JPH0325761B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a strobe light source device for an endoscope. A conventional endoscope is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, 1 is an endoscope, 2 is a tip part, 3 is a curved part, 4 is a flexible part, 5 is an operation part, 6 is an image guide, 7 is a light guide, 8 is a light source device,
Observation is made by looking through a viewfinder provided on the operating section 5. Further, the light source device 8 includes a continuous light source 8a such as a lamp, a pulsed light source 8b such as a strobe, and a movable mirror 8c, as shown in FIG. The light is reflected by the movable mirror 8c and enters the ride guide 7, but when the strobe light emission switch is turned on, the movable mirror 8c first moves to the dotted line position, and then the pulse light source 8b emits light, and the light is emitted from the incident end of the light guide 7. However, after the light emission ends, the movable mirror 8c returns to the solid line position, and the light from the continuous light source 8a enters the light guide 7 again. According to the light source device 8 configured in this way, a continuous light source is normally used and a pulsed light source can be used only when necessary, and the pulsed light source usually has a light emission time of 1.
ms, and very clear still image characteristics can be obtained. However, the finder of the endoscope
You can attach a TV camera head or solid-state image sensor to the TV.
When using a system to immediately record, playback, and transmit images observed by an endoscope, or for simultaneous monitoring by multiple people, or when using an endoscope equipped with a solid-state image sensor and an electronic finder, the image sensor The light emission timing of the pulsed light source is limited due to image reading, and if it deviates from this limit, unevenness in the amount of light will occur on the screen. Furthermore, images observed by an endoscope using a continuous light source are not as clear as images observed using a pulsed light source, and there is a drawback that sometimes blurring occurs in relation to a moving object.

In view of the above points, the present invention aims to provide a strobe light source device for an endoscope that can continuously obtain clear images. Then, in FIG. 3, 10 is a synchronization circuit of a TV system or electronic finder (not shown), and 11 is a vertical synchronization signal (in the case of non-interlace) of the synchronization circuit 10 or its frequency divided by a 1/2 frequency divider circuit 12. A control circuit 14 outputs a pulse signal to cause the power supply circuit 13 to operate in pulses when an object (in the case of interlace) is input. A strobe light source 14 is to be turned on by the power supply circuit 13.

Since the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the vertical synchronizing signal outputted from the synchronizing circuit 10 is shown in FIG. 4A, and the output of the 1/2 frequency divider circuit 12 is shown in FIG. 4B. Therefore, in the case of non-interlace, the strobe light source 14 emits light as shown in FIG. 4C, and in the case of interlace, it emits light as shown in FIG. 4D, and the timing of the light emission is synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal in both cases. This is done once for each frame of the TV system or electronic finder screen.

As described above, according to the present invention, the used
Since the strobe light source is emitted every frame in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal of the TV system or electronic viewfinder, the same image can be obtained on the TV monitor or electronic viewfinder as when a continuous light source is used. Since the pulse width of the strobe light source's light emission is 1 ms or less, it is possible to obtain clear images with still image characteristics equivalent to those shot at shutter speeds shorter than 1/1000 seconds. Furthermore, if an optical viewfinder is also used, it is possible to prevent glare from the strobe light source by installing an appropriate dimming means in the optical system. Observations can be made.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional endoscope, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional endoscope light source device, and FIG. 3 is an implementation of an endoscope strobe light source device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example, and a time chart showing the operation of the device of FIG. 3. 10...Synchronization circuit, 11...Control circuit, 12...
...1/2 frequency divider circuit, 13...power supply circuit, 14...stroboscopic light source.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A control circuit that outputs a pulse signal in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal of the TV system or electronic finder used, and a power supply circuit that operates in pulses only when the pulse signal from the control circuit is input.
A strobe light source device for an endoscope, comprising a strobe light source that is caused to emit light by the operation of the power supply circuit, and is configured to cause the strobe light source to emit light for each frame of a screen.