JP2710336B2 - Light source device for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device capable of supplying illumination light to an endoscope capable of observing the naked eye and an endoscope provided with imaging means.

[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 capable of observing an organ in a body cavity or the like and performing various treatments using a treatment tool inserted into a treatment tool channel as necessary is widely used. As one of these endoscopes,
There is a fasbascope which transmits an image of a copy formed by an objective optical system to an eyepiece by an image guide formed of a fiber bundle, and enables naked eye observation from the eyepiece.

In addition, various electronic endoscopes (also referred to as electronic scopes) using a solid-state imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) as imaging means have been proposed.

By the way, generally, the fiber scope and the electronic scope are connected to different light source devices. In the light source device, for example, an aperture is provided as light amount control means, but conventionally, since the light source devices for the fiber scope and the electronic scope are separate, independent aperture control circuits have been used. . It is also conceivable that the conventional light source device is shared between the fiber scope and the electronic scope. In this case, however, the aperture control circuit for the fiber scope and the aperture control circuit for the electronic scope are separate, so the circuit scale is large. However, there is a problem that economic efficiency is poor.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can supply illumination light to an endoscope capable of observing the naked eye and an endoscope provided with an imaging unit, and further has a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source device for an endoscope that can be made into a light source.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A light source device for an endoscope according to the present invention includes a first endoscope capable of observing the naked eye by having an observation optical system, and a second endoscope including an imaging unit. Illumination light output means capable of emitting illumination light suitable for the first endoscope, and first brightness information obtained by detection means for detecting the brightness of the observation optical system in the first endoscope, or the second brightness information The amount of light emitted by the illumination light output means can be adjusted based on second brightness information obtained based on an imaging signal from the imaging means in the endoscope, and when the first endoscope is used. A light amount control unit commonly used when the second endoscope is used; and selecting one of the endoscope brightness information from the first brightness information and the second brightness information. Switching control means for switching brightness information to be transmitted to the light quantity control means; It is characterized by having.

[Operation] In the present invention, when the first endoscope is used, the brightness information from the first endoscope is sent to the light quantity control means via the selection means, and the light quantity is adjusted based on the brightness information. I do. On the other hand, at the time of using the second endoscope,
The brightness information from the endoscope is sent to the light amount control means, and the light amount is adjusted based on the brightness information.

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

FIGS. 1 to 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an aperture control circuit, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of means for detecting the type of scope connected to the light source apparatus. It is.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope light source device 1, and an endoscope connected to the endoscope light source device 1 (hereinafter, referred to as a scope). It comprises a fiber scope 2A capable of observation and an electronic scope 2B having an imaging means. Further, a video processor 3 for performing signal processing on the electronic scope 2B is provided, and a monitor 4 is connected to the video processor 3.

Each of the scopes 2A and 2B has a slender, for example, flexible insertion portion 11, and a large-diameter operation portion 12 is connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 11. A flexible universal cord 13 is extended laterally from the operation unit 12, and a light source connector 14A,
14B is provided. The light source connectors 14A and 14B are connected to a light source connector receiver 15 of the light source device 1. In the electronic scope 2B, a signal code 16 extends from a side of the light source connector 14B, and an electric connector 17 is provided at a tip of the signal code 16. The electric connector 17 is connected to an electric connector receiver 18 of the video processor 3. In addition, the light source device 1 and the video processor 3
Is to be connected by

The two scopes 2A, 2B are located at the distal end 21 of the insertion section 11,
An objective lens system 22 and a light distribution lens 23 are provided.
A light guide 24 for transmitting illumination light is continuously provided on the rear end side of the light distribution lens 23, and the light guide 24 is inserted into the insertion portion 11 and the universal cord 13, and the light source connectors 14A, 14B Connected to each other. By connecting the light source connectors 14A and 14B to the light source connector receptacle 15 of the light source device 1, the light source device 1 emits illumination light suitable for each scope.
24 incident ends. This illumination light is guided to the distal end portion 21 by the light guide 24,
The light exits from the exit end of the light guide 24 and is distributed by the light distribution lens.
Through 23, the subject is irradiated.

In the fiber scope 2A, an image guide 26 inserted into the insertion portion 11 is formed at an image forming position of the objective lens system 22.
Are disposed. Also, at the rear end of the operation unit 12,
An eyepiece 27 facing the rear end face of the image guide 26
Is provided. The object image formed on the distal end surface of the image guide 26 by the objective lens system 22 is transmitted to the eyepiece 28 side by the image guide 26, and the eyepiece 28
It is to be observed via 27. A half prism 37 is provided on the optical axis of the eyepiece 27,
A light receiving element 38 is provided on the optical path branched by the half prism 37. This light receiving element 38 has a signal line 39
The signal line 39 is inserted into the universal cord 13 and connected to a terminal 61 provided on the light source connector 15.

On the other hand, in the electronic scope 2B, the objective lens system 22
A solid-state imaging device as an imaging unit, for example,
CCD31 is provided. When the simultaneous imaging method is used as the color imaging method, color filters that transmit red (R), green (G), and blue (B) light are arranged in a mosaic pattern on the front surface of the CCD 31. A color filter array is provided. The CCD 31 is connected to signal lines 34 for signal output and drive pulse application. Although there are a plurality of signal lines 34, only one signal line is shown in FIG. The signal line 34 is inserted into the insertion portion 11, the universal cord 13, the light source connector 14B, and the signal cord 16, and is connected to the electric connector 17.

The endoscope light source device 1 includes a lamp 41 such as a xenon lamp or a halogen lamp that emits white light, a light source connector 14A that collects light from the lamp 41, and is connected to the light source connector receiver 15. And a condenser lens 42 that is incident on the incident end of the 14B ride guide 24. On the optical path between the lamp 41 and the condenser lens 42, an aperture 43 and a shutter 44 are arranged in order from the lamp 41 side. The aperture 43
Is controlled by the aperture control circuit 45 to adjust the amount of light passing therethrough. The shutter 44 is used when a still camera is connected to the eyepiece 28 of the fiberscope 2A and an image of a subject is taken by the still camera. The aperture control circuit 45 is connected to an output terminal of a two-input one-output switch 46.
One input end of the changeover switch 46 is connected to a terminal 62 connected to a terminal 61 provided on the light source connector 14A of the fiberscope 2A. The other input terminal of the changeover switch 46 is connected via a gain / time constant setting circuit 47 to a terminal 63 to which the signal code 19 is connected. Also,
The switching of the changeover switch 46 is controlled by a switch control circuit 48.

Further, the video processor 3 is provided with an electronic scope 2B.
A driver 51 for applying a drive pulse to the CCD 31;
And an amplifier 52 for amplifying the output signal of the first and second amplifiers, respectively, and these are connected to the electrical connector receiver 18, respectively. The output signal of the CCD 31 that is driven and read by the driver 51 is amplified by the amplifier 52 and then input to the process circuit 54 through the low-pass filter (LPF) 53. The process circuit 54 is provided with the CCD 3
The first output signal is subjected to video signal processing to generate, for example, a composite video signal of the NTSC system. The video signal is input to the monitor 4 and an image of a subject is displayed on the monitor 4. The output from the low-pass filter 53 is applied to a terminal 64 connected to the signal code 19. The output from the low-pass filter 53 is input to a gain / time constant setting circuit 47 in the light source device 1 via the signal code 19.

As described above, in the present embodiment, one of the output of the light receiving element 38 of the fiber scope 2A and the output signal of the CCD 31 of the electronic scope 2B that has passed through the amplifier 52, the low-pass filter 53, and the gain / time constant setting circuit 47 is switched by the changeover switch. The aperture is selected by 46 and input to the common aperture control circuit 45. The changeover switch 46 is controlled by a switch control circuit 48.When the fiber scope 2A is used, the signal from the fiber scope 2A is selected.When the electronic scope 2B is used, the signal from the electronic scope 2B is selected. Send to 45. The gain / time constant setting circuit 47
Is different from the signal from the fiber scope 2A and the signal from the electronic scope 2B because the signal level and frequency characteristics are different.
The gain and the time constant for the signal from the electronic scope 2B are set so that the level and frequency characteristics of both signals are equalized.

The aperture control circuit 45 is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the signal from the changeover switch 46 is integrated by the integration circuit 71, and the integrated value is compared with a predetermined value by the comparison circuit 72. The output of the comparison circuit 72 is used as an aperture driving circuit 73 for driving the aperture 43. To be entered. Then, by the aperture control circuit 45,
When the level of the input signal increases, the aperture 43 is narrowed. Conversely, when the level of the input signal decreases, the aperture 43 is opened, and the return light from the subject is automatically adjusted to the set brightness. It has become.

The switch control circuit 48 may be a switch manually set by a user according to the scope to be used, or the type of scope connected to the light source device 1 or the video processor 3 connected to the light source device 1. It is also possible to provide a detecting means for detecting whether or not the switching has been performed, and to automatically switch the changeover switch 46 based on the output of the detecting means.

FIG. 3 shows an example of means for detecting the type of scope connected to the light source device 1.

That is, the light source connector 14A of the fiber scope 2A
Are provided with terminals 81a and 81b connected by a resistor 83, and a terminal 8 connected by a resistor 84 to the light source connector 14B of the electronic scope 2B.
2a and 82b are provided. The resistance values of the resistors 83 and 84 are
Different from each other. On the other hand, the light source connector receiver 15 of the light source device 1 is provided with terminals 85a and 85b connected to the terminals 81a and 81b or the terminals 82a and 82b. The switch control circuit 48
The comparator 91 has a non-inverting input terminal connected to one terminal 85a.
The voltage Vc is applied via the resistor 92. Note that the other terminal 85b is grounded. A reference voltage V REF is applied to an inverting input terminal of the comparator 91. The output of the comparator 91 is a changeover control signal for the changeover switch 46. Assuming that the respective resistance values of the respective resistors 83, 84, 92 are R83, R84, R92, these resistance values are set to, for example, R92 = R83 << R84. Further, the reference voltage V REF is equal to V c
For example, it is set to 2 / 3Vc during 1 / 2Vc. Therefore, when the fiber scope 2A is connected to the light source device 1, the output of the comparator 91 becomes L level, and when the electronic scope 2B is connected to the light source device 1, the output of the comparator 91 becomes H level. Becomes The changeover switch 46 operates so as to select the signal from the fiber scope 2A when the output of the comparator 91 is at the L level and to select the signal from the electronic scope 2B when the output of the comparator 91 is at the H level. I do.

Note that the terminals 82a and 82b on the electronic scope 2B side may be opened instead of being connected by the resistor 84.

Further, the detection means for detecting whether or not the video processor 3 is connected to the light source device 1 can be configured in substantially the same manner. That is, a connector on the light source device 1 side of the signal code 19 and two terminals connected by the resistor 83 may be provided, and the switch control circuit 48 shown in FIG. 3 may be connected to these terminals. Thus, when the video processor 3 is connected to the light source device 1, the output of the comparator 91 becomes L level, and the video processor 3 is connected to the light source device 1.
Is not connected, the output of the comparator 91 becomes H level. In this case, the changeover switch 46 selects the signal from the electronic scope 2B when the output of the comparator 91 is at the L level,
When the output of 91 is at the H level, it operates so as to select the signal from the fiber scope 2A.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the fiberscope 2A is used, the eyepiece 28 of the fiberscope 2A is used.
The output of the light receiving element 38 provided to the optical input device is input to the aperture control circuit 45, and the light amount control suitable for the fiber scope 2A is performed. When the electronic scope 2B is used, the output signal of the CCD 31 of the electronic scope 2B is supplied to the amplifier 52 and the low-pass filter.
53, a gain / time constant setting circuit 47, and then input to the aperture control circuit 45, and light amount control suitable for the electronic scope 2B is performed.

As described above, in the light source device 1 of the present embodiment, the illumination light can be supplied to the fiber scope 2A and the electronic scope 2B, and the aperture control circuit for the fiber scope 2A and the aperture control circuit for the electronic scope 2B are common. Has been Therefore, as compared with the case where the aperture control circuits are separately provided, the circuit size can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be applied to, for example, a case where a naked eye is observed using a fiber scope and a case where an external television camera is connected to an eyepiece of the fiber scope and used. Can be. That is, the output signal of the solid-state imaging device in the external TV camera is
Gain / time constant setting circuit via camera control unit which performs signal processing for this external TV camera
You can enter it in 47.

Further, the light quantity control is not limited to the aperture control, but may be the control of the light quantity of a lamp.

Further, the video processor 3 or the camera control unit may be integrated with the light source device 1.

The imaging method of the endoscope provided with the imaging means is not limited to the simultaneous method, but may be a field sequential method in which the illumination light is sequentially switched to R, G, B, or the like. In this case, for example, by inserting and removing a rotary filter that converts white light into surface-sequential light with respect to the illumination optical path, white light and surface-sequential light can be output. In addition, in this way, it is compatible with an endoscope such as a fiberscope capable of observing the naked eye, an endoscope having simultaneous imaging means, and an endoscope having plane-sequential imaging means. Illumination light to be supplied by one light source device.

Further, the present invention is not limited to a flexible endoscope such as the fiberscope 2A, but can be applied to a rigid endoscope.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of light can be adjusted in common with the endoscope for observing the naked eye and the endoscope having imaging means. A remarkable effect that the configuration of the light amount control means can be simplified can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 3 relate to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an aperture control circuit, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a unit that detects a type of a scope connected to the light source device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light source device for endoscopes 2A ... Fiber scope 2B ... Electronic scope 3 ... Video processor 38 ... Light receiving element 41 ... Lamp 43 ... Aperture 45 ... Aperture control circuit 46 ... Switch

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeaki Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optical Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Ikuno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Within Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiaki Nishikori 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Hiromasa Suzuki 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-2927 (JP, A) JP-A-60-243625 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An illumination light output means capable of emitting illumination light suitable for a first endoscope having an observation optical system and enabling a naked eye observation and a second endoscope having an image pickup means. The first brightness information obtained by the detection means for detecting the brightness of the observation optical system in the first endoscope, or the first brightness information obtained based on the imaging signal from the imaging means in the second endoscope. The amount of light emitted by the illumination light output means can be adjusted based on the second brightness information obtained, and is shared between the use of the first endoscope and the use of the second endoscope. Light amount control means, among the first brightness information and the second brightness information,
Switching control means for selecting the brightness information of one of the endoscopes and switching the brightness information to be transmitted to the light quantity control means; and a light source for an endoscope comprising: apparatus.