JP2656951B2 - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of confirming a position of a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion section by extracorporeal transmitted light.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity,
2. Description of the Related Art An endoscope (also referred to as a scope or a fiber scope) capable of observing a body cavity device or the like or performing various medical treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as needed is widely used.

Also, various electronic scopes using a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) as an imaging unit have been proposed.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-82731, a color image pickup method of the electronic scope includes a field sequential method in which illumination light is sequentially switched to R (red), G (green), B (blue), or the like. And as shown in, for example, JP-A-60-76888,
There is a color mosaic type (also referred to as a simultaneous type) in which a filter array in which color transmission filters that transmit R, G, and B degrees of color light are respectively arranged in a mosaic shape or the like is provided on the front surface of a solid-state imaging device.

By the way, in a field-sequential type electronic scope, white light is radiated in order to separate illumination light for illuminating a subject through R (red), G (green), B (blue), etc. type separation filters into respective color lights. Although the amount of illumination is lower than that of the color mosaic type which illuminates the subject, it is difficult to confirm the position of the tip of the electronic scope using extraneous transmitted light because the amount of illumination is small. In order to solve this problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-2927, a technique has been disclosed in which a color separation filter is removed from the optical path even when a plane-sequential electronic scope is used to increase the amount of light. However, the monitor image in this case is not an original color image nor a black-and-white image during the period when the color separation filter is moved from the inside of the optical path to the outside of the optical path, and conversely, from the outside of the optical path to the inside of the optical path. Further, there is a problem that an image having a so-called color shift occurs due to the movement of the internal organ.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem of the prior art, the present applicant has filed an application in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 36-48361 to display the immediately preceding image as a still image during the filter movement period. According to this, an easily viewable image can be provided, and an electronic endoscope apparatus with good operability can be provided. However, in this case, the period of a still image is generally several seconds to at most several tens of seconds, but during that time, the positional relationship between the distal end of the insertion portion and the internal organ cannot be known, especially when the internal organ moves. When using the treatment tool through the channel of the endoscope or the endoscope, it may be dangerous even if the time is short, unless the positional relationship between the endoscope and the internal organ is observed. The prior art, including this problem, has some points to be improved.

On the other hand, in the mosaic type electronic scope, when it is difficult to confirm the position of the tip, the light amount of the light source device is increased. , B are superimposed as modulated carrier signals, so that the saturation of the color signal component is fast, resulting in a color skipped image, which is very difficult to observe.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an easy-to-view image without color shift and color skip even when the tip position of the electronic scope is recognized from the outside by transmitted light, and is safe and has good operability. It is an object to provide a simple electronic endoscope device.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] An electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention is an electronic endoscope apparatus that displays an endoscope image on a display unit based on an output signal of an imaging unit that captures an endoscope image. Illumination means for illuminating a subject with color display illumination light for displaying a color endoscopic image on the display means, and capable of illuminating the subject with brighter illumination light whose light intensity has been increased from the color display illumination light Signal for generating a plurality of subject image signals (RGB signals or luminance and color difference signals) including color information enabling color display of the endoscope image based on an output signal of the imaging means. Processing means for displaying a color endoscope image on the display means based on the plurality of subject image signals when the subject is illuminated with the illumination light for color display, and There characterized by comprising a switching means for displaying a monochrome endoscopic image on the display means based on a single subject image signal of the plurality of subject image signals when it is illuminated.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic endoscope.
FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the electronic endoscope device, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a case where a time setting circuit is provided, and FIG. 4 is an overall explanatory diagram of the electronic endoscope device.

In FIG. 4, an electronic endoscope device 1 includes an endoscope 2, a light source device 3 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 2, and an endoscope 2.
And a monitor 6 for displaying a video signal output from the control device 4 on a screen.
It is composed of

The endoscope 2 includes an elongated insertion section 7, a large-diameter operation section 8 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 7, a light guide and a signal extending from a side of the operation section 8. Cable 9
And

A rigid distal end 11 is provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion 7, and a bending portion that can be bent rearward adjacent to the distal end 11.
There are twelve. Furthermore, behind this curved portion 12,
Flexible flexible portions 13 are provided continuously. The bending portion 12,
By operating a bending operation knob 14 provided on the operation unit 8, the bending can be performed in the vertical and horizontal directions.

A light guide and signal connector 16 is provided at the rear end of the light guide and signal cable 9 so as to be connected to the light source device 3 and the control device 4 at the same time. The light source device 3 and the control device 4 are connected by a signal cable 18 provided with connectors 17 at both ends. Further, the control device 4 is connected to the monitor 6 by a signal cable 19.

The illumination light supplied from the light source device 3 is emitted forward from the distal end portion 11, and a part of the illumination light is transmitted through the inner wall 20 of the body cavity.

In FIG. 1, a light source unit 21 provided in the light source device 3 includes a light source lamp 22 and R (red), G (green), and B (blue).
A rotating color filter 24 having primary color transmission filters 23R, 23G, and 23B. This rotating color filter 24
Are driven to rotate by a motor 26.
The illumination light emitted from the light source lamp 22 is converted into parallel light by a parallel lens 27, and is incident on the rotating color filter 24. The illumination light transmitted through the rotary color filter 24 is converted into color light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, collected by the condenser lens 28, and incident on the incident end face of the light guide 29.

The rotating color filter 24 is inserted and removed from an optical path connecting the light source lamp 22 and the incident end face of the light guide 29 by a filter moving motor 31.

The light guide 29 is inserted through the endoscope 2 so that illumination light can be applied to the inner wall 20 of the body cavity by a light distribution lens 32 disposed in front of an emission end face of the light guide 29.

The reflected light corresponding to each of the red, green, and blue light from the inner wall 20 of the body cavity passes through an objective lens 33 provided at the distal end portion 11, and is solid-state imaging provided at an image forming position of the objective lens 33. An element (hereinafter, abbreviated as CCD) 34 receives light on an imaging surface thereof. The CCD 34 photoelectrically converts a subject image and sequentially outputs the subject image in a horizontal direction, for example, by a driving clock applied from a CCD driver 36 provided in the control device 4. The electric signal including the image information is input to a preamplifier 37 in the control device 4. The electric signal amplified and impedance-converted by this preamplifier 37 is a sample-and-hold circuit.
The frame-sequential video signals R, G, and B are extracted at 38, are further γ-corrected by the γ correction circuit 39, and are converted to digital signals by the A / D converter 41. The electric signal is synchronized by the multiplexer 42 with the color-sequential illumination light, and the R-frame memory 43R and the G-freem memory 43G, which are memories for sequentially synchronizing the sequential signals corresponding to the red, green, and blue colors, respectively. The data is written to the B frame memory 43B. Each of these frame memories 43R, 43
G and 43B are simultaneously read out in the horizontal direction at a speed matching the monitor 6, and are converted into analog signals by the D / A converter 44, respectively, to become synchronized R, G and B primary color signals.

It is connected so as to be inputted to an input terminal 48a of a two-input / one-output switch 48 as the analog color signal R selection means. The color signal B is connected so as to be input to an input terminal 49a of a two-input / one-output switch 49 as selection means.

Further, the color signal G is branched and connected so as to be input to the input terminal 48b of the changeover switch 48, the input terminal 49b of the changeover switch 49, and the monitor 6.

The monitor 6 is connected to output terminals 48c and 49c of two-input and one-output switches 48 and 49. When the input terminals 48a and 49a are selected by the changeover switches 48 and 49, the monitor 6 displays a normal color image.
When 49b is selected, a monochrome image with a single color signal G is displayed.

In the control device 4, a control circuit 46 for controlling the timing of the entire signal processing circuit is provided. The control circuit 46 controls the timing of the driving clock applied to the CCD 34 by converting the voltage level by the CCD driver 36, and extracts a video signal from the electric signal read by the driving clock. A sampling pulse is input to the sample and hold circuit 38.

The control circuit 46 also controls the conversion speed of the A / D converter 41 and the frame memories 43R, 43G, 43
The writing and reading of data to and from B and the conversion speed of the D / A converter 44 are controlled.

The control circuit 46 includes the filter moving motor
Extracorporeal light observation switch 47 provided on light source device 3 together with 31
The ON and OFF signals are input, and the control circuit 46 selects the input terminals 48b and 49b of the two-input / one-output changeover switches 48 and 49 by inputting the ON signal, and outputs the color signal G. Is output to the monitor 6. Further, the filter moving motor 31 is configured to retreat the rotary color filter 24 from an optical path connecting the light source lamp 22 and the incident end face of the light guide 29 by receiving an ON signal. Further, when the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is turned off, the filter moving motor 31
After the rotary color filter 24 is interposed on the optical path, the control circuit 46 selects the input terminals 48a, 49a of the two-input, one-output selector switches 48, 49 and monitors the control circuit 46.
, Color signals R, G, and B are input to display a normal color moving image.

The operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus 1 configured as described below will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

 The surgeon inserts the insertion section 7 of the endoscope 2 into a body cavity.

Illumination light emitted from the light source device 3 is R as shown in FIG.
(Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) light are sequentially color-separated and supplied to the light guide 29.

When checking the position of the distal end portion 11 during the insertion operation, the operator turns on the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 provided in the light source device 3. The rising of the ON signal starts the driving of the filter moving motor 31, and the rotating color filter 24 starts retreating from the optical path as shown in FIG. 2 (c). During this movement period T1, the illumination light is indeterminate and the rotating color filter
When the movement of 24 is completed, the illuminating light becomes white light with an increased light amount, and it is easy to confirm the position of the distal end portion 11 by transmitted light from the body. The control circuit 46 selects the input terminals 48b, 49b of the two-input, one-output changeover switches 48, 49 at the rise of the ON signal of the extracorporeal light observation switch 47.

When the rotary color filter 24 is retracted from the optical path, the observation image of the body cavity inner wall 20 with white light is formed on the imaging surface of the solid-state imaging device 34 via the objective lens 33 and is converted into an electric signal. The element 34 is basically a black-and-white image sensor, and obtains a frame-sequential video signal which does not originally include color information unlike the frame-sequential signal of the color signals R, G, B at the time of normal observation. Thereafter, the same processing as in normal observation is performed and the analog conversion is performed.
Is input to Since the input terminals 48b and 49b are selected for the two-input and one-output selector switches 48 and 49, the input signal of the monitor 6 is only the color signal G. Displayed and no color shift occurs.

Next, after a period T4 in which the technique has finished checking the tip position with the extracorporeal light transmitted light, the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is pressed again to turn it off. At the rise of the OFF signal, the rotating color filter 24 that has been retracted outside the optical path starts moving on the optical path. When the movement ends after the movement period T3 and the illumination light changes from white light to R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color-separated, the control circuit 46 switches the two-input / one-output changeover switches 48 and 49 to one another. Select the input terminals 48a and 49a. R (red), G (green), B
The observation image illuminated with each color light of (blue) forms an image on the solid-state imaging device 34, is converted into an electric signal, is subjected to signal processing, and is subjected to color signals R, G,
B is generated. The color signals R, G, B are converted into analog signals by the D / A converters 44, 44, 44, and the two-input / one-output switches 48, 49 are provided.
Is output to the monitor 6 via The monitor 6 displays a normal color moving image on the screen.

The above-described embodiment is a monochrome display using G single color. However, the present invention is not limited to the G signal, and it is needless to say that either the color signal R or the color signal B may be used.
This can be easily achieved by changing the connection of the output changeover switches 48 and 49.

Further, the extracorporeal observation switch 47 of the present embodiment is of an alternate type in which the switch is pressed for the first time and turned on when pressed for the second time, but it is easy to increase the light amount during an arbitrary set time by pressing the switch once. FIG. 3 shows the configuration. In FIG. 3, the extracorporeal observation switch 47 can input an ON signal to the time setting circuit 51. The time setting circuit 51 is, for example, a monostable multivibrator, a counter format based on the reference clock count, or a CPU
May be controlled by The time setting circuit 51 to which the ON signal is input outputs a control signal to the filter moving motor 31 so as to start counting and at the same time retract the rotary color filter 24 from the optical path. Further, the ON signal is input to the control circuit 46 to perform the above-described operation, and switches the changeover switches 48 and 49. Time setting circuit 5
When 1 counts a count number corresponding to a preset time, it sends a control signal to the filter moving motor 31 to interpose the rotating color filter 24 on the optical path.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the two-input / one-output selector switches 48 and 49 are provided during the period T4, which is the sum of the periods T1 and T3 during which the rotating color filter 24 moves and the period T2 fixed outside the optical path.
When the color signal is uncertain due to the illumination light generated when the rotating color filter 24 moves because the image signal input to the monitor 6 is a single-color G, and when the illumination signal becomes white illumination light after the evacuation, the motion is caused by the motion of the subject inside the body. An easy-to-view image without color misregistration can be provided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment shows an electronic endoscope apparatus in which the present invention is applied to a simultaneous imaging method.

The endoscope device 61 includes an electronic endoscope 62 in which imaging means is incorporated.
A light source unit 63 that supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope 62, and a control device 66 that houses a signal processing unit 64 that converts a signal captured by the electronic endoscope 62 into a video signal that can be displayed on a display device. Become.

The electronic endoscope 62 has an elongated insertion portion 37 formed so as to be easily inserted into a body cavity, and an imaging lens is incorporated by disposing an objective lens 68 and a CCD 69 on a distal end surface side of the insertion portion 67. . A color mosaic filter (not shown) in which filters transmitting, for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light are provided in a mosaic shape is attached to the imaging surface of the CCD 69.

A light guide 71 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion section 67 to transmit the illumination light supplied from the light source section 63 and to emit the illumination light from the distal end face. Illuminate the subject side with 72.

A light source unit 63 for supplying illumination light is provided on the proximal end face of the light guide 71. The light source unit 63 includes a light source lamp 73 and a light condensing device for condensing white light emitted from the light source lamp 73. The lens 74 is provided. The light amount of the light source lamp 73 is adjusted by a dimming circuit 75.

The object illuminated with the illumination light is a CCD 6
An image is formed on the imaging surface 9 and color-separated by a color mosaic filter (not shown). An optical low-pass filter (LPF) 70 is provided on the imaging surface of the CCD 69 so as to mainly prevent the type moire caused by interference between the color mosaic filter and the spatial frequency of the subject image.

From the subject image formed on the CCD 69, a signal that has been photoelectrically converted by application of a drive pulse for performing transfer and reading from the CCD drive circuit 76 is read.

The output signal of the CCD 69 is input to a correlated double sampling circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as a CDS circuit) 77 forming the signal processing unit 64. The CDS circuit 77 samples and holds the feedthrough portion and the signal component of the CCD output signal to obtain a differential, and removes noise mainly generated by the CCD 69 such as 1 / f to obtain a baseband video signal.

The output signal of the CDS circuit 77 is input to an optical black ramp circuit (hereinafter abbreviated as an OB clamp circuit) 78, and an optical black period (abbreviated as an OB period) which is a black reference level of the output of the CCD 69 is input to the CCD 69. In order to prevent black level fluctuation due to increase or decrease in dark current, DC clamping is performed by a clamp pulse and a clamp pulse generated by the sampling pulse generating circuit 82. this
The output signal of the OB clamp circuit 78 is input to the cleaning circuit 79, and the OB period and the H blanking period are cleaned. The output of the cleaning circuit 79 is input to the gamma correction circuit 88. The γ correction circuit 88 converts the γ characteristic γ = 1 of the output video signal of the CCD 69 to γ = 0.45. The output of the γ correction circuit 88 is input to a low-pass filter (LPF) 89 so that the color signal carrier component is The luminance signal Y is extracted after being removed and input to the mixer 91.

On the other hand, the color signal components modulated line-sequentially have their DC levels fixed by the clamp circuits 94 and 96 while being superimposed on the luminance signal Y, and the peaks of the carrier components modulated at the respective line timings are sampled and held by the sample and hold circuits 92 and The sample is held at 93, and the baseband component of the color signal is obtained through low-pass filters (LPF) 97 and 98. The signal is a line-sequential color signal
R, B, a synchronization circuit for obtaining a delay time for one line 9
9. For example, the color signals R and G are converted into the same color signal by a 1H CCD type delay circuit. The obtained color signals R and G are converted into color difference signals R-Y / B-Y by arithmetic circuits 101 and 102 with the luminance signal Y, subjected to quadrature two-phase conversion by subcarriers by a color encoder circuit 103, and added. Thus, two chrominance signals (hereinafter abbreviated as chroma signals) are obtained. This chroma signal passes through one input terminal 104a of a two-input / one-output changeover switch 104 as a selecting means, and the mixer 91
Is mixed with the luminance signal Y to form a composite video signal. The mixer 91 is supplied with a composite sync signal by a synchronization signal generator (not shown) and adds the composite sync signal. The two-input / one-output switch 10
The other input terminal 104b of 7 is open or connected to GND.

The composite video signal is output to a monitor (not shown) to display an image of the observation site.

The two-input / one-output changeover switch 104 is connected so as to receive a signal from the extracorporeal light observation switch 47, selects the input terminal 104b by an on signal of the extracorporeal light observation switch 47, and selects the input terminal 104a by an off signal. Is to be selected. Further, the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is connected to the dimming circuit 75, and the dimming circuit 75 is
When an ON signal is input from 47, the light amount of the light source lamp 73 is increased.

The operation of the electronic endoscope device 61 configured as described above will be described.

The surgeon inserts the insertion section 67 of the electronic endoscope 62 into the body cavity.
The inside of the body cavity is illuminated by the illumination light emitted from the light source unit 63, and the observation site forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 69 via the objective lens 68. The CCD69 image is read by the CCD driver 76 and the CDS
Predetermined signal processing is performed by circuits after the circuit 77.
The color difference signals RY and BY obtained by the signal processing are converted into chroma signals by the color encoder circuit 103 and input to the input terminal 104a of the two-input / one-output switch 104. When an ON signal is not input from the extracorporeal light observation switch 47, the input terminal 104a and the output terminal 104c are connected to the two-input one-output switch 104, and the input chroma signal is input to the mixer 91. You. The mixer 91 generates a composite video signal based on the luminance signal Y and the chroma signal, and displays a normal color moving image on a monitor (not shown).

To check the position of the distal end portion 11 during the insertion operation, the operator turns on the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 provided in the control device 66. The ON signal is input to the dimming circuit 75 and the light source lamp 73
Increase the amount of light emitted from the light source. The increased illumination light is emitted into the body cavity via the light guide 71 and the light distribution lens 72. Part of the illumination light emitted into the body cavity passes through the living tissue and is emitted outside the body. The operator can confirm the position of the distal end of the electronic endoscope 62 by observing the transmitted light.

On the other hand, the reflected light from the observation site
An image is formed on the CCD 69 via the LPF 70 and a color mosaic filter (not shown). The light amount incident on the CCD 69 is larger than the proper exposure amount of the CCD 69 because the light source lamp 73 has increased the light amount. For this reason, saturation of the color signal is likely to occur according to the basic principle of the mosaic method in which the luminance signal Y is obtained as a carrier signal in which the color signal is modulated, and the obtained image is an unsightly image with color skipping. The ON signal output to the dimming circuit 75 is also input to the two-input / one-output switch 104, and selects the input terminal 104b that is open or connected to GND. As a result, the chroma signal is not input to the mixer 91, but only the luminance signal Y is output to the monitor. The image displayed on the monitor is a normal black-and-white image without saturation.

Next, when the operator has finished checking the distal end position with the extracorporeal light transmitted light, the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is turned off again.
This OFF signal is input to the dimming circuit 75 and reduces the light amount of the light source lamp 73 so as to make the illumination light amount suitable for a normal color image. At the same time, an OFF signal is also input to the two-input / one-output switch 104, the input terminal 104a is selected, a chroma signal is input to the mixer 91, and a normal color moving image is displayed on a monitor (not shown). Instead of inputting the on / off signal from the extracorporeal light observation switch 47, a time setting circuit as shown in FIG. 3 may be provided.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the amount of light is increased for confirming the endoscope distal end position, and a clear black-and-white moving image is displayed on the observation monitor even when the color signal component of the output signal of the CCD 69 is saturated. It is possible to provide a safe and operable electronic endoscope apparatus. Although the present embodiment is an electronic endoscope of a mosaic system, it can be easily applied to the field sequential system described in the first embodiment.

6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a changeover switch and the timing of a monitor image. It is.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, a clear black-and-white image is obtained. However, the amount of information may be insufficient with only a black-and-white image. In the present embodiment, the information amount in this function can be displayed to the maximum.

The present embodiment has a television-in television mode that allows a parent-child screen to be displayed simultaneously on a monitor television.

FIG. 6 shows the A / D converter 41 and subsequent parts in FIG. Circuits not shown are the same as those in FIG. 1, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 6, when observing a normal color moving image, the video information digitized by the A / D converter 41 is written to the still image memory 106 and the moving image memory 107. The video information written in the video memory 107 is stored in the memory controller 108
Is read at the timing controlled by
Input to the / A converter 44. Of the color signals R, G, and B analogized by the D / A converter 44, the R signal is input to the input terminal 48a of the two-input / one-output switch 48, and the B signal is two-input / one-input.
The signal is input to the input terminal 49a of the output switch 49. These input terminals 48a, 49a are connected to output terminals 48c, 49c,
The color signals R and B are output to the monitor 6.
On the other hand, the color signal G is branched into two input / one output switches.
Input to the input terminals 48b, 49b of 48, 49 and monitor 6
Is also output. Monitor 6 has color signals
R, G, and B are input and a normal color moving image is displayed.

To check the position of the endoscope tip, the external light observation switch 47 is turned on. The ON signal is input to the memory controller 108, the delay circuit 111, and the timing generation circuit 112. The memory controller 108 controls the still image memory 106 to prohibit the writing of the video information, and repeatedly outputs the video information immediately before the prohibition of the writing to the mixer 109. The timing and read address of the moving image memory 107 read by the memory controller 108 are controlled, and the moving image memory 107 is read so as to have the size of the sub-screen 114 and the display position of the screen in FIG. Is entered. The mixer 109 mixes the video information of the still image and the video information of the moving image, and outputs the resultant to the D / A converter 44. The color signals R and B, which are output signals of the D / A converter 44, are output to two-input / one-output switches 48 and 49, and the color signal G is directly output to the monitor 6. The switching timing of the two-input / one-output selector switches 48 and 49 is controlled by the timing generator 112. Timing generator 112
When the output of the D / A converter 44 is moving image information, the timing signal is not output as shown in FIG. 7B, and the two-input / one-output selector switches 48 and 49 are connected to the input terminals 48b and 49b. Selected. Then, a timing signal is output to the two-input / one-output changeover switches 48 and 49 at the timing when the video information of the still image is output from the D / A converter 44 as shown in FIG. The input terminals 48a, 49a of the two-input, one-output changeover switches 48, 49 are selected by the timing signal, and the color signals R, G, B, which are video information of a still image, are output to the monitor 6. The signal output to the monitor 6 as moving image information is a single color signal G. The single color signal G is output as color signals R, G, and B to obtain a clear black and white image moving image. A signal output to the monitor 6 as video information of a still image is a color signal.
R, G, and B are used to obtain a still image of a color image.

On the other hand, the delay circuit 111 sends the control signal to the filter moving motor 31 after the video information has been written into the still image memory 106.
And the rotary color filter 24 is retracted from the optical path of the illumination light.

When the position of the endoscope end is confirmed, the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is turned off. This off signal is input to the memory controller 108, and the write protection of the still image memory 106 is released. Further, the off signal is also input to the timing generator 112 to stop the generation of the timing signal. 2 inputs 1
Since the output changeover switches 48 and 49 do not receive a timing signal, the input terminals 48a and 49a are selected and the color signals R, G and B are output to the monitor 6 to display a moving image of a normal color image.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the maximum amount of video information can be extracted from the obtained video data, and a more secure electronic endoscope apparatus with good operability can be provided.

Further, the extracorporeal light observation switch 47 is not limited to the signal processing device main body, and may be provided in any device when the light source device and the signal processing device are separate bodies. It is needless to say that the operability can be improved if it is provided in the rear operation unit.

Note that the present embodiment is provided for the frame sequential imaging system of the first embodiment, but is not limited to this, and is provided for the mosaic imaging system described in the second embodiment to obtain parent-child images. You may do so.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain clear and sufficient image information even when an increase in the amount of light is measured for confirming the endoscope distal end position. Operability can be improved and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the entire configuration of the electronic endoscope, FIG. 2 is a timing chart illustrating operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a case where a time setting circuit is provided, FIG. 4 is an overall explanatory view of the electronic endoscope apparatus, and FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6 and 7 are related to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the endoscope apparatus. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope apparatus, 2 ... Endoscope 3 ... Light source apparatus, 4 ... Control apparatus 6 ... Monitor, 7 ... Insertion part 11 ... End part, 21 ... Light source part 22 ... Light source lamp, 24 Rotating color filter 29 Light guide 31, Filter moving motor 34 Solid-state image sensor 46 Control circuit 47 Extracorporeal light observation switch 48, 49 Two-input one-output switching switch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Masahiko Sasaki, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Akinobu Uchikubo 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Jun Hasegawa, the inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuyoshi Sasakawa 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Ohlympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In-Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yudai Nakagawa 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-217216 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope apparatus for displaying an endoscope image on a display means based on an output signal of an imaging means for imaging an endoscope image, wherein a color display for displaying a color endoscope image on the display means. Illumination means for irradiating the object with illumination light for illumination, illumination light amount increasing means capable of irradiating the object with increased illumination light of which the amount of light has been increased from the illumination light for color display, based on an output signal of the imaging means, A signal processing means for generating a plurality of subject image signals (RGB signals or luminance and color difference signals) including color information enabling color display of an endoscope image; and a subject illuminated by the color display illumination light. A color endoscopic image is displayed on the display means based on the plurality of subject image signals, and when the subject is illuminated with the enhanced illumination light, the plurality of subject image signals are displayed. Switching means for displaying a monochrome endoscope image on the display means based on one of the subject image signals.