JPH01316716A - Stereoscopic endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To observe an image pickup image stereoscopically by reading an image in one solid-state image pickup element in two dimensions at the same time and extracting and storing a right and a left signal corresponding to a right and a left image, and outputting the right and left signals independently and individually at the time of reproducing. CONSTITUTION:In recording mode, the right and left images of a body to be observed are formed in the right and left divided areas of the one solid image pickup element 2 at the same time through two image forming lenses 16a and 16b. At such a time, the solid image pickup element 2 outputs the image signals corresponding to the right and left images and an image signal processing means 3 which inputs them outputs the right and left signals corresponding to the right and left images and stores them in a storage means 5. In reproduction mode, the right signal and left signal are outputted from a read means 6 to a display means 7 as an odd-numbered field and an even-numbered field at specific timing and a right shutter 8a and a left shutter 8b on the right-eye and left-eye sides of an observer are opened and closed synchronously. Consequently, the readout identification ability can be increased.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an endoscope device used to observe the inside of a living body, the deep part of a machine, etc. (hereinafter referred to as an object to be observed), and particularly The present invention relates to a stereoscopic endoscope device capable of stereoscopically observing an observation site of an observed object.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Endoscopes have been developed for the purpose of observing the inside of a living body or the deep inside of a complex and deep machine. For example, with this endoscope, the distal end of the insertion section is inserted into a subject's body, and a guide light guided from the outside to the distal end of the insertion section is irradiated onto the observation site inside the subject's body for observation. The light reflected at the site can be observed by an external observer via an optical fiber bundle or the like provided within the insertion section.

In addition, such endoscopes are equipped with a solid-state image pickup device at the tip of the insertion tube so that the observed region within the body can be replayed and confirmed as many times as desired and can be observed by many people at the same time. At the same time, devices equipped with a video tape recorder or the like electrically connected to the solid-state image sensor have been developed.

By the way, normally in such an endoscope, the image read by the solid-state image sensor is flat and does not have a three-dimensional effect. For this reason, when observing an affected area in a living body, for example, even if the affected area is uneven, the only way to judge the extent of the unevenness is by using the shadow of the guide light. Detection may be even more difficult, and there is a risk that accurate diagnosis may not be possible.

Furthermore, the situation is the same even when using such an endoscope to observe the inner part of a narrow machine, which causes significant inconvenience in discovering malfunctions inside the machine.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, the present invention provides a three-dimensional endoscope device that can three-dimensionally observe an observed part of an object to be observed, and can greatly improve the reading and discrimination ability of the observed part. The purpose is to provide the following.

[Means to solve the problem]

That is, the stereoscopic endoscope device of the present invention has two parts on the distal end side of the insertion part.
1 with a large number of pixels arranged in an dimensional matrix
a solid-state image sensor, and two left and right imaging lenses that form images of the object to be observed in the right and left areas of the solid-state image sensor as a right image and a left image corresponding to the right and left images of the observer, respectively; and an image signal processing means for outputting a right signal and a left signal corresponding to the right image and the left image in order to display the right image and the left image alternately on the screen of the display means at predetermined time intervals.

A storage means for storing the right signal and left signal outputted from the image signal processing means; and a storage means for storing the right and left signals outputted from the image signal processing means; Shutter means for alternately blocking the field of view for the side and left eye side with a shutter, and the shutter for the right eye side of the observer is opened when the right image is displayed on the screen of the display means by synchronizing the operations of the shutter means and the storage means. In addition, when the left image is displayed on the screen, the control section opens the shutter on the left eye side.

[Effect]

In the recording mode, the stereoscopic endoscope device of the present invention simultaneously displays left and right images of the object to be observed on the right and left areas of one solid-state image sensor, which are divided into left and right areas by two imaging lenses. At this time, an image signal is output from the solid-state image sensor corresponding to each of these images, and a right signal and a left signal corresponding to the right image and left image are output from the image signal processing means to which the image signal is input. The right signal and the left signal are output and stored in the storage means.

In the stereoscopic endoscope apparatus of the present invention, in the reproduction mode, the right signal and the left signal stored in the storage means are read by the successive means, and the reading means is sent to the display means at a predetermined timing under the control of the control section. A right signal and a left signal are outputted to the side as odd and even fields, and the display means to which these signals are input displays the right image and left image alternately at small time intervals on its screen. At this time, the right shutter and left shutter located on the right and left eye sides of the observer observing this image open and close under the control of the control unit in synchronization with the operations of the odd and even fields. Stereoscopic vision is performed using eye parallax, and images on the screen can be observed three-dimensionally.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, and this stereoscopic endoscope apparatus has a control section 1.

Solid-state image sensor 2, 2-image signal processing means 3, A/D conversion means 4, storage means 5, and reading means 6.

It is composed of a display means 7 and a shutter means 8.

In addition, in this example, the inside of a living body is observed, and the inside of a living body is observed.
Although the image forming apparatus is configured to form a color image using a method such as that of the I.S.I.

The control unit 1 controls each operation of the solid-state image sensor 2 and the image processing means 3 during image recording, and also controls the display means 7 during reproduction.
and the shutter means 8, the succession means 6, and the synchronization means 9.

It is composed of first to third driving means 10 to 12.

In FIG. 2, the solid-state imaging device 2 is for capturing an image of an observation site in the body cavity of a living body 13, which is an object to be observed, and is driven by a first driving means 10, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, one charge-coupled device (COD) is provided inside the distal end side of the insertion section main body 17 and has pixels 2a arranged in a two-dimensional matrix in a substantially rectangular shape with a constant line width.
). As shown in FIG. 4, this solid-state image sensor 2 has color filters that transmit only light of specific wavelengths, that is, R (red), G ( Three types of color filters, green) and B (blue), are arranged cyclically, and only the light of a specific wavelength that passes through each color filter enters the solid-state image sensor 2 corresponding to the 2°a portion of the pixel. Then, a predetermined image signal is outputted from the solid-state imaging device 2 to the image signal processing means 3 side via signal lines 14a to 14c connected to the CCDCD assay 14 side. In addition to the solid-state image sensor 2, a light guide 15 formed of an optical fiber bundle is provided on the distal end side of the insertion portion main body 17a. A right imaging lens 1 that receives guide light transmitted from an external light source, emitted from the light guide 15, and reflected at the observation site to form a right image A and a left image B on the solid-state image sensor 2.
6a, a left imaging lens 16b, etc.

The image processing means 3 connects the solid-state image sensor 2 to each signal line 14a.
The image signals 18a corresponding to the right image and the left image are outputted to the sides 14c and 14c and have unique waveforms for each color as shown in FIG.

18b (hereinafter referred to as right signal and left signal), and performs predetermined processing on these right and left signals respectively to produce a luminance signal (Y), a color signal (R-Y),
'(B-Y). The image signal processing means 3 has an input side connected to signal lines 14a to 1.
It is connected to the image element 2 side of the solid state 1 via 4c, and is also connected to either the output side or the input side of the A/D conversion means 4. Further, this image signal processing means 3 includes a solid-state image sensor 2
In order to perform the predetermined processing described above in synchronization with the image signal output for each line width on the side, it is connected to the synchronization means 9 side, and the synchronization signal output from the synchronization means 9 is connected to the synchronization means 9 side. It is activated by a signal.

The A/D conversion means 4 performs predetermined arithmetic processing on the right luminance signal, the left luminance signal, the right chrominance signal, and the left chrominance signal, which have been processed and converted for the right signal and the left signal, respectively, and converts the analog amounts into digital signals. It is designed to be converted into a quantity.

The A/D conversion means 4 outputs each of the digitized signals to the storage means 5, and its output side is connected to the input side of the storage means 5.

The storage means 5 is configured to store the luminance signal and color signal for the right image and left image digitized via the A/D conversion means 4, that is, to store the brightness signal and color signal for each right image and left image. It is designed to be remembered. In order to synchronize with the shutter means 8 during reproduction, the storage means 5 operates the second drive means 11 by a synchronization signal output from the synchronization means 9 of the control section 1.
1 outputs each predetermined signal from the storage means 5 to the successive output means 6 side. For this reason, the input side of the storage means 5 is also connected to the output side of the second drive means 11 side, and the output side is connected to the input side of the succession means 6.

The output means 6 outputs the image signals 18a and 18b (actually processed to each luminance signal and color signal) for the right image and the left image stored in the storage means 5 in an interlaced manner at a constant minute level. The image signal 18a is read out alternately at time intervals, that is, the image signal 18a for the right image is read out in odd fields, and the image signal 18a for the left image is read out in even fields. Then, this successive means 6po, those image signals 18a and 1
Figure 8(a) shows the output timing of 8b to the display means 7 side.
, In order to set as shown in (b), it is corrected using the correction formula for successive times, which will be explained later.
As a result, the images A and B, which were formed separately on the right and left areas of the solid-state image sensor 2 in FIG. They are displayed alternately in the same circular part. Here, the correction of the readout time performed by the readout means 6 refers to the right and left image signals 18 output from the solid-state image sensor 2 side while maintaining a predetermined time interval 12-11 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, the right reproduction signal 19a corresponding to the right image signal is delayed by a fixed minute time α, and the left reproduction signal 19b corresponding to the left image signal is advanced by a fixed minute time α. and are output to the display means 7 side. Here, the constant minute time α is expressed by the following formula, that is, the correction formula for successive times α-(tz-
t, ) /2, and as a result, right and left images are formed temporally alternately within the same circle on the screen 7a of the display means 7 into which the left and right reproduction signals are input. be done.

The display means 7 uses a CRT, and its screen 7a
Above, the affected part of the human body to be observed is displayed as images of the right region and the left region alternately at constant minute time intervals.

The shutter means 8 controls the field of view of the right eye side and the left eye side of the observer looking at the display means 7 for a certain minute time, that is, for each display time of the right image A and the left image B displayed on the display means 7. It is designed to be cut off alternately at the time interval of one defeat and in synchronization with them. As shown in FIG. 10, the shutter means 8 of this embodiment uses liquid crystal shutters as the right and left shutters 3a and 3b in portions corresponding to the left and right lens portions of the glasses. That is, the right shutter 8a and the left shutter 8b are operated to open and close when a predetermined voltage is applied by the third driving means 12, and for this reason, they are connected to the output side of the third driving means 12. . Further, as described above, the shutter means 8 is connected to the synchronizing means 9 and the third drive signal in order to synchronize with the right and left reproduction signals 19a and 19b outputted from the successive means 6 corresponding to odd and even fields. They are connected via means 12.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

- Regarding movement in self-recording mode■ First, images of the observed part of the observed object 13 are taken from two directions, left and right, using one solid-state imaging device 2.

(2) Appropriate signal processing is then performed using the image signal processing means 3, and image signals are extracted from the right image A and left image B, which are images from two directions, that is, the right signal and the left signal, and Each of these signals is converted into a luminance signal and a color signal.

(2) Next, using the A/D conversion means 4, these analogized right and left signals are digitized.

(2) Thereafter, the recording means 5 captures and stores each of the digitized signals.

In the manner described above, images of the observed parts of the observed object 13 are stored.

Regarding Φ in the conversion mode■ First, the outputting means 6 reads out each signal stored in the storage means 5, that is, the luminance signal and the color signal for the right signal and the left signal, and also reads each of the read out signals. Each field is alternately output to the display means 7, that is, the right signal type is output to the odd numbered field, and the left signal type is outputted to the even numbered field in an interlaced manner.

Note that each signal system output at this time is provided with a time lag so that the right and left images A and B formed during reproduction are placed in the same circular pattern.

(2) In this way, the right image A and the left image B are outputted to the display means 7 and displayed on the screen 7a alternately at minute time intervals, and the shutter means 8 is applied by the viewer who wishes to observe the images. The operation of the left and right shutters 8a, 13b is synchronized with the signals for the odd and even fields outputted to the display means 7 by the synchronization means 9.

Therefore, the observer can perform stereoscopic vision using binocular parallax, and as a result, can see the image on the screen 7a of the display means 7 in three dimensions.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the stereoscopic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, one solid-state image sensor is made to simultaneously read images from two directions, and these images are converted into right and left images by the image signal processing means. A right signal and a left signal corresponding to the object are extracted, subjected to predetermined signal processing, and stored in a storage means to store an image of the observed part of the object to be observed, and during reproduction, the right and left signals are displayed by the successive means. The right and left signals are output independently and separately to the odd field and even field on the screen, and the right and left shutters of the shutter means used by the observer who observes this image are output to the previous odd field. Since it is designed to operate in synchronization with the even field, it is possible to perform stereoscopic vision using binocular parallax, in other words, the captured image can be observed three-dimensionally, making it much easier to read and identify the captured image content. improves.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a stereoscopic endoscope device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the distal end side of the insertion section main body of the stereoscopic endoscope device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the solid-state image sensor shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the solid-state image sensor and the imaging lens of the stereoscopic endoscope device according to the invention; An optical path diagram showing a right image and a left image formed on a solid-state image sensor of a stereoscopic endoscope, FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the positional relationship of the right image and left image in FIG. 5, and FIG. Waveform diagrams showing the waveforms of image signals output from the solid-state imaging device of the stereoscopic endoscope device according to the present invention, FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are waveform diagrams illustrating the right reproduction signal and the left reproduction signal, respectively. , FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an image formed on the screen of the display means, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state when each image shown in FIG. 9 is observed using a shutter means. 1...Control unit. 2...Solid-state image sensor. 3...Image signal processing means. 5...Memory means. 7...Display means. 8...Shutter means. 16a, 16b...imaging lenses. A...Right image. B...Left image.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. One solid-state imaging device provided with a large number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix on the distal end side of the insertion section, and objects to be observed in the right and left regions of this solid-state imaging device. two imaging lenses, right and left, that form images of the body as a right image and a left image corresponding to the right and left eyes of an observer; an image signal processing means for outputting a right signal and a left signal corresponding to the images for display; a storage means for storing the right signal and left signal output from the image signal processing means; In order to allow the viewer to observe the right and left images with the right and left eyes of the viewer, respectively, a shutter means for alternately blocking the field of view of the right eye and the left eye with a shutter, and the operations of the shutter means and the storage means are synchronized. and a control unit that opens the shutter on the right eye side of the observer when the right image is displayed on the screen of the display means and opens the shutter on the left eye side when the left image is displayed on the screen. A stereoscopic endoscope device.