JPH02115981A - Image filing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform either analog recording or digital recording at an operator side in performing inspection by recording an image signal from an image input device by allocating to an analog image filing device or a digital image filing device by a selection means. CONSTITUTION:When a signal representing a communicable state is sent from the image input device 16 to a control part 37, the control part 37 displays the feasibility of recording on, for example, the screen of a TV monitor 18A. A user selects whether the signal should be recorded on the analog image filing device 4A or the digital image filing device 4B by a recording system change- over switch 27 by observing the above display. When the recording on either the analog image filing device 4A or the digital image filing device 4B is completed, the signal representing the completion of the recording is sent to the control part 37, and the control part 37 displays the completion of the recording on the screen of the TV monitor 18A. In such a way, it is possible to easily perform either analog image recording or digital image recording while performing the inspection.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention records an image signal from an image signal generating section in an analog recording type image file device or a digital recording type image file device. Regarding an image file system.

[Prior Art] In recent years, it has become possible to observe organs within a body cavity by inserting an elongated insertion section into a body cavity, and to perform various therapeutic treatments as necessary using a treatment instrument inserted into a treatment instrument channel. Endoscopes (also called scopes or fiberscopes) are widely used.

In addition, various electronic scopes using solid-state imaging devices such as charge-coupled devices (abbreviated as COD) as imaging means are also used. This electronic scope has a higher resolution than a fiber scope, and it is easier to record and play back images.
It has the advantage that image processing such as image enlargement and comparison of two screens can be easily performed.

The endoscopic image visualized by the electronic scope is recorded on an image recording device, and recently there has been a strong desire to select one of the scopes when recording an image on an image recording device with a different recording method.

Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 153957/1983 discloses a technique for recording in either an analog image file device or a digital image file device.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional example described above, when selecting and recording either analog recording or digital recording during an inspection, it was difficult to make the selection at hand.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image file system that has a simple configuration and can select either analog recording or digital recording at hand during an inspection. purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image file system of the present invention includes an image input device such as an endoscope having a signal processing means for performing signal processing on the imaging means and a selection means for selecting a recording device; It has an analog image file device and a digital image file device for recording image signals of the device, and includes a control unit that distributes the image signal from the endoscope device to the analog image file device or the digital image file device by the selection means. It is something.

[Operation] According to the present invention, an image signal sent from an image input device can be distributed to an analog image file device or a digital image file device and recorded by a selection means provided on the image input device side.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of an image file system, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image input means, FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image file controller.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to an endoscope apparatus.

In FIG. 1, an image file system 1 includes an endoscope device 2 as an image signal generating section, an image file controller 3, and an analog image file system ff1 as an image recording section.
4A, and a digital image file device 4B.

The endoscopic device 2 includes an insertion section 7 that is flexible and elongated and inserted toward the observation site 6, and an operation section 8 connected to the rear end of the insertion section 7. The electronic scope 10 has a universal cable 9 extending from the side of the operating section 8.

A connector 11 is provided at the rear end of the universal cable 9.
This connector 11 is connected to a light source device 12 that supplies illumination light to the electronic scope 10. A signal cable 13 extends from the side of this connector 11, and a connector 14 provided at the rear end of this signal cable 13 is connected to an image input device 16. This image input device 16 processes the image signal obtained by the electronic scope 10, generates a standard video signal such as RGB three primary color signals, and displays an endoscopic image via a cable 17 on a TV monitor 18A. It is now possible to observe.

The video signal generated by the image input device 16 is also sent to the image file controller 3 via a cable 19.

The image file controller 3%, cable 21A
is connected to the analog image file device 4A. This image file controller 3 also connects the digital image file device 4B via a cable 21B.
It is connected to the.

The endoscope device 2 will be explained with reference to FIG.

At the distal end of the insertion section 7 of the electronic scope 10, there is provided an output end face of a light guide 22 formed by a fiber bundle that outputs illumination light supplied from the light source device 12 to the observation region 6.

This light guide 22 is inserted through the insertion section 7, the operation section 8, and the universal cable 9, and by connecting the connector 11 to the light source device 12, illumination light is supplied from the light source device 12.

An objective lens 23 is further provided at the distal end of the insertion section 7, and the imaging surface of the C0D 24 as a solid-state image sensor is located at the imaging position of the objective lens 23. This COD 24 contains an electric signal generated as a result of photoelectric conversion of the subject image formed on the image carrier plane, and this C0
Signal line 2 to which the driving signal that drives D24 is transmitted.
6 (one shown) is connected. This signal line 26 reaches the connector 11 via the insertion section 7, the operation section 8, and the universal cable 9, and is further extended from the connector 11 via the signal cable 13 to the connector 14.

The operation section 8 is provided with a recording method changeover switch 27, and a signal line 28 for transmitting the switch state is connected from the recording method changeover switch 27. The signal line 28 extends from the operating section 8 via the universal cable 9 to the connector 11, and is further extended from the connector 11 via the signal cable 13 to the connector 14.

The light source device 12 is provided with a light source lamp 31, and on the optical path connecting the light source lamp 31 and the incident end surface of the light guide 22, there is a collimator lens 32 that converts the illumination light from the light source lamp 31 into parallel light. A rotating filter 33 and a condensing lens 34 that condenses illumination light and irradiates it onto the incident end surface of the light guide 22 are provided.

The rotary filter 33 is disc-shaped and has red (R) color, for example, in the circumferential direction.
), green (G), and blue (B). The illumination light is incident. This rotary filter 33 is connected to the motor 3
5 to supply red, green, and blue color light to the light guide 22 in time series.

By connecting the connector 14 to the image input device 16, the signal line 26 is connected to an image processor 36 provided within the image input device 16. Further, the signal line 28 is connected to a control section 37. The image processing section 36 uses the driving clock as the CCD 2.
4 to drive the C0D 24, and the electrical signal sent from the CCD 24 is converted into an RGB video signal g and output. It also controls the balance of the image signal level R2B signal. Furthermore, patient data, error messages, etc. sent from a control section 37, which will be described later, are superimposed on the RGB video signal. The output of the image processing section 36 is sent to the image memory 3.
8 is sent out. This image memory 38
In response to a control signal from the control section 37, the input RGB video signal is passed through as it is, or is stored and repeatedly output as a still image. The output of the image memory 38 is branched and one side is output to the TV monitor 18Δ, so that the image of the observed region 6 is displayed on the screen. The other one is sent to the image file controller 3.

The control section 37 is, for example, a data input section 3 such as a keyboard.
9 and a communication interface 40.

From the data input section 39, patient data such as the patient name and date of birth to be superimposed on the RGB video signal and control signals such as image recording (release) are inputted by the user's operation. The signal is sent to the processing unit 36 and superimposed on the RGB video signal. Further, control signals including the control signal from the recording method changeover switch 27 are sent to the image memory 38 and the communication interface 40 as described above. This communication interface 40 is, for example, R
It is an interface unit for serial transmission based on the 8-232C standard, and inputs and outputs data and control signals to and from the outside under control from the control unit 37. The communication interface 40 is configured to input and output data and control signals to and from the image file controller 3.

The RG B fi number, data and control signals are sent to the image file controller 3 via the cable 19.

The image file controller 3 will be explained with reference to FIG.

The RGB video signal from the image input device 16 is transmitted to a video signal distribution section 4 provided in the image file controller 3.
1 is entered.

Further, data and control signals are input/output to a first serial port (communication interface) 42 of the R3-232G standard.

The video signal distribution unit 41 distributes the RGB video signals into two systems, and the still image file devices 4A and 4B
sent to.

On the other hand, the first serial port 42 inputs and outputs data and control signals between the CPU 44, the memory section 45, the hard disk control section 46, the second serial port 47, the third serial port 48, and the signal switching control section 49 via the pass line 43. It is now possible to The CPU 44 stores patient data input from the image input device 16 in the hard disk 50 via the hard disk control section 46. Further, the CPLI 44 sends a release signal to the second serial port 47 or the third serial port 48 based on the control signal input to the first serial port 42 . The information is stored in the memory section 45,
When the control signal indicating the end of one examination is input to the first serial port 42, it will be stored in the hard disk 50 together with the patient data.

Further, when a search command from the image input device 16 is input to the first serial port 42, the CPU 44 refers to the data on the hard disk 50 and selects the second serial port 4.
7 or the third serial port 48, and also sends a control signal to the signal switching control section 49. Based on this control signal, the video signal switching section 51 selects the RGB video signals from the analog image file device 4A and the digital image file device 4B and outputs the selected RGB video signals to the TV monitor 18B.

The second serial port 47 inputs and outputs control signals related to the analog autobiographical file device 4A such as the release (A).
9 is a digital image file device 4B for release signals, etc.
It is designed to input and output control signals related to. Note that the pass line 43 is connected to a bus connector 53.

The operation of the image file system 1 configured as described above will be explained.

An image input device 16 is connected to the image file controller 3, and RGB video signals are input from the image input device 16 to the video signal distribution section 41.

On the other hand, in the endoscope N2, the user selects the ID input mode from the data input section 39 before recording an image, and inputs patient data such as the patient's name and date of birth. When the ID input mode is selected, the control unit 37 converts patient data into RGB
The communication interface 40 is connected to the video signal.
Output patient data to. This patient data is transmitted from communication interface 40 to first serial port 42 . The CPU 44 sends a first signal indicating that communication is possible.
It is transmitted from the serial port 42 to the communication interface 40. Further, the CPU 44 stores designated patient data in the hard disk 50 via the bird disk control section 46.

A signal indicating that communication is possible is sent from the communication interface 40 to the control section 37, and the control section 37 displays, for example, on the screen of the TV monitor 18A that recording is possible. The user selects whether to record this on the analog image file device 4A or the digital image file device 48 using the recording method changeover switch 27 of the operation section 8. Thereafter, a release signal is input from the data input section 39. The control unit 37 prohibits writing of new image data to the image memory 38 in order to keep the image still, and repeatedly outputs the same image data. Furthermore, the control unit 37 transmits the recording method selection result and the release signal to the first serial port 42 from the communication interface 40 . When the CPU 44 detects the recording method selection result and release signal sent to the first serial port 42,
Based on the selection result of the recording method, the second serial baud I~4
7 or the third serial port 48, a release signal is transmitted to the corresponding analog image file device 4A or digital image file device 4B, respectively. Information regarding which image file 5A the image is recorded in is temporarily stored in the memory unit 45.

When the analog image file device 4A or the digital image file device 4B finishes recording, a recording end signal is sent to the control unit 37 via the second serial port 47 or the third serial port 48, the first serial port 42, and the communication interface 40. The control unit 37 displays the end of recording on the screen of the TV monitor 18A, for example.

When the above operation is repeated and the end of one test is input to the data input unit 39, a test end signal is input to the first serial port 42 via the control unit 37 and the communication interface 40, and the CPU 44 The image recording destination data temporarily stored in 45 is sent to the hard disk 50 along with the patient data via the hard disk control unit 46.
Stored in.

Further, when an image search and search data are input from the data input unit 39, a search command signal and search data are input to the first serial port 42 via the control unit 37 and the communication interface 40. The CPU 44 refers to the data stored in the hard disk 50 via the hard disk control section 46 according to the command signal and the search data.
A search command is issued to the analog image file device @4A or digital image file device 4B connected to the second serial port 47 or the third serial port 48, respectively.

At the same time, the CPU 44 causes the video signal switching section 51, via the signal switching control section 49, to output a signal from the image file device 4A or /IB from which the searched image is output. This output image signal is displayed on the TV monitor 18B.

In this embodiment, the operation unit 8 includes a recording method selector switch 2.
7 is provided, but it may also be possible to select from the image input device 16.

Further, although RGB signals are used in this embodiment, composite signals such as other component signals and NTSC, PAL, etc. may also be used.

Further, in the first embodiment, the electronic scope 10 is of a field sequential type, but as shown in FIG. 4, an endoscope apparatus 62 using a simultaneous type electronic scope 61 may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4, this electronic scope 61 includes a CCD
A color mosaic filter 63 is attached to the front surface of the image pickup surface 24, and colors are separated into R9G and B for each pixel, for example. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the electronic scope 10 shown in FIG. 2.

In this case, a light source device 64 that outputs white light is used, and in the light source device 2 shown in FIG.
The light is condensed by the condenser lens 34 and irradiated onto the incident end surface of the light guide 22.

Further, in this embodiment, a simultaneous image processing section 36' is used as the image input device 16', and after separating the colors and generating a luminance signal and a color signal, the signals are sent to an inverse matrix circuit (not shown). output as an RGB video signal.

The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the endoscope device 2 in the first embodiment, and the effects are also the same.

Also, in place of the above electronic scope 10.61, Fig. 5(a)
As shown in (b), use a scope 77 or 78 equipped with a TV camera 75 or 76 equipped with a built-in CCD 73 without a color filter or a C0D 73 covering a color filter 74 in the eyepiece 72 of a fiber scope 71. You can also do it.

The above-mentioned fiber scope 71 is connected to the electronic scope 10 by J3.
The incident end surface of the image guide 81 is disposed at the image formation position of the objective lens 23, and the image is transmitted to the copper end surface on the eyepiece section 72 side, and can be observed with the naked eye through the eyepiece lens 82. Further, an imaging lens 83 is disposed on the TV camera 75 or 76 opposite to the eyepiece 82, and an image is formed on the C0D 73.

The TV camera 75 or 76 is provided with a recording method changeover switch 27.

The rest has the same configuration as the electronic scope 10.61 described above, and is given the same reference numeral.

In addition, as the recording method changeover switch 27, from "L"' to L
The present invention is not limited to 'b' or vice versa, but may be such that two signals are output simultaneously or with a delay, so that both analog image recording and digital image recording can be performed.

Note that switching of the recording method and the like may be controlled using a remote control device.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the means for selecting or determining the recording method is installed on the image input means side of the electronic scope, etc., so that it is possible to record analog images and digital images during inspections, etc. You can easily skip recording any of these.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is an overall configuration diagram of an image file system according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an endoscope apparatus, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image file controller, and FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an endoscope device with an external TV camera that can be used in place of an electronic scope. 1... Image file system 2... Endoscope device 3... Image file controller 4A... Analog image file device 4B... Digital image file device 10... Electronic scope 12... Light source device 16...Image input device 18A, 18B...Color monitor 27...Recording method changeover switch 37...Control unit Figure 5 Procedures Official document (self-motivated) 1. Display of incident Patent application filed in 1988 No. 270306 Year 2, Name of the invention Image file system 3, Relationship with the person making the amendment case

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image input device having a signal processing means for performing signal processing on an imaging means and a selection means for selecting a recording device; an analog image file device and a digital image file device for recording image signals of the image input device; and the image input device. 1. An image file system comprising: a control section for distributing image signals from the image file system to an analog image file device, a digital image file device, or both by the selection means.