JPH07194598A - Ultrasonic diagnostic system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust image quality of a master image and/or a slave image of a master-slave image with simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:Brightness and color signals of a master image screen and a slave image screen selected by a signal switching circuit 34 are inputted to a demodulating circuit 35, and are demodulated into color difference signals of the master image screen and the slave image screen. Demodulated master- slave image screen signals are inputted to [Y (O) signal, R-Y (O) signal, B-Y (O) signal, Y (K) signal, R-Y (K) signal and B-Y (K) signal] brightness contrast adjusting circuit 36. A signal outputted from the brightness-contrast adjusting circuit 36 is inputted to a slave image screen inserting circuit 37. The slave image screen inserting circuit 37 is formed of a slave image screen signal compressing circuit 38 to compress an image of the slave image screen and an image switching circuit 39 to switch master and slave images to/from each other in synchronism with a synchronizing signal of a master image.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for irradiating a body tissue with an ultrasonic wave to obtain a tissue tomographic image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an ultrasonic transducer has been provided in a small-diameter probe that can be inserted into an endoscope and ultrasonic images can be easily diagnosed during endoscopic diagnosis. , An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for obtaining an image has been developed. Also,
An ultrasonic endoscope that combines an endoscope and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has also been developed.

In such a case, the operator needs to observe the monitor for the ultrasonic image and the two monitors for the endoscopic image. 2 because the space in the examination room is limited
It was often difficult to install a single monitor. In order to avoid this problem, there has been a method in which two screens are combined and displayed on one monitor using an expensive broadcasting device.

Further, there is a device capable of displaying a television camera image and an ultrasonic tomographic image as described in JP-A-56-76942.

[0005]

An ultrasonic tomographic image is a screen characterized by a complex black and white pattern, for example, in the tomographic structure of the stomach, while an endoscopic image is a gastric surface of the stomach or the like. Is a screen with a uniform color tone over a wide range.

As shown in FIG. 18, when two images are displayed on the parent-child screen, or when switching display is performed as shown in FIG. 19, the screen is displayed without changing the image quality of the image input as the original image. It becomes necessary to independently adjust only the image quality of the parent screen or the child screen when it is displayed full or as the parent-child screen.

However, in the prior art example, although it is possible to display two screens as parent and child screens, the above-described fine screen adjustment is performed by the characteristics of the parent and child screens (for example, an endoscopic image and an ultrasonic image). There is a problem that it cannot be implemented according to the above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus capable of adjusting the image quality of a parent image and / or a child image of a parent image with a simple configuration. And

[0009]

In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to the inside of a body and displaying a tomographic image inside the body as an ultrasonic image, a plurality of video signals including the video signals of the ultrasonic images are provided. Input means for inputting, and reduced video selection means for selecting at least one reduction target video signal for performing image reduction from the plurality of video signals,
Image quality for performing image quality adjustment of at least one of a parent video signal and the reduction target video signal, which are the plurality of video signals different from the reduction target video signal, into which the reduction target video signal selected by the reduced video selection means is inserted. Adjusting means, signal processing means for reducing the reduction target video signal to generate a reduced image, and the video signal of the reduced image generated by the signal processing means to the parent video signal to generate a composite video signal Inserting means and a display means for displaying a composite image in which the reduced image is inserted based on the composite video signal generated by the inserting means, the image quality adjusting means including the parent video signal and the reduction target video. By adjusting the image quality of at least one of the signals, it is possible to adjust the image quality of the parent image and / or the child image of the parent-child image with a simple configuration.

[0010]

1 to 17 relate to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal processing device of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the signal conversion circuit of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the brightness / contrast adjustment circuit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for explaining the switching of images by the signal processing device of FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view for explaining the insertion of the sub-screen and the adjustment of the brightness and contrast of the sub-screen by the signal processing device of FIG.
Is an explanatory view for explaining a first modified example of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 in which the setting is variable depending on whether the image set on the child screen is an endoscopic image or an ultrasonic image, and FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the 2nd modification of the signal processing apparatus of FIG. 1 which was able to adjust the color of the endoscopic image inserted in a small screen, FIG. 9 enabled the edge enhancement process of the video signal of a small screen. Explanatory drawing explaining the 3rd modification of the signal processing apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 10 is the 4th of the signal processing apparatus of FIG. 1 which makes it possible to remove a chroma signal.
10 is a block diagram showing the structure of a chroma removal filter provided in the modified example of FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the removal of the chroma signal according to the fourth modified example of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is capable of preventing the jitter of the VTR signal. A configuration diagram showing a configuration of a jitter prevention circuit provided in a fifth modified example of the signal processing device of FIG.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a child screen signal compression circuit provided in a sixth modification of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 that enables image quality adjustment during digital compression of the child screen, and FIG. 14 is a child diagram of FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the thinning-out processing by the screen signal compression circuit, FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the vertical filter of FIG. 13, and FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory view for explaining a seventh modified example of the signal processing device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 17 is a signal SELE for switching the display screen according to the signal displayed on the monitor.
It is explanatory drawing explaining the 8th modification of the signal processing apparatus of FIG. 1 which produces | generates CT.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 is
An ultrasonic probe 20 for picking up an ultrasonic image, a signal processing device 1a for signal-processing a video signal of the ultrasonic image from the ultrasonic probe 20, and an ultrasonic image signal-processed by the signal processing device 1a are displayed. And a monitor 5.

The signal processing apparatus 1a is connected to a keyboard 2 which switches its function according to an operator's input.
The keyboard 2 has a key switch 3 for inputting a patient's name and ID number, a freeze switch 4 for switching a display image from a moving image to a still image and controlling a freeze operation of the image, and the keyboard 2 has an ultrasonic diagnostic function. An image changeover switch 6 which is connected to an image output terminal (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 to change the display image on the monitor 5 which displays an image.
And LED7 that displays the type of video currently displayed
And the sub-screen display O that turns on / off the sub-screen insertion
ON / OFF to display N / OFF switch 8 and ON / OFF
An OFF display LED 9, a small screen selection switch 10 for selecting an image to be used as a small screen, a small screen display LED 11 for displaying the type of the small screen being displayed, a gain adjusting knob 12 for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasonic image, Contrast adjustment knob 13 for adjusting the contrast of the ultrasonic image
And S for adjusting the brightness of the ultrasonic image according to the depth of diagnosis
The TC adjustment knob 14 and the keyboard 2 have a cover panel 15 on the front thereof, and inside thereof, a main screen brightness adjustment knob 16 and a main screen contrast adjustment knob 17 are provided.
A sub-screen brightness adjustment knob 18 and a sub-screen contrast adjustment knob 19 are arranged.

A scope connector 21 to which the ultrasonic probe 20 is connected is arranged on the front surface of the signal processing device 1a, and supplies power to the ultrasonic probe 20 and transmits / receives ultrasonic echo signals.

Further, an external image input terminal 22 is arranged on the back surface of the signal processing device 1a. An image processor 24, which is connected to the video endoscope 23 and supplies an endoscopic video image (RGB signal), is connected to the external video input terminal 22.
An external camera 27 is attached to the eyepiece 26 of the fiber endoscope 25.
, An image processor 28 that supplies an endoscopic image (composite video signal NTSC signal), an ultrasonic wave to which each output cable 30 of the VTR 29 that reproduces the recorded endoscopic image and ultrasonic image is connected. The diagnostic apparatus main body 1 is provided with an image processing apparatus for displaying an external signal input from the outside and an ultrasonic tomographic image generated inside the apparatus as a parent-child display.

The signal processing device 1a controls switching of various external input signals, generates an insert sub-screen signal by compressing the image signal, and adjusts the image quality of the main screen and the sub-screen.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a B-mode image processing circuit 31 for imaging an ultrasonic echo signal is provided in the signal processing device 1a. The B-mode image processing circuit 31 includes a detection circuit 31a, a LOG AMP 31b,
The A / D converter 31c, the VRAM 31d that stores the digitally converted pixel data, and the writing / reading of the data stored in the memory are controlled to display the pixel data on the screen according to the scanning method (radial scan, linear scan) of the vibrator. Address generation circuit 31e for generating addresses of VRAM 31d necessary for rearrangement of data, D / A converter 31f for converting the read output data of VRAM 31d into an analog signal, and transmitting a signal to monitor 5. It is composed of a video buffer amplifier 31g that matches a cable and generates a luminance signal of an ultrasonic image. The gain adjustment knob 12, the contrast adjustment knob 13, and the STC adjustment knob 14 provided on the keyboard 2 are used to change the amplification degree and DC offset voltage of the detection circuit 31a, and the amplification degree of the LOGAMP 31b, D
The C offset voltage is variable.

On the other hand, the signal from the external image input terminal 22 provided on the back surface of the signal processing device 1a is connected to the monitor display switching circuit 32. The RGB signal, composite video signal, and non-standard signal output from the monitor display switching circuit are input to the signal conversion circuit 33.

The signal conversion circuit 33, as shown in FIG.
A known RGB decoder 33a, Y / C separation circuit 33b,
It is composed of an LPF 33c and a BPF 33d.

The signal conversion circuit 33 separates all input external signals into a luminance signal (Y signal) and a chroma signal (C signal).

Returning to FIG. 1, these signals are input to the signal switching circuit 34, and are used as a parent screen signal for a luminance signal (Y (O) signal), a chroma signal (C (O) signal), and a child screen signal. The luminance signal (Y (K) signal) and the chroma signal (C (K) signal) used for are selected and output. The signal switching circuit 34 includes a high frequency relay and a video matrix I.
It is composed of a high frequency signal switching circuit such as C.

The luminance and color signals of the parent screen and the child screen selected by the signal switching circuit 34 are input to the demodulation circuit 35, and color difference signals (Y (O) signal, R-
Y (O) signal, BY (O) signal, Y (K) signal, R-
Y (K) signal and BY (K) signal). The demodulation circuit 35 is composed of a known NTSC (or PAL) decoder.

Demodulated parent / child screen signal (Y (O) signal, RY (O) signal, BY (O) signal, Y (K) signal, RY (K) signal, B- Y (K) signal) is the luminance /
It is input to the contrast adjustment circuit 36.

The brightness / contrast signal output from the brightness / contrast adjusting circuit 36 is input to the small screen inserting circuit 37.

The sub-picture insertion circuit 37 includes a sub-picture signal compression circuit 38 for compressing the picture of the sub-picture and an image switching circuit 39 for switching the parent-child picture in synchronization with the sync signal of the parent.
Composed of.

The brightness / contrast adjusting circuit 36 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the offset circuit 36a and the variable gain amplifier 36b each having a variable offset voltage are used to input the variable offset voltage and gain from the control circuit 43.
Implemented by the FFSET GAIN signal. Then, a signal (Y (K) signal, R-Y) used as a child screen
The (K) signal and the BY (K) signal) are input to the child screen signal compression circuit 38 in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 1, the sub-picture signal compression circuit 38 is
A / D converter 38a, dual port memory 38
b, a memory control circuit 38c for controlling writing / reading of the memory, and a D / A converter 38d for converting the read memory output data into analog.

The sub-picture signals (Y (K ') signal, RY (K') signal, B- output from the D / A converter 38d.
The Y (K ') signal is a main screen signal (Y (O) signal, R-
The Y (O) signal and the BY (O) signal) are input to the image switching circuit 39.

In the image switching circuit 39, the parent-child screen switching signal (O / O) output from the memory control circuit 38c.
In synchronization with the K signal), the parent and child screen signals are switched to insert the child screen into the parent screen. From the image switching circuit 39, the color difference signal (Y (O / K ') R-Y inserted in the small screen is displayed.
The (O / K ') BY (O / K') signal is supplied to the modulation circuit 4
0 (the modulation circuit 40 is a known NTSC (PA
L) consists of an encoder).

The input color difference signal is supplied to the modulation circuit 40.
Are modulated into a composite video signal, a Y signal, a C signal, and an RGB signal, and input to the video buffer amplifier 41. As for the output of the video buffer 41, an ultrasonic image signal, an image input signal to the image switching circuit 42 together with a signal such as an external input signal, and an image signal to be finally displayed on the monitor are output from the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body 1.

In controlling all of these circuits, the control circuit 43 determines the states of the knobs and switches provided on the keyboard 2, and generates control signals for various circuits.

The operation of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment constructed as above will be described.

An ultrasonic probe 20 is connected to the signal processing apparatus 1a of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1, and an ultrasonic echo signal reflected from a location in the body where the acoustic impedance is different is imaged.

On the other hand, the signal processing device 1a takes in the signals output from the image processors 24, 28 and the VTR 29 from the external video input terminal 22 arranged on the back surface.

The signal processing device 1a includes a keyboard 2
Are connected to the keyboard 2, and various switches 6, 8 and 10 are provided on the keyboard 2 as switches for switching images. Under the control of these switches, switching of images and insertion of a small screen are carried out. . The display of the type of screen displayed is performed by the various LEDs 7, 9, 11.

Screens displayed here, switches, LEs
The operation of D will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the LED indicated by a black circle in the figure is selected as a function.

In FIG. 5A, the sub-screen display is turned ON /
The OFF switch 8 is OFF. Therefore, the switch 10 for selecting the type of the small screen does not operate. The screen selected as the parent screen by the switch 6 is US. Therefore, as shown in the right diagram of FIG. 5A, an ultrasonic tomographic image is displayed on the entire screen of the monitor 5.

In the notation in the figure, US: tomographic image generated by the signal processing device 1a EVIS: image input from the image processor 24 AUX: image input from the image processor 28 VTR: input from VTR 29 In the present embodiment, the US signal is a signal that does not include the C signal, the AVIS signal is the RGB signal, and the A signal is A.
UX signal is a composite video signal with chrominance signal, V
The TR signal is a composite video signal, but is a non-standard signal in which the horizontal / vertical synchronization signals are slightly jittered.

In FIG. 5B, the sub-screen display is turned ON /
The OFF switch 8 is OFF. Therefore, the switch for selecting the type of the sub screen does not work. The screen selected as the parent screen shows EVIS. Therefore, the endoscopic image is fully displayed on the monitor 5 (in addition, when the AUX or VTR is selected as the parent image, each image is output to the full screen).

In FIG. 5C, the sub-screen display is turned ON /
The OFF switch 8 is ON. Therefore, the switch 10 for selecting the type of the sub-screen operates and the switch can be selected. In this example, since the endoscopic image is already selected as the parent screen, the image selectable as the child screen is any one of US, AUX, and VTR. In this example, US was selected. Therefore, as shown in the figure, an endoscopic image is output to the main screen and an ultrasonic image is output to the sub screen on the monitor.

In FIG. 5D, the sub screen display is turned ON /
The OFF switch 8 is ON. Therefore, the switch 10 for selecting the type of the sub-screen operates and the switch can be selected. In this example, since the ultrasonic image has already been selected as the parent screen, the image selectable as the child screen is any one of EVIS, AUX, and VTR.
In this example, US was selected. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the endoscopic image is output to the main screen and the ultrasonic image is output to the sub screen on the monitor.

As described above, each control switch 6, 8, 10
The screen is switched to the desired image by operating.

Next, the image adjusting knobs 16, 17, 18,
19 and adjustment of the image quality of the screen will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6A, various control switches,
Since the selection is made in the state as shown in the figure, the endoscopic image is output on the parent screen and the ultrasonic image is output on the child screen. Here, by changing the parent screen brightness adjustment knob 16 and the parent screen contrast adjustment knob 17, the parent screen brightness and contrast are adjusted (in FIG. 6A, the thick line of the symbol A increases the parent screen brightness and contrast). It shows the contents).

In FIG. 6B, when the small screen brightness adjustment knob 18 and the main screen contrast adjustment knob 19 are varied, the small screen brightness and contrast are adjusted (FIG. 6).
In (b), the thick line of the symbol B indicates that the brightness and contrast of the sub-screen are increased.

The specific display on the monitor in such a setting is as follows: (1) When an image from the external image input terminal is displayed on the monitor; it is controlled that the small screen ON / OFF switch 8 is OFF. When the signal is confirmed by the circuit 43, the MONI signal is output, and the monitor display switching circuit 32 and the image switching circuit 42 are operated to operate so that the signal from the external input terminal is directly output to the monitor.

(2) When inserting a small screen; small screen is turned on
When it is confirmed by the control circuit 43 that the ON / OFF switch 8 is OFF, the states of the small screen selection switch 10 and the image changeover switch 6 are judged, and SEL is selected.
The ECT signal is output, and the Y and C signals for the parent screen and the child screen, which are output from the signal switching circuit 34, are selected.
The Y and C signals are respectively sent to the Y.C. RY,
It is converted into a BY signal. Child screen Y (K), RY
The (K) and BY (K) signals are supplied to the A / D converter 38a.
A / D converted by DY (K), DR-Y (K), DB
-Y (K) signal, which is stored in the dual port memory 38b.

Then, the compression operation of thinning and reading the written data in the dual port memory 38b is performed between the dual port memory 38b and the memory control circuit 38c to compress the screen.

Data DY (K ') of each compressed signal,
DR-Y (K ') and DB-Y (K') are again analog-converted by the D / A converter 38d, and the color difference signal Y
(K '), RY (K'), BY (K ') signals.

Color difference signals Y (K '), RY of the sub-screen
The (K '), BY (K') signals and the parent screen color difference signals Y (O), RY (O), BY (O) are input to the image switching circuit 39. In order to insert the child screen at an arbitrary position on the parent screen, the horizontal / vertical sync signal (O
The horizontal / vertical synchronizing signals (KH, KV signals) of the sub-screen in accordance with the H, OV signals are placed under the well-known PLL circuit provided in the memory control circuit, and the main-screen / sub-screen switching signal (O / K signal). ) Is output and input to the image switching circuit 39 (main screen, sub-screen horizontal / vertical synchronizing signals (OH, O
(V, KH, KV signals) are separated from the video circuit by performing the Y signal output from the signal switching circuit 34 by a known sync separation circuit to generate OH, OV, KH, KV signals).

Color difference signal (Y (O / K ') RY (O / K') BY (O /
The K ′) signal) is input to the modulation circuit 40 and modulated into various signals, and the buffer amplifier 41 and the image switching circuit 42.
Is displayed on the monitor.

(3) When adjusting the brightness and contrast of the parent screen and the child screen; the color difference signals Y (O) and RY generated by the demodulation circuit 35 corresponding to the parent screen and the child screen, respectively.
(O), BY (O) signal, Y (K), RY (K),
The BY (K) signal is input to the brightness / contrast adjustment circuit 36. Main screen, sub screen image quality adjustment knobs 16, 1
The states of 7, 18, and 19 are determined by the control circuit 43, and the brightness /
An OFFSET CONT signal for adjusting the brightness and the contrast is sent to the contrast adjusting circuit 36. OFFSET
Signal, the offset voltage applied to the offset circuit 36a is changed, and the CONT signal is changed to the variable gain amplifier 3
Change the amplification of 6b.

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of this embodiment, the state of the image quality adjustment knob can be determined by the control circuit, and the image quality of the main screen and the sub screen can be adjusted independently.

In the above embodiment, the main screen and the sub screen can be set independently, and there is no distinction between the endoscopic image and the ultrasonic image of the sub screen, but as the first modification, the sub screen is set. The setting can be changed depending on whether the image to be captured is an endoscopic image or an ultrasonic image.

That is, in the embodiment, the contents of the child screen adjustment are the same in the endoscopic image and the ultrasonic image, but as shown in FIG. 7, in the cover panel 15 of the keyboard 2 as a first modification. , The endoscopic imager screen brightness adjustment knob 44, the endoscopic imager screen contrast adjustment knob 45, the ultrasonic imager screen brightness adjustment knob 46, and the ultrasonic imager screen contrast adjustment knob 47. Then, the state of the sub-screen selection switch 10 is determined, and whether the image output to the sub-screen is an endoscopic image or an ultrasonic image is determined, and the ultrasonic image from the image adjustment knob 44 of the sub-screen is determined. By detecting the state of the small screen contrast adjustment knob 47 and changing the values of the small screen adjustment offset voltage and the variable gain amplifier of the brightness contrast adjustment circuit 36, the image set on the small screen is displayed. And if it is the endoscope image, the settings in the case of the ultrasound images can be variably.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment and the first modification,
Since the area where the endoscopic image is displayed is small when the endoscopic image is inserted into the child screen, the color perceived by the observer may be different from that when the monitor screen is fully displayed. Therefore, as a second modified example of the above-described embodiment, in order to make it possible to adjust the color of the endoscopic image inserted in the small screen,
As shown in FIG. 8, a red adjusting knob 48 and a blue adjusting knob 49 may be provided in the cover panel 15 of the keyboard 2.

By providing such an adjusting knob, in the second modification, the control circuit 43 determines that the child screen is an endoscopic image, and the red adjusting knob 48 and the blue adjusting knob 4 are provided.
9 state is determined and the sub-screen color difference signals (Y (K), RY
The offset voltage and the gain variable value given to the (K) and BY (K) signals) are independently adjusted.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the first and second modifications, the endoscopic image and the ultrasonic image inserted as the child images can be adjusted by the brightness / contrast adjusting circuit 36, but are displayed. Because of the small area, the image displayed inside tends to have an unclear boundary. Therefore, the boundary of the image on the small screen can be clearly displayed by the third modified example below.

That is, in the third modified example, the brightness / contrast circuit 36 performs a known edge enhancement process. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the edge enhancement switch 5 is provided in the cover panel 15 of the keyboard 2.
0 is set. A well-known edge enhancement circuit (not shown) is provided in the brightness / contrast circuit 36. By doing this, edge-enhancement processing of the video signal of the sub-screen,
It is possible to enhance the contour of the object displayed in the sub-screen image.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment and the first to third modifications, when the main screen is an ultrasonic image and the sub-screen is an endoscopic image, a color burst signal is included in the composite video signal of the main screen. Since they are superposed, the color may appear faintly on the ultrasonic image which should be black and white. Therefore, when an ultrasonic image is selected on the parent screen in the following fourth modified example, it is possible to prevent color bleeding in the ultrasonic image.

That is, in the fourth modified example, as shown in FIG. 10, a chroma signal removing filter 51 is provided in the subsequent stage of the image switching circuit 42, and as shown in FIG. A control switch 52 is provided. The chroma signal removal filter 51 can be composed of, for example, a well-known BDF 51a and a video switch 51b.

In the fourth modification as described above, when the child screen display ON / OFF switch is ON, the ultrasonic image is selected on the parent screen, and the chroma signal removal control switch 52 is set to the operating state. The CHROMACUT signal for performing the operation of the chroma removal filter 51 is input from the control circuit 43, and the video switch is electrically connected to the output side of the BDF 51a. Therefore, the chroma signal is completely removed from the composite video signal from the image switching circuit 42, and the displayed image becomes a completely black and white image. Further, by the operation of the chroma signal removal control switch 52, a well-known APC circuit (Auto-m) of NTSC (PAL) used in the demodulation circuit 35.
The same result can be obtained by stopping the atic phase control circuit) and stopping the demodulation of the parent and child color difference signals.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment and the first to fourth modifications, when the VTR signal which is a non-standard signal is used as the parent-child display signal, the signal sent from the VTR device is the horizontal synchronizing signal. There is a possibility that the image will be shaken when the child screen or the parent screen is observed as a still image due to the jitter in the VT, as in the fifth modified example below.
It is possible to display a parent-child screen in which no jitter occurs even when an R image is input.

That is, in the fifth modification, the VTR signal is not directly input to the signal conversion circuit 33, but the signal conversion circuit 3 via the jitter prevention circuit 53 shown in FIG.
Input to 3. The jitter prevention circuit 53 includes an A / D converter 53a, a sync separation circuit 53b, and a line memory 53.
c, television synchronizing signal generating circuit 53d, memory control circuit 5
3e and D / A converter 53f.

The VTR signal is separated into a horizontal sync signal (HD) and a vertical sync signal (VD) by the sync separation circuit 53b.
For example, 4fsc (14.3) whose phase is locked to this synchronization signal
The A / D converter converts the VTR signal into digital data with a clock of 2 MHz).

On the other hand, HD, V from the sync separation circuit 53b
Based on D, the write control signal (W
E signal) is sent from the memory control circuit 53e to the line memory 53.
given to c.

On the other hand, HD output at regular timing
The S and VDS signals are output from the television sync signal generation circuit 53d and input to the memory control circuit 53e, the (RE signal) that controls the reading of the line memory 53c is generated, and the data is read from the line memory 53c. This data is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 53f and becomes a VTR signal with stable horizontal synchronization. This stable VT
Since the R signal is input to the signal conversion circuit 33, a sub-screen image having no jitter in the horizontal direction can be obtained.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the first to fifth modifications, the color difference signal before being input to the sub-screen is adjusted,
Although the example of performing the adjustment of the main screen and the sub screen has been described, the position of this adjustment is not limited to the preceding stage of the compression of the sub screen, but the image signals Y (K ′) and RY (K) after the compression are compressed. ′), BY
You may adjust (K ').

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the first to fifth modified examples, the analog signal is adjusted to obtain an appropriate image on the small screen, but as in the sixth modified example described below, The digital processing at the time of compression processing may be changed according to the screen depending on the type of screen to be inserted into the child screen. That is, it is possible to suppress the image glare, uneven density, and vertical stripes that occur in the process of digitally compressing the small screen by changing the process of digital compression according to the type of the small screen.

That is, in the child screen signal compression circuit 38 of the sixth modification, the A / D converter 38a, the dual port memory 38b, the memory control circuit 38c, and the D / A converter 38d in the above embodiment of FIG. 1 are shown. Each address was arranged as shown in the figure and each address was sent from the memory control circuit 38c to the dual port memory 38b to compress the screen.
As shown in FIG. 13, a vertical filter 54 can be newly provided between the A / D converter 38a and the dual port memory 38b. The vertical filter 54 is provided with weighting data h1, h2, h from the memory control circuit 38c.
3 is input.

On the other hand, a control circuit 43 is connected to the memory control circuit 38c and receives the weighting data h1 output from the memory control circuit in response to the states of the sub-screen display ON / OFF switch 8 and the sub-screen selection switch. Output the hEN signal required to change the value of ~ h3. Therefore, it is possible to compress in the vertical direction by thinning out the scanning lines to store the data in the memory and continuously reading out the data (in the above embodiment of FIG. 1, an example in which the image is compressed by thinning out by the reading) Is posted).

By the way, if the thinning-out process is simply performed in this way, the screen becomes jerky and difficult to see. This is because, as shown in FIG. 14, the number of scanning lines in NTSC is 525, so that sampling in the vertical direction is 525.
Is. Therefore, the reproducible range is 525/2 (FIG. 14 (a)). If the sampling data of the original image is thinned out to, for example, 1/3, as shown in FIG.
The high frequency band is folded back to the low frequency band around 5/6 as an axis and becomes noise. Therefore, the image becomes glaring. To prevent this problem, a vertical filter 54 is inserted (see FIG. 14).
Bandwidth is limited as shown in (c)).

As shown in FIG. 15, the vertical filter 54 compresses the data and band-limits the data (D1, D2, D3) of the three scanning lines by weighting the weighted data (h1, h2, h3). It is carried out.

This weighting data is provided in the memory control circuit 38c for various kinds of child screens to be displayed, and the controller 43 determines the states of the child screen ON / OFF switch and the child screen selection switch to determine the hEN signal. Vertical filter 5 depending on the type of screen that is generated and inserted as a sub-screen.
The value of the weighting data for which the sum of products is calculated is changed in step 4.

The change status of the weighting data will be described on the assumption that the child screen is actually displayed.

(1) When the sub-picture is an endoscopic image: Color difference signals (Y (K), BY which are inserted as the sub-picture)
(K) and BY (K) signals) are A / D converter 38a
Digital data (DY (K), DR-Y (K), DB
-Y (K) signal). The digitized data is calculated as weighted data by the product-sum calculation circuit shown in FIG. The calculation formula of the product-sum operation is the following formula (1).

[Compressed 1 scanning line data] = (h1 × D1 + h2 × D2 + h3 × D3) / 4 (1) where, D1: first scanning line data D2: second scanning line data D3: third scanning line data h1: coefficient for weighting the first scanning line data h2: coefficient for weighting the second scanning line data h3: coefficient for weighting the third scanning line data

When the child screen is an endoscopic image, h1 =
Choose 1, h2 = 2, h3 = 1. Various weighting data are stored in the memory control circuit 43, and in response to the contents of the hEN signal sent from the control circuit 43, the values of the various weighting data are sent to the vertical filter 54. If a weighting coefficient is selected for such a value, the data coefficient is an integer, and no rounding error occurs.

Data hDY (K '), hDY (K'), hDY (K ') corresponding to the weighted color difference signals.
Is written in the memory 38b and read continuously,
The color difference signal (h which is weighted by the D / A converter 38d
DY (K '), hD-Y (K'), hD-Y (K ') signals) are displayed on the small screen by the same circuit as that of the first embodiment.

Since the coefficient of the weighting data is an integer,
Since data that does not cause rounding error can be used for color difference signals, there is no irregular change in data that occurs due to rounding error, and as a result, an image with a uniform color tone (for example, an image of the stomach wall observed with an endoscope) No vertical stripes appear even when observed.

(2) When the child screen is an ultrasonic image: h1
= 1.25, h2 = 1.5, h3 = 1.25. When such a value is set, when compressing the scanning lines, the density difference between the scanning lines can be made smaller than that in the case. When this data is finally converted into a video signal and an image is output, the horizontal density difference can be reduced as compared with. This is advantageous for diagnosing an ultrasonic image, for example, for observing a layer structure of the stomach wall, and for outputting an image in which a density difference is very important.

In the above-described embodiment and the first to sixth modifications, the video signal displayed on the monitor 5 is switched by the monitor display switching circuit 42. Video signal is RGB
There are various types of signals such as signals, composite video signals, and Y / C signals. To display this image on the monitor, it is necessary to switch the monitor. However, changing the setting of the monitor during the actual endoscopic diagnosis is very complicated. Therefore, as in the case of the seventh modification shown in FIG. 16, when displaying an ultrasonic image signal which is a black and white composite image signal on a monitor, for example, 3
Alternatively, one video buffer amplifier 55 (for example, a known emitter follower circuit) may be used to generate RGB signals and input them to the image switching circuit 42. Also,
The RGB signal 14 is generated from the composite video signal and Y / C signal by a known RGB encoder. Then all signals are R
It becomes a GB signal, and the display screen of the monitor 5 can be switched only by switching the image switching circuit 42 without switching the monitor.

Further, in accordance with the signal displayed on the monitor 5, a signal SELECT for switching the display screen of the monitor 5 may be generated from the control circuit 43 as shown in FIG.

Further, for the screen to be inserted as the small screen, the position of the horizontal synchronizing signal of the signal input as the small screen may be selected.

According to the above-mentioned embodiment and each modification, when switching the screen of the endoscopic image or the ultrasonic image or displaying the parent-child screen for inserting into the screen, when switching the screen, , When faithfully reproducing an image without changing the quality of the screen and displaying the parent-child screen, the signal adjustment of each parent and child is automatically or automatically performed according to the type of the image used as the parent and child screen. Since it is variable according to the operator's adjustment, the operator can always obtain the optimum image quality even if the endoscope and ultrasonic diagnostics are switched in the form of screen switching or child screen insertion.

[0085]

As described above, according to the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, the image quality of at least one of the parent video signal and the reduction target video signal is adjusted by the image quality adjusting means.
With a simple configuration, it is possible to adjust the image quality of the parent image and / or the child image of the parent-child image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing device of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the signal processing device of FIG.

3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the signal conversion circuit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a brightness / contrast adjustment circuit in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining switching of images by the signal processing device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating insertion of a small screen and adjustment of the brightness and contrast of the small screen and the small screen by the signal processing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first modified example of the signal processing device in FIG. 1 in which the setting can be changed depending on whether the image set on the child screen is an endoscopic image or an ultrasonic image.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second modification of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 in which the color of the endoscopic image inserted in the child screen can be adjusted.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third modification of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 that enables edge enhancement processing of a video signal of a child screen.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a chroma removal filter provided in a fourth modification of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 capable of removing a chroma signal.

11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating removal of a chroma signal according to a fourth modification example of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing that it is possible to prevent jitter of a VTR signal.
Block diagram showing the configuration of a jitter prevention circuit provided in a fifth modification of the signal processing device of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a child screen signal compression circuit provided in a sixth modified example of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 that enables image quality adjustment during digital compression of the child screen.

14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a thinning-out process by the child screen signal compression circuit in FIG.

15 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the vertical filter of FIG.

16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a seventh modified example of the signal processing device in FIG. 1 that enables generation of an RGB signal from an ultrasonic image signal which is a black and white composite image signal.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an eighth modification of the signal processing device of FIG. 1 that generates a signal SELECT for switching a display screen according to a signal displayed on a monitor.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of displaying a parent-child image by a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating screen switching by a conventional ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1a ... Signal processing apparatus 2 ... Keyboard 5 ... Monitor 6 ... Image selection switch 10 ... Sub-screen selection switch 12 ... Gain adjustment knob 13 ... Contrast adjustment knob 14 ... STC adjustment knob 15 ... Hidden panel 16 ... Parent Screen brightness adjustment knob 17 ... Parent screen contrast adjustment knob 18 ... Child screen brightness adjustment knob 19 ... Child screen contrast adjustment knob 20 ... Ultrasonic probe 13 ... Video endoscope 24 ... Image processor 31 ... B mode image processing circuit 32 ... Monitor Display switching circuit 33 ... Signal conversion circuit 34 ... Signal switching circuit 35 ... Demodulation circuit 36 ... Luminance / contrast adjustment circuit 37 ... Small screen insertion circuit 38 ... Small screen signal compression circuit 39 ... Image switching circuit 40 ... Modulation circuit 41 ... Video buffer 42 ... Image switching circuit 43 ... Control Circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves to the inside of a body to display a tomographic image of the inside of the body as an ultrasonic image, comprising: input means for inputting a plurality of video signals including video signals of the ultrasonic image. A reduced video selection unit that selects at least one reduction target video signal that performs image reduction from the plurality of video signals; and inserts the reduction target video signal selected by the reduced video selection unit, Image quality adjusting means for adjusting the image quality of at least one of the parent video signal and the reduction target video signal, which are the plurality of video signals different from the reduction target video signal, and signal processing for reducing the reduction target video signal to generate a reduced image. Means, inserting means for inserting the video signal of the reduced image generated by the signal processing means into the parent video signal to generate a composite video signal, and the inserting means for generating An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays a composite image in which the reduced image is inserted based on the composite video signal.