JPH02140132A - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply a white light when a simultaneous type television camera is used and to supply a surface successive light when a surface successive television camera is used by a same light source device by providing an illuminating light switching means to automatically switch an illuminating light corresponding to the image pickup system of the external TV camera. CONSTITUTION:When a surface successive external TV camera 40 is connected to a fiberscope 20, it is identified by a detecting circuit 17 that the image pickup system is the surface successive system. Then, an identifying signal is supplied from this detecting circuit 17 to a filter moving device 15. After that, the filter moving device 15 inserts a rotary filter 13 into an illumination optical path. On the other hand, when the external TV camera 40 uses the simultaneous image pickup means, it is detected by the detecting circuit 17 that the image pickup system is the simultaneous system. Then, the identifying signal to identify the simultaneous system is impressed to the filter moving device 15 and the filter moving device 15 removes the rotary filter 13 from the illumination optical path. Accordingly, the white light is outputted from the light source part. A signal line to supply the signal from this external TV camera 40 to a signal processing means is inserted into the fiberscope 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention provides a means for automatically switching the method of illumination light supplied to a C-endoscope depending on the type of external TV camera, and This relates to an endoscope system in which the signal line from the endoscope is passed through the inside of the endoscope.

[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, treatment instruments have been developed that can be used to observe internal organs, etc. in body cavities by inserting an elongated insertion portion into body cavities, and to insert treatment instruments into treatment instrument channels as necessary. BACKGROUND ART Endoscopes (also called scopes or fiberscopes) that can perform various therapeutic procedures are widely used.

By the way, conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-243625, an external endoscope equipped with a solid-state image sensor is equipped with a television camera attached to the eyepiece of the fiberscope. The observed image is converted into a II image and displayed on a monitor via an image processing means.

The solid-state image sensing device has a color image sensing method that uses a field sequential method in which the illumination light is sequentially switched to R (red), G (green), B (blue), etc., and a field sequential method in which the illumination light is sequentially switched to R (red), G (green), B (blue), etc., and There is a color mosaic type (referred to as simultaneous type) in which a filter array is provided in which color filters that transmit colored light are arranged in a mosaic shape or the like.

The field sequential method has the advantage that the number of pixels can be reduced compared to the color mosaic method, while the color mosaic method has the advantage of not causing color shift.

Incidentally, the illumination method is different when an image is taken using a television camera for a frame-sequential type external installation and when an image is taken using a television camera for a color mosaic type external installation. That is,
The external color mosaic type requires white light when using a TV camera, and the external color mosaic type requires white light when using a TV camera. Sequential light is required. However, conventional light source devices
It can only output illumination light that corresponds to either white light or frame-sequential light, so the user must prepare a different light source device depending on the type of external TV camera and perform various operations. However, the flowability and efficiency were poor.

An example of prior art for IC that solves this problem is the patent application filed in 1983.
It has been proposed by the applicant in the specification of No.-60209. This prior art example detects the imaging method of a TV camera and then supplies illumination light that is compatible with the imaging method.

However, in this prior art example, the signal line that transmits the signal from the external TV camera runs outside the 7-iba soup, so line 45 gets in the way of operation, resulting in poor operability.

[Purpose of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and uses the same light source device to emit white light when using a simultaneous TV camera, and to emit white light when using a sequential TV camera. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope system which can supply light in a field-sequential manner and whose operability is not impaired by a signal line from an external TV camera.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The endoscope system according to the present invention includes an optical endoscope, an external TV camera that can be detachably attached to the optical endoscope, and the external TV camera. An endoscope system comprising a signal processing means for processing signals from a camera, and a light source capable of outputting field sequential light and white light to the optical endoscope,
a detection means for detecting the imaging method of the external T-camera; and a detection means for detecting the imaging method of the TV camera;
illumination light switching means for automatically switching the illumination light emitted from the light source device according to the 411 method, and a signal line for transmitting signals from the external TV camera to the signal processing means by the optical type It is inserted through the inside of an endoscope.

[In other words, according to the present invention, white light is emitted from the light source when the external TV camera has a simultaneous imaging system, and frame sequential light is emitted from the external TV camera when it is an image-sequential imaging system. At the same time, a signal from the external TV camera to the signal processing means is transmitted by a signal line inserted through the inside of the optical endoscope.

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

1 to 6 relate to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the entire endoscope system, Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a simultaneous external TV camera, and Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the discrimination signal generation circuit in the external TV camera. , FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a field-sequential signal processing circuit, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a simultaneous signal processing circuit, and FIG. 6 shows the filter moving device of the light source section. It is a congratulatory map.

As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system of this embodiment includes a control device 10, a fiber scope 20, an external TV camera 40, and a monitor 50.

The control device 10 includes an illumination lamp 11, a condenser lens 12 that condenses light emitted from the lens onto a light guide 21 inserted through a fiber scope, and the illumination lamp 11 and the condenser lens 12. A rotary filter 3 interposed between the rotary filter 3, a motor 4 for rotating the rotary filter 3, and an external T
Depending on the driving method of the camera, the filter moving device 15 may be inserted into the illumination optical path or removed from the illumination optical path.
It is equipped with a light source section composed of.

Further, a detection circuit 17 detects a signal for determining the imaging method supplied from the external camera and supplies it to the filter moving device 15, and a signal is received from a CCD 43 provided in the external TV camera. Also provided are a COD driver 18 that controls the read timing, and a signal processing circuit 19 that processes image signals supplied from the external TV camera and displays them on the monitor 50.

On the other hand, the immersion scope 20 has an elongated insertion section 2.
6, a large-diameter operating section 27 connected to the rear of the insertion section 26, and a universal cable 28 extending from the side of the operating section 27. A line 1 to a guide 21 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 26 and the universal cable 28, and a connector (not shown) provided at the tip of the universal cable is inserted into the control device 10. By connecting to the light source section, the light source lamp 11 is attached to the incident end surface of the light guide 21.
The light emitted from the lens is condensed onto the condenser lens 12. Soshi-C1 this light guide 2
1 transmits the illumination light to the output end face on the distal end side of the insertion section 26 and outputs it to the object side via the light distribution lens 22. The object illuminated by this illumination light is imaged by the objective lens 23 on the incident end surface of the image guide 24 inserted through the insertion section 26 . The output end surface of the image guide 24 is arranged to face an imaging lens 41 in an external TV camera 40 that is detachably attached to an eyepiece provided on the rear end side of the operation section 27. If the external TV camera uses a frame-sequential imaging method, the optical image transmitted by the imaging lens 41 is converted into a CG[]430II.
The image is formed on image plane A.

The image formed on the CCD 43 is
It is designed to be photoelectrically converted to CD43.

The photoelectrically converted signal is transmitted to the connector 48 via the buffer 44, and by connecting this connector 48 and the connector 31 of the fiberscope, the signal line 32
4 [to be conveyed to. This signal line 32 is
By inserting the universal cable into the fiber scope 20 and connecting the connector 33 of the fiber scope 20 and the connector 16 of the control device 10, the control device 1
It is designed to be connected to the signal processing circuit 19 in 0.

The TV camera 40 has the control device 10.
A drive circuit 45 receives a drive signal from the COD drive circuit 18 inside and drives the CCD 33, and a determination circuit 4 determines the drive method of the TV camera 40.
7 has also been installed. These circuits are connected to the COD driver 8 and the detection circuit 17 through the connector 48.31, the signal line 32, and the connector 33.16, respectively.

The discrimination circuit 147 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In the example shown here, the field-sequential external ()
In the case of a TV camera, short-circuit pins 471 and 472 as shown in Figure 3<8), and connect a simultaneous external T.
In the case of a V camera, pin 47 is used as shown in Figure 3(b).
By creating a configuration in which the space between the pin 1 and the pin 472 is open, the imaging method can be determined.

By the way, if the external TV camera 40 is equipped with a simultaneous imaging means, as shown in FIG.
A color filter array 42 is provided in front of the CCD 43, in which color filters that transmit color light such as R, G, and B are arranged in a mosaic pattern or the like. The color filter array 42 separates the color into three colors, C, GD.
After being imaged on 43 and subjected to photoelectric conversion, it is supplied to the signal processing circuit 19 as an electric signal through each of the connectors and each of the signal lines, as in the case of a frame-sequential external TV camera. It looks like this.

When the detection circuit 17 detects that the imaging method of the TV camera 40 is a frame sequential method, the rotating filter 13 is illuminated as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. When the detection circuit 17 detects that the external TV camera is of the simultaneous type, the rotating filter 13 is inserted into the optical path, as shown by the solid line in FIG. The filter moving device 15 is controlled to remove the filter from the illumination optical path.

The filter moving device 15 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

That is, the plate-shaped mounting of the rotary filter 13 and the E-mount 14 that rotationally drives the rotary filter 13 is carried out using the bracket 81.
It is removed (=j), and this installation is done using bracket 81.
A flange portion 82 bent in the horizontal direction is formed at the bottom of the flange portion 82 . A light source device 3 is provided below this flange portion 82.
Two rails 92.92 fixed to the housing side are provided in parallel, and a slide portion 83 is formed at the bottom of the flange portion 82 to sandwich the rails 92.92 from left and right. ing. And this slide part 8
3 is slidably fitted into the rails 92, 92, so that the rotary filter 13 and motor 14 can be moved.

Furthermore, a rack gear 85 is mounted on the lamp 11 side surface of the bracket 81 along the moving direction of the rotary filter 13. A gear 87 rotated by a motor 86 is meshed with the rack gear 85.

Incidentally, the motor 86 is fixed to the housing side of the light source section by a bracket 88. Then, the motor 8
The worm gear 87 rotates the worm gear 6 in forward and reverse directions.
and the rotary filter 13 via the rack gear 85.
can be moved. The motor 86 is controlled by a control circuit (not shown).

In addition, flat prismatic switch pressing portions 90a and 90b are protruded from the upper surface of both ends of the flange portion 83 of the bracket 82 in the moving direction. Position change detection microswitches 91a, 91b are disposed at both ends of the switch pressing portions 90a, 90b at positions pressed by the switch pressing portions 90a, 90b. I don't want to be oppressed.
When it is detected that the rotary filter 13 has reached the end of its moving range, the rotation of the motor 86 is stopped and the rotary filter 1
The movement range of 3 is restricted. In the example shown in FIG. 6, when the switch suppressor 90a presses the microswitch 91a, the white light from the lamp 11 passes through the rotating filter 13 and reaches the incident end of the light guide 21 as field sequential illumination light. It is designed to cover the incident light,
On the other hand, the switch pressing portion 90b is the microswitch 91b.
When pressed, white light from the lamp 11 enters the light guide 241 without passing through the rotating filter 13.

By the way, the signal processing circuit 19 is composed of a frame sequential signal processing circuit 19A and a simultaneous signal processing circuit 19B, and is switched depending on the imaging method identification signal output from the detection circuit 17. It looks like this.

The frame-sequential signal processing circuit 19A has a configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 4.

That is, the output signal from the COD 43 input via the buffer 44 is sampled and held by the sample/hold circuit 61, then r-corrected by the 1 correction circuit 62, and further converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 63. is converted to Then, signals captured under RGB frame sequential light through a multiplexer 64 which is switched under the control of a timing generator (not shown) are stored in an R frame memory 66R and a G frame memory 66G.

Each is written to the B frame memory 66B. And each of these frame memories 66R
, 66G, and 66B are simultaneously read out, converted into analog color signals RGB by a D/A converter 67, and outputted, and further processed by an NTSC encoder (not shown) or the like. Monitor 5
The image is displayed at 0.

Further, the simultaneous signal processing circuit 19B has a configuration as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

That is, the output signal from the C0D 43 supplied via the buffer 44 is input to the luminance signal processing circuit 70, and the luminance signal Y is generated by the luminance signal processing circuit 70.

Further, the output signal of the C0D 43 is transmitted to the color signal reproducing circuit 71.
The color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are generated in time series for each horizontal line. This color difference No. 15 RY, B-
Y is subjected to white balance compensation by a white balance circuit 72, and one side is directly input to an analog switch 73, and the other side is extended over one horizontal line by a 1H delay line 714 and input to an analog switch 75. and from the analog switches 73 and 75, which are switched according to the switching signal from the timing generator.
Color difference signals RY and BY are obtained. These color difference signals are further subjected to signal processing by an NDC encoder (not shown), and an image is displayed on the monitor 50.

Next, the actual operation of this embodiment configured as above will be described.

FyPass”-120 with frame sequential external TV camera 4
0 is connected, the connector 48 . ] Connector 31° The detection circuit 17 identifies through the signal line 32, the connector 33, and the connector 16 that the imaging method is the frame-sequential type, and the detection circuit 17
An identification signal is supplied to the filter moving device 15 from the filter moving device 15 .

Then, this filter moving device @15 inserts the rotating filter 13 into the illumination optical path, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.

Therefore, the white light emitted from the lamp 11 of the light source section passes through the rotary filter 13, becomes field-sequential light that is sequentially switched to RG 13, etc., is condensed by the condenser lens 12, and is sent to the fiber. The light enters the incident end of the light guide 21 of the scope 20. This illumination light is guided to the tip 26 by the light guide 24 and is irradiated onto the subject via the light distribution lens 22.

Of this field-sequential illumination light, the light reflected from the subject is imaged by the objective lens system 23 on the distal end surface of the image guide 24, guided by the image guide 24 to the eyepiece 25, and then further Attached television camera 40
An image is formed on the CCD 43 by the imaging lens 41 . The CCD 43 is read out via the drive circuit 45 under the control of the CCD driver 18, and the read signal is as follows.
Frame-sequential signal processing is performed by the frame-sequential signal processing circuit 19A and the like, and the signal is sent as a video signal to the television monitor 50, where the subject image is observed.

On the other hand, when the external TV camera 40 uses a simultaneous type imaging means, the detection circuit 17 detects that the imaging method is the simultaneous type in the same manner as in the case of the frame sequential type described above, and A signal identifying the first filter is applied to the filter moving device 15 and the filter moving device 15
As shown by the solid line in the figure, the rotating filter 13 is removed from the illumination optical path.

Therefore, white light is output from the light source section, and the subject is irradiated with this white light. Of this white illumination light, the light reflected from the subject is imaged by the objective lens 23 on the distal end surface of the image guide 24.
4 to the eyepiece lens 25, and further, an image is formed on the CCD 43 by the imaging lens 341 of the simultaneous TV camera 40.

The CCD 43 is read out via the drive circuit 45 under the control of the CCD driver 18, and the read signal is subjected to simultaneous signal processing by the simultaneous signal processing circuit 19B etc., and is output as a video signal to the television. The image is sent to the monitor 50, and the subject image is observed on this television monitor 50.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, by inserting and removing the rotating filter 13 from the illumination optical path of the lamp 11, it is possible to output both field sequential light and white light. Moreover, the external TV camera 40 detects this operation by the detection circuit 17.
This is done automatically after detecting the imaging method of the camera, so there is no need for the operator to switch the light source depending on the external number of the TV camera.

In addition, since the signal line that supplies signals from the TV camera 40 to the signal processing means is inserted through the fiber scope 1-b 20, the operability of the endoscope system is improved. It cannot be damaged.

Note that the light source section and the detection circuit 17. Said COD driver 18. The signal processing circuit 19 is not limited to a one-shaped one as in this embodiment, but may be a separate one.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to this embodiment, there is a means for determining the type of external TV camera connected to the endoscope, and a means for determining the type of light source based on the determination signal from this determination means. Since a means for automatically switching is installed, the type of external camera (1V) connected to the endoscope is determined and the external camera is connected to the endoscope (1-V).
Since illumination light that matches the camera is supplied, flow efficiency and efficiency are improved. Furthermore, since the signal line from the external TV camera is passed through the inside of the fiberscope, the operability of the endoscope system is not impaired by this signal line.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 6 relate to one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing the entire endoscope system, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a simultaneous external TV camera, and Fig. 3 is an explanation showing the discrimination signal generation circuit in the external TV camera. Figure 4 shows the block diagram [1] showing the configuration of a field-sequential signal processing circuit.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a simultaneous signal processing circuit, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the filter moving device of the light source section. 10... Control device 15... Filter moving device 17... Detection circuit 20... Fiber cable 32... Signal line 40... External TV, IJ camera 47... Discrimination circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] an optical endoscope; an external TV camera that can be detachably attached to the optical endoscope; a signal processing means for processing signals from the external TV camera; In an endoscope system equipped with a light source capable of outputting frame-sequential light and white light, there is provided a detection means for detecting an imaging method of the external TV camera, and an imaging method of the TV camera detected by the detection means. an illumination light switching means for automatically switching the illumination light emitted from the light source device according to the above, and a signal line for transmitting a signal from the external TV camera to the signal processing means of the optical endoscope. An endoscope system characterized by being inserted through the inside.