JPH0364849B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device, and particularly relates to an improvement in an endoscope light source device that sends illuminating light and photographing light accompanied by photographing to an endoscope.

As for endoscope light source devices, one is known that not only sends illuminating light to the endoscope, but also sends photographing light in conjunction with the release operation of the photographing device when the photographing device is used. Most of these light source devices are
You can change the amount of light by adjusting the aperture and use it as a shooting light.
Alternatively, a light source structure has been adopted in which a strobe tube emits light to produce photographic light, and both collation light and photographic light are focused on the end face of the endoscope's light guide and introduced into the endoscope. be. However, the light quantity and brightness of the photographing light is considerably higher than that of the illumination light, and when continuous photographing is performed, there is a problem in that the temperature of the incident end face of the light guide where the light is collected increases rapidly and it may be burnt out.

Therefore, in the past, a filter matched to the collation light or photographing light was installed on the optical path from the light source to the light guide, and the collation light and photographing light passing through the optical path were filtered. Of these, those designed to remove infrared light that causes a rise in temperature are used.

However, a structure in which such a filter is simply installed on the optical path has the following problems.

In other words, there is a considerable difference in the amount and temperature of the light condensed on the end face of the light guide between the collation light and the photographing light due to the difference in purpose. The temperature rise is significant, leaving problems such as burnout of the light guide, and filters tailored to the shooting light will reduce the amount of illumination light, making it impossible to secure the desired bright illumination light. There is a problem.

Therefore, the following endoscope light source device can be considered. Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates an endoscope, and this endoscope 1 is constructed by connecting an insertion section 3 and a light guide cable 4 to an operating section 2 equipped with an eyepiece section 2a. The front end of the insertion section 3 can be visually observed through the operation section 2 and the observation light guide fiber 5 inserted into the insertion section 3. Further, a connector 6 is provided at the tip of the light guide cable 4, and from this connector 6, the light guide fiber 7 for illumination, which is a light guide inserted into the light guide cable 4 and the operating section 2, is used to transmit collation light and photographing light. Insert part 3
The tip can be guided forward. In addition, 7a is a light introduction part. Furthermore, inside the light cable 4, there is a connector 6 from the eyepiece part 2a.
A lead wire 8 for signal transmission is provided over the area.
On the other hand, 9 in the figure is an endoscope camera which is a photographing device, and this endoscope camera 9 outputs an exposure signal to a camera body 9a in conjunction with a photographing unit 10, a release button 11, and a release button 11. The camera has an automatic exposure structure, a so-called EE camera structure, equipped with a control circuit 12 for controlling the camera body 9a. The endoscope camera 9 is detachably attached to the eyepiece 2a of the endoscope 1, and at the same time as the attachment, the endoscope camera 9 is attached to the output terminal 12a of the control circuit 12.
is connected to the input terminal 8a of the lead wire 8.

On the other hand, 14 in the figure is an endoscope light source device. To explain this light source device 14, 15 in the figure is a main body, and this main body 15 has a connector mounting opening 15a.
is provided, and this connector mounting port 15a
A connector 6 of the endoscope 1 is detachably attached to the connector. Further, a condenser lens 16 is provided within the main body 15 so as to be located on the axis of the incident end surface 7b of the illumination light guide fiber 7. Further, a lamp 17 as a light source is provided downstream of the condensing lens 16, so that the light emitted from the lamp 17 can be condensed onto the incident end face of the illumination light guide fiber 7. Further, in front of the condenser lens 16, an aperture blade 19, which is an aperture operating body driven by a solenoid 18, is provided.
On the other hand, 20 in the figure is a control circuit for exposure, and an input terminal 20a of this control circuit 20 is connected to the connector mounting port 1.
5a side, and the lead wire 8 on the connector 6 side
It is detachably connected to the output terminal 8b of. Also,
The output terminal side of the control circuit 20 is an aperture drive circuit 21
connected to the solenoid 18 via
A solenoid 18 is controlled and driven by a signal from a control circuit 12 accompanying the release operation of the endoscope camera 9, so that the aperture leaf 19 can be removed from the optical path 22 and opened. That is, by moving the aperture leaf 19 in conjunction with the release operation of the endoscope camera 9, the luminous flux of the emitted light from the lamp 17, which is normally narrowed down by the aperture leaf 19, is transferred to the incident end face 7b of the illumination light guide fiber 7. When the release button 11 is activated, the optical path 22 is opened for the required time, and the light with increased light intensity and brightness is directed to the incident end face of the illumination light guide fiber 7. The light can be focused on 7b and introduced into the endoscope 1 as photographing light. On the other hand, numeral 23 in the figure represents an infrared opaque member.
This infrared opaque member 23 is composed of a movable infrared cut filter 24, for example. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a rotary plate 25 provided with an infrared cut filter 24 is provided with a solenoid 26 for rotational driving. The infrared cut filter 24 is attached to the side of the optical path 22 between the lamp 17 and the illumination light guide fiber 7, which is the stage before the condenser lens 16. Further, the solenoid 26 is connected to the control circuit 20 via a filter drive circuit 27, and when the release button 11 is activated, the solenoid 26 is driven to move the infrared cut filter 24 onto the optical path 22 and move the infrared cut filter 24 onto the optical path 22. Of the photographic light emitted from the illumination light guide fiber 7, infrared light, which is a cause of temperature rise, which is incident on the end face of the illumination light guide fiber 7 can be blocked. That is, the infrared cut filter 24 enters the optical path 22 during photographing in conjunction with the photographing light emitting operation of the lamp 17, and opens the optical path 22 during other examinations.

Therefore, when performing an endoscopy etc. using the endoscope light source device 14 configured in this way,
The connector 6 of the endoscope 1 equipped with the endoscope camera 9 is inserted into the connector mounting port 15a and fixed. Then, the lamp 17 is turned on. At this time, the aperture blade 19 is stopped at an arbitrary position, and the infrared cut filter 24 is in the optical path 2.
2 It's off the top. In this way, the illumination light is focused on the entrance end surface 7b of the illumination light guide fiber 7, and the illumination light is sent to the front of the distal end of the insertion section 3. In this state, the insertion section 3 of the endoscope 1 is opened. When inserted into a body cavity, collation will be performed.

Furthermore, when photographing is performed during this endoscopic examination, the release button 11 of the endoscope camera 9 is pressed, so-called ON, the lead wire 8 is interrupted from the control circuit 12 and a signal is output to the control circuit 20.
Further, in conjunction with this output signal, a control signal is output to each aperture/filter drive circuit 21, 27. In response to this signal, the aperture blade 19 is moved out of the optical path 22 by the driving of the solenoid 18 and becomes open, and the infrared cut filter 24 is moved onto the optical path 22 by the driving of the solenoid 26. In this manner, the light from the lamp 17 becomes photographing light, and the infrared light of the photographing light is cut out and introduced into the incident end surface 7b of the illumination light guide fiber 7 for exposure. Next, when the release button 11 is turned OFF, the control is performed in the opposite manner to that when the release button 11 is turned ON, returning to the previous state of collimation, and photographing is completed. Here, when shooting, the amount of light that is reduced by the infrared cut filter 24 can be compensated for by extending the exposure time accordingly, and for objects that emit a large amount of light in a short period of time, the correction is almost unnecessary and can be ignored. It is something.

Therefore, during photographing, the infrared cut filter 24 that matches the photographing light blocks the infrared light, thereby preventing a temperature rise at the incident end surface 7b of the illumination light guide fiber 7, thereby preventing burnout of the illumination light guide fiber 7. can do. Moreover, since the infrared cut filter 24 moves out of the optical path 22 and opens the optical path 22 during collation, the amount of collation light does not decrease, and the bright collation light necessary for collation can be secured.

However, according to the above configuration, the aperture 1
Since the solenoid 18 that controls and drives the light source 9 and the solenoid 26 that rotationally drives the rotating plate 25 provided with the infrared opaque member 23 are provided separately, the endoscope light source device itself becomes large. will occur.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a structure in which an infrared opaque member enters the optical path from the light source to the end surface of the light guide in conjunction with the shooting light emission operation of the light source. To prevent a decrease in the amount of illumination light and ensure bright illumination light, to prevent a light guide from being burned out by photographing light, and to prevent an endoscope light source device from becoming larger. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope light source device that can perform the following functions. Hereinafter, this invention will be explained based on FIG. 3. In the device shown in FIG. 3, an infrared cut filter 24 is integrally provided on the upper part of the aperture blade 19 via a frame 24a, and the solenoid 18 is operated within the range of the aperture during collation, and the release button is pressed during photography. 11, an infrared cut filter 24 is caused to enter onto the optical path 22. Note that 30 is a shutter blade provided in the front stage of the lamp 17, and 31 is a solenoid that drives the shutter blade 31.

With this configuration, the aperture solenoid 1 does not require the drive circuit 27 and the solenoid 26.
With a simple structure using 8, it is possible to ensure bright illumination light without a decrease in light intensity, and it is also possible to prevent the illumination light guide fiber 7 from being burnt out by photographing light. Note that the same effect can be achieved even if the infrared cut filter 24 is provided below the aperture blade 19.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the present invention was applied to a light source device that adopted one light source, but any light source or solenoid may be used in combination. Any material that can quickly enter the optical path in conjunction with the light emitting operation may be used. Further, in the above embodiment, an infrared cut filter is used as the infrared opaque member, but the present invention is not limited to this, and members that do not transmit infrared light such as an infrared reflection filter or an infrared absorption filter may be used.

As explained above, this invention allows the illuminating light to be introduced into the endoscope without any resistance during collimation, and also allows the collimating light to be introduced into the endoscope without any resistance. Photographing light from which external light has been removed is introduced into the endoscope.

Therefore, during collimation, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the light intensity of the collimation light and to ensure bright collation light, and when photographing, it is possible to prevent the incident end face of the light guide from being burned out by the photographing light. be. Furthermore, since the infrared opaque member is provided integrally with the aperture operating body, the driving means can be shared, and it is possible to prevent the endoscope light source device from increasing in size.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a light source device invented before this invention together with an endoscope and a photographing device, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure around the infrared opaque member, and Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the structure of the light source device devised before this invention. It is a perspective view showing one example. 1...Endoscope, 7b...Incidence end surface, 7...Light guide fiber for illumination (light guide), 9
... Endoscope camera (photographing device), 14 ... Light source device, 17 ... Lamp (light source), 19 ... Aperture blade (aperture operating body), 20 ... Control circuit, 22 ...
Optical path, 23...Infrared opaque member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an endoscope light source device that focuses a light beam on an incident end surface of a light guide of an endoscope and introduces photographing light into the endoscope in conjunction with the release operation of the collimation light and photographing device, the photographing device described above a control means that outputs a control signal in conjunction with the release operation of the light source; an aperture operating body that normally narrows down the light from the light source and opens the light in response to a control signal from the control means; provided integrally with the aperture operating body; Usually located on the side of the optical path from the light source to the light guide, the infrared rays block out the infrared light of the photographing light that enters the optical path and enters the incident end surface of the light guide in response to a control signal from the control means. An endoscope light source device comprising: an opaque member.