JPH06109981A - Light source device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately recognize the exchange time of a lamp and to improve workability even though work of viewing a life meter is not performed every time an endoscope is used. CONSTITUTION:A lamp controller transmits an energizing signal of ON to a light quantity control processor 11 as soon as power is supplied to a light source lamp 6. In the case a light quantity does not attain a specified value even when specified time elapses after the processor 11 receives the signal of ON, a signal showing that the lamp must be exchanged is transmitted to an image processor 12. The processor 12 outputs an image signal displaying the character meaning 'exchanging a lamp' to a monitor 13. Thus, the character meaning 'exchanging a lamp' is displayed on the monitor 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for detecting the life of a light source used in an endoscope.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope, light generated by a light source provided in a main body is guided to a scope by a light transmission means such as an optical fiber (hereinafter referred to as a light guide), and irradiation is provided near the tip of the scope. It illuminates the inside of the body cavity by irradiating it through the window.

As a light source for an endoscope, a high brightness is required, so that a xenon lamp or a halogen lamp is mainly used. However, when these light source lamps are used for a long time, the brightness is deteriorated and the brightness is lowered. The amount of light cannot be supplied to the scope.

Conventionally, as a means for measuring the life of the light source lamp, there is known a technique of notifying the life of the lamp by using a life meter. The life meter integrates and displays the time when the light source lamp is energized, and the lamp was replaced when the time displayed on the life meter exceeded the average life of the light source lamp.

In the conventional endoscope light source device, a technique using an infrared filter is known as a technique for preventing heat generation of a light guide or the like. This technique removes the infrared rays, which are the main cause of heat generation, from the light generated by the light source lamp and sends the infrared rays to the light guide. Specifically, the light emitted from the light source lamp is sent to the diaphragm and the condenser lens after passing through the infrared cut filter, and the light converged by the condenser lens is sent to the scope by the light guide.

[0006]

However, since the characteristics and lifespans of the light source lamps are different from each other and the average lifespan of the light source lamps does not mean the lifespan of each individual light source lamp, the lifespan of the lamp can be determined by a life meter. According to the method, the replacement time of the light source lamp was not appropriate. Generally, the average life of the light source lamp is set to be short with some allowance, so that the light source lamp is often replaced earlier than the actual life, which is uneconomical. Also, if the actual life of the light source lamp is shorter than the average life, the diagnosis will be performed in a state where the light amount of the light source lamp is reduced,
There is a problem that the quality of the obtained image deteriorates.

Further, the life meter is attached near the connector for connecting the light guide of the main body and the scope provided on the front surface of the main body, and the life meter itself is relatively small. There was a problem that the value on the meter was difficult to read.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a light guide for guiding light for a light source to an endoscope, a light source for generating the light, the light source and the light source. An infrared cut filter that is provided between the light entrance of the light guide and mainly reflects an infrared component of the light component generated by the light source and transmits other light components,
A photoelectric conversion element that converts the intensity of light reflected by the infrared cut filter into an electric signal, and a comparative detection that outputs a signal notifying the replacement time of the lamp when the electric signal is larger or smaller than a predetermined value. Provided is a light source device for an endoscope including a means.

[0009]

The light generated by the light source is sent to the light entrance port of the light guide after passing through the infrared cut filter. The light component reflected by the infrared cut filter is sent to the photoelectric conversion element to be converted into an electric signal, this electric signal is sent to the comparison detection means, and when this electric signal becomes larger or smaller than a predetermined value. Outputs a signal notifying when to replace the lamp.

[0010]

1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

The scope 1 comprises an insertion portion to be inserted into the body cavity and a grasping portion for grasping the scope. An irradiation window for illuminating the inside of the body cavity and an image pickup device for photographing the inside of the body cavity are provided near the tip of the insertion portion. It is provided. Light guide 2
Is an optical transmission means such as an optical fiber. Connector 3
Is for connecting the light guide 2 to the main body 15.
The signal line 4 is for transmitting an image signal. The connector 5 connects the signal line 4 to the main body 15. The light source lamp 6 emits light, and the emitted light is configured to irradiate the infrared cut filter 7. The infrared cut filter 7 is made of a material that reflects infrared light and is transparent to other light components, and is arranged obliquely with respect to the direction of light emitted from the light source lamp 6. The diaphragm 8 adjusts the amount of light by changing the area through which light passes. The condenser lens 9 is for converging light, and is arranged so that the light passing through the diaphragm 8 is converged on the cut surface 2a of the light cable. The photoelectric conversion device 10 is a device that converts the intensity of light into the intensity of an electric signal, and is arranged so as to be able to receive the light reflected by the infrared cut filter 7. The light amount management processor 11 is a comparison device that detects that the input signal has become equal to or lower than a predetermined reference value. The image processing device 12 synthesizes a graphic with an image signal. The monitor 13 is for displaying an image. The lamp control device 14 supplies power for turning on the light source lamp 6 and at the same time supplies the light source lamp 6 with light.
A signal (hereinafter, referred to as an energization signal) indicating whether or not energization is performed is output. The operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

The lamp control unit 14 sends a power-on signal to the light quantity management processor 11 at the same time when power is supplied to the light source lamp 6. When receiving the ON energization signal from the lamp control device 14, the light quantity management processor 11 sends a signal indicating that the preparation is in progress to the image processing device 12. When the image processing apparatus 12 receives the signal indicating that the lamp is being prepared, the image processing apparatus 12 sends the monitor 13 an image signal for displaying the characters “lamp is preparing”. As a result, the letters "lamp ready" are displayed on the monitor 13. Note that, at this time, the character "lamp ready" may be displayed in an overlapping manner with the image captured by the scope 1.

The photoelectric conversion element 10 converts the light quantity of the reflected light into an electric signal by the infrared cut filter 7 and sends it to the light quantity management processor 11. Light quantity management processor 11
Sends a signal indicating that it is usable to the image processing device 12 when the electric signal sent from the photoelectric conversion element 10 becomes larger than a predetermined value. When the image processing device 12 receives the image signal indicating that it is usable, the image processing device 12 stops outputting the “lamp ready” image signal and outputs the image signal sent through the signal line 4 to the monitor 13. . As a result, the image captured by the image sensor provided in the scope 1 is displayed on the monitor 13.

If the light amount management processor 11 does not reach the predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the ON signal, a signal indicating that it is time to replace the lamp is displayed. It is sent to the processing device 12. At this time, the image processing device 12 outputs to the monitor 13 an image signal displaying the characters “lamp replacement”. This allows monitor 1
At 3, the letters "lamp replacement" are displayed. At this time, the words "replace lamp" mean Scope 1
It may be displayed so as to be superimposed on the image taken in.

With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately know the replacement time of the light source lamp 6 due to the decrease in the amount of light, so that the light source lamp 6 can be fully used until its life, which is economical. In the present invention, the light amount of the light source lamp 6 is measured by using the light reflected by the infrared filter 7, which has been conventionally discarded, so that the light amount of the light sent to the light guide 2 for measuring the light amount is reduced. There is no efficiency. Next, a second embodiment relating to the present invention will be described.

The second embodiment is a method for keeping the light quantity of the light source lamp constant. 2 is a block diagram of the second embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which the comparison result in the light quantity management processor of the configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 is sent to the lamp control device. Below, the second related to the present invention
The operation of this embodiment will be described. The description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

The lamp control device 17 sends an ON energization signal to the light quantity management processor 16 at the same time when the power source is supplied to the light source lamp 6. When receiving the ON energization signal from the lamp control device 17, the light quantity management processor 16 sends a signal indicating that preparation is in progress to the image processing device 12. When the image processing apparatus 12 receives the signal indicating that the lamp is being prepared, the image processing apparatus 12 sends the monitor 13 an image signal for displaying the characters “lamp is preparing”. As a result, the letters "lamp ready" are displayed on the monitor 13.

The photoelectric conversion element 10 converts the light quantity of the reflected light into an electric signal by the infrared cut filter 7 and sends it to the light quantity management processor 16. Light quantity management processor 16
Sends a signal indicating that it is usable to the image processing device 12 when the electric signal sent from the photoelectric conversion element 10 becomes larger than a predetermined value. When the image processing device 12 receives the image signal indicating that it is usable, the image processing device 12 stops outputting the “lamp ready” image signal and outputs the image signal sent through the signal line 4 to the monitor 13. . As a result, the image captured by the image sensor provided in the scope 1 is displayed on the monitor 13.

When the light amount management processor 16 does not reach the predetermined value even after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the ON signal, the image processing apparatus sends a signal notifying that it is time to replace the lamp. Send to 12. At this time, the image processing device 12 outputs to the monitor 13 an image signal displaying the characters “lamp replacement”. As a result, the letters "lamp replacement" are displayed on the monitor 13. Note that, at this time, the character "lamp replacement" may be displayed by being superimposed on the image captured by the scope 1.

At the same time, the light quantity management processor 16 compares the electric signal sent from the photoelectric conversion device 10 with a preset predetermined value, and sends the comparison result to the lamp control device 17. The lamp control device 17 adjusts the power supplied to the light source lamp 6 based on the comparison result sent. The light quantity of the light source lamp 6 is the light quantity management processor 16
If the value is larger than the value set in, the signal indicating that the light amount is large is sent to the lamp control device 17. The lamp control device 17 reduces the power supplied to the light source lamp 6 when receiving the signal indicating that the light amount is large. On the contrary, when the light quantity of the light source lamp 6 is smaller than the value set in the light quantity management processor 16, a signal indicating that the light quantity is small is sent to the lamp control device 17. Lamp control device 1
When receiving a signal indicating that the amount of light is small, 7 increases the power supplied within the range where the rated power of the light source lamp 6 is not exceeded.

With such a structure, the amount of light generated by the light source lamp 6 can be kept constant, and the generation of more light than necessary can be prevented. As a result, the power consumption of the light source lamp 6 can be reduced and the heat generation of the device can be suppressed. It is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways.

For example, instead of displaying "LAMP REPLACEMENT" on the monitor 13, a display lamp for informing the life of the lamp may be provided, or a buzzer or the like may generate a sound to notify the lamp replacement time.

[0023]

As a result, it is possible to accurately know when to replace the lamp, and the lamp can be used up to the end of its life. In addition, by notifying the replacement time of the lamp by a monitor, a replacement display lamp, a sound, or the like, the workability is improved without performing the work of looking at the life meter each time the endoscope is used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scope 2 Light Guide 2a Cut Surface 3 Signal Line 4, 5 Connector 6 Light Source Lamp 7 Infrared Cut Filter 8 Aperture 9 Condenser Lens 10 Photoelectric Conversion Device 11, 16 Light Quantity Management Processor 12 Image Processing Device 13 Monitor 14, 17 Lamp Control Device 15 body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A light guide for guiding light for a light source to an endoscope, a light source for generating light, and a light source provided between the light source and a light incident port of the light guide. An infrared cut filter that mainly reflects infrared components of the generated light components and transmits other light components,
A photoelectric conversion element that converts the intensity of light reflected by the infrared cut filter into an electric signal, and a comparative detection that outputs a signal notifying the replacement time of the lamp when the electric signal is larger or smaller than a predetermined value. A light source device for an endoscope provided with a means. 2. The light source device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the light amount of the light source lamp is adjusted by an electric signal output from the photoelectric conversion element. 3. The light source device for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein a display for notifying the replacement time of the lamp is displayed on a monitor displaying an image photographed by the endoscope.