JP4217451B2 - Endoscope color adjustment instrument including light-shielding member - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to color adjustment (color balance adjustment) in an electronic endoscope apparatus, and more particularly to an endoscope color adjustment instrument used for color adjustment using a test color chart.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, color adjustment is performed on a color image of a subject obtained by an electronic endoscope apparatus in order to reproduce the color of the subject as faithfully as possible. First, a test chart of a predetermined color such as R, G, B is prepared, and the distal end portion of the video scope is directed to the test chart. When the light from the endoscope light source lamp is irradiated toward the test chart from the distal end portion of the video scope, the subject is imaged by the video scope, and a video signal is output to a monitor, a vector scope, or the like. Then, color adjustment is performed on the displayed subject image while comparing the actual measurement value and the calculated value (see, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, Patent Document 3, and Non-Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-63-240824 (FIGS. 1 and 3)
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-165733 (FIGS. 1 and 4)
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent No. 2648478 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Shigeo Suzuki, “CCD and Applied Technology”, Engineering Book Publishing, August 10, 1998, p. 112-116
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the test chart is exposed to ambient light other than the light emitted from the tip of the videoscope (for example, an indoor lighting lamp), the color is adjusted in a different situation from the actual illumination in endoscopic observation. The color of the image cannot be reproduced properly. However, when the test chart and the entire color adjusting device are shielded by a light shielding box or the like in order to block light from the outside, replacement of the test chart or the like becomes complicated, and work efficiency during color adjustment decreases. Furthermore, since the size of the test chart and the scope tip is on the order of mm, the chart surface cannot be clearly seen when the test chart and the scope are covered with light. Therefore, the surface state, dirt, scratches, etc. of the test chart cannot be confirmed, and there is a possibility that color adjustment cannot be performed properly.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscopic color adjustment instrument that can appropriately perform color adjustment without reducing work efficiency.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The endoscope color adjustment instrument of the present invention applies a videoscope to irradiate light emitted from a light source for an electronic endoscope apparatus toward the subject from the distal end portion of the videoscope, and images the subject. An endoscope color adjustment instrument for adjusting the color balance of a subject image displayed on a result display device. Endoscope color adjustment instrument supports a chart support member that supports a test chart with a predetermined color, and a video scope provided with an objective optical system and an imaging device so as to face the test chart. And a light shielding member that blocks disturbance light other than the endoscope light source so as not to reach the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the video scope. For example, the chart support member may be a rotary support member that can rotate along the distal end surface of the distal end portion, or a slide support member that can slide the test chart.
[0007]
In the present invention, the scope support member and the chart support member are disposed so as to face each other. In this case, in order to perform color adjustment according to the actual observation situation, it is preferable that the chart support member supports the test chart so as to face the distal end surface of the distal end portion at a close distance corresponding to the focal depth of the video scope. Then, the light shielding member is arranged without covering both the scope support member and the chart support member so that the test chart can be visually observed at the time of color balance adjustment.
[0008]
In the present invention, a light shielding member is provided, and color adjustment can be performed without the influence of ambient light. In addition, since the light shielding member is not disposed so as to cover the chart support member and the scope support member, the operator can perform color adjustment in a place with illumination light such as indoors, and the work efficiency is improved and the chart is visually observed. be able to.
[0009]
For example, the scope support member includes a support base that supports the video scope from below, and a scope fixing member that fixes the tip portion between the support base and the video scope from above. In this case, the light shielding member may be installed on the scope fixing member. In order not to lose the light shielding member, it is preferable that the light shielding member is integrated with the scope fixing member. Moreover, in order to make it easy to adjust the position of the distal end surface of the scope distal end portion, it is preferable that the scope fixing member is removable from the support base.
[0010]
With respect to disturbance light, it is only necessary to substantially block the linear light incident on the objective optical system provided in the distal end portion. Therefore, the light shielding member is provided at the distal end surface of the video scope distal end portion within the range of the incident angle of view of the objective optical system. It is preferable to block ambient light traveling toward the. In this case, the light shielding member only needs to shield the linear light reflected on the test chart and incident on the objective optical system and the linear light directly traveling toward the tip surface. To reduce the size of the light-shielding member as much as possible to make the entire color adjustment device compact and to easily manufacture the light-shielding member, arrange the light-shielding member to face at least one of the scope support member and the chart support member. However, it is preferable to have a shape extending along the tip surface of the tip portion.
[0011]
If the distance between the tip surface and the test chart is a close distance, the ambient light directly incident on the tip surface is blocked by the test chart or the chart support member. Therefore, the light shielding member may be located above the front end portion, and may block disturbance light traveling toward the test chart from behind the front end portion (on the opposite side of the test chart). In this case, the light shielding member may be installed on the scope support member, and the height “L” of the light shielding member may satisfy the following conditional expression.
L ≧ 2d · tan (γ / 2) (2)
However, the light shielding member is disposed on the scope support member so as to face the test chart, and extends along the distal end surface of the distal end portion. Further, the height L of the light shielding member is defined as a distance along the tip surface from the optical axis of the tip portion, d indicates the distance between the test chart and the tip surface, and γ indicates the angle of view of the objective optical system.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an endoscopic color adjusting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope color adjustment instrument according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the endoscope color adjustment instrument. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display image of the vector scope. In the present embodiment, color adjustment is performed by connecting a vector scope to an electronic endoscope apparatus including a video scope and a processor, and adjusting the vector display of color components displayed on the screen of the vector scope.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the endoscope color adjustment instrument includes a support base 10, a rotary chart support base 20, and a light shielding member integrated scope support member 12. The distal end portion 30A of the video scope 30 is placed. The video scope 30 is connected to a video processor 40, and a keyboard (not shown), a TV monitor 51, and a vector scope 50 are connected to the video processor 40.
[0015]
A rectangular red test chart RC and a green test chart GC are affixed on the rotary chart support base 20 formed in a disk shape at intervals of 180 degrees, and a support bar 22 is provided in the center. Is attached. When color adjustment is performed, one end of the support bar 22 is rotatably mounted in the shaft hole 18 of the scope support base 10, and the test chart RC (or GC) is connected to the scope tip 30A as shown in FIGS. The rotary chart support 20 is rotated so as to face each other. The surface 20S of the rotary chart support table 20 and the front surface 10S of the scope support table 10 are parallel to each other.
[0016]
A light source lamp 42 is provided in the video processor 40, and light emitted from the light source lamp 42 passes through a light guide (not shown) provided in the video scope 30, and the distal end portion 30 </ b> A of the video scope 30. Ejected from. When the light emitted from the distal end portion 30A is reflected on the test chart RC, the reflected light reaches the imaging element 34 such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) via the objective lens 32 in the scope distal end portion 30A, and as a result, the subject. An image is formed on the image sensor 34. When an image signal corresponding to the subject image is generated in the image sensor 34 by photoelectric conversion, the image signals are sequentially read from the image sensor 34 and sent to the video processor 40. In the video processor 40, various processes are performed on the image signal, and a video signal (such as an NTSC signal) including a luminance signal and a color difference signal is generated. The generated video signal is sent to the TV monitor 51 and the vector scope 50.
[0017]
On the display screen of the vector scope 50 connected to the video processor 40 at the time of color adjustment, color components are displayed as vectors in accordance with the vector scale. The operator operates the keyboard as necessary, and displays a vector component corresponding to the color of the target test chart at a predetermined position (direction) as shown in FIG. When the color adjustment for the red test chart RC is completed, the rotary chart support base 20 is rotated to set the green test chart GC as a subject. Further, when a test chart of other color components such as blue and magenta is used as a subject, a rotary chart support base (not shown) to which the test chart is attached is attached to the support base 10 instead, and color adjustment is performed. It is executed sequentially.
[0018]
The light shielding member-integrated scope support member 12 includes a light shielding member 14 and a scope fixing member 16, and the light shielding member 14 is integrated with the scope fixing member 16. The scope fixing member 16 is a member for fixing the distal end portion 30 </ b> A of the video scope 30 to the support base 10, and the distal end portion 30 </ b> A includes a V-shaped groove V formed below the scope fixing member 16 and the support base 10. It is sandwiched between and fixed so as not to move. The V-shaped groove V of the scope fixing member 16 is formed along the axis E of the support bar 22 (shaft hole 18), and the distal end portion 30 </ b> A is fixed so as to extend along the axis E of the support bar 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the distal end surface 30 </ b> S of the video scope 30 is positioned along the front surface 10 </ b> S of the support base 10.
[0019]
The shaft hole 18 of the support base 10 is formed so that the distal end surface 30S of the video scope 30 and the test chart RC face each other, and the central axis AA of the fixed distal end portion 30A is the rotational chart support base 20 It is orthogonal to the surface 20S. The distance d between the surface 20S of the rotary chart support table 20 and the front surface 10S of the scope support table 10 corresponds to the focal length of the video scope 30 during actual endoscope observation, that is, the depth of focus, and is about 1 cm or less. Is set. However, the thickness of the test chart RC (GC) is negligible with respect to the distance d.
[0020]
The light shielding member 14 is formed in a plate shape so that the cross-sectional shape is L-shaped, and is attached to the scope fixing member 16 so that one surface thereof extends along the front surface 10S of the scope support base 10, that is, the distal end surface 30S. Yes. The light blocking member 14 blocks light from the illumination lamp 60 (see FIG. 2) installed in the room, and prevents the test charts RC and GC from being irradiated with light (disturbance light) GL other than the light source lamp 42.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing a portion where the light shielding member 14 is arranged.
[0022]
The surface 20S of the rotary chart support base 20 and the front surface 10S of the scope support base 10 are very close to each other, and the highest point position PK along the vertical direction of the rotary chart support base 20 is the tip of the video scope. It is sufficiently higher than the position (axis AA) along the vertical direction of the portion 30A. Further, the influence of light other than linear light such as confusion light and diffused light in the disturbance light GL can be ignored. Therefore, it advances toward the test chart RC (GC) from the rear side of the tip part 30A, that is, from the opposite side of the rotary chart support base 20, and is reflected straight on the test chart RC (GC) and enters the tip part 30A. The light beam may be regarded as disturbance light GK. In the present embodiment, the height L of the light shielding member 14 is determined so that ambient light does not strike the test chart RC (GC). Specifically, the light L reflected from the test chart RC (GC) is reflected. Of these, the height L is determined so as to block light traveling toward the central axis AA of the tip portion 30A. However, the distance along the vertical direction from the central axis AA of the tip portion 30A is defined as the height L of the light shielding member 14. Here, it is assumed that the optical axis of the objective lens 32 coincides with the central axis AA of the tip portion 30A.
[0023]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by providing the light shielding member 14 integrally on the scope fixing member 16, it is possible to prevent disturbance light from entering the distal end surface 30A. As a result, color adjustment can be performed without darkening the room. Further, the light shielding member 14 is not configured to cover the rotary chart support base 20 and the support base 10, and the light shielding member 14 formed in a plate shape can be shielded simply by arranging it along the front surface of the support base 10. Realized. Therefore, the operator can view the test chart RC (GC) by the side from the side surface direction (direction perpendicular to the axis E) of the tip surface 30A.
[0024]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the height of the light shielding member is determined based on a conditional expression. About another structure, it is substantially the same as 1st Embodiment.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion where the light shielding member is arranged in the second embodiment.
[0026]
Of the light reflected on the test chart RC (GC) and incident on the incident end C1 of the scope distal end 30A, the locus LA of the light incident at half the angle of view γ (γ / 2) of the objective lens 32 think of. However, disturbance light is considered to be incident on one point of the tip surface 30S, and an intersection (incidence point) between the center axis AA of the tip portion 30A and the tip surface 30S that coincides with the optical axis of the objective lens 32 is defined as an incident point C1. Then, the angle of view γ of the objective lens is defined with respect to the incident point C1. Further, as described above, the disturbance light is regarded as reaching the front end surface 30S by a linear ray.
[0027]
Light incident at an angle γ / 2 with respect to the central axis AA is reflected at a point (reflection point) B1 on the test chart RC (GC). When the axis parallel to the central axis AA and passing through the reflection point B1 is represented by “BB”, and the angle between the axis BB and the light locus LA is represented by θ1 (= γ / 2), the disturbance light is represented by the test chart RC. Since the light is regularly reflected on (GC), the light that travels to the test chart RC (GC) at an angle θ1 with respect to the axis BB is reflected at the reflection point B1.
[0028]
Here, when the intersection of the plane along the front surface 10S of the support base 10 and the light locus LA is represented by “A1” and the intersection A1 is defined as the highest position (end point) of the light shielding member 14A, the angle θ1 or less. The disturbance light hitting the reflection point B1 is blocked by the light blocking member 14. Naturally, the disturbance light that enters the test chart RC (GC) from the illumination lamp 60 so as to be incident at a half γ / 2 or less of the angle of view, that is, reflected below the reflection point B1, is naturally blocked by the light blocking member 14A. Is done. Light that is incident on the incident point C1 at an angle equal to or larger than half the angle of view γ / 2 (θ1) does not affect the color adjustment because vignetting occurs.
[0029]
On the other hand, when the disturbance light directed to the reflection point B1 at an angle θ1 or more with respect to the axis BB is reflected on the test chart RC (GC) as shown by the locus LB of the disturbance light, it travels in a direction other than the tip surface 30A. move on. Obviously, disturbance light reflected at a position other than the reflection point at an angle θ1 or more does not enter the incident point C1.
[0030]
Therefore, if the height L of the light shielding member 14A defined as the distance along the vertical direction from the central axis AA is set to be equal to or greater than the distance L1 from the central axis AA of the scope tip 30A to the intersection A1, the test chart RC It is possible to block substantially all the disturbance light that is reflected by (GC) and enters the tip portion 30A. Here, when the triangle ΔK is defined by connecting the intersection A1, the reflection point B1, and the incident point C1, the triangle ΔK becomes an isosceles triangle having symmetry with respect to the axis BB. When the distance (reflection distance) between the central axis AA and the axis BB is M1, the triangle ΔK is an isosceles triangle, and thus the height L1 of the light shielding member 14A is twice the reflection distance M1. Since the reflection distance M1 = d · tan (γ / 2), the height L of the light shielding member 14A only needs to satisfy the following conditional expression.
L ≧ L1 = 2d · tan (γ / 2) (3)
[0031]
Thus, according to the second embodiment, the light shielding member 14A can be formed with the minimum necessary size, and light can be effectively shielded. Note that when the optical axis of the objective lens 32 does not coincide with the central axis AA of the distal end portion 30A, the height L of the light shielding member 14A is defined as a distance from the optical axis.
[0032]
In the first and second embodiments, the shape and height of the light shielding member are determined along the vertical direction. However, in consideration of disturbance light in the lateral direction (side surface direction of the tip portion 30A), along the lateral direction. May be provided with a similar light shielding member.
[0033]
The configuration of the chart support base is not limited to the rotary chart support base 20, and for example, a slide type support base may be applied. In the first and second embodiments, linear light traveling directly from the front toward the front end surface 30A is blocked by the arrangement of the rotary chart support base 20, but disturbance light is blocked due to the shape of the rotary chart support base 20. If this is not possible, the light shielding member may be further installed on the chart support base side, and its height L ″ may be set to L2 = d · tan (γ / 2) or less. However, the height L ″ is the central axis. The light shielding member is defined by a distance from AA, and is disposed so as to extend along the surface 20 </ b> S of the rotary chart support base 20.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, color adjustment can be appropriately performed without reducing work efficiency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an endoscope color adjusting instrument according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an endoscope color adjusting instrument.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display image of a vector scope.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing a portion where a light shielding member is arranged.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view in the vicinity of a light shielding member.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Support stand 12 Light shielding member integrated scope support member 14 Light shielding member 16 Scope fixing member 20 Rotary chart support stand (chart support stand)
30 Videoscope 32 Objective lens (objective optical system)
34 Image Sensor 30A Tip 30S Tip 40 Video Processor 42 Light Source Lamp (Light Source for Electronic Endoscope Device)
50 Vectorscope (display device)
51 TV monitor GL Disturbance light RC, GC Test chart γ Angle of view L Height of light shielding member AA Center axis (optical axis of tip)

Claims (9)

By applying the videoscope, light from the light source for the electronic endoscope apparatus is irradiated toward the subject from the distal end portion of the videoscope, and the subject is imaged. As a result, the color balance of the subject image displayed on the display device An endoscopic color adjusting instrument for adjusting
A chart support member for supporting a test chart with a predetermined color;
A scope support member that supports the distal end portion of the video scope provided with an objective optical system and an image sensor so as to face the test chart;
A light shielding member that blocks disturbance light other than the light source for the electronic endoscope device so as not to reach the distal end surface of the distal end portion of the videoscope;
The scope support member and the chart support member are arranged so as to face each other,
The chart support member supports the test chart so that the test chart faces the tip surface at a close distance corresponding to the focal depth of the videoscope;
When the light balance member adjusts the color balance, the light shielding member travels toward the test chart from the rear upper side of the front end portion on the opposite side of the test chart while allowing visual observation from the side direction of the test chart. An endoscope color adjusting instrument, which is disposed above the distal end so as to be blocked . The scope support member is
A support base for supporting the videoscope from below;
A scope fixing member for fixing the tip portion from above with the support base sandwiched between,
The endoscope color adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding member is installed on the scope fixing member. The scope fixing member is detachable from the support;
The endoscope color adjusting instrument according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding member is integrated with the scope fixing member. 2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein when the light shielding member is reflected by the test chart, disturbance light traveling toward the distal end surface within a range of an incident field angle of the objective optical system is shielded. Color adjuster. The endoscope color adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding member is disposed on the scope support member so as to face the chart support member, and extends along a distal end surface of the distal end portion. . 2. The endoscope color adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding member blocks light directed toward a central axis of the distal end portion when it is regularly reflected by the test chart . The endoscope color adjusting instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding member is formed in a plate shape . The light shielding member is disposed so as to face the chart support member, and extends along a distal end surface of the distal end portion;
The endoscope color adjustment instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a height “L” of the light shielding member satisfies the following conditional expression.
L ≧ 2d · tan (γ / 2) (1)
However, the height L of the light shielding member is defined as a distance along the distal end surface from the optical axis of the distal end portion of the video scope, d indicates the distance between the test chart and the distal end surface, and γ is the objective optical. Indicates the angle of view of the system.   The endoscope color adjustment instrument according to claim 1, wherein the chart support member is rotatable along a distal end surface of a distal end portion of the video scope.

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