JP2580106B2 - Endoscope image recording system - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope image output device such as a television camera for capturing an endoscope image, and the endoscope image output from the image output device as a still image. The present invention relates to an endoscope image recording system having a still image recording device for displaying or printing.

(Prior art)

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope that incorporates a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD at the tip of the endoscope and captures an image of an object has been developed. Usually, in such an endoscope, diagnosis is performed based on an image displayed on a diagnostic monitor, but an image of interest such as a lesion is recorded by a photograph or the like. Since the image signal from the solid-state imaging device is a moving image signal, an image recording device such as a photographing device or a video printer has a frame memory, and converts an image signal (moving image) output from the solid-state imaging device into a still image signal. There is a need to. Here, if the solid-state imaging device is a frame sequential color imaging system and a frame memory for R, G, and B images is provided, the frame memory can be shared. However, the diagnostic image must be frozen only for the time required for recording (for example, 10 to 15 seconds when taking a picture with an instant camera), which hinders the diagnosis. It is necessary to provide memory.

On the other hand, a plurality of such endoscopes may be installed in one hospital. In this case, there are a plurality of image recording devices. However, still image recording is performed for at most a few images during one diagnosis. Providing a frame memory for recording a still image for each endoscope for that purpose is useless in various aspects. However, unless an image recording device is provided for each endoscope, the image recording device must be connected to each endoscope each time recording is performed. In some cases it is very cumbersome.

〔Purpose〕

The present invention has been made in order to address the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to make effective use of system components.
Provide a low-cost endoscope image recording system capable of recording a still image of an endoscope image with a simple configuration, and an endoscope image recording system capable of reliably recording an image once recorded in a frame memory. It is to be.

〔Overview〕

A plurality of endoscope image output devices for outputting an image signal representing an endoscope image and a photographing start signal for instructing recording of a still image of the image signal, and recording an endoscope image as a still image based on the image signal In an endoscope image recording system having an image recording device, a switching unit that can be connected to the plurality of endoscope image output devices and selects the endoscope image output device that has output the imaging start signal. A write instruction signal instructing storage of the image signal in response to the output of the imaging start signal, a read instruction signal instructing output of a still image signal to the image storage device, and a response to the imaging start signal. A control signal generator for generating a flag signal which is set and reset in response to the read instruction signal, and outputs the read instruction signal and resets the flag signal A control signal output unit that outputs the write instruction signal only when the image signal is output from the specific endoscope image output device selected by the switching means. And an image storage means for generating the still image signal in response to the readout instruction signal and outputting the still image signal to the image recording device in response to the readout instruction signal. You.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of an endoscope recording system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the endoscope image recording system according to the first embodiment. This system includes a plurality of (here, two) endoscope image output devices A1, A2, a plurality of (here, two) still image recording devices B1, B2, one still image recording device F, and a A controller C for performing control, image output devices A1, A2,
It comprises a switching unit S for switching image signal lines between the still image recording devices B1 and B2 and the still image storage device F. Here, the endoscope image output devices A1 and A2 are, for example, those in which a television camera is connected to the eyepiece of the endoscope, those in which a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is built in the end of the endoscope, and the like. That is, a color image signal is supplied to the switching unit S via a RGB line (thin solid line in FIG. 1) as R, G, B color component signals. The still image recording devices B1 and B2 include, for example, a still image photographing device called a color image recorder, a video printer, and the like, and the still image recording device F is a frame memory. In addition,
Although not shown, this system can be connected to another system.

The controller C has a CPU 10 and a ROM 1 as shown in FIG.
2, consisting of RAM 14, interface (I / F) 16 and 18. I
/ F16 is connected to endoscope image output devices A1 and A2, still image recording devices B1 and B2, and still image recording device F via data lines (thick solid lines in FIG. 1). The I / F 18 is connected to the switching unit S via a control line (broken line in FIG. 1).
Connected to.

FIG. 3 shows an endoscope image pickup device as an example of the endoscope image output devices A1 and A2. This is endoscope 20, light source unit 2
2. It consists of a video processor 24 and a monitor 26. Endoscope 20
A solid-state imaging device (CCD) 28 for imaging the inside of a body cavity or the inside of a cavity is provided at the tip of the CCD. A light guide 32 is also provided in the endoscope 20. The light guide 32 is composed of a bundle of optical fibers for guiding illumination light from the lamp 34 in the light source unit 22 to the distal end of the endoscope, and illuminates the inside of the body cavity or the cavity.
A color filter 36 having R, G, and B color components is provided on a front surface of a lamp 34 in the light source unit 22. The color filter 36 is rotated by a motor 38, and sequentially emits illumination light from the lamp 34 into R, G, Color B.

The image signal output from the amplifier 30 and supplied to the video processor 24 is supplied to a frame memory 48 via a sample / hold circuit 40, a low-pass filter 42, an A / D converter 44, and a color switch 46. The frame memory 48 has three frame memories 48-1 and 48- for R, G, and B images.
2, 48-3, and the color changeover switch 46 also has three output terminals, and each output terminal has an R, G, B frame memory 48-1,
48-2 and 48-3. Frame memory 48-1,
The outputs of 48-2, 48-3 are D / A converters 50-1, 50-2, 50
-3. D / A converters 50-1, 50-2, 50-3
Are supplied to the switching unit S as R, G, B color image signals, and also to the monitor 26. A control circuit 54 connected to the controller C is provided in the video processor 24. An operation panel 56 is also connected to the control circuit 54. On the operation panel 56, a release switch for photographing, a set switch for setting an image transfer (output) destination, and the like are provided. As the image transfer destination, a color image recorder, a video printer, There are other systems. Control circuit 54
Indicates CCD 28, motor 38 (in light source unit 22), S / H circuit 4
0, the color switch 46, the write control terminal WR and the read control terminal RD of the frame memory 48 are connected.

FIG. 4 shows a color image recorder as an example of the still image recording devices B1 and B2. This is a device dedicated to photographing the display screen of the monitor. The R, G, and B color image signals supplied from the switching unit S are supplied to a color changeover switch 60, and any one of the color component signals is selected and supplied to a CRT 64 via a display switch 62. The image displayed on the CRT 64 is irradiated onto the monochrome film 76 via the lens 66, the aperture 68, the color filter 70, the shutter 72, and the lens 74, and a photograph is taken. Where CRT64
Is a monochrome monitor. The color filters 70 are R, G,
It has a color component of B, and applies a color filter corresponding to the R, G, and B images selected by the color selection switch 60 to a display image on the monochrome monitor 64 to take a picture. The aperture 68, color filter 70, and shutter 72 are motors
Driven by 78, 80, 82. The exposure amount of the film 76 is detected by the light receiving element 84, and the output of the light receiving element 84 is
Is supplied to the control circuit 88 via the. The control circuit 88 is connected to the controller C, and includes a color switch 60, a display switch
62, controls the motors 78, 80, 82.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the still image storage device F. The R, G, and B color image signals input from the switching unit S are passed through the A / D converters 90-1, 90-2, and 90-3, respectively, and the R, G, and B image frame memories 92-1. , 92-
2, 92-3. Frame memories 92-1 and 92-
The R, G, and B image signals read from 2, 92-3 are output to the switching unit S via the D / A converters 94-1, 94-2, 94-3. The frame memory 92 has a write control end W
R and a read control terminal RD. A write pulse and a read pulse from the controller C are supplied to the write control terminal WR and the read control terminal RD via the write switch 96 and the read switch 98, respectively. The write switch 96 and the read switch 98 are controlled by a write signal and a read signal from the controller C, respectively.

Next, a photographing operation as a still image recording operation in this embodiment will be described. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller C, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the endoscope image output device A, and FIG. 8 is a still image recording device B
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the exposure processing operation in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation is started, the controller C is initialized as shown in step S1. This means setting a flag or the like indicating the use state of each device to an initial value. In step S2, it is determined from the F flag whether the frame memory 92 of the still image storage device F is in use. As will be described later, the F flag is set immediately before writing an image in the frame memory 92, and reset immediately after reading the image. Therefore, by examining the F flag, the use state of the frame memory can be determined.

If the frame memory 92 is not in use, step S3
As shown in (5), the process waits for a photographing start signal to be input. The photographing start signal is generated before the endoscope image output device A outputs an image, and includes an image output request signal, an address of the image output device A, and an image transfer destination B (set by a set switch. , Here a still image recording device). In step S4, the addresses A and B are stored in the RAM 14 in the controller C. Step S
At 5, the F flag is set. On the basis of the data in the RAM 14, as shown in step S6, the switching unit S
Connects the endoscope image output device A and the still image storage device F. In step S7, an OK response signal is supplied to the endoscope image output device A. In step S8, field matching (synchronization) is performed. This is to delay the writing so that the writing of the signal to the frame memory 92 is performed sequentially from the first pixel of the image of one field output from the CCD 28. At the timing of the first pixel of the one-field image output from the CCD 28, the write switch 96 of the frame memory 92 of the still image storage device F is turned on as shown in step S9. 1 as shown in step S10
The frame time is delayed, and the write switch 96 is
Is turned off. Thereby, the image signal of one frame is stored in the frame memory 92, and the writing of the image to the frame memory 92 is completed.

When it is determined in step S2 that the frame memory 92 is in use, it is determined whether a shooting start signal is supplied as shown in step S12. Here, the input of the photographing start signal means that a write request to the frame memory 92 is further generated while the frame memory 92 is in use, but this request cannot be satisfied. As shown in step S13, the NG response signal is supplied to the endoscope image output device that has generated the imaging start signal.

If it is determined in step S12 that the shooting start signal has not been input, it is determined in step S14 whether the still image recording device B to which the image is to be transferred is in use. If it is in use, step S14 is repeatedly executed, and when the in-use state is released, the B flag is set as shown in step S15. The device B is connected. In step S17, a start signal is supplied to the still image recording device B. In step S18, field matching is performed. When the timing of the first pixel of the image of one field comes, the readout switch 98 of the frame memory 92 of the still image storage device F is turned on as shown in step S19. In step S20, it is determined whether or not the end signal has been input. When the end signal has been input, the read switch 98 is read as shown in step S21.
Is turned off. Thus, one frame of the image signal is read from the frame memory 92 and supplied to the still image recording device B. In step S22, the F and B flags are reset.

In response to this, in the endoscope image output apparatus A, first, as shown in FIG. 7, it is determined in step S30 whether or not the frame memory 92 in the still image storage device F is in use. If the camera is in use, the “waiting for shooting” display lights up in step S31,
If not in use, the “waiting for shooting” display is turned off in step S32. Then, in step S33, the address B of the image transfer destination is input by the set switch of the operation panel. In step S34, it is determined whether the release switch is on. If the release switch is off, step S3
0 is executed again, and if it is ON, as shown in step S35, an imaging start signal including the above-described image output desired signal, the address of the endoscope image output device A, and the address of the image transfer destination B is generated. It is supplied to the controller C. As shown in step S36, the process waits until a response signal is transmitted from the controller C. Response signal is OK in step S37
Response or NG response is determined. In the case of the OK response signal, "imaging" is displayed as shown in step S38, and the operation ends. In the case of an NG response signal, "wait for shooting" in step S39
Is displayed blinking, a warning is generated in step S40, and the moving operation ends. The blinking display and the warning of “waiting for photographing” may be automatically stopped in, for example, three seconds, or may be stopped by providing a confirmation switch on the operation panel and turning it on.

In the still image recording device B, as shown in FIG. 8, it is determined in step S50 whether or not a start signal is supplied, and the operation start is delayed until the start signal is supplied.
When the start signal is supplied, the display switch 62 is turned on as shown in step S51. In steps S52, S53, and S54, R exposure, G exposure, and B exposure processing are performed. R
The exposure, G exposure, and B exposure processes are basically the same, except that the selection of the color switch 60 and the selection of the color filter 70 are different. FIG. 9 shows an example of the R exposure process. In step S61, the color switch 60 is switched to the R side.
In step S62, the color filter 70 is controlled so that the R area is in front of the CRT 64. Field adjustment is performed in step S63, and when the timing of the first pixel of the image of one frame comes, the shutter 72 is opened as shown in step S64. Since the light exposure of the film has been detected by the light receiving element 84, it is determined in step S65 whether the exposure has reached a predetermined exposure, and exposure is performed until the exposure reaches the predetermined exposure. When the predetermined exposure amount is reached, the shutter 72 is closed as shown in step S66. This completes the shooting of the R image. The G exposure and B exposure processes are equivalent to changing R to G and B in steps S61 and S62 of the R exposure process, respectively.

When the B exposure in step S54 ends, the display switch 62 is turned off as shown in step S55, and an end signal is output in step S56.

As a result, when the still image storage device F is not used, an image output request from the endoscope image output device is immediately executed, and when the still image storage device F is used, its use ends. Image output is waited until. Therefore, even if the endoscopic image recording system having a plurality of endoscope image output devices and a plurality of still image recording devices has only one still image storage device for recording a still image, the accelerator can be used. One still image storage device can be effectively shared without collision.

In the above description, the storage capacity of the frame memory is set to one frame for simplicity. However, if the storage capacity of a plurality of frames is provided, the waiting time for image still image recording can be further reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, specific system components can be variously changed. The recording medium is not limited to an optical disk, but may be another medium such as a magnetic disk.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively use the components of the system, to provide a low-cost endoscope image recording system with a simple configuration, and to copy an image once recorded in a frame memory to a still image. An endoscope image recording system capable of reliably recording can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an endoscope image recording system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a specific block diagram of a controller C in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a specific block diagram of the still image recording device B in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a specific block diagram of the still image storage device F in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the controller C shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the endoscope image output device A shown in FIG. Figure 4
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the still image recording apparatus B shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the exposure processing steps in FIG. A1, A2: Endoscope image output device B1, B2: Still image recording device F: Still image storage device C: Controller S: Switching unit 10: CPU 16, 18, Interface 20: Inside Endoscope 24 Video processor 56 Operation panel 64 CRT monitor 70 Color filter 76 Monochrome film 92 Frame memory 96 Write switch 98 Read switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroki Hibino 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Referee Chief Judge Masuo Yamada Judge Yosaku Kogure Judge Tatsuya Yamazaki (56) References JP-A-59-70377 (JP, A) JP-A-59-33986 (JP, A) JP-A-58-195295 (JP, A) JP-A-57-188187 (JP, A) JP-A Sho 52 -48911 (JP, A) JP-A-59-97642 (JP, A)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of endoscope image output devices for outputting an image signal representing an endoscope image and a photographing start signal for instructing recording of a still image of the image signal; An endoscope image recording system having an image recording device for recording, wherein the endoscope image output device that can be connected to the plurality of endoscope image output devices and outputs the imaging start signal is selected. Switching means; a write instruction signal instructing storage of the image signal in response to the output of the imaging start signal; a read instruction signal instructing output of a still image signal to the image storage device; and the imaging start signal And a control signal generator for generating a flag signal which is set in response to and is reset in response to the read instruction signal, and outputs the read instruction signal and resets the flag signal. A control signal output unit that outputs the write instruction signal only when the image signal is output from the endoscope image output device selected by the switching unit. An endoscope which stores the still image signal in response to a signal and generates the still image signal, and outputs the still image signal to the image recording apparatus in response to the readout instruction signal. Image recording system. 2. An endoscope image recording system according to claim 1, wherein said image storage means comprises a plurality of frame memories.