JP4520433B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope system including a light source device having a dimming function.

  Conventionally, an endoscope apparatus is used for diagnosis and observation in a body cavity or a small-diameter tube. This endoscope apparatus includes an insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity or a small diameter tube and an operation portion for bending the insertion portion according to the shape in the body cavity or the small diameter tube. In addition, a light guide for guiding the illumination light, an image guide for guiding the subject light reflected by the illumination light, and the like are laid, and the operation light guides the subject light guided through the image guide with the naked eye. A light source device connection portion that allows illumination light of a predetermined amount to enter the eyepiece to be observed and the light guide is provided.

  In recent years, a solid-state image sensor is disposed at the distal end of the insertion unit, or a solid-state image sensor is disposed at the image guide end of the operation unit, so that the subject light reflected from the illumination light projected from the light guide is reflected. An electronic endoscope apparatus that picks up an image with the solid-state image sensor and converts it to an electronic image signal and displays the electronic image signal on a monitor has been developed and put into practical use.

  When diagnosing and observing using such an endoscopic device, depending on the diagnosis and observation site, selection settings such as the amount of illumination light and the wavelength of illumination light, etc., and other operations depending on the diagnosis and observation site You can set conditions.

  It takes a lot of time to set the operating conditions. In particular, it takes a lot of time to set the optimum conditions for the wavelength and amount of illumination light depending on the diagnostic observation site. For this purpose, various operating conditions such as the wavelength of illumination light and dimming amount at the time of diagnostic observation using the endoscope apparatus are stored, and the memory is stored when the endoscope apparatus is used next time. The previous operation conditions that have been read are read out, and initial settings are performed so that the diagnostic observation can be performed with the endoscope device under the read operation conditions. Endoscopic diagnostic observation can be executed while changing to operating conditions.

  Thereby, the initial setting of the operation condition at the time of diagnosis observation by the endoscope apparatus can be performed quickly and in a short time.

  In the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus, the luminance of the subject image is obtained from the subject video signal imaged and generated by the solid-state imaging device, and the amount of illumination light emitted from the light source device is calculated based on this luminance. It has an automatic dimming function for automatic control. This automatic dimming function extracts a luminance component from a subject video signal imaged and generated by the solid-state imaging device, and uses the luminance component according to an aperture provided in the illumination optical path, an attenuation filter, or a light source lamp lighting current. The light is dimmed.

  In such an electronic endoscope apparatus, a communication cable that connects a video processor that drives a solid-state imaging device to generate a subject video signal and a light source apparatus that generates and supplies illumination light to the endoscope apparatus. In the case of disconnection or erroneous insertion, or malfunction or malfunction of the communication function between the video processor and the light source device, the light source device determines that the luminance component from the video processor is not supplied and is in the darkest state. Thus, drive control is performed so as to increase the amount of illumination light.

  As a result, the amount of illumination light increases, and the subject light that is picked up by the naked eye or electronically is too bright and unsuitable for diagnostic observation, and also causes heat generation.

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system that promptly detects and notifies a luminance information communication failure between a video processor and a light source device.

The endoscope system according to the present invention is separate from the light source device capable of automatically adjusting the illumination light that illuminates the subject, the electronic imaging device that captures the subject image illuminated by the illumination light, and the light source device. A luminance data signal generating unit configured to generate a luminance data signal indicating the luminance of the subject image illuminated by the illumination light based on an imaging signal obtained by imaging the subject image by the electronic imaging device ; a video-processor having an offset means for offsetting the luminance data signal by superimposing a predetermined offset value to the luminance data signals, the brightness of transmitting the luminance data signal that is offset by the offset means to said light source device A data signal transmission means; and the offset luminance provided in the light source device and transmitted from the luminance data signal transmission means A receiving end for receiving a data signal, is provided to the light source device, a light amount adjusting means for adjusting the light quantity of the light source device based on the offset luminance data signals inputted from the receiving end, the provided in the light source device, a comparing means for comparing the value of the offset luminance data signal inputted from said receiving end and said predetermined offset value, the result of the comparison in the comparing means, input from the receiving end A notification means for notifying that the reception of the offset luminance data signal from the luminance data signal transmission means is abnormal when the value of the offset luminance data signal is equal to or less than the predetermined offset value ; It is characterized by comprising.

According to the endoscope system of the present invention, it is possible to quickly detect an unauthorized connection, an incomplete connection, or a communication function failure of a communication cable between a video processor and a light source device and promptly notify an operator or an assistant. It becomes ability .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an endoscope system according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a dimming control function of a light source device used in the endoscope system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the dimming operation of the endoscope system according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the subject luminance signal and the diaphragm of the endoscope system according to the present invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an object luminance signal and dimming adjustment operation of the endoscope system according to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system of the present invention includes an endoscope scope (hereinafter referred to as a scope) 11, a video processor 12, a light source device 13, and a monitor 14.

  At the tip of the scope 11, an illumination lens 15 and a CCD 16 are provided. The illumination lens 15 has a light guide 19 inserted through a light guide connector 18 provided on the proximal end side of the scope 11. A signal cable 20 inserted from a connector 21 provided on the proximal end side of the scope 11 is connected to the CCD 16.

  The light guide 19 guides the illumination light projected from the light source 24 of the light source device 13 described later, and projects the illumination light from the illumination lens 15 onto the subject 17. The signal cable 20 transmits a subject video signal obtained by exposure and imaging based on a drive signal for driving the CCD 16 from a video processor 12 to be described later and subject light reflected from the subject 17 by the CCD 16. is there.

  The light guide 19 can be attached to and detached from the light source device 13 through the light guide connector 18, and the signal cable 20 can be attached to and detached from the video processor 12 through the connector 21.

  The video processor 12 generates and supplies a drive signal for driving the CCD 16, generates a TV video signal based on the subject video signal exposed and imaged by the CCD 16, and performs exposure imaging by the CCD 16 on the monitor 14. A video display signal for displaying the subject image is generated.

  The light source device 13 includes a control unit 22 connected to the video processor 12 via a communication cable 35, a switching regulator 23 that generates and supplies lighting power of a light source 24 described later based on a control signal from the control unit 22, A light source 24 such as a xenon lamp that is turned on by the lighting power from the switching regulator 23 and emits white light, provided on the optical path of the white light emitted from the light source 24, transmits the white light, and has a predetermined light quantity. A normal light filter that outputs white light, a light amount attenuation filter that attenuates the white light to a predetermined light amount, an infrared filter that transmits only the infrared light of the white light, and an emergency light such as a halogen lamp that is turned on when the light source 24 cannot be turned on A turret 25 on which 25a and the like are arranged, on the white light optical path of the light source 24, and A diaphragm 26 that controls the amount of light emitted from the base 25, and the white light from the light source 24 controlled to a predetermined light quantity by the diaphragm 26 is converted into three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The RGB rotary filter 27 having the color filter, the pump 32 for supplying water to the water supply / air supply channel provided in the scope 11, and various buttons and operation states for operating instructions of the light source device 13 are shown. The front panel board 34 has various display functions.

  The control unit 22 includes a CPU 22a that is a microprocessor that controls driving of the light source device 13, a ROM 22b that stores various drive control sequences and data for the light source device 13, and various types of power when the drive power of the light source device 13 is turned off. The operation condition of the previous drive control sequence stored in the FRAM 22c is used as the operation condition of the next drive control sequence. ing.

  The switching regulator 23 includes a stabilization circuit that generates a lighting power source for the light source 24 and stabilizes the lighting power source. The switching regulator 23 lights the light source 24 under the control of the control unit 22. In addition to supplying and stopping power supply, it has a function of controlling the lighting current.

  The turret 25 has a substantially disk shape, and the above-described normal filter, light amount attenuation filter, infrared filter, emergency light 25a and the like are arranged on the circumference, and the disk-shaped central axis is fixed to the axis of the motor 28. Based on the drive control from the control unit 22, the motor 28 is rotationally driven so that the predetermined filter or emergency light 25 a is positioned on the optical path of white light from the light source 24. .

  The diaphragm 26 adjusts and controls the opening of the illumination light emitted from the light source 24 and passing through the turret 25 to a predetermined light amount by driving a motor 29 by drive control from the control unit 22. It is like that.

  Although not shown in the figure, the RGB rotation filter 27 has red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color transmission filters arranged at predetermined intervals on a disk-shaped substrate, and each of these color transmission filters. During this time, the illumination light from the light source 24 is not transmitted by the substrate. Further, the illumination light transmitted through the color transmission filters is output as the color light of each color transmission filter. The RGB rotation filter 27 is driven by the motor 30 to rotate at a predetermined rotation speed and rotation speed under the control of the control unit 22, thereby illuminating red (R), green (G), and blue (B). Light is projected onto the subject 17 through the light guide 19 and the illumination lens 15, and the CCD 16 performs exposure imaging with the subject light for each RGB illumination light to generate RGB subject video signals. That is, a frame sequential captured video signal is generated.

  The RGB rotary filter 27 can be retracted from the optical path of the illumination light from the light source 24 by the motor 31 under the control of the control unit 22.

  Further, although not shown, the RGB rotation filter 27 is provided with a reflection portion indicating a reference point at the first start position of the color transmission filter. A sensor 33 is provided for detecting the reflecting portion indicating the reference point, and the result detected by the sensor 33 is output to the control unit 22.

  The front panel board 34 is provided with various operation buttons and operation display LEDs, for example. This operation display includes a display means for notifying the abnormality when the light source device 13 has an abnormality or failure. As the abnormality notification means, for example, a function of blinking a red LED or a notification of abnormality by sound generation using a sound generation element is used.

When the operation button of the front panel board 34 is operated, the operation button information is transmitted to the control unit 22, and the control unit 22 reads out the sequence and data corresponding to the operation button from the ROM 22b by the CPU 22a, Based on the read sequence and data, the CPU 22a drives and controls the switching regulator 23, the motors 28 to 31 and the pump 32 described above.

  In the endoscope apparatus having such a configuration, when the lighting operation button of the light source 24 is operated from the front panel board 34, the CPU 22a of the control unit 22 reads the lighting control sequence of the light source 24 from the ROM 22b and develops it to the CPU 22a. Then, drive control of the light source 24, the turret 25, the diaphragm 26, the RGB rotation filter 27, and the like is performed.

  Specifically, the switching regulator 23 is driven and controlled, and the light source 24 is driven to turn on. The illumination light emitted from the light source 24 passes through a filter set in the turret 25 selected based on the control from the control unit 22 and is set based on the control from the control unit 22. The amount of light is adjusted at the aperture of the light and enters the RGB rotation filter 27. The RGB rotation filter 27 is driven to rotate at a predetermined number of rotations based on the drive control from the control unit 22, and illuminates illumination light of each color light of RGB generated through the RGB transmission filters at predetermined intervals. The light enters the light guide 19 from the guide connector 18. The RGB color lights incident on the light guide 19 are projected from the illumination lens 15 onto the subject 17. The RGB color lights reflected from the subject 17 are sequentially imaged on the CCD 16 and converted into RGB image signals.

  On the other hand, the control unit 22 drives and controls the video processor 12 via the communication cable 35 and sequentially takes in each RGB video signal converted and generated by the CCD 16. The timing of capturing the RGB video signals captured from the CCD 16 into the video processor 12 is controlled so as to be synchronized with the rotation of the RGB rotation filter 27 using the detection signal of the sensor 33 that has detected the reflection portion of the RGB rotation filter 27. Has been.

  The RGB video signals converted and generated by the CCD 16 taken into the video processor 12 are combined to generate a television video signal, and the monitor 14 is driven to generate a display signal for displaying a subject video.

  Further, the video processor 12 extracts luminance information from the RGB video signal and transfers it to the control unit 22.

  Based on the luminance information from the video processor 12, the control unit 22 controls the drive of the motor 29 to adjust the aperture of the diaphragm 26 so as to obtain the optimum subject light. The amount of light incident on the rotary filter 27 is automatically controlled.

Thus, based on the luminance information from the video processor 12, the diaphragm 26 is driven and controlled to perform automatic light control, and a manual light amount adjustment button (not shown) provided on the front panel board 34 is provided. The amount of light can be adjusted by using. For example, when the light intensity increase button is operated, the control unit 22 drives and controls the motor 29 according to the operation of the light intensity increase button to open the aperture of the diaphragm 26 and operate the light intensity decrease button. When the control unit 2 2 according to the operation of the light amount decrease button, the motor 29 controls and drives, close the opening of the diaphragm 26.

In such an endoscope system, the operation at the time of reuse will be described with reference to FIG . When the driving power source of the light source device 13 is turned on in step S1, various operation conditions set at the previous use stored in the FRAM 22c of the control unit 22 are read in step S2, and the read previous setting is read in step S3. It is determined from the conditions whether the dimming condition is automatic dimming.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the previous dimming is automatic dimming, it is determined in step S4 whether or not the previously set index value of the aperture of the automatic dimming aperture 26 is greater than the limit value. Is done.

  The index value is a value obtained by dividing the amount of transmitted light according to the size of the aperture set according to the angle of the diaphragm blades of the diaphragm 26 into a plurality of stages. For example, the index value is classified into 5 stages or 10 stages from dark to bright.

  The limit value is a light amount value at which the light guide connector 18, the light guide 19, the illumination lens 15, etc. start to generate heat with illumination light, that is, an index value for starting heat generation. The limit value for automatic light control is set according to the distance to the subject and the amount of light.

  As a result of the determination in step S4, if it is determined that the previous index value is less than or equal to the automatic dimming limit value (the amount of light that does not generate heat), the aperture 26 is set to the previous index value read in step S2 in step S5. The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is driven to set.

  As a result of the determination in step S4, if it is determined that the previous index value is equal to or greater than the light amount limit value (heat generation light amount value), in step S6, the diaphragm 26 is set to the automatic light control light amount limit value (light generation value that does not generate heat). The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is driven to set.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the previous dimming is manual, in step S7, the previously set index value of the aperture of the diaphragm 26 is greater than or equal to the manual limit value of the limit of the amount of heat generated. Is determined.

  In the manual dimming adjustment, the amount of light is set by the size of the light transmission opening set by the angle of the diaphragm blades of the diaphragm 26. For this reason, the manual light control limit value is set by the angle of the aperture blade that transmits the limit light amount that does not generate heat due to the illumination light.

  As a result of the determination in step S7, if it is determined that the previous index value is equal to or greater than the manual limit value (a light amount value that does not generate heat), the diaphragm 26 is set to a manual light amount limit value (a light amount value that does not generate heat) in step S8. The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is driven as described above.

  As a result of the determination in step S7, if it is determined that the previous index value is less than or equal to the manual light amount limit value (a light amount value that does not generate heat), the aperture 26 is set to the previous index value read in step S2 in step S9. The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is driven as described above.

  In other words, if the previous illumination light quantity is greater than or equal to the heat generation limit value, the endoscope is set to the heat generation limit value or less, and if it is less than or equal to the previous heat generation limit value, it is set to the previous set value less than the heat generation limit value. Heat generation due to illumination light that occurs between the completion of device preparation and actual diagnostic observation can be avoided, and deterioration of the endoscope device due to heat generation can be prevented.

  The automatic and manual dimming limit values are the heat generation limit values depending on the illumination light amount, but may be less than or equal to the heat generation limit values.For example, when the drive power is turned on, the illumination light is not transmitted at all, or It is also possible to set the diaphragm 26 so as to output an amount of light that can confirm that the illumination is on, or to allow the surgeon and assistant to freely set the light.

  In addition, when a special filter such as an infrared filter is set for the turret 25 among the previous setting conditions, the setting condition for the turret 25 is canceled when the drive power is turned on, and the normal filter is always used. Can also be set.

  Furthermore, if it is determined in step S3 that the manual dimming mode is set, the dimming mode can be switched to the automatic dimming mode. Alternatively, when the drive power is turned off, it is possible to clear the current operation condition and set all operation conditions to predetermined conditions.

  Next, the light control device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The RGB video signal obtained by exposure conversion imaging by the CCD 16 is generated by the video processor 12 as a composite television video signal and converted into a digital video signal. Among the digital video signals, the luminance signal is converted into a 10-bit digital luminance signal EE offset to a predetermined value. The offset digital luminance signal EE, horizontal synchronization signal HD, and vertical synchronization signal VD are input to a digital / analog conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as D / A circuit) 44 and converted to an analog luminance signal EE. . As described above, since the digital luminance signal is offset to a predetermined value, the analog luminance signal EE is converted to, for example, an offset value of 5V (when the digital luminance signal EE is not offset). (The luminance signal EE from the D / A circuit 44 is converted to 0 to 5 V). The luminance signal EE converted to analog by the D / A circuit 44 is output to a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 45. The MPU 45 calculates a drive value EEV for driving the diaphragm 26 from the analog luminance signal EE from the D / A circuit 44, and outputs the calculated drive value EEV from the D / A circuit 44 of the MPU 45. Then, it is output to the aperture motor drive circuit 48 via the automatic / manual switching circuit 47.

  The automatic / manual switching circuit 47 receives the automatic or manual dimming selection information when automatic dimming or manual dimming is selected by the light amount adjustment switching button provided on the control panel board 34. A switching signal for switching the automatic / manual switching circuit 47 is output via the expansion port 46 based on the selection information of the automatic or manual dimming input to the MPU 45.

  The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is provided with an aperture motor unit 49 (a unit added to the motor 29 of the aperture 26 in FIG. 1) based on the drive value EEV input from the MPU 45 via the automatic / manual switching circuit 47. A drive signal (DRV) 48a to be driven is generated and supplied. By this drive signal (DRV) 48a, the diaphragm motor unit 49 drives the diaphragm 26 corresponding to the index value.

  The diaphragm motor unit 49 is provided with a sensor that detects the angle of the diaphragm blade that sets the aperture of the diaphragm 26 and a sensor that detects the motor damping amount of the diaphragm motor 29. From the diaphragm blade angle detection sensor, A diaphragm blade angle detection signal (POT) 49a is inputted to the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48, and a damping signal (DMP) 49b is inputted to the diaphragm motor damping correction circuit 50 from the motor damping sensor of the diaphragm motor 29.

  The aperture motor damping correction circuit 50 generates a damping correction signal for the aperture motor 29 based on the damping signal (DMP) 49 b and outputs the generated damping correction signal to the aperture motor drive circuit 48. Thereby, the angle correction of the aperture spring of the aperture 26, that is, the aperture opening is corrected.

  The operation of the light control device having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the luminance signal EE is low, the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48 is driven and controlled in the direction to open the diaphragm 26, and when the luminance signal EE is high, the diaphragm 26 is closed in the direction to close. The aperture motor drive circuit 48 is driven and controlled. For this reason, the communication cable 35 between the video processor 12 and the light source device 13 is not connected, the communication cable 35 is disconnected, or the connector is incompletely attached. When the luminance signal EE input to the / A circuit 44 becomes zero, the MPU 45 determines that the amount of light is insufficient, and drives and controls the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48 in the direction to open the diaphragm 26, and the endoscope scope 11. In order to increase the amount of illumination light projected from the illumination lens 15, the diaphragm 26 is driven to the fully open state.

  As a result, the light guide connector 18, the illumination lens 15, and the light guide 19 of the endoscope scope 11 are irradiated with the maximum amount of illumination light by fully opening the diaphragm 26 and generate heat.

  Therefore, in the endoscope system of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the luminance signal EE is offset, if the luminance signal EE is equal to or smaller than the offset value, the video processor 12 It is determined that an abnormality has not occurred when the luminance signal EE is not supplied to the light source device 13 via the communication cable 35, and an abnormality notification means provided on the front panel board 34, for example, a red LED is flashed. The sound generating element is driven to generate an abnormal notification sound, and the diaphragm 26 is driven and controlled so that the amount of light does not generate heat.

  The operation of the MPU 45 of such a light control device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows the operation of the MPU in the conventional light control device. In step S11, the luminance signal EE is acquired from the video processor. In step S12, the acquired luminance signal EE is an index value (standard predetermined light amount). Hereinafter, it is referred to as a predetermined index value).

  The predetermined index value can be set by the operator, and can be varied depending on the above-described several stages of diagnostic observation portions of the illumination light quantity.

  If the luminance signal EE is smaller than the predetermined index value in step S12, the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48 is driven and controlled to increase the amount of light transmitted through the diaphragm 26 in step S14.

  If the luminance signal EE is larger than the predetermined index value in step S12, the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48 is driven and controlled so as to reduce the amount of light transmitted through the diaphragm in step S13.

  The aperture motor drive circuit 48 in steps S13 and S14 drives the aperture motor unit 49 in step S15 to change the amount of light transmitted through the aperture 26, and returns to step S11.

For this reason, if the luminance signal EE is not supplied from the video processor 12 to the light control device of the light source device 13 for some reason, the luminance signal EE is smaller than a predetermined index value. Drive control is performed in the direction of increasing the amount of light that passes through, and this increase in the amount of light causes heat generation deterioration of the scope 11.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the light control device of the light source device 1 3 of the endoscope system of the present invention, in step S21, the luminance signal EE which are offset by the video processor 12 to MPU45 In step S22, it is determined whether or not the offset luminance signal EE thus acquired is equal to or greater than the offset value. If it is determined that the offset luminance signal EE is equal to or less than the offset value, in step S23. For example, the diaphragm motor drive circuit 48 is driven and controlled so that the diaphragm 26 is set at a predetermined index position set by the operator, for example, an index value 3 that is the middle of five levels of light control, and the front panel performed blinking or abnormality notification pronounce LED for notifying the luminance signal abnormality provided on the substrate 34, the step to notify the operator or assistant Return to S21.

  If it is determined in step S22 that the offset luminance signal EE fetched from the video processor 12 is greater than or equal to the offset value, step S24 and subsequent steps are executed.

  Step S24 and subsequent steps are the same as step S12 and subsequent steps in FIG. 5A described above. Step S24 is the step S12, step S25 is the step S13, step S26 is the step S14, and step S27 is the step S24. Since this corresponds to step S15, description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above in detail, the endoscope system of the present invention can perform diagnostic observation with the maximum amount of illumination light during endoscopic diagnosis observation, or withdraw the endoscopic system after completion of endoscopic diagnostic observation. If the operation state with the maximum light intensity of the illumination light is stored as the previous operation setting condition by mistake during storage, the previous operation setting condition is stored. When the mirror system is used for a new diagnostic observation, the diagnostic observation operation is set based on the stored previous operation setting condition. From the previous operation setting condition, the illumination light quantity condition is set in the endoscope scope. The light guide connector, light guide, and illumination lens can be changed in setting so that the predetermined illumination light quantity does not generate heat, and the endoscope scope can be prevented from deteriorating in heat generation.

Also, by disconnection of the communication cable connecting the video processor and the light source device, unauthorized connection or incomplete connection of the connection connector of the communication cable, or inoperability of the signal transfer function between the video processor and the light source device, etc. The luminance information from the video processor cannot be obtained from the video processor to the light source device, and the light control function of the light source device acts to increase the light amount due to insufficient light amount of the illumination light. By providing a predetermined offset value in the luminance information generated by the processor, when the luminance information from the video processor is equal to or less than the offset value, the light adjustment function of the light source device sets the illumination light to a predetermined light amount, by was to notify the surgeon can prevent abnormal state of the illumination light amount, and made it possible announce abnormality to the operator.

  By the way, in the conventional endoscope system, operation setting conditions at the time of endoscope diagnosis observation, maintenance such as disinfection sterilization of the endoscope system, repair service of the endoscope system, and execution of endoscope diagnosis observation, etc. It is necessary to record and manage various data.

  Such a record storage management of various kinds of data related to the endoscope system is to record and store in a battery-driven RAM, a nonvolatile memory or the like. However, since the battery-driven RAM will lose data recorded in the RAM if the battery management is insufficient, it is necessary to provide a separate data backup.

  Also. Since the nonvolatile memory has a slow writing / reading time and a limit on the number of times of writing, it is necessary to similarly limit the data backup.

  In order to store and manage such a large amount of data for a long period of time, an FRAM (strong derivative memory) is used as a storage unit for recording and managing the above-described various data in the control unit 22 of the light source device 13. Since this FRAM has a fast writing / reading time, does not require a backup battery, and has no limit on the number of times of writing, it has become possible to improve the reliability of data retention over a long period of time.

  In the above description of the embodiment of the present invention, the example in which the opening of the diaphragm 26 is adjusted and controlled is used for the adjustment control of the illumination light amount. However, an attenuation filter provided in the turret 25 is disposed on the optical path. It is also possible to control the lighting current supplied from the switching regulator 23 to the light source 24 so as to obtain a predetermined light amount.

[Appendix]
According to the embodiment of the present invention described in detail above, the following configuration can be obtained.

(Appendix 1)
An endoscope apparatus having a light source device capable of manually and automatically adjusting illumination light for illuminating a subject, and an electronic imaging device for photographing a subject,
Video processor means for generating a luminance data signal from a subject image signal electronically imaged by the electronic imaging device and offsetting the luminance data signal;
A light amount adjusting means for adjusting a light amount of the light source device based on the luminance data signal offset by the video processor means;
Comparing means for comparing the luminance data signal offset by the video processor means with an offset value;
As a result of comparison by the comparison means, a notification means for notifying when a luminance data signal from the video processor means is equal to or less than an offset value;
An endoscope system comprising:

(Appendix 2)
The endoscope system according to appendix 1, wherein the dimming setting unit or the dimming adjustment unit drives and controls a diaphragm provided on the optical path of the illumination light.

(Appendix 3)
The endoscope system according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the dimming setting unit or the dimming adjustment unit arranges a neutral density filter on the illumination optical path to obtain a predetermined light amount.

(Appendix 4)
The endoscope system according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, wherein the dimming setting unit or the dimming adjustment unit controls a lighting current of a light source of the illumination light.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an endoscope system according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the light modulation apparatus used for the endoscope system which concerns on this invention. The flowchart explaining the illumination light quantity setting operation | movement of the endoscope system which concerns on this invention. The time chart explaining the relationship between the luminance signal of the endoscope system which concerns on this invention, and an aperture_diaphragm | restriction. The flowchart explaining the illumination light quantity restriction | limiting operation | movement of the endoscope system which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electronic endoscope scope 12 ... Video processor 13 ... Light source device 14 ... Monitor 15 ... Illumination lens 16 ... Solid nude image element (CCD)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Light guide 20 ... Signal cable 22 ... Control part 23 ... Switching regulator 24 ... Light source 25 ... Turret 26 ... Aperture 27 ... RGB rotary filter 28-31 ... Motor 33 ... Sensor 34 ... Front panel board | substrate

Claims (2)

A light source device capable of automatically dimming illumination light for illuminating a subject;
An electronic imaging device for imaging a subject image illuminated with the illumination light;
A luminance data signal that is provided separately from the light source device and that indicates the luminance of the subject image illuminated by the illumination light is generated based on an imaging signal obtained by imaging the subject image by the electronic imaging device a luminance data signal generating means for a video-processor having an offset means for offsetting the luminance data signal by superimposing a predetermined offset value to the luminance data signal,
Luminance data signal transmitting means for transmitting the luminance data signal offset by the offset means to the light source device;
A receiving end provided in the light source device for receiving the offset luminance data signal transmitted from the luminance data signal transmitting means;
A light amount adjusting means that is provided in the light source device and adjusts the light amount of the light source device based on the offset luminance data signal input from the receiving end ;
Provided in the light source device, a comparing means the value of the offset luminance data signals inputted from the receiving end is compared with the predetermined offset value,
If the value of the offset luminance data signal input from the receiving end is equal to or less than the predetermined offset value as a result of the comparison by the comparison means , the offset luminance data signal from the luminance data signal transmission means A notification means for notifying that the reception of was abnormal ,
An endoscope system comprising: The light amount adjusting unit is configured so that the light amount becomes a predetermined light amount when a value of the offset luminance data signal input from the receiving end is equal to or smaller than the predetermined offset value based on a comparison result of the comparing unit. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein adjustment is performed .

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