JP2621170B2 - Endoscope power supply controller - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope used for medical purposes and the like, and more particularly, to an endoscope equipped with a camera and operated only when a shutter button is operated. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope power supply control device capable of supplying camera power.

[Related Art] An endoscope is provided with an insertion section connected to an operation section main body, and the insertion section is inserted into a body cavity or the like of a human body to perform observation / inspection of the inside of the body cavity or to perform a predetermined operation. It is used to provide treatment. Then, in order to illuminate the observation target portion through the insertion portion, a universal cord is continuously provided on the operation portion main body, and a light guide formed of an optical fiber bundle is provided from the universal cord to the tip of the insertion portion. And the universal cord is connected to a light source device having a built-in light source. Further, in order to observe the body cavity and the like, an eyepiece is provided on the operation unit main body, and a camera for capturing an image of the observation target portion can be attached to the eyepiece. ing.

Here, the shutter control, exposure control,
The power supply for driving the camera, which automatically performs operations such as film winding, is not attached to the camera itself, but is built into the light source device to reduce the weight of the operation unit body of the endoscope. I try to improve. And
When the camera is attached to the eyepiece, to supply power to the camera from the light source device, terminals are provided on the camera and the eyepiece, and when the camera is attached to the eyepiece, By connecting the two terminals, power is supplied to the camera.

Here, in the endoscope according to the related art, the terminal on the eyepiece side is in a state where power can be constantly supplied from a power supply when the universal cord is connected to the light source device. When the camera is attached to the eyepiece and the terminal provided on the camera side is connected to the terminal of the eyepiece, pressing the shutter button provided on the operation unit body causes the camera to be turned off. It is configured to be able to operate automatically.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, when the universal cord is connected to the light source device and is kept in a state where power can be supplied at all times, the internal cord is not mounted when the camera is not mounted. If a finger or the like touches the terminal exposed to the eyepiece while operating the endoscope, an electric shock may occur, which is extremely dangerous. Of course, this power supply terminal is designed so that it does not protrude from the surface of the eyepiece, so that fingers and the like do not touch in the normal state. However, there is no guarantee that they will not be touched, so it is necessary to ensure more secure safety.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described drawbacks in the related art, and power is not supplied to a power supply terminal provided in the eyepiece when the camera is not attached to the eyepiece. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope that enables safe operation by configuring the endoscope.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a pair of power supply terminals for supplying power for operating a camera to an eyepiece unit connected to an operation unit main body, A pair of signal terminals for transmitting a camera control signal are provided, and a power supply of an endoscope having a camera operation shutter button mounted at a position where the operation unit main body can be operated by a finger is controlled. Device for detecting that a camera is mounted on the eyepiece, and a camera mounting detector, always holds the power supply terminal and power supply in a cutoff state, the shutter button is pressed, And a power supply circuit for supplying power to the camera via the power supply terminal for a predetermined time required for operation of the camera by a timer when a camera mounting detection signal is output from the camera mounting detector. This And its features.

[Operation] In a state where the camera is not mounted on the endoscope, a power supply circuit is electrically disconnected from a power supply terminal provided for supplying power to the camera and the power supply. Therefore, even if a finger or the like of a person who operates a mold touches the terminal, the endoscope can be safely operated without an electric shock even if the finger touches the terminal. Also,
Even if the shutter button is accidentally pressed, the camera mounting detector detects that the camera is not mounted on the eyepiece, so that the power supply is kept in a non-energized state with respect to the power supply terminal.

On the other hand, when the camera is attached to the eyepiece, it is detected by the camera attachment detector, so when the shutter button is pressed, the camera receives the signal based on this signal and the signal from the camera attachment detection Since the power is supplied, the operation of the camera is performed smoothly.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the endoscope. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an operation unit main body. The operation unit main body 1 is provided with an insertion portion 2 that is inserted into a body cavity or the like, and a light guide (not shown) provided in the insertion portion 2. A universal cord 4 connected to a light source device 3 having a built-in light source for irradiating the body cavity with illumination light is provided in series. An eyepiece 5 for forming an image of the observation target transmitted through an image guide (not shown) is provided on the operation unit main body 1.
The endoscope 5 allows the operator of the endoscope to visually observe the image of the observation target portion, and also attaches the camera 6 to take an image of the observation target portion. It has become. In order to reduce the weight of the endoscope and improve the operability of its operation, the camera 6 does not have a built-in power supply for driving the endoscope. A power supply cord is inserted into a universal cord 4 connected to the light source device 3, and the cord extends to the eyepiece 5.

Then, when the camera 6 is mounted on the eyepiece 5, in order to be able to supply power to the camera 6, as shown in FIGS. The eye 5 is provided with four terminals connected to the above-described cord. Two of the terminals 7a and 7b are power terminals for supplying power to the camera 6, and the other two terminals 8a and 8b.
b is a signal terminal for transmitting a control signal between the camera 6 and the power supply. On the other hand, each terminal is provided on the camera 6 side.
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, leaf spring-shaped terminals 9a, 9 respectively connected to
b, 10a, and 10b are provided, and when the camera 6 is connected to the eyepiece unit 5 via the bayonet coupling unit 5a, it constitutes a connector unit for performing the connection between the terminals described above. Further, the operation unit main body 1 is provided with a shutter button 11 for operating the camera 6, and a light emitting element 12a and a light from the light emitting element 12a are provided between the eyepiece 5 and the camera 6. A camera operation signal transmitting means 12 including a light receiving element 12b for receiving the signal is provided.

Thus, the structure is such that power is supplied to the camera 6 only when the camera 6 is mounted on the eyepiece unit 5 and the shutter button 11 is pressed. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, a camera mounting detector 13 composed of a transmissive photo sensor is provided at the bayonet coupling section 5a of the eyepiece 5, and the camera 6 is connected to the bayonet coupling section 5a. Is connected to the bayonet coupling portion on the camera 6 side.
The camera mounting detector 13 is shielded from light by 6a, whereby the mounting of the camera 6 can be detected.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a configuration of a control mechanism for causing the operation of the camera 6 described above. A signal from the shutter button 11 is input to a power supply circuit 14, and the power supply circuit 14 is provided with a timer 15. Then, when the shutter button 11 is pressed, the camera mounting detector 13 is connected to the power supply by the power supply circuit 14, and whether the camera 6 is connected to the eyepiece unit 5 by the camera mounting detector 13 is determined. Is detected. The camera mounting detection signal of the camera mounting detector 13 is input to the power supply circuit 14, and based on the signal, the camera mounting signal transmission means 12 and the power supply terminals 7a, 7b are supplied from the power supply circuit 14 for a time set by the timer 15. Power is supplied, and during this time, the camera 6 can be operated by a camera drive circuit 16 built in the camera 6. On the other hand, even when the shutter button 11 is pressed, when the camera 6 is not mounted on the eyepiece 5, this is detected by the camera mounting detector 13 and transmitted to the camera 6 via the power supply circuit 14. The power is not supplied.

This embodiment is configured as described above. With the universal cord 4 of the endoscope connected to the light source device 3, the insertion part 2 is inserted into a body cavity or the like, and The observation target part is illuminated by light sent through the light guide, and the eyepiece part 5 is illuminated through the image guide.
The image of the eyepiece unit 5 can be visually observed by forming an image of the observation target unit at the same time. Here, when the camera 6 is not attached to the eyepiece 5,
Power supply terminals 7a and 7b provided in a state exposed to the eyepiece 5
Since the power supply and the power supply are cut off by the power supply circuit 14, it is safe even if a finger or the like touches the power supply terminals 7a and 7b and the signal terminals 8a and 8b for transmitting signals.

On the other hand, when the camera 6 is mounted on the eyepiece 5 and the shutter button 11 provided on the operation section main body 1 is pressed, the pulse signal is input to the power supply circuit 14 and this signal is input. Sometimes, first, the camera mounting detector 13
Is read out. When a signal from the camera attachment detector 13 detects that the camera 6 is attached to the eyepiece 5, the power supply circuit 14 sends a signal via the connector in the eyepiece based on the detection signal. Power is supplied to the camera 6, and an operation start signal is input to a camera drive circuit 16 incorporated in the camera 6 via the camera operation signal transmission means 12. As a result, the camera 6 operates to perform a series of operations including exposure control, shutter release, film winding, and the like.
It becomes possible to shoot a video of the observation target portion. Then, after the power is supplied to the camera 6 for a time necessary for the operation of the camera 6, the power is automatically cut off by the timer 15.

However, if the shutter button 11 is pressed by mistake while the camera 6 is not mounted on the eyepiece 5, this signal is input to the power supply circuit 14 and the camera mounting detector 13 is detected based on this signal. Detects whether the camera is mounted. However, since the camera attachment detector 13 does not output the attachment detection signal of the camera 6, power is not supplied to the camera 6. Therefore, even if the shutter button 11 is operated by an erroneous operation, the terminal provided on the eyepiece 5 is not energized.

As described above, since the mounting of the camera 6 is configured to be detected via the optical means, the life thereof is long and the reliability is remarkably improved. Is provided, there is no particular inconvenience in taking a waterproof structure necessary for cleaning the endoscope.

In addition, as a camera mounting detector, besides the transmission type photo sensor described above, for example, a reflection type photo sensor,
It is also possible to use various sensors such as a magnetic sensor.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the power supply terminal exposed to the eyepiece is always disconnected from the power supply by the power supply circuit, and the shutter button is pressed. Sometimes, after detecting that the camera is mounted by the camera mounting detector, the camera is configured to supply power for the time set by the timer, so when the camera actually needs to operate, In addition, since power is supplied to the camera only for the time required to operate the camera, power consumption can be reduced compared to when power is always supplied, and the camera can be mounted on the eyepiece. Power is not supplied to the power supply terminal provided in the eyepiece when the power supply terminal is not in contact with the terminal, the finger or the like of the operator touches the terminal provided in a state exposed to the eyepiece. An accident And the endoscope can be operated safely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an endoscope, and FIG. 2 (a) is a view of a connecting portion between an eyepiece and a camera. FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged sectional view of a main part in a state where the eyepiece and the camera are connected, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a bayonet joint of the eyepiece, and FIG. 4 is a power control mechanism. FIG. 1: Operation unit body, 2: Insertion unit, 3: Light source device, 5, 20: Eyepiece unit,
6, 22: camera, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b: terminal, 13: camera mounting detector, 14: power supply circuit, 15: timer, 21: switch, 23: operating rod.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A pair of power terminals for supplying power for operating the camera to an eyepiece connected to the operation unit body, and a pair of signal terminals for transmitting a signal for controlling the camera. A device for controlling the power of an endoscope provided with a shutter button for operating a camera at a position where the camera can be operated by a finger of the operation unit main body, wherein a camera is mounted on the eyepiece. The camera mounting detector to be detected, and the power supply terminal and the power supply are always kept in a shut-off state, the shutter button is pressed, and a camera mounting detection signal is output from the camera mounting detector. A power supply circuit for supplying power to the camera via the power supply terminal for a predetermined time required for operation of the camera.