JP4566703B2 - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus including a video scope having an image sensor, and more particularly, to a brightness adjustment process for a subject image.

In an electronic endoscope device, in order to maintain a subject image displayed on a monitor or the like with an appropriate brightness, the amount of illumination light to the subject is adjusted by opening / closing control of the aperture, or the subject is made using an electronic shutter function. Adjust the image brightness. When using the electronic shutter function, a configuration is known in which a diaphragm is provided for adjusting the amount of illumination light. For example, when the light amount becomes insufficient due to the change of the light source lamp over time, the diaphragm is driven to increase the light amount (see Patent Document 1). On the other hand, in order to prevent heat generation at the distal end of the scope, a dimming process is performed when the diaphragm is continuously opened for a predetermined time or more (see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent No. 3343278 JP 2002-282207 A

  Heat generation at the distal end of the scope should be avoided as much as possible in consideration of the influence on the circuit provided at the distal end and the particularity of the scope distal end being fed into the human body. Therefore, it is not practical to use the illumination light amount that can be obtained as much as possible by the illumination light of the light source lamp, and a diaphragm, a shielding plate, etc. are arranged in the optical path so as to be less than the predetermined light amount, and the illumination light amount is suppressed in advance. . For this reason, when observing and photographing a wide part of the internal space such as the stomach, the amount of illumination is insufficient, making observation difficult and blurring in the photograph. In Patent Document 1, it is possible to cope with a change with time over the lifetime of the lamp, but it is not possible to quickly cope with a temporally rapid change in illumination light amount (a change in subject brightness) due to the position of the scope tip.

  The electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention is an electronic endoscope apparatus including a video scope having an image sensor, based on a light source that illuminates a subject and an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor, Luminance calculating means for calculating a luminance value; For example, the luminance calculation unit may sequentially calculate the luminance value based on image signals read from the image sensor at predetermined time intervals according to the television standard or the like. The luminance value may be a value representing the representative brightness of the subject image, and for example, an average luminance value is calculated. The electronic endoscope apparatus can adjust the brightness by the electronic shutter function. The brightness of the subject image displayed on the display device or the like is set to a predetermined value by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value. Brightness adjusting means for adjusting at time intervals is provided. The brightness value may be adjusted at a time interval (for example, 1/60 second) according to the television standard.

  If the amount of light is insufficient, the charge accumulation time becomes longer. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes light amount control means for increasing the light amount of illumination light (illumination light amount) when the charge accumulation time exceeds the upper limit set value over an allowable time. The upper limit set value is a value corresponding to an illumination state in which the light quantity needs to be increased. For example, a value close to the boundary value of the charge accumulation time range in which the light quantity need not be increased is set. For example, the upper limit setting value may be set to a value that affects still image shooting such as blurring (for example, 1/125 sec = 8.0 msec). The allowable time is set to 1 second or several seconds, for example. When the state where the amount of light is insufficient continues for a certain period, it is detected that the upper limit set value exceeds the allowable time, and the amount of light increases. As a result, the observation site is irradiated while the illumination light quantity of the light source is maximally utilized. And since the state where the charge accumulation time is long does not continue, no blur occurs even when photographing timely.

  When the distal end of the scope is close to the subject and the amount of light is more than necessary, the amount of light should be returned to the original state. In this case, the light quantity control means restores the illumination light quantity when the charge accumulation time exceeds the allowable time for the lower limit set value corresponding to the illumination state that needs to be restored.

The charge accumulation time is adjusted according to the change in the amount of illumination light, and the charge accumulation time is adjusted in correlation with the amount of change in the amount of illumination light. That is, it is preferable to set according to the ratio of the light amount before increase and the light amount after increase. For example, the upper limit set value and the lower limit set value may be determined so that the upper limit set value and the lower limit set value satisfy the following relational expression.

m <(ET1 / ET2)

However, ET1 is an upper limit set value, ET2 is a lower limit set value, and m is a ratio of the illumination light amount after increase to the illumination light amount before increase. Since a sudden increase in the amount of light affects the brightness of the subject image, the ratio should be 1.5 or less, that is, 1.5 times or less of the amount before the increase.

  For example, the luminance calculating means may be provided in the video scope and configured to execute luminance value calculation and brightness adjustment processing in the video scope. Or you may comprise so that a brightness adjustment means may be provided in a processor and a light source device. Further, the light quantity control means may be arranged inside the processor. For example, the light quantity control means includes a stop that blocks a part of the luminous flux of the illumination light, and a stop drive means that arranges the stop either in the optical path of the illumination light or outside the optical path. In this case, the brightness adjustment means has a transmission means for transmitting a signal indicating an instruction to increase the amount of light to the processor to which the video scope is connected. The light amount control means increases the light amount when receiving a signal indicating an instruction to increase the light amount. On the other hand, when an LED or the like is used, the light amount control means may be provided in the video scope.

  The video scope of the electronic endoscope apparatus having the image sensor of the present invention is calculated by luminance calculation means for calculating a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor by illuminating the subject. Brightness adjustment means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the brightness value, and the charge accumulation time according to the lighting condition in which the light quantity needs to be increased And a means for increasing the amount of illumination light when the upper limit set value is exceeded for an allowable time or longer. When the light source is outside, a transmission means for outputting a signal to be increased is provided. Further, the processor (or light source device) of the electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention allows the upper limit set value according to the illumination state in which the light source for illuminating the subject and the charge accumulation time in the image sensor need to increase the amount of light. A light amount control means for increasing the amount of illumination light is provided when exceeding the time, and the amount of illumination light is increased when a signal for increasing the amount of illumination light is received from the videoscope.

  The endoscope brightness adjustment processing device of the present invention illuminates a subject, and calculates a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to the subject image read from the imaging device of the videoscope, and a calculation Brightness adjustment means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor in accordance with the luminance value to be obtained, and the charge accumulation time in an illumination state in which the light amount needs to be increased. And a light amount control means for increasing the illumination light amount when the corresponding upper limit set value is exceeded for an allowable time or more. The program of the present invention is a program for an electronic endoscope apparatus provided with a video scope having an image sensor, and based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor by illuminating the subject, Brightness calculating means for calculating a brightness value; brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge storage time in the image sensor according to the calculated brightness value; and the charge storage time When the upper limit set value corresponding to the illumination state in which the light quantity needs to be increased exceeds the allowable time, the light quantity control means for increasing the illumination light quantity is made to function.

  According to the present invention, even when the brightness of the subject image is adjusted using the electronic shutter function, a situation where the amount of illumination light is insufficient does not occur, and the affected part can be appropriately observed and photographed.

  Hereinafter, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to this embodiment.

  The electronic endoscope apparatus includes a video scope 50 having a CCD 54 and a processor 10 that processes an image signal read from the CCD 54, and a monitor 32 and a keyboard 34 that display a subject image are connected to the processor 10. The video scope 50 is detachably connected to the processor 10.

  When a lamp lighting switch (not shown) is operated and turned on, power is supplied from the lamp power source 11 including the lamp control unit 11A to the light source lamp 12. The light emitted from the light source lamp 12 enters the incident end 51 </ b> A of the light guide 51 provided in the video scope 50 through the condenser lens 14. The light guide 51 is an optical fiber bundle that transmits light emitted from the light source lamp 12 to the distal end side of the video scope 50. Light that has passed through the light guide 51 is emitted from the emission end 51B, and is a light distribution lens that is a diffusion lens. The observation site S is irradiated with light through 52.

  The light reflected at the observation site S passes through the objective lens 53 and reaches the CCD 54, whereby a subject image of the observation site S is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 54. In this embodiment, a single plate simultaneous type is applied as a color imaging method, and yellow (Ye), cyan (Cy), magenta (Mg), and green (G) color elements are checked on the light receiving surface of the CCD. Complementary color filters (not shown) arranged in a line are arranged so as to correspond to the respective pixels on the light receiving surface. In the CCD 54, an image signal of a subject image corresponding to a color that passes through the complementary color filter is generated by photoelectric conversion, and image signals for one frame or one field are sequentially read out at a predetermined time interval according to a color difference line sequential method. For example, the NTSC system is applied as a color television system, and image signals for one frame (one field every 1/60 second interval) are sequentially read out every 1/30 second interval, and the AGC ( The signal is sent to the signal processing circuit 55 via Auto Gain Control (not shown here).

  In the signal processing circuit 55, amplification processing, separation processing for separating luminance signals and color signals, matrix calculation for generating R, G, B signals, white balance adjustment, gamma correction, luminance, color difference signal generation processing, and the like are executed. . A video signal is generated by performing various processes on the image signal input to the signal processing circuit 55 and sent to the processor 10. On the other hand, a luminance value indicating the brightness of the subject image is calculated based on the input image signal and is sent to the scope control unit 56. Further, a CCD drive circuit that outputs a drive signal at a predetermined timing is provided to drive the CCD 54.

  In the processor signal processing circuit 28, predetermined processing is performed on the video signal transmitted from the signal processing circuit 55. The processed video signal is output to the monitor 32 as a video signal such as an NTSC composite signal, a Y / C separation signal (S video signal), or an RGB separation signal, whereby a subject image is displayed on the monitor 32.

  A system control circuit 22 including a CPU 24 controls the entire processor 10 and outputs a control signal to each circuit such as the lamp control unit 11A of the lamp power supply 11, the motor driver 20, and the processor signal processing circuit 28. In the timing control circuit 30, a clock pulse for adjusting a signal processing timing is output to each circuit in the processor 10, and a synchronization signal accompanying the video signal is sent to the processor signal processing circuit 28. The ROM 25 stores a program related to processor control in advance, and the RAM 26 stores data sent from the video scope 50.

  In the video scope 50, a scope control unit 56 that controls the entire video scope 50 and a data rewritable EEPROM 57 are provided, and a program related to the scope control is stored in the ROM 58 in the scope control unit 56. The scope control unit 56 reads data from the EEPROM 57 and controls the signal processing circuit 55. When the video scope 50 is connected to the processor 10, timely data is transmitted and received between the scope control unit 56 and the system control circuit 22, and from the scope control unit 56 to the system control circuit 22 as necessary, or the system control circuit. Data is transmitted from 22 to the scope control unit 56.

  The video scope 50 can execute the brightness adjustment processing of the subject image using the electronic shutter function, and the signal processing circuit 55 generates a luminance value indicating the brightness of the subject image based on the image signal. To the scope control unit 56. A control signal is sent from the scope control unit 56 to the signal processing circuit 55 in order to control the electronic shutter speed based on the detected luminance value and a reference value indicating appropriate brightness. Based on this control signal, a drive signal for determining the charge accumulation time in the CCD 54 is output from the signal processing circuit 55 to the CCD 54.

  Between the light source lamp 12 and the incident end 51 </ b> A of the light guide 51, a diaphragm 16 that adjusts the amount of illumination light in two stages is provided. The diaphragm 16 functions as a light-shielding plate and is usually disposed in the optical path so as to limit the amount of light to a certain amount or less in order to prevent burns at the observation site, and the observation site is sufficiently separated from the distal end portion of the video scope 50 to cause burns. When there is no need to worry and the condition for increasing the amount of light is reached, the user retreats from the optical path. The diaphragm 16 is driven by a motor 18, and the position of the diaphragm 16 is switched from the optical path to the retracted position or vice versa based on a drive signal from the motor driver 20. Regarding the amount of light incident on the incident end 51A of the light guide 51, if the amount of light when the diaphragm 16 is disposed in the optical path is Q2, and the amount of light when disposed at the retracted position is Q1, the amount of light Q1 is the amount of light Q2. The diaphragm 16 is adjusted to be 1.5 times.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing overall control processing executed by the system control circuit 22 of the processor 10.

  In step S101, the aperture position and variables are initialized. Here, the diaphragm 16 is disposed in the optical path, and the amount of light is Q2. The light quantity variable q is set to q = 2. In step S102, processing related to the connection of the video scope 50 is executed. In step S103, communication processing with the video scope 50 is executed, and in step S104, processing related to the keyboard 34 is executed. In step S105, processing for the panel switch on the front panel of the processor 10 is executed, and in step S106, other processing is executed. While the power of the processor 10 is ON, steps S102 to S106 are repeatedly executed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing brightness adjustment processing executed by the scope control unit 56 of the video scope 50. Here, according to the NTSC system, interrupt processing is executed at 1/60 second intervals.

  In step S <b> 201, a luminance value indicating the brightness of the subject image is input from the signal processing circuit 55. In step S202, the brightness value is compared with a reference value indicating the brightness of an appropriate subject image, and an exposure time, that is, a charge accumulation time et is set. The luminance value of the subject image is calculated as an average luminance value, and the luminance value is set to an integer value of 0 to 255 so that the brightness of the subject image is represented by 256 levels of luminance levels. Here, the charge accumulation time et is set in a range of 0 to 17 msec (= 1/60 sec). When the luminance value is larger than the reference value, the charge accumulation time et is reduced by a predetermined fluctuation time Δt (> 0) in order to shorten the charge accumulation time. On the other hand, when the luminance value is smaller than the reference value, a predetermined fluctuation time Δt is added to the charge accumulation time et in order to lengthen the charge accumulation time. In step S203, the set charge accumulation time et is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 55. Then, a clock pulse is output to the CCD 54 based on the transmitted charge accumulation time et.

  In step S204, it is determined whether the charge accumulation time et is longer than the upper limit set value ET1. The upper limit set value ET1 is the upper limit value of the accumulation time range where there is no need to increase the amount of light, and here is set to 8.0 msec (= 1/125 sec) in consideration of image blurring and the like.

  If it is determined in step S204 that the charge accumulation time et is greater than the upper limit set value ET1, the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, 1 is incremented to the first count variable c1, and the second count variable c2 is set to 0. The first count variable c1 is a variable for counting the time during which the charge accumulation time et is in a state larger than the upper limit set value ET1. On the other hand, the second count variable c2 is a variable for counting a time during which the charge accumulation time et is in a state smaller than a set value ET2 (described later).

  In step S206, it is determined whether or not the first count variable c1 exceeds the first count constant CN1, that is, whether or not the state in which the charge accumulation time et is longer than the upper limit set value ET1 has continued for a predetermined time. Here, the first count constant CN1 is set to 60, and it is determined whether or not the state in which the charge accumulation time et is longer than the upper limit set value ET1 has continued for 1 second.

  If it is determined in step S206 that the first count variable c1 does not exceed the predetermined count constant CN1, the interrupt routine ends as it is. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S206 that the first count variable c1 exceeds the predetermined count constant CN1, a control signal (command data CD1) instructing an increase in the amount of light is transmitted to the processor 10. In step S208, the first count variable c1 is reset to zero.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S204 that the charge accumulation time et is equal to or shorter than the upper limit set value ET1, the process proceeds to step S209. In step S209, it is determined whether or not the charge accumulation time et is equal to or longer than the lower limit set value ET2, that is, whether or not the charge accumulation time et is within the range of the lower limit set value ET2 to the upper limit set value ET1. The lower limit set value ET2 is a lower limit value in a range where it is not necessary to reduce the light amount during the charge accumulation time et, and is set to 4.0 msec (1/250 sec) here in consideration of the heat of the scope tip.

  If it is determined in step S209 that the charge accumulation time et is equal to or longer than the lower limit set value ET2, the process proceeds to step S210, and the first count variable c1 and the second count variable c2 are both reset to 0 because the light amount is appropriate. The On the other hand, if it is determined in step S209 that the charge accumulation time et is smaller than the lower limit set value ET2, the process proceeds to step S211. In step S211, 1 is incremented to the second count variable c2, and the first count variable c1 is set to 0. When step S211 is executed, the process proceeds to step S212.

  In step S212, it is determined whether or not the second count variable c2 exceeds the second count constant CN2. That is, it is determined whether or not the state in which the charge accumulation time et is smaller than the lower limit set value ET2 has continued for a predetermined time. Here, the second count constant CN2 is set to 60, and it is determined whether or not the state in which the charge accumulation time et is smaller than the lower limit set value ET2 has continued for one second.

  If it is determined in step S212 that the second count variable c2 does not exceed the second count constant CN2, the interrupt routine ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the second count variable c2 exceeds the second count constant CN2, the process proceeds to step S213, and a control signal (command data CD2) instructing a light amount reduction is transmitted to the processor 10. In step S214, the second count variable c2 is reset to zero.

  FIG. 4 is a subroutine of step S103 in FIG.

  In step S301, it is determined whether or not command data is sent from the video scope 50. If it is determined that command data has been sent from the video scope 50, the process proceeds to step S302, and whether or not the command data is command data CD1 indicating an instruction to increase the amount of light for setting the amount of illumination light to the amount of light Q1. Is judged.

  If it is determined in step S302 that the command data is command data CD1 indicating an instruction to increase the amount of light, the process proceeds to step S303, and it is determined whether or not the value of the light amount variable q is “2” instead of “1”. Is done. The light quantity variable q is a variable indicating the set illumination light quantity. When the light quantity is Q1 (with the aperture 16 retracted from the optical path), it is “1”, and when the light quantity Q2 (the aperture 16 is disposed in the optical path). Is set to “2”.

  If it is determined in step S303 that the light quantity variable q is 1, since the light quantity increasing process has already been performed, the subroutine ends as it is. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the value of the light quantity variable q is “2” instead of “1”, a control signal is output so as to retract the diaphragm 16 from the optical path in order to set the light quantity Q1. The In step S305, the value of the light quantity variable q is set to “1”.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S302 that the command data is not command data CD1 indicating an instruction to increase the amount of light, the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, it is determined whether or not the command data is command data CD2 indicating an instruction to restore the light amount by restoring the diaphragm 16 in the optical path from the state in which the light amount is increased. If it is determined that the command data is not command data CD2 indicating light quantity restoration (light quantity reduction), the process proceeds to step S310, and processing for other command data is executed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the command data is command data CD2 indicating light quantity restoration (light quantity reduction), the process proceeds to step S307.

  In step S307, it is determined whether or not the value of the light quantity variable q is “1” instead of “2”. When it is determined that the value of the light quantity variable q is “2”, the position of the diaphragm 16 has already been restored and set to the light quantity Q2, so that the subroutine is finished as it is. On the other hand, when it is determined that the value of the light quantity variable q is “1” instead of “2”, the process proceeds to step S308, and a control signal is output so that the diaphragm 16 is arranged in the optical path. In step S309, the value of the light quantity variable q is set to “2”.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the charge accumulation time et is longer than the upper limit set value ET1 (= 1/125 sec) (step S204, Yes), and the state continues for one second or longer (step S206). , Yes), the diaphragm 16 is retracted from the optical path to increase the amount of light (steps S207 and S304). On the other hand, if the charge accumulation time et is smaller than the lower limit set value ET2 (= 1/250 sec) (No in step S209) and the state continues for one second or longer (step S212, Yes), the amount of light is reduced. The aperture 16 is restored in the optical path (steps S213 and S308).

  When the illumination light quantity is insufficient, the electronic shutter speed can be kept short in order to increase the illumination light quantity. Therefore, even when the subject is away from the distal end of the scope in still image shooting, no blurring occurs and observation is not hindered. Moreover, since the illumination light quantity is not always used at the maximum, and the maximum light quantity is set only when necessary, it is possible to suppress the heat generation at the scope tip. In addition, since the maximum light amount is set only when the subject is away from the distal end of the scope, there is no fear that the observation site will be burned.

  Here, the light quantity Q1 after the increase is set to 1.5 times the light quantity Q2 before the increase with respect to the illumination light quantity, but it may be set at a ratio other than that. The diaphragm 16 is selectively disposed in the optical path to increase the amount of light, but the amount of light may be adjusted by other configurations. For example, the light emission amount of the light source lamp 12 itself may be controlled. Further, the brightness adjustment process may be executed inside the processor 50.

  In the embodiment, the illumination light amount is increased or decreased on the processor 10 side, but this may be performed on the video scope 50 side. For example, an LED may be provided at the distal end of the scope and the light emission amount of the LED may be controlled. In this case, in the process of FIG. 3, instead of sending a command (a command to increase or decrease the amount of light) to the processor 10 in S207 and S213, the light emission amount of the LED may be set. In this way, all processing can be performed by the video scope 50 alone.

  Although the signal processing unit and the light source unit are integrally configured in the processor 10, the diaphragm may be provided in a light source device that is configured separately.

It is a block diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus which is this embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the whole control process of the processor. It is the flowchart which showed the brightness adjustment process performed with a video scope. This is a subroutine of step S103 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 processor 12 light source lamp (light source)
16 Aperture 18 Motor 20 Motor Driver 22 System Control Circuit 50 Videoscope 54 CCD (Imaging Device)
55 Signal Processing Circuit 56 Scope Control Unit

Claims (12)

An electronic endoscope apparatus including a video scope having an image sensor,
A light source that illuminates the subject;
A luminance calculating means for calculating a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor;
Brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value;
And a light amount control means for increasing the amount of illumination light when the charge accumulation time exceeds an upper limit set value according to an illumination state in which the amount of light needs to be increased over an allowable time. Electronic endoscope device. After the light quantity control means increases the light quantity by the light quantity control means, the charge accumulation time exceeds the lower limit set value according to the illumination state that needs to be restored to the light quantity state before the light quantity increase over the allowable time or more. 2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light quantity is decreased so as to return to a state before the light quantity increase . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper limit set value and the lower limit set value satisfy the following relational expression.

m <(ET1 / ET2)

However, ET1 is an upper limit set value, ET2 is a lower limit set value, and m is a ratio of the illumination light amount after increase to the illumination light amount before increase.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the ratio m is 1.5 or less.   The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance calculation unit is provided in the video scope. The brightness adjustment means has a transmission means for transmitting a signal indicating an instruction to increase the amount of light to a processor connected to the videoscope;
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light amount control unit is disposed in the processor and increases the light amount when receiving a signal indicating an instruction to increase the light amount. The light quantity control means is
A diaphragm for blocking a part of the luminous flux of the illumination light;
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a diaphragm driving unit that arranges the diaphragm in an optical path of the illumination light or outside the optical path. A video scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus having an image sensor,
Luminance calculation means for calculating a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor by illuminating the subject;
Brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value;
Means for increasing the amount of illumination light when the charge accumulation time exceeds the upper limit set value according to the illumination state in which the amount of light needs to be increased over an allowable time. Video scope for endoscopic equipment. A video scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus having an image sensor,
Luminance calculation means for calculating a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from the image sensor by illuminating the subject;
Brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value;
A transmission means for outputting a signal for increasing the amount of illumination light to the outside of the video scope when the charge accumulation time exceeds an upper limit set value corresponding to an illumination state in which the amount of light needs to be increased for an allowable time or more; A video scope for an electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising: A processor of an electronic endoscope apparatus to which the videoscope according to claim 9 is connected,
A light source that illuminates the subject;
When the charge accumulation time in the imaging device exceeds the upper limit set value according to the illumination state that needs to increase the light amount over an allowable time, the light amount control means for increasing the illumination light amount,
The processor of the electronic endoscope apparatus, wherein when the signal for increasing the illumination light amount is received from the video scope, the illumination light amount is increased. Luminance calculation means for calculating a luminance value based on an image signal corresponding to a subject image read from an image pickup device of a videoscope by illuminating the subject;
Brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value;
And a light amount control means for increasing the amount of illumination light when the charge accumulation time exceeds an upper limit set value according to an illumination state in which the amount of light needs to be increased over an allowable time. Endoscope brightness adjustment processing device. A program for an electronic endoscope apparatus having a video scope having an image sensor,
A luminance calculating means for calculating a luminance value according to a subject image read from the image sensor by illuminating the subject;
Brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the subject image at predetermined time intervals by adjusting the charge accumulation time in the image sensor according to the calculated luminance value;
When the charge accumulation time exceeds the upper limit set value according to the illumination state in which the light amount needs to be increased over the permissible time, the light amount control means for increasing the illumination light amount is caused to function. program.

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