JPH01260412A - Light power unit for electronic endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the deterioration of a rotary filter by allowing the rotary filter to be freely insertable and detachable in an illuminating optical path by an operation of a selecting switch, and also, constituting the rotary filter so that when it is installed in the optical path, a cooling fan goes to automati cally an operating state. CONSTITUTION:The title unit is provided with a rotary filter moving means 45 for allowing a rotary filter 43 to be insertable and detachable in an illuminat ing optical path, a selecting switch 49 for selecting whether this rotary filter 43 is inserted or detached, and a cooling means 55 for the rotary filter 43. In such a state, when the rotary filter 43 is installed in the illuminating optical path, the cooling means 55 is operated. In such a way, an illuminating light which can correspond to various scopes 2C can be outputted, and also, when the rotary filter is installed in the illuminating optical path, the cooling means 55 is operated, and the deterioration, etc. of the rotary filter 43 can be prevented effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a light source device for an electronic endoscope provided with cooling means for a one-rotation filter.

[Prior Art] In recent years, it has become possible to observe internal organs, etc. in a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity, and to perform various treatments as necessary using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopy VL (also called scope or fiberscope)
is widely used.

Furthermore, various electronic endoscopes (electronic scopes) using solid-state decoy elements such as charge-coupled devices (CODs) as image carriers have been proposed.

This electronic endoscope has advantages such as higher resolution than a fiberscope, easier recording and reproduction of images, and easier image processing such as magnification and comparison of two images.

The electronic endoscope is used by being connected to a light source device that supplies suitable illumination light.

At this time, the screen sequential type electronic endoscope uses, for example, red (R),
It requires illumination light that sequentially switches to green (G), blue (B), etc.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-243625 discloses that a field-sequential type electronic scope control (Il device is connected to a fiber scope equipped with an optical fiber bundle for image transmission, and a double-sided display on a monitor TV, etc.) is proposed. Disclosed is a connection system that allows observation.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with this system, it is not possible to perform visual observation using a fiber scope.

For this reason, the present applicant, for example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 62-54597
No. 1, a detection circuit detected whether the electronic scope's electrical connector was connected or not, and controlled the insertion and removal of the R2G and 8-turn filter.

However, even when a video converter is connected to the fiber scope, it is desirable to remove the rotating filter from the optical path if it is desired to perform vA detection using the fiber scope.

In addition, when the rotating filter is made to be able to be inserted and removed from the optical path, the rotating filter should be set at 1-
Since it uses a color transmission filter, it easily generates heat, so it is desirable to cool it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and provides an electronic endoscope that enables selection of central removal of the rotating filter and also ensures reliable cooling when the rotating filter is inserted in the optical path. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a light source device for

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The present invention provides a rotary filter moving means that covers the rotary filter so that it can be inserted into and removed from the illumination optical path, a selection switch that selects insertion and removal of the rotary filter, and a cooling means for the rotary filter. When this rotary filter is interposed in the illumination optical path, by providing a cooling operation control means for operating the cooling means, it is possible to output illumination light compatible with various scopes, and the rotary filter can be used to control the illumination. When the rotary filter is inserted in the optical path, the cooling means is operated to effectively prevent deterioration of the rotary filter.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to the drawings.

Figures 1 to 7 relate to a first actual flow example of the present invention.
The figure is a configuration diagram of the light source device of the first embodiment in a state of outputting retrospective light, Figure 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope system equipped with the first embodiment, and Figure 3 is a mosaic filter. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a fiber scope equipped with a C4L-plane sequential deo converter; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a fiber scope; Figure 6 (upper rotation filter) FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing the light source device of the first embodiment in a state of outputting white light.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope apparatus 1 equipped with the first embodiment includes a (light source) connector receiver 4 to which any of the light source connectors 3A to 3C of various scopes 2A to 2C can be connected. A signal processing device 8 provided with a (signal) connector receiver 7 to which the signal connectors 6A and 6B of the scopes 2A and 2B can be connected, and this signal processing device
and a monitor 9 for displaying video signals output from the monitor 8.

The scope 2A is an electronic scope with a built-in mosaic filter, and the scope 2B is an external frame-sequential video converter in which a frame-sequential video converter 12 is attached to the eyepiece 11 of a fiber scope 2C.
-B 2C is a fiberscope.

Each of the scopes 21 <1=A, B, C) has an elongated insertion section 13, and an operation section 14 is formed at the rear end of the insertion section 13. From the operation unit 14, the universal cord 15A or light guide cable 15B, 1
5G is extended and a light source connector 3I is provided.

In the case of the above electronic scope 2A, the light source connector 3△
A signal cable 16Δ is extended from there, and a signal connector 6Δ is attached. A signal cable 16B is also extended to the audio converter 12, and a signal connector 6B is attached thereto.

The above-mentioned scopes 2Δ, 2B, and 2G are shown in FIG.

The structure is as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Each scope 2I has a line 1-1 that transmits illumination light.
By inserting the guide 21 and connecting the light source connector 31 to the light source device 5, illumination light is supplied.

The supplied illumination light is transmitted and irradiated from the output end face further through the light distribution lens 22 to the subject side.

The illuminated object is imaged on the imaging plane by the objective lens 23. This imaging plane has C0D2 in the electronic scope 2A.
4 is provided for photoelectric conversion. In addition, a fiberscope 2C and a scope 2B with a video converter 12 attached are included.
In this case, the input Q4 end surface of the image guide 25 is arranged on the imaging plane, and the image is transmitted to the output 'IJ Oa surface. Therefore, the optical image transmitted to the output end face can be observed with the naked eye through the eyepiece lens 26.

In the electronic scope 2A, a mosaic filter 27 is disposed in front of the C0D 24, and each pixel is separated into R, G, and B colors. On the other hand, an imaging lens 28 is housed in the video converter 12, and a
The optical image transmitted by the image guide 25 is formed on the CD 29.

The signal photoelectrically converted in the above C0D24.29 is transmitted to the signal processing device 8 via the preamplifier 31.

The signal processing device 8 has a built-in signal processing system for an image conveying means using a mosaic filter and a frame sequential RFI image means, and these signal processing systems are used as a signal processing system.
The selection can be made using a switch 32 provided on the front of the device 8.

By the way, FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of a light source device 5 that is capable of supplying illumination light suitable for each of the above-mentioned scopes 2.

] A lamp device 41 is disposed to the east of the connector receiver 4, and is lit by electric power supplied from a lantern 42. Illumination light emitted as a parallel luminous flux by the paraboloid of this lamp (device) 41 passes through an RGB rotation filter 43 that can be inserted and removed on the optical path, enters a condensing lens 44, and is condensed (
ray 1 to guide) is irradiated onto the connector 3I.

As shown in FIG. 6, the (RGB) rotating color filter 43 has three fan-shaped openings provided in the circumferential direction of a disc-shaped light-shielding plate, and the color transmission filters 43 each pass R, G, and B.
R, 43G, and 43B are attached, and these color transmission filters 43R, 43G, and 43B are sequentially interposed in the optical path, and the R, G, and B illumination lights are output to the condenser lens 44 side. .

The rotary filter 43 is attached to one rotation end of a rotational drive motor 45 and is rotationally driven by this motor 45 .

The motor 45 is attached, for example, to a rack gear 46 extending in a direction perpendicular to the illumination optical path, and this rack gear 46 meshes with a gear 48 attached to the rotating shaft of a moving motor 47, so that the rack gear 46 extends in the longitudinal direction of the rack gear 46. It is possible to move to P. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the case of a scope 2B in which a field-sequential imaging means, in this case a fiber scope 2C, is attached to a field-sequential video converter 12, a rotary filter 43 is used as shown in FIG. It is set to be installed on the road.

On the other hand, in the case of the fiber scope 2C or the electronic scope 2A with a built-in mosaic filter, by switching the selection switch 49 provided on the front panel of the light source device 5, the rotating filter 43 is removed from the optical path as shown in FIG. J that can be removed: sea urchin.

The moving motor 47 is supplied with driving power from a motor power source 51. This motor 47 is capable of forward and reverse rotation, and when a selection switch 49 sends a signal specifying the direction of rotation to the motor power source 51, the motor 47 rotates forward or reverse. When the rotary filter 43 moved by the motor 47 is correctly inserted into the optical path, a means is provided to turn off the power to the motor 47 and stop it at that position.

That is, the power supply line from the motor power supply 51 is connected to the motor 47.
It is connected to the motor 47 via contact pieces 53a and 53b that are erected on the fixed plate 52 to which the motor 47 is attached. These contact pieces 53a
, 53b are normally in the on state as shown in FIG.
From this state, the rotating filter 43 is correctly inserted into the optical path I7! (FIG. 1), for example, one of the contact pieces 54a attached to one end of the rack gear 46
3a is pressed so that the second contact pieces 53a and 53b are turned off. By turning off, the supply of driving power to the moving motor 47 is cut off, its rotation is stopped, and the rotating filter 43 is held at the correct position. In other words, the two contact pieces 53a, 53b and the contact piece 54a detect whether or not the rotating filter 43 is set at the correct position in the optical path.If it is set at the correct position, the movement is stopped and the rotation filter 43 is stopped. It can be held in place.

Further, in this embodiment, means is provided for automatically operating the cooling fan 55 when the rotary filter 43 is set at the correct position in the optical path.

That is, the cooling fan 55 is connected to the limit switch 54.
It is connected to a fan power source 57 via two contact pieces 54a and 54b forming a .

Two contact pieces 54a forming the limit switch 54
, 54b indicates that when the rotary filter 43 is set at the correct position in the optical path as shown in FIG. By pressing the contact piece 54b, both the contact pieces 54a, 54b
is set to turn on. In this state, both contact pieces 54a.

Driving power is supplied to the cooling fan 55 through the cooling fan 54b, and the cooling fan 55 rotates. This fan 5
5 rotates, the fan 55 blows outside air onto the rotary filter 43 through an opening 59 provided in the exterior casing 445B for air cooling.

When the limit switch 54 is retracted from the position shown in FIG. 1 (for example, FIG. 7), it is turned off, so that the cooling fan 55 is not supplied with driving power. Therefore, the cold fJI fan 7/55 does not rotate.

Therefore, the limit switch 54 is connected to the rotary filter 4.
The cold n1 operation is performed only when the lens 3 is correctly inserted in the optical path.

When the rotating filter 43 is interposed in the optical path,
Since this is detected and the fan 55 for cold moon 1 is automatically operated, each color filter 43 of the rotary filter 43 is irradiated with the illumination light of the lamp 41.
R, 43G, and 43B can be effectively prevented from generating heat.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the transmission A characteristic from deteriorating due to heating of the rotating filter 43, and also prevent the characteristic from changing, and it is possible to output the field sequential light with stable intensity. When an image carrying means is used, a color image can be carried with a stable color tone, and color display can be performed with a stable color tone on a monitor screen.

By the way, in this embodiment, when the rotation filter 43 is set at the correct position in the optical path as shown in FIG. 1, when the selection switch 49 is operated to output white light, the rotation Filter 43 is moved in the direction shown by arrow P from the state shown in FIG. When the second contact piece 70 is moved to a predetermined retracted position as shown in FIG.
a, 7ob and j'3 are turned off by the protrusion 71 attached to the rack gear 46, and when this off signal is sent to the motor power supply 51, the motor power supply 51 turns off the power supplied to the motor 47. is shut off, and the rotary filter 43 is held in that position.

Further, the rack gear r46 is configured to be able to move without being disengaged from the gear 48 by an L-shaped guide piece 72 provided upright on the fixed plate 52.

According to one embodiment configured in this manner, by operating the selection switch 49, it can be set to output either white light or frame-sequential light. Furthermore, when the rotating color filter 43 is installed at the correct position in the optical path, the cooling fan 55 is automatically prevented from rotating, so the color transmission filters 43R, 43G, and 43B are burnt out by the illumination light. It is possible to effectively prevent deterioration from occurring. Further, when the frame-sequential video converter 12 is attached to the fiberscope 2C and the video converter 12 is removed for visual observation, the selection switch 49 can be used to switch to a state in which white light is output.

FIG. 8 shows the peripheral part of the rotating filter moving means in the second embodiment of the present invention.1 This second embodiment differs from the first example in which the limit switch 54 is not provided, and the foot t ”Reflector 81
is provided on the fixed plate 52'. This photo reflector 8
1, when the rack gear 46 is moved in the direction of insertion into the optical path from the state shown in FIG. The received light is photoelectrically converted and transmitted to a switch drive J circuit 82, which turns on a switch 83 provided between the fan 55 and the fan power source 57.

Further, in this embodiment, the two contacts 53a mentioned above.

53b is attached to the rack gear 46 by the protruding piece 54',
turned on and off. These two contact pieces 53a and 53b are turned off when the rotary filter 43 is set at a predetermined position in the optical path.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fixed plate 52' has a guide rod 84.
This guide rod 84 is passed through a through hole of a slide member 85 attached to the motor/I7, and the slide member 85 is slidably movable along this guide rod 84. Therefore, the guide piece 7 in the first embodiment
2 is not provided.

The structure of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment.

In this second embodiment, when a part of the rotating filter 43 is inserted into the illumination optical path, the cooling fan 55 rotates and performs a cooling operation, and other effects are the same as in the first embodiment. Almost the same.

Note that the formation 4 is not limited to a photoreflector, and may be formed using an optical position detection means of an ink tank or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the rotating filter can be inserted into and removed from the illumination optical path by operating the selection switch, and when the rotating filter is inserted into the optical path, the cooling 1
Since the fan automatically enters the 01 operating state, deterioration of the rotary filter can be effectively prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 to 7 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a configuration diagram of the light source device of the first embodiment in a state in which light is output in a sequential manner, FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of the endoscope equipped with the first embodiment, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electronic scope with a built-in filter; Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a fiber scope equipped with a field-sequential video converter;
6 is a front view showing a rotating filter, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the light source device of the first embodiment in a state where white light is output, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the fiber scope. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a light source device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 1... Endoscope device 2A... Electronic scope 2
B...Fiber scope 2C with a video converter attached...Fiber scopes 3A, 3B, 3C...Light source connector 4...(for light source)] Connector holder 5...Light source device 41... Lamp 43...
・Rotating filter 49...Selection switch 53a, 5
3b... Contact piece 54... Limit switch 55... Cooling fan Fig. 1 B Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 8

Claims (1)

[Claims] A rotary filter moving means that allows the rotary filter to be inserted into and removed from the illumination optical path, a rotary filter insertion and removal control switch, and a fan operation control that operates a cooling fan when the rotary filter is interposed in the illumination optical path. 1. A light source device for an electronic endoscope, comprising: means.