array for generating an optical signal according to the driving signal; A light collecting unit for guiding the generated optical signal to an optical fiber, and a selecting unit for inputting the drive signal to only one of the plurality of light emitting units.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging device that stably outputs an optical signal over a long period of time, and an endoscope having the imaging device.

It is a block diagram of an imaging device of a 1st embodiment. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the imaging device of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the light emission array of the imaging device of 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the light emission array of the imaging device of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the imaging device of the modification 1 of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of the modification 2 of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of the modification 3 of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of the modification 4 of 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of the modification 4 of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of an imaging device of modification 4 of a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram of the imaging device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the imaging device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a top view of the light emission array of the imaging device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the imaging device of the modification 1 of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the endoscope of 4th Embodiment.

First Embodiment
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, the imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes an illumination optical system 10, an imaging optical system 20, an imaging unit 21, a drive unit 30, a selection unit 31, and light emission. An array 40 and a light collecting unit 50 are provided.

  In the following description, the drawings based on the respective embodiments are schematic, and some components may not be illustrated.

  The illumination optical system 10 emits illumination light generated by the light source 11. The imaging unit 21 converts the reflected light of the illumination light received by the imaging optical system 20 into an imaging signal and outputs the imaging signal. The imaging optical system 20 may be regarded as part of the imaging unit 21. Further, the components of the imaging device 1 may include, for example, the light source 11 including an LED.

  The drive unit 30 converts an imaging signal into a drive signal of the light emitting array 40. The light emitting array 40 includes a plurality of light emitting units 42A and 42B, and generates an optical signal according to the drive signal. The condensing unit 50 guides an optical signal generated by each of the plurality of light emitting units 42A and 42B to the optical fiber 60. Then, the selection unit 31 outputs the drive signal output from the drive unit 30 to only one of the plurality of light emitting units 42A and 42B. That is, although the light emitting array 40 includes the plurality of light emitting units 42A and 42B, the plurality of light emitting units 42A and 42B do not simultaneously output an optical signal.

  The illumination optical system 10 and the imaging optical system 20 have a lens or the like for condensing light. The imaging unit 21 includes an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS image sensor. The imaging device may be either a front side illumination (FSI) type image sensor or a back side illumination (BSI) type image sensor.

  The drive unit 30 is a drive IC that generates a drive signal to be output to the light emitting array 40 based on an imaging signal.

  The light emitting array 40 has a plurality of surface emitting lasers formed on the light emitting surface 40SA. That is, the light emitting array 40 is a laser array chip in which a plurality of light emitting elements 41 in which the light emitting units 42 are formed are arranged in a row. Each light emitting element 41 of the light emitting array 40 has, for example, a light emitting portion 42 with a diameter of 20 μm and an external electrode 43 including a bump for supplying a drive signal to the light emitting portion 42 on the light emitting surface 40 SA.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the case of the light emitting array 40 in which four light emitting elements 41A to 41D each having a light emitting unit 42 are arranged in a row, in the imaging device 1 of the present embodiment, two light emitting elements 41A, Only 41B is used. Of course, as shown in FIG. 3B, only the light emitting elements 41B and 41C may be used. For example, the light emitting states of the light emitting elements 41A to 41D are measured in advance, and the light emitting element 41 having a high light amount is used.

  The condensing unit 50 is a convex lens that guides both the light signal generated by the light emitting unit 42A and the light signal generated by the light emitting unit 42B to the incident end face of the optical fiber 60. The condensing unit 50 may be a waveguide as long as it is an optical member that guides a plurality of optical signals to the incident end face of the optical fiber 60, and may be a reflecting unit (mirror / prism).

  The optical fiber 60 has, for example, a 50 μm diameter core portion for transmitting light and a 125 μm diameter cladding portion covering the outer peripheral surface of the core portion.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of light emitting elements 41 of the light emitting array 40 have the light emitting portions 42 at positions deviated from the center of the light emitting surface 40SA, in other words, around the central portion. The light emitting elements 41 of the light emitting array 40 are disposed in proximity to the optical fiber 60 that is optically coupled.

  The selection unit 31 is a switching circuit that switches the path of the drive signal. For example, when the user operates the changeover switch of the selection unit 31, a drive signal is input only to the selected one light emitting unit 42 (light emitting element 41), and only one light emitting unit 42 outputs an optical signal. .

  Even if the light amount of the light emitting unit 42A decreases or does not emit light due to a sudden failure during use, the imaging device 1 operates the selecting unit 31 to output an optical signal from the light emitting unit 42B different from the light emitting unit 42A. Can be used continuously. Furthermore, since the imaging device 1 can use another light emitting unit 42B even if the light amount of the light emitting unit 42A decreases due to deterioration with time, for example, there is no need to replace the imaging device 1. That is, the imaging device 1 can output an optical signal stably for a long period of time.

  If the light emitting array 40 includes two or more light emitting units 42, the imaging device 1 has the above-described effect. The upper limit of the number of light emitting units 42 included in the light emitting array 40 is, for example, eight, which is easy to implement. In addition, the light emitting array 40 does not have to be an integral body in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in a row, and a plurality of divided light emitting elements 41 may be arranged in a row on a substrate 41 may be arranged in two rows.

Modification of First Embodiment
The imaging devices 1A to 1D according to the modification of the first embodiment are similar to the imaging device 1 and have the same effect, and thus the components having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

<Modified Example 1 of First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the configuration of the imaging device 1, the imaging device 1 </ b> A of Modification 1 of the first embodiment further includes a detection unit 32.

  The detection unit 32 is an electric circuit that detects a failure of the light emitting unit 42 to which the drive signal is input. For example, when the current value is out of the predetermined range, the detection unit 32 that measures the current of the drive signal that the drive unit 30 outputs to the light emission unit 42 outputs a signal that indicates an abnormality. The failure includes not only the case where the light emitting unit 42 does not generate an optical signal, but also the case where the intensity of the optical signal becomes equal to or less than a predetermined intensity.

  The selection unit 31 of the imaging device 1A selects another light emitting unit 42 when the detection unit 32 detects a failure. That is, the selection unit 31 automatically switches the path of the drive signal and outputs the drive signal to another light emitting unit 42.

  The imaging device 1 </ b> A has better operability than the imaging device 1 because the light emitting unit 42 is automatically switched when a failure occurs.

  In addition, when the detection unit 32 detects a failure, for example, it is preferable to light up a red LED of the display unit 34 (see FIG. 5) to notify the user. The detection unit 32 may not be a component of the imaging device 1 but may be, for example, a component of the processor 80 (refer to FIG. 14) which controls the whole including the imaging device 1.

<Modification 2 of First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the configuration of the imaging device 1 </ b> A, the imaging device 1 </ b> B of the second modification of the first embodiment further includes a storage unit 33.

  The storage unit 33 is, for example, a semiconductor memory that stores the number of light emitting units 42 for which the detection unit 32 has detected a failure. The number of light emitting units 42 stored in the storage unit 33 is displayed on the display unit 34. Of course, the storage unit 33 may also store the position of the light emitting unit 42 at which the failure is detected.

  For example, in the case where the imaging device 1B includes a light emitting array 40 including four light emitting units 42, the display unit 34 includes four LEDs that are lit in green or red. Based on the information in the storage unit 33, the display unit 34 lights the LED corresponding to the light emitting unit 42 not broken down in green, and the LED corresponding to the light emitting unit 42 broken down lights in red.

  Note that the storage unit 33 may not be a component of the imaging device 1 but may be a component such as a processor that performs overall control including the imaging device 1. In addition, the display unit 34 may be a monitor 82 (see FIG. 14) or the like that is separate from the imaging device 1.

  Even in the case of an imaging device having a plurality of light emitting units 42, its use can not be continued if all the light emitting units 42 fail. Since the imaging device 1B includes the storage unit 33 that stores the number of the light emitting units 42 that are out of order, the user can continue using it while referring to the number of available light emitting units 42 that can be used.

<Modifications 3 and 4 of First Embodiment>
As shown in FIG. 6, an imaging device 1C according to the third modification of the first embodiment has the same configuration as the imaging device 1B, but the driver 30, the selector 31, the detector 32, and the driver IC chip 30C. And each circuit of the storage unit 33 is included.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, although the imaging device 1D of the fourth modification of the first embodiment has the same configuration as the imaging device 1A, the imaging chip 21, the driving unit 30, and the detection unit 32 are included in the imaging chip 21D. Of each circuit is included.

  That is, the components of the imaging device do not have to be circuits or IC chips or the like that are independent of one another, and a plurality of components may be incorporated as an integrated circuit in one semiconductor chip. Further, power supply lines to a plurality of components may be common.

Second Embodiment
Since the imaging device 1E of the second embodiment is similar to the imaging devices 1 and 1A to 1D and has the same effect, the same reference numeral is given to the component having the same function, and the description is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the imaging device 1E includes a plurality of light emitting arrays 40A and 40B, a plurality of drivers 30A and 30B, and a plurality of selectors 31A and 31B.

  For example, the driving units 30A and 30B output respective driving signals to the light emitting arrays 40A and 40B, and the selecting units 31A and 31B select one light emitting unit from the light emitting arrays 40A and 40B.

  The wavelengths of the light signals emitted by the light emitting arrays 40A and 40B are different. For example, the light emitting units 42AA and 42AB of the light emitting array 40A output a first light signal with a wavelength of 850 nm. The light emitting units 42BA and 42BB of the light emitting array 40B output a second light signal with a wavelength of 1300 nm. The optical fiber 60 transmits a multiplexed optical signal in which a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths are superimposed.

  For example, the driving unit 30A outputs the first driving signal to the light emitting array 40A, and the selecting unit 31A selects one light emitting unit 42AA or 42AB from the light emitting array 40A. The light emitting unit 42AA or 42AB to which the first drive signal is input outputs a first light signal. On the other hand, the driving unit 30B outputs the second driving signal to the light emitting array 40B, and the selecting unit 31B selects one light emitting unit 42BA or 42BB from the light emitting array 40B. The light emitting unit 42BA or 42BB to which the second drive signal is input outputs a second light signal. That is, the imaging signal is divided into the first drive signal and the second drive signal, and transmitted as the first light signal and the second light signal.

  The imaging device 1E can transmit an imaging signal having a larger capacity than the imaging device 1 and the like by one optical fiber 60.

  The imaging device 1E includes two light emitting arrays 40A and 40B, two driving units 30A and 30B, and two selecting units 31A and 31B, but the upper limit of the number of light emitting arrays 40 and the like is Easy to implement, for example, four.

Third Embodiment
Since the imaging device 1F of the third embodiment is similar to and has the same effect as the imaging devices 1 and 1A to 1E, components having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the imaging device 1F includes a first light emitting array 40A and a second light emitting array 40B, a first drive unit 30A and a second drive unit 30B, and a first selection unit. 31A and a second selection unit 31B, a first focusing unit 50A and a second focusing unit 50B, and a first optical fiber 60A and a second optical fiber 60B.

  The plurality of first light emitting portions 42AA and 42AB of the first light emitting array 40A are optically coupled to the first optical fiber 60A via the first light collecting portion 50A. The plurality of second light emitting portions 42B and 42BB of the second light emitting array 40B are optically coupled to each other via the second optical fiber 60B and the second light collecting portion 50B.

  In the imaging device 1F, the imaging signal output by the imaging unit 21 is converted into a first drive signal and a second drive signal. The first drive unit 30A outputs the first drive signal to any one of the plurality of first light emitting units 42AA and 42AB optically coupled to the first optical fiber 60A, and the second drive is performed. The unit 30B outputs the second drive signal to any one of the plurality of second light emitting units 42BA and 42BB optically coupled to the second optical fiber 60B.

  The wavelengths of the light signals emitted by the light emitting arrays 40A and 40B may be the same or different.

  The imaging device 1F transmits an imaging signal via the two optical fibers 60A and 60B, so it can transmit an imaging signal having a larger capacity than that of the imaging device 1 and the like.

  In addition, the 1st light emission array 40A and the 2nd light emission array 40B are not restricted to the form which has the several light emission part 42 by which each is installed in a line. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, among the light emitting units 42AA to 42AD and the light emitting units 42BA to 42BD arranged in a row, the first light emitting array 40A is configured by the light emitting units 42AA, 42AB, 42BA, 42 BB. Alternatively, the light emitting units 42 AC, 42 AD, 42 BC, and 42 BD constitute the second light emitting array 40 B.

  That is, in the imaging device of the present embodiment, the plurality of first light emitting units 42AA, 42AB, 42BA, 42BB are optically coupled to the first optical fiber 60A through the first light collecting unit 50A, A plurality of second light emitting portions 42AC, 42AD, 42BC, 42BD not optically coupled to the optical fiber 60A of the optical fiber 60B may be optically coupled to the second optical fiber 60B via the second light collecting portion 50B. .

  Then, the first drive unit 30A outputs the first drive signal to any one of the plurality of light emitting units 42AA, 42AB, 42BA, 42BB optically coupled to the first optical fiber 60A, and The second driving unit 30B outputs the second driving signal to any one of the plurality of light emitting units 42AC, 42AD, 42BC, and 42BD optically coupled to the second optical fiber 60B.

  In addition, although the imaging device 1F is equipped with two optical fibers 60 grade | etc., The upper limit of the number of optical fibers 60 grade | etc., Is four for easy implementation.

<Modified Example 1 of Third Embodiment>
Since the imaging device 1G of the first modification of the third embodiment is similar to the imaging device 1F and has the same effect, the same reference numeral is given to the component having the same function, and the description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the imaging device 1G, the plurality of light emitting units 42 of the light emitting arrays 40A and 40B are disposed to be inclined in the direction of the optical fiber 60 to which the light emitting surface 40SA is optically coupled.

  Therefore, the imaging device 1G can easily guide the light signal generated by the light emitting unit 42 to the optical fiber 60.

Fourth Embodiment
The endoscope 9 (9A to 9G) of the fourth embodiment includes the imaging device 1 (1A to 1G) described above.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the endoscope system 8 including the endoscope 9 of the present embodiment includes the endoscope 9, a processor 80, a light source device 81, and a monitor 82. The endoscope 9 has an insertion portion 90, an operation portion 91, and a universal cord 92. In the endoscope 9, the insertion portion 90 is inserted into the body cavity of the subject, and the in-vivo image of the subject is captured to output an image signal.

  The insertion portion 90 includes a distal end portion 90A in which the imaging device 1 (1A to 1G) is disposed, a bendable curved portion 90B connected to the base end side of the distal end portion 90A, and a proximal end of the curved portion 90B. It is comprised by the flexible part 90C provided in a row by the side. The bending portion 90B bends by the operation of the operation portion 91.

  On the proximal end side of the insertion portion 90 of the endoscope 9, an operation portion 91 provided with various buttons for operating the endoscope 9 is disposed.

  The light source device 81 has, for example, a light source 11 including a white LED. The illumination light emitted from the light source device 81 is guided to the distal end portion 90A through a light guide (not shown) through which the universal cord 92 and the insertion portion 90 are inserted, and is emitted from the illumination optical system 10.

  The endoscope 9 has an insertion portion 90, an operation portion 91, and a universal cord 92, and passes through the insertion portion 90 an optical signal output from the imaging device 1 or the like disposed at the distal end portion 90A of the insertion portion 90. Through the optical fiber 60.

  For example, the optical signal is converted into an electrical signal in the O / E optical module 101 disposed in the operation unit 91, processed by the processor 80, and displayed on the monitor 82 as an endoscopic image.

  Since the endoscope 9 performs optical signal transmission via the thin optical fiber 60 by optical signals instead of electrical signal transmission, the insertion portion 90 is thin and minimally invasive. Furthermore, the endoscope 9 can be used for a long time because it has the imaging device 1 and the like that outputs the light signal stably for a long time.

  The endoscope 9 may be a flexible endoscope or a rigid endoscope, or a medical endoscope or an industrial endoscope.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and the modifications described above, and various modifications, combinations, and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1, 1A to 1G: imaging devices 9, 9A to 9G: endoscope 10: illumination optical system 11: light source 20: imaging optical system 21: imaging unit 30: Drive unit 31 ... Selection unit 32 ... Detection unit 33 ... Storage unit 34 ... Display unit 40 ... Light emitting array 40 SA ... Light emitting surface 41 ... Light emitting element 42 ... Light emitting unit 43: External electrode 50: Light collecting part 60: Optical fiber 80: Insertion part 81: Tip part

Claims (9)

An illumination optical system that emits illumination light;
An imaging unit that receives the reflected light of the illumination light and outputs an imaging signal;
A driving unit that converts the imaging signal into a driving signal and outputs the driving signal;
A light emitting array that includes a plurality of light emitting units and generates an optical signal according to the drive signal;
A condensing unit for guiding the optical signal generated by each of the plurality of light emitting units to an optical fiber;
An imaging device comprising: a selection unit configured to input the drive signal to only one of the plurality of light emitting units;   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the selection unit selects another light emitting unit when the detection unit that detects a failure of the light emitting unit to which the drive signal is input detects a failure. .   The image pickup apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the number of the light emitting units in which the detecting unit has detected a failure is stored. A plurality of light emitting arrays, a plurality of drivers, and a plurality of selectors;
The imaging signal is converted into a plurality of drive signals,
Each of the plurality of selection units selects one of the light emission units from the plurality of light emission arrays,
The imaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the plurality of driving units outputs any of the plurality of driving signals to each of the plurality of light emitting arrays. apparatus. The wavelengths of the light signals emitted by the plurality of light emitting arrays are different;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber transmits a plurality of optical signals having different wavelengths. A first light emitting array and a second light emitting array;
A first drive unit and a second drive unit;
A first selection unit and a second selection unit;
A first focusing portion and a second focusing portion;
A first optical fiber and a second optical fiber,
The imaging signal is converted into a first drive signal and a second drive signal,
A plurality of light emitting units are optically coupled to the first optical fiber via the first light collecting unit;
A plurality of light emitting portions not optically coupled to the first optical fiber are optically coupled to the second optical fiber via the second light condensing portion,
The first drive unit outputs the first drive signal to any one of a plurality of light emitting units optically coupled to the first optical fiber;
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second drive unit outputs the second drive signal to any one of a plurality of light emitting units optically coupled to the second optical fiber. Imaging device. Each of the plurality of light emitting units of the light emitting array has the light emitting unit around a central portion of a light emitting surface,
The light emitting unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of light emitting units of the light emitting array are disposed in proximity to the optical fiber to which the light emitting units are optically coupled. An imaging device according to item 5.   The plurality of light emitting portions of the light emitting array are arranged to be inclined in the direction of the optical fiber to which the light emitting surface is optically coupled. The imaging device according to.   An endoscope comprising the imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 at a distal end portion of an insertion portion.

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