JP2958007B2 - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus provided with a function of enlarging or reducing an arbitrary image area in an endoscope image.

[Related Art] In recent years, an optical endoscope that can provide observation means in a living body or a lumen by providing illumination light output means and observation means in an elongated insertion portion has been widely used.

Recently, an electronic endoscope that outputs a video signal by attaching a television camera to an eyepiece of the optical endoscope or an electronic endoscope that incorporates imaging means in an insertion portion has been used. Was.

The electronic endoscope is used as an endoscope device combined with a light source device, a signal processing device, and a display monitor device.

By the way, in a conventional endoscope apparatus, when an endoscope image is displayed on a monitor screen, it is desirable to be able to enlarge or reduce so as to observe the target portion in more detail, and there is a conventional example having a function to enlarge or reduce. .

In the conventional example, when the endoscope image is displayed on the monitor screen and a part of the image is enlarged, the tip of the endoscope insertion portion is moved, and a portion to be enlarged is displayed at the center of the display image.
The specific area in the center is enlarged.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the above conventional example, when an image of a target portion to be set can be set at the center of the display area, the image can be enlarged and reduced for observation.

However, it becomes difficult to move the tip of the insertion portion,
If the target target part cannot be moved to the center of the display image, the image of the target part will protrude from the display image portion even if it is enlarged as it is, and there is a problem particularly in the case of enlargement.

As a means for changing the image size such as enlargement, for example, US
There is a conventional example disclosed in P4,660,081, but it does not solve the above-mentioned disadvantages.The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and is a target image at an arbitrary position in an image displayed on a monitor screen. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that can perform enlarged or reduced display.

[Means for Solving Problems and Action] An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a memory unit for temporarily storing an output signal of an imaging unit for continuously imaging an endoscope image, and a signal read from the memory unit. Display means for displaying the endoscope image based on the display means, and an arbitrary designated area in the image displayed on the display means for which a change in the display magnification is desired, and a magnification value for changing the display magnification of the designated area are set. Input means capable of inputting, reference clock signal generating means for generating a reference clock signal synchronized with the output signal based on the output signal of the imaging means, and the specified area and magnification value set by the input means. Counting means for counting the reference clock signal generated by the reference clock signal generating means and outputting a count value corresponding to the designated area and the magnification value; And memory control means for controlling reading of a signal stored in the memory means based on the count value.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scaling control circuit in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an endoscope of the first embodiment. FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope apparatus 1 of the first embodiment includes an electronic endoscope (hereinafter, referred to as an electronic scope) 2, a light source unit 3 for supplying illumination light to the electronic scope 2, and A signal processing unit 4 for performing signal processing of the electronic scope 2 and a color monitor 5 for displaying a video signal output from the signal processing unit 4
It is composed of

The electronic scope 2 has an elongated insertion section 6, and a light guide 7 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion section 6, and by connecting this incident end to the light source section 3, the light source section 3 is inserted. Supplies the illumination light to the light guide 7. That is, the white light of the lamp 8 is condensed by the condenser lens 9 and is irradiated on the incident end face of the light guide 7. It is transmitted by this light guide and illuminates the subject.

The illuminated subject is imaged by the objective lens 11 attached to the distal end of the insertion section 6 on the CCD 12 arranged on the focal plane. Note that a mosaic color filter 12a is mounted on the front surface of the CCD 12, and performs color separation for each pixel.

The CCD 12 reads out signal charges that have been photoelectrically converted by a drive signal output by a driver 13, inputs the signal charges to a pre-processing circuit 14, and converts the signal charges into video signals.
Converted to digital signal by A / D converter 15 and stored in memory 1
Stored in 6. The digital signal stored in the memory 16 is subjected to read processing such as image enlargement / reduction and timing processing by an enlargement / reduction control circuit 17, and the signal read (enlarged or reduced) from the memory 16 is converted into a D / A signal. The signal is output to the post-processing circuit 19 via the converter 18.

The post-processing circuit 19 performs γ correction, contour correction, and the like to obtain a signal that can be displayed on the color monitor 5.
This is displayed on the monitor 5.

The enlargement / reduction control circuit 17 is connected to, for example, a keyboard 21 serving as a data input unit. When a part of an image is enlarged or reduced by the keyboard 21, the coordinates of the image part to be enlarged are used in the first embodiment. Position (center position)
And a magnification α. (The image size portion to be enlarged by this is determined from the size of the video display area.) The output video signal of the pre-processing circuit 14 is also input to the enlargement / reduction control circuit 17, A reference clock synchronized with the signal is generated and used for enlarging or reducing an image.

The enlargement / reduction control circuit 17 designates the position of an image area to be enlarged or the like by the keyboard 21 and the designation of the magnification α, so that the enlargement display image that fits in the image display area on the monitor screen of the color monitor 5 (does not extend). A process for outputting the signal data from the memory 16 is performed.

 FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the enlargement / reduction control circuit 17.

The video signal output from the pre-processing circuit 14 is input to a reference clock generator 23, and a reference clock synchronized with the video signal is generated. The reference clock is input to a horizontal address counter 24 and a vertical address counter 25. The horizontal and vertical address counters 24 and 25
6 is an address counter for counting the horizontal and vertical positions in the two-dimensional space. Preset values can be given from the preset value converter 26 to these address counters 24 and 25.

The address data of the address counters 24 and 25 is
Input to the converter 27, 28 of the address data for enlarging or reducing the designated part, according to the magnification α of enlargement or reduction,
The output values from the address counters 24 and 25 are converted and input to the operation units 29 and 30 at the next stage. These computing units 29 and 30 perform an operation of adding and subtracting the values of A / α and B / α to the input data, and output the result to the memory controller 31. The memory controller 31 receives a reference clock along with the data input through the arithmetic units 29 and 30 and generates horizontal and vertical address values and a reference clock required for the memory 16.

The keyboard 21 designates an arbitrary position such as a target portion to be enlarged or the like and an enlargement (or reduction) magnification α with respect to the image displayed on the monitor screen. Are also input to the address data converters 27 and 28 and the arithmetic units 29 and 30.

The enlargement of an image will be described with reference to the block configuration shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 5, an image area (CCD1 of the electronic scope 2) displayed on the screen (monitor screen) 32
This is an area for displaying only the image obtained in 2 and does not include an area for displaying a superimpose or the like. In the case where the image is enlarged in a certain area 33, the center coordinates of the specified (enlarged) area 34 to be enlarged (Xzo, Yz) are shown in FIG.
o), the center coordinate of the image area 33 is (Xso, Yso),
As shown in the figure, assuming that the sizes of the image area 33 and the designated area for enlargement 2 are 2A × 2B, 2a × 2b, and the magnification is α,
Horizontal (horizontal) and vertical (vertical) sizes a and b of the enlargement specified area 34
(Using the designation of the magnification α and the sizes A and B of the video display area 33) are obtained from a = A / α, b = B / α (1).

When the memory space and the video area 33 correspond one-to-one, the value (X, Y) of the address at which reading on the memory space corresponding to the designated area to be enlarged starts is the size a, Using b and the designated center coordinates (Xzo, Yzo), X = Xzo−a, Y = Yzo + b (2)

Therefore, the keyboard 21 shown in FIG.
o, Yzo) and the magnification α. The coordinate value of the enlargement designated position (Xzo, Yzo) by the keyboard 21 is sent from the preset value converter 26 to each address counter 24, 25 as a preset value of each address counter 24, 25. The address counters 24 and 25 in which the preset values are set start counting from the coordinate value of the enlargement designated position 34, but the size of the video area 33
The arithmetic units 29 and 30 perform addition and subtraction of the constants a and b obtained from Expression (1) from 2A × 2B and the magnification α, and the address counter 24
With respect to the counter data output from 25, −a is added to the horizontal data and + b is added to the vertical data, and the data at the address given to the memory 16 is added to the coordinates (Xzs, Yzs) of the enlarged area. It becomes the address in the corresponding memory space.

Since the horizontal enlargement is performed by displaying the data of the same pixel in the horizontal direction on the screen for a certain pixel in the video area as shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal address counter 24 sequentially counts. The output data is input to the address data converter 27 for scaling. The converter 27 converts the address data so as to read the same pixels corresponding to the designated magnification α. For example, if the magnification α is twice as large, the output of the address counter 1,2,3, ..., 2n-1,2n The conversion output of the address data 1,1,2,2,3,3 ... n-1 , n−1,
n, n. In the vertical direction, the output data of the vertical address counter is converted by the address data converter so that the same scanning line is displayed on the screen 32 by an amount corresponding to the designated magnification α.

Further, the present invention can also be applied by using the keyboard 21 as an input means, specifying a position in the video area 33 where the user wants to enlarge, and inputting the magnification α using the keyboard.

When the image is reduced, the image can be reduced and displayed by partially extracting the image data from the image data before the reduction.

In FIG. 3, HD and VD are horizontal and vertical synchronization signals, and horizontal and vertical clear pulses represent pulses for determining a display area.

According to the first embodiment, by specifying the center coordinates of the part to be enlarged by the keyboard 21 and by specifying the magnification α, the part to be enlarged is enlarged and displayed so as to be fitted in the center of the video display area. This is effective even in a case where it is difficult to move the distal end of the endoscope in a body cavity like an endoscope.

 FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a light pen 42 is used instead of the keyboard 21 as an input means for designating enlargement / reduction, and data input by the light pen 42 is used instead of the preset value converter 26. Is input to the arithmetic circuit 43. The arithmetic circuit 43 performs an arithmetic operation on the data input by the light pen 42, and sends necessary data to the address counters 24, 25 and the address data converters 27, 28.
The output of each address data converter 27, 28 is input to the memory controller 31. Other components are the same as those in FIG. In this embodiment, information corresponding to the size of the portion desired to be enlarged or the like is given by the light pen 42, and the magnification α
Is determined from the size of the video display area 33.

The image area shown in FIG. 8 (a) displayed on the monitor screen
The designated area 44 to be enlarged with respect to 33 is designated using the light pen 42. Then, the coordinate values (Xzs1, Yzs1) and (Xzs2, Yzs2) of two points (for example, in the diagonal direction) of the designated area 44 obtained by the light pen 42 are input to the arithmetic circuit 42, and the designated area to be enlarged The center coordinates (Xzo, Yzo) of 44, that is, Xzo = (Xzs1 + Xzs2) / 2 Yzo = (Yzs1 + Yzs2) / 2, and the absolute values in the horizontal and vertical directions | Xzs |, | Yzs |, that is, | Xzs | = | Xzs1− Xzs2 || Yzs | = | Yzs1−Yzs2 | is calculated, and the magnification α, that is, α = MAX ((2A) / | Xzs |, (2B) / | Yzs |) is calculated from the larger absolute value. (If the smaller absolute value is used, the enlarged image protrudes from the video area 33.) From the calculated values obtained as described above, it is determined from which position in the memory space to start reading data. The coordinates (XMS, YMS) of the starting point, that is, XMS = Xzo-A / α (= X′zs1) YMS = Yzo + B / α (= Y′zs1) are obtained. FIG. 8 (b) shows the area actually read in the case of FIG. 8 (a).

The coordinate value of the starting point, which is the address value at which to start reading the data in the memory 16 obtained by the arithmetic circuit 43, is stored in each address counter
The address counters 24 and 25 are operated by a clear pulse sent from a reference clock.

The data output from the address counter 24 is input to an address data converter 27, which converts the address data so as to be displayed in a video area at a magnification α as in the first embodiment. Note that the keyboard 21 or a mouse may be used instead of the light pen 42.

In the second embodiment, two points in the diagonal direction are designated as enlargement. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the area 45 to be enlarged in the image area 33 is closed by a light pen 42 as a closed curve. Draw. When the light pen 42 draws an area 45 with a closed curve, each position data is stored in the arithmetic circuit 43 shown in FIG.
And the minimum value in the horizontal direction by comparing the input data
Xzmin, maximum value Xzmax, vertical minimum value Yzmin, maximum value Y
zmax is obtained as follows: Xzmin = Xzs1 Xzmax = Xzs2 Yzmin = Yzs1 Yzmax = Yzs2 Furthermore, the center position (Xz
o, Yzo) is obtained as Xzo = (Xzmin + Xzmax) / 2 Yzo = (Yzmin + Yzmax) / 2, and the absolute values | Xzs |, | Yzs | are | Xzs | = | Xzmin−Xzmax || Yzs | = | Yzmin− Calculate as Yzmax | and then add the absolute value (2A) / | Xzs | and (2B)
The magnification α is determined from the larger value of / | Yzs |.

The values obtained by the arithmetic circuit 43 as described above are sent to the address counters 24 and 25 and the data converters 27 and 28, and the enlarged display of the image is performed by the processing described in FIG.

According to the method described in FIG. 9, a circumscribed rectangular designated area 46 (area indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 9) is designated for an arbitrary shape area in the video area 33. The enlargement will be performed as described above.

Also, as an input means, specify an arbitrary area such as a light pen or a mouse, and specify an arbitrary magnification using a keyboard,
The display may be enlarged. From the data Xzmin, Xzmax, Yzmin, Yzmax obtained by specifying the area, the center coordinates (Xzo, Yzo) of the area are calculated by the arithmetic circuit, and the read start position in the memory space and the center of the expanded area in the following cases And a clear pulse for determining the display position of the image so that the center of the image area overlaps with the center.

(1) When the enlarged image is within the image area (| Xzmin-Xzo | .alpha. <A and | Yzmin-Yzo | .alpha. <B): Each value of the coordinate values (Xzmin, Yzmin) is read from the memory. The read start position is output from the arithmetic circuit as a preset value of each address counter. Also, since the area after the enlargement exists in the image area, the clear pulse in each direction (determining the display area on the screen) is changed, and as shown in FIG. The clear pulses CH1, CV1, CH2, and CV2 in each direction are generated by the reference clock generator and sent to the address counters so that the center coordinates coincide with each other.

(2) When the enlarged image protrudes from the image area (| Xzmin−Xzo | · α> A or | Yzmin-Yzo | · α>
B): The center coordinates (Xzo, Yzo) of the enlarged area by the arithmetic circuit
, And the read address in the memory space is calculated from the equations (1) and (2) described in the first embodiment from the magnification α.

As described above, it is possible to specify an arbitrary area and enlarge an arbitrary magnification.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a unit for displaying an enlarged area or a center coordinate specified in a video area of a monitor screen with respect to data input by a keyboard or a light pen.
Figure 11 shows.

The keyboard 61 and the light pen 62 are connected to an arithmetic circuit 63, and the arithmetic circuit 63 creates data necessary for reading from the memory. The arithmetic circuit 63 is connected to the first memory 64 and the read circuit 65. This read circuit 65 is a first memory 64
And the data in the second memory 66 are output to the read adder 67.

The first memory 64 is a memory for displaying an enlargement designated area as a solid line or the like in the image area of the monitor screen, or for displaying the position of the coordinate value graphically in response to the input of the coordinate value. This is a memory for storing video signal data input via an A / D converter.

The graphic data and the video signal data written in the first and second memories 64 and 66 are read by the read circuit 65, mixed by the adder circuit 67, and subjected to signal processing necessary for display via the post-process circuit 68. Is displayed and displayed on the CRT69.

As described above, by combining graphic data and video signal data, an area can be designated with a light pen 62 or a mouse and the area can be displayed on the screen with a solid line or the like.

 FIG. 12 shows a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, for example, the size of an image area desired to be enlarged is designated by the keyboard 71 at two points in a diagonal direction, for example. The designated data from the keyboard 71 is input to the CPU 72, the memory addresses corresponding to these two points are obtained, and the memory address data is sent to the address counter 73 for presetting. The CPU 72 includes a frequency divider 7 for dividing the clock.
The division ratio of 4 is set to a magnification α obtained by dividing the memory size corresponding to the video display area by the memory size corresponding to the size specified by the above two points, and the clock passed through the frequency divider 74 is set as an address. Input to the counter 73. The address counter 73 counts from the preset value, and the counted value becomes an address of the video signal data storage memory 75. in this case,
The address accesses the same pixel for α times (when the clock is unit time), and the read data is CP
The data is transferred to the enlargement memory 76 via the U72, and one frame document is loaded.

Read the data written in the memory 76 and switch
By outputting to the post-processing circuit side via the D / A converter 78, an enlarged image can be displayed in the image display area. In this case, since the memory address is written from the minimum address to the maximum address in the memory 76, the read address from the memory 76 does not always need to be changed.

It is apparent that the present invention can be applied to a case where a plane-sequential imaging unit that performs color imaging under plane-sequential illumination light without using a color filter is used.
Further, a television camera may be used as the imaging means.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a means for designating an arbitrary image part in an image displayed on a monitor screen, a means for changing the display position of the designated image part,
The enlargement / reduction ratio or the image size is automatically set so that the designated image part does not protrude from the display area.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the enlargement / reduction control circuit in the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are explanations of the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 8 to 10 are operation explanatory diagrams of the second embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus, 2 ... Electronic scope 3 ... Light source part, 4 ... Signal processing part 5 ... Color monitor, 12 ... CCD 16 ... Memory 17 ... Enlargement / reduction control circuit 21 ... Keyboard 23 Reference clock generator 24, 25 Address counter 26 Preset value converter 27, 28 Converter, 29, 30 Calculation unit 31 Memory controller

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Katsuyoshi Sasakawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside O-Limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Saito 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-Limpus Optics Inside the Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akinobu Uchikubo 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo O-limpus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. Jury President Kunio Matsumoto Judge Hiroshi Shimura Judge Takashi Fujiwara (56) References JP-A-63-84514 (JP, A) JP-A-62-59473 (JP, A) JP-A Sho-59 -70377 (JP, A) JP-A-62-247690 (JP, A) JP-B-58-31594 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A memory means for temporarily storing an output signal of an imaging means for continuously taking an endoscope image, and a display means for displaying the endoscope image based on a signal read from the memory means. Input means for setting an arbitrary designated area in the image displayed on the display means for which a change in display magnification is desired, and capable of inputting a magnification value for changing the display magnification of the designated area; output of the imaging means; A reference clock signal generating means for generating a reference clock signal synchronized with the output signal based on the signal; and a reference generated by the reference clock signal generating means based on the designated area and a magnification value set by the input means. A counting unit that counts a clock signal and outputs a count value according to the designated area and the magnification value; and a memory unit based on the count value output from the counting unit. The memory control means for controlling reading of the stored signals, equipped with a to the endoscope apparatus according to claim.