JPH07307939A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily display comment data on an output image just for required time by arbitrarily setting time in the case of superimposing the comment data on the output image. CONSTITUTION:Concerning an image processor 3 which enables image display and recording by inputting video signals from endoscopes 1a, 1b and 1c and outputting the video signals to first and second monitors 4 and 5 and a VTR 6, this image processor is provided with a character superimposing circuit 13 for superimposing the characters signals of comment data related to the video signals, display time setting circuit 14 for setting the superimposing time of comment data, and character superimposing switching circuit 15 for switching whether the comment data are superimposed or not. Based on the superimposing time set on a control panel 18, the switching of the character superimposing switching circuit 15 is controlled through the display time setting circuit 14, and the comment data inputted from a keyboard 19 are superimposed on the video signals to be outputted to the first monitor 4 or the like just for the set time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of superimposing a character of comment data regarding an input image on the input image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A device for performing image processing such as superimposing a character of comment data on an input image or synthesizing a plurality of images is used, for example, in an endoscope device, and is used for patient data and device status. It has been conventionally practiced to superimpose a character of comment data such as information indicating “” on an endoscopic image of a region to be examined and display it on a monitor screen.

In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, it is possible to observe a target site deep inside the body cavity without requiring an incision and to perform a medical treatment using a treatment tool as necessary. Endoscopes are widely used, and recently C
An electronic endoscope that obtains an electric signal of a subject image and displays the image on a monitor by using an electronic endoscope including a solid-state image sensor such as a CD or an optical endoscope equipped with a television camera Devices are being used.

In this electronic endoscope apparatus, an image signal obtained by converting a subject image into an electric signal is transmitted to an image processing apparatus via a signal cable, and a video signal is output to a monitor or the like to display an endoscope image. Alternatively, character information or graphic information (comment data) relating to the imaged image signal can be superimposed and output as a character signal (character signal) on the video signal to display an image on which the character is superimposed. As the comment data to be superimposed on the video signal, information regarding the endoscopic image such as the patient name, affected part name, date, etc. is used.

As an image processing apparatus having a function of superimposing a character on an input image as described above, the applicant of the present application has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-337229 a superimposing character on a plurality of input images and then displaying it on a monitor. Or VTR
I am proposing a device that can record to. This device employs a configuration for controlling the image output and the character output to be superimposed on the image so that the output image to the monitor, the VTR, or the like can be in a form optimal for the role of the output destination device.

[0006]

In the conventional device as described above, it is possible to control whether or not to superimpose character information or graphic information as a character on an output image, but it is necessary to output the image. In addition, it is difficult to freely set the superimposition time of the character, such as automatically starting the superimposition or stopping the superimposition of the character information after the superimposition once. That is, in order to superimpose character information at the same time as the start of surgery when performing a medical treatment using the endoscope device,
When it is necessary to set the text information to be superimposed and the switch for superimposing the text information in advance, or when trying to return to an output image in which the text information is not superimposed after the text information is once superimposed on the image output. However, there is a problem in that the operation for superimposing a character becomes complicated, such as having to press a switch for controlling superimposition of character information again.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and the time for superimposing comment data on an output image can be arbitrarily set, and the comment can be set for the time required when necessary in the output image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device capable of easily displaying data.

[0008]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal, and a video display means for displaying the video signal as an image, In a device for outputting a video signal to an external input device including at least one of video recording means for recording a signal, a character superimposition at the time of superimposing a character on the video signal output to the external input device by the character superimposing means. A superimposition time setting means for setting a time, and a character superposition control means for controlling the operation of the character superposition means based on the set time set by the superposition time setting means.

[0009]

The superimposing time setting means sets the character superimposing time for superimposing the character of the information regarding the video signal on the video signal. The character superimposing control means controls the operation of the character superimposing means based on the set character superimposing time to superimpose the character on the video signal.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus including an image processing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an endoscope used for endoscopic surgery. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus.

This embodiment shows an example in which an image processing apparatus is applied to an endoscope apparatus equipped with an endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity or the like. FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of an endoscope apparatus used for endoscopic surgery.

FIG. 2 is a view of the operating room during endoscopic surgery as seen from above, and the endoscope apparatus is a TV having a photographing function.
An endoscope with a TV camera equipped with a camera (hereinafter, simply referred to as an endoscope) 1, a light source device 2 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope, and an image for performing signal processing corresponding to the endoscope. The processing device 3, and the first monitor 4 and the second monitor 4 as image display means for displaying the image signal output from the image processing device.
It comprises a monitor 5 and a VTR 6 as a video recording means for recording the video signal output from the image processing apparatus.

In the endoscope apparatus having such a structure, the operator A holds the endoscope 1 and the treatment instrument 7, and performs a procedure while watching the first monitor 4. The operator B holds the treatment tool 8 and performs a procedure while watching the second monitor 5. Also,
In the vicinity of the operator A and the operator B, there are a nurse A and a nurse B that perform delivery and auxiliary operation of the treatment tool.

Illumination light is sent from the light source device 2 to the endoscope 1 through a light guide cable to illuminate the site to be examined in the body cavity. Then, the image of the region to be inspected obtained by the endoscope 1 is sent to the image processing device 3 for signal processing, and sent as a video signal to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 as external input devices. It is adapted to be visualized and recorded.

FIG. 1 shows a detailed configuration of the image processing apparatus 3. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of endoscopes 1 a, 1 b, and 1 c having an imaging function are connected to the image processing apparatus 3.

The image processing device 3 includes endoscopes 1a, 1b, 1
A for converting the video signals from c to digital signals respectively
A / D converters 11a, 11b, 11c and A / D converter 1
1a to 11c, and an input selection circuit 12 for selecting a signal to be output to an external input device such as a monitor from among a plurality of image inputs to the image processing device 3. An image to be output to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 connected to the output terminal of the device 3 is selected by the input selection circuit 12 from the image input from the endoscopes 1a to 1c.

Further, the image processing apparatus 3 serves as a character superimposing means for superimposing the character signal of the comment data based on the character information or the graphic information on the image signal on the image signal selected by the input selection circuit 12. A character superimposing circuit 13 and a display time setting circuit 1 for setting a time for superimposing comment data on an image signal.
4, the output of the input selection circuit 12 and the output of the character superposition circuit 13 are connected, and the display time setting circuit 14
A character superimposition switching circuit 15 for switching whether or not to superimpose comment data on the image signal in accordance with a control signal from the character superimposition switching circuit 15, and the character superimposition switching circuit 15 superimposes the comment data from the character superposition circuit 13 on the image signal, or An image signal from which the comment data from the input selection circuit 12 is not superimposed is selected.

At the output stage of the character superposition switching circuit 15, a D / A converter 16 for converting the output signal of the character superposition switching circuit 15 into an analog signal is provided.
The output of the converter 16 is used as a video signal for the first monitor 4 and the second monitor.
It is designed to be output to the monitor 5 and VTR 6. In addition, the image processing apparatus 3 includes a CPU 17 that controls the input selection circuit 12, the character superposition circuit 13, and the character superposition switching circuit 15, and an operation panel 18 for issuing operation instructions related to the control of these circuits. It is provided.
Further, a keyboard 19 as an input device for inputting comment data is provided and connected to the CPU 17. The operation panel 18 and the display time setting circuit 14
Thus, the superimposition time setting means is constituted by the CPU 17, the display time setting circuit 14, and the character superposition switching circuit 15, respectively.

Although not shown, the image processing apparatus 3 is provided with a circuit for performing various kinds of image signal processing for generating a video signal suitable for output to a monitor or the like.

The structure of the main part of the operation panel 18 is shown in FIG.
Shown in. The operation panel 18 is provided with a character display switching unit 21 that switches the display of comment data on the output image, a display time setting unit 22 that sets the display time of the comment data, and an input selection unit 23 that selects the input image. Is
Operation switches and a display unit related to each function are provided.

The input selection section 23 is provided with a select switch 24 for selecting an input video signal and a select display 25 including an LED for displaying the selected image input. The character display switching unit 21 is provided with a character display ON / OFF switch 26 for selecting ON / OFF of superimposition of the character information to be comment data.
The display time setting unit 22 has a display time setting switch 27 for setting the superimposition time of the character information, a set time indicator 28 for displaying the set time of the character display by numbers, and an instruction for superimposing the character information according to the set time. And a time display control switch 29 for operating.

When performing endoscopic surgery with the endoscope apparatus of this embodiment, the endoscope 1 is used as shown in FIG.
Is inserted into the body cavity to capture an image of the treatment site, and the operator A views the endoscopic image on the first monitor 4 and the operator B views the endoscopic image on the second monitor 5, respectively. I do. A video signal is sent from the image processing device 3 to the first monitor 4 and the second monitor 5 to display an endoscopic image and a VTR.
A video signal is also sent to 6 to enable recording.

The three endoscopes 1a, 1b, 1 shown in FIG.
When displaying the image of the subject (A) from the endoscope 1a on the monitor among the image input from c, if VIDEO 1 is selected by the select switch 24 on the operation panel 18 of the image processing apparatus 3, As shown in 3, the VIDEO 1 on the select display 25 lights up. As a result, the CPU1
The input selection circuit 12 is switched to the A / D converter 11a side by the control signal from 7 and the video signal of the endoscope 1a is selected. At this time, the character display on the operation panel 18 is turned on.
If OFF is selected in the / OFF switch 26, the character superimposition switching circuit 15 is switched to the input selection circuit 12 side and superimposition of the character signal is not performed, and the input image signal is directly subjected to the character superimposition switching circuit 15 and D / A conversion. It is converted into an analog signal through the device 16 and output as a video signal to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5 and the VTR 6 as external input devices.

Further, when the comment data is displayed in characters on an external input device such as an image display device such as the first monitor 4 and the second monitor 5 or an image recording device such as the VTR 6,
Character display ON / OFF switch 26 on operation panel 18
By selecting ON with, the character superposition switching circuit 15 is switched to the output side of the character superposition circuit 13. As a result, the character signal input from the keyboard 19 is superimposed on the input image signal by the character superimposing circuit 13, and then the character superimposing switching circuit 15, D /
It is converted into analog through the A converter 16 and output from the image processing device 3 as a video signal. The character (indicated by 1234 in the figure) of the comment data is displayed by being superimposed on the endoscopic image (subject (A)) as shown in FIG.

At this time, by depressing the time display control switch 29 on the operation panel 18, the character superposition switching circuit 15 is controlled by the control signal from the display time setting circuit 14 and set by the display time setting switch 27. The character is superimposed on the video signal during the display time period. After the lapse of the set time, the character superposition switching circuit 15 is switched to the output side of the input selection circuit 12 by the control signal from the display time setting circuit 14, and the superposition of the characters is stopped.

Image selection and character superimposition can be performed in the same manner for the input image of the subject (B) from the endoscope 1b and the input image of the subject (C) from the endoscope 1c.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
The display time when the comment data is superimposed and displayed on the output image can be set arbitrarily, and the comment data can be easily output and displayed on an external input device such as a TV monitor or a VTR for a necessary time when necessary. can do.
To stop the display after displaying the comment data, you can clear the comment data display after the set time has elapsed by setting the display time. The comment data can be displayed. By controlling the display time of the comment data in this way, it becomes possible to output an output image most suitable for the role of the output destination device.

4 and 5 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the image processing apparatus, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the operation panel of the image processing apparatus. FIG.

The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment,
This is an example in which the display setting of comment data to an external input device such as a monitor is possible for each device. Only parts different from the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image processing apparatus 31 of the second embodiment is the same as the image processing apparatus 3 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Compared with the above configuration, three systems of character superposition switching circuits 15a, 15b, 15c are provided on the output side of the input selection circuit 12 and the character superposition circuit 13, and D /
The first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 are connected via the A converters 16a, 16b, 16c. The control signals from the display time setting circuit 14 are input to the character superposition switching circuits 15a, 15b and 15c, respectively, as in the first embodiment.

On the operation panel 32, as shown in FIG.
A character display selection switch 33 for controlling ON / OFF of the character display and a time display selection switch 34 for controlling ON / OFF of the character display according to a set time are provided, and the display time setting switch 27 is provided as in the first embodiment. Also, a set time indicator 28 is provided.

In the structure of this embodiment, when displaying the comment data in characters, the display time is set by depressing the output image switch for character superposition in the character display selection switch 33 on the operation panel 32. Circuit 1
The character superposition switching circuit 15 according to the control signal from
a, 15b, and 15c are switched to the output side of the character superimposing circuit 13, and the character signal is superimposed on the video signal. Therefore, if the output 1, output 2 and output 3 of the character display selection switch 33 are pressed at the same time, the first monitor 4, the second monitor 4
Comment data is superimposed and displayed on the image output to the monitor 5 and the VTR 6.

At this time, for example, when it is desired to delete the comment data only for the image of the output 3, the character display selection switch 3
If the output 3 of 3 is pressed again, the comment data in the video signal output to the VTR 6 can be erased.

If the comment data is to be displayed and is to be deleted after a specific time has elapsed, the display time setting switch 27
By setting the display time by pressing the output image switch for displaying the character time in the time display selection switch 34, the character is superimposed on the video signal for the set display time. Then, after the lapse of the set time, the character superposition switching circuits 15a, 15b, 15c are made to operate by the input selection circuit 1 by the control signal from the display time setting circuit 14.
2, the comment data is erased from the video signal to the external input device. That is, if the output 1, output 2 and output 3 of the time display selection switch 34 are pressed at the same time, the comment data of the image output to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 after the set time has elapsed is deleted. .

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to selectively display, hide, and display comment data on an external input device such as a monitor or VTR for each device, and output more. An output image suitable for the role of the above device can be obtained.

6 and 7 relate to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the image processing apparatus, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a part of the operation panel of the image processing apparatus. FIG.

The third embodiment is another modification of the first embodiment, and is an example in which the comment data display setting and the comment data display time setting to an external input device such as a monitor can be set for each device. is there. Only parts different from the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image processing device 36 of the third embodiment has three systems of character superimposition switching circuits 15a, 15a on the output side of the input selection circuit 12 and the character superposition circuit 13 as in the second embodiment. 15b and 15c are provided, and character superposition switching circuits 15a and 1 of each system are further provided.
Display time setting circuits 14a, 14b, 1 for every 5b, 15c
4c are provided and each is configured to send a control signal.

On the operation panel 37, as shown in FIG.
A character display selection switch 38a for selecting whether to continuously display comment data for the output image (output 1) to the first monitor 4, a display time setting switch 27a and a set time display 28a, and a setting A time display control switch 39a for selecting the character display by time is provided. In addition, regarding the output image (output 2) to the second monitor 5 and the output image (output 3) to the VTR 6, similarly, the character display selection switches 38b and 38c, the display time setting switches 27b and 27c, and the set time display 28b. , 28
c, time display control switches 39b and 39c are provided.

In the configuration of the present embodiment, when displaying the comment data as characters on the output image to the first monitor 4,
Output 1 character display selection switch 38 on the operation panel 37
By pressing a, the character superposition switching circuit 15a is switched to the output side of the character superposition circuit 13 by the control signal from the display time setting circuit 14a, the character signal is superposed on the video signal, and the comment is displayed on the image of the first monitor 4. The data is displayed. Further, if the character display selection switches 38a, 38b, 38c are pressed at the same time, the comment data are simultaneously superimposed and displayed on the images output to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6.

At this time, for example, if it is desired to delete the comment data of only the image of the output 3, the comment data in the video signal output to the VTR 6 can be deleted by pressing the character display selection switch 38c of the output 3 again. Note that the same can be done for the output 1 and the output 2.

When it is desired to delete the comment data only for the output 1 after the elapse of a specific time, the display time is set by the display time setting switch 27a of the output 1 and the time display control switch 39a is pressed to display the set display. The character is superimposed on the video signal for a period of time, and after the set time has elapsed, the character superposition switching circuit 15a is switched to the output side of the input selection circuit 12 by the control signal from the display time setting circuit 14a, and the video signal to the first monitor 4 is displayed. The comment data is deleted from. In the example of FIG. 7, the comment data is deleted 5 seconds after being displayed. Note that the output 2 and the output 3 can be similarly performed. In the example of FIG. 7, the comment data of the output 2 is deleted after 3 seconds and the comment data of the output 3 is deleted after 1 second.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, it is possible to independently display / hide the comment data and set the comment data display time for each external input device such as a monitor or VTR. An output image suitable for the role can be obtained.

8 and 9 relate to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an endoscope apparatus including an image processing apparatus, and FIG. 9 is a part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which expanded and showed.

The fourth embodiment is an example in which comment data can be displayed or hidden in conjunction with the recording operation of a VTR which is a video recording means of an external input device.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the image processing apparatus 41 of the fourth embodiment. Here, only parts different from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the keyboard 1
A character memory 43 as an information storage means for storing and holding the comment data input from 9;
A recording control circuit 44 for controlling the recording operation of TR6 is provided, and each is connected to the CPU 17. C
Based on an instruction from the operation panel 42 connected to the PU 17, a recording control circuit 44 sends a control signal to the VTR 6 to control the recording of the video signal.

The structure of the main part of the operation panel 42 is shown in FIG. The operation panel 42 is provided with a VTR operation section 45 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
An EC switch 46 and a STOP switch 47 for issuing a stop instruction are provided.

In this embodiment, the comment data input from the keyboard 19 is held in the character memory 43 so that it can be read out at a desired time. When displaying the text of comment data, the character memory 4
3, the comment data is read out, and the character superimposing circuit 13 superimposes the character signal on the image signal.

When displaying characters of comment data,
Character display ON / O of the operation panel 42 as in the first embodiment
This can be done by operating the FF switch 26, but in the present embodiment, the REC switch 46 on the operation panel 42 or the RE (not shown) on the operation panel of the VTR.
The C switch can also display the comment data on the output image in conjunction with the recording operation.

By pressing the REC switch 46 on the operation panel 42, the character superposition switching circuit 15 is switched to the output side of the character superposition circuit 13 and the character signal is superposed, and at the same time, the video recording control circuit 44 causes the VT to pass.
A control signal is output to R6 to start recording on the VTR6. At this time, if the time display control switch 29 is pressed, the comment data is displayed only for a set time (5 seconds in the example of FIG. 9) after the REC switch 46 is pressed.

When the STOP switch 47 on the operation panel 42 is pressed, the recording control circuit 44 causes the VTR
A control signal is output to 6 to stop the recording operation of the VTR 6, and the character superposition switching circuit 15 is switched to the output side of the input selection circuit 12, so that the display of the comment data is erased from the video signal to the external input device.

Similarly, when the REC switch on the VTR 6 is pushed, at the same time when the recording operation of the VTR 6 is started, a signal indicating the recording state is sent to the recording control circuit 44, and the CPU 17 uses the signal based on this signal. The superposition switching circuit 15 is controlled, and the video signal on which the comment data is superposed is output from the image processing device 41.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
The comment data can be displayed or hidden in conjunction with the recording operation of the VTR that records the video in the external input device, without pressing several switches when superimposing the comment data on the output image. It is possible to easily control the character superimposing operation only by performing a recording operation. As a result, it is possible to perform character superimposition of comment data at the same time as recording starts, such as at the start of surgery, and prevent the possibility of forgetting to display or hide comment data and fail to superimpose the character on the image. The annoyance can be eliminated. In addition, since the comment data can be added to the beginning of the image without fail when recording the video signal, it is possible to easily identify and organize the image after recording.

10 and 11 relate to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a part of the operation panel of the image processing apparatus in an enlarged manner, and FIG. 11 is a view showing comment data. It is a flow chart which shows operation.

In the fifth embodiment, VT is used as comment data.
In this example, the remaining tape time or the elapsed recording time of the R recording tape can be displayed. The configuration of the image processing apparatus is the same as that of the fourth embodiment, and the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 10, the operation panel 50 is provided with a recording time display setting section 51 in addition to the configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 for selecting a tape length for setting the tape length. A switch 52, a tape remaining time display switch 53 for selecting the tape remaining time display, and a recording elapsed time display switch 54 for selecting the recording elapsed time display are provided.

The operation of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 mainly shows the operation of the CPU in the image processing apparatus.

First, in step S1 (hereinafter, steps will be omitted), the tape length of the VTR recording tape is set.
Here, the tape length selection switch 52 on the operation panel 50
This is done by selecting the switch corresponding to the tape length of the recording tape to be used. After setting the tape length, S
In 2, the CPU 17 resets the elapsed recording time stored in the CPU 17 itself or the character memory 43, and S3
The character display ON / OFF switch on the operation panel is turned on.
Determine whether or not. If the character display ON / OFF switch is not selected, the operation of S3 is repeated until the comment data display is instructed.

When the character display ON / OFF switch is pressed in S3, the process proceeds to S4 and the tape remaining time display switch 5
It is determined whether 3 is ON. If the tape remaining time display switch 53 is selected, the process proceeds to S5. After waiting until the REC switch of the operation panel 50 or the VTR itself is pressed in S5, when the REC switch is pressed, the process proceeds to S6, the elapsed recording time is subtracted from the set tape length, and the tape remaining as comment data remains. Calculate time. Then, in S7, the remaining tape time is displayed as the display of the comment data to be superimposed on the video signal. After the display, the process returns to S3 and the same operation is repeated.

On the other hand, when the character display ON / OFF switch is pressed and the recording elapsed time display switch 54 is pressed, the process proceeds from S3, S4 to S8. After waiting until the REC switch of the operation panel 50 or the VTR itself is pressed in S8, when the REC switch is pressed, the process proceeds to S9 and the recording elapsed time is displayed as the display of the comment data to be superimposed on the video signal. After the display, the process returns to S3 and the same operation is repeated.

In combination with the configurations of the second and third embodiments, the tape remaining time display and the recording elapsed time display are performed only on the video signal output to the first monitor 4 and the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 is displayed. It is possible to stop the display of comment data on the output video signal or display comment data other than the recording time display.

As comment data to be superimposed on a video signal output to a monitor or VTR, information relating to an endoscope image signal or a connection state of an image display device or the like is conventionally used, and VTR recording is performed. The remaining time of the tape was not displayed. For this reason, during the operation, the remaining condition of the recording tape is worrisome so that the user cannot concentrate on the procedure, or the tape is wasted during the operation such that the tape is replaced during the operation so as to prevent the tape from being lost during the operation. Although there is a possibility of problems such as the above, the problems can be solved by making it possible to display the recordable time or the elapsed recording time of the video recording means as comment data as in the present embodiment.

That is, according to the present embodiment, by displaying the remaining time of the tape length of the VTR and the elapsed recording time, it is possible to continue the operation without worrying about the remaining time of the recording tape or the tape running out. Therefore, it is possible to concentrate on the procedure and improve the operability when using the endoscope apparatus.

In the present embodiment, either the tape remaining time display or the recording elapsed time display is performed by superimposing it on the video signal, but the tape remaining time display and the recording elapsed time display are alternately performed. Is also good.

12 to 17 relate to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the image processing apparatus, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a part of the operation panel of the image processing apparatus. 14 is an explanatory view showing an image displayed on the monitor when image composition is not performed, and FIG. 15 is an operational explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when image composition is performed on the parent-child screen. 16 is an operation explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when the image is rotated, and FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when the image is synthesized and the image is rotated.

The sixth embodiment is an example in which the configuration of the above-described embodiment is applied to a device having an image synthesizing and image rotating function.

As shown in FIG. 12, the image processing apparatus 61 of the sixth embodiment outputs the output signal of the input selection circuit 12 to the output side of the input selection circuit 12 in the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIG. A frame memory 62 for storing and an interpolation circuit 6 for performing an interpolation process on the output signal of the input selection circuit 12.
3, a 1/4 frame memory 64 for storing the output signal of the interpolation circuit 63 in a 1/4 size, and a frame memory 62 and a 1/4 frame memory 64 which are connected to the subsequent stage for performing an image combining process. A composition circuit 65 and a rotation circuit 66 for performing image rotation processing are provided, and the output of the rotation circuit 66 is connected to the character superposition circuit 13 and the character superposition switching circuit 15. The synthesizing circuit 65 and the rotating circuit 66 are configured to control the image synthesizing process and the image rotating process by a control signal from the CPU 67.

As shown in FIG. 13, the operation panel 68 is provided with a character display switching section 21 and a display time setting section 22 as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. An input selection unit 69 for performing the selection and an image processing selection unit 70 for selecting the image processing function are provided.

The input selection section 69 includes a parent screen selection switch 71 for selecting a parent screen image signal, a child screen selection switch 72 for selecting a child screen image signal, and a parent / child screen selection at the time of selection. A parent-child changeover switch 73 to be performed and a select display 74 including an LED for displaying an image input of each selected parent-child screen are provided. The image processing selection unit 70 is provided with a PinP (picture in picture) switch 75 for instructing image composition for inserting a child screen in the parent screen and an inversion switch 76 for instructing inversion as an example of image rotation. Has been.

Next, the operation relating to the image synthesizing function and the image rotating function in the image processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described. The comment data superimposing process is the same as in the first embodiment described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the operation panel 68
If the switch of the upper image processing selection unit 70 is not selected, the image composition processing by the composition circuit 65 and the rotation circuit 6 are performed.
The image rotation processing by 6 is not performed, the output signal of the input selection circuit 12 is directly input to the character superimposing circuit 13 and the character superimposition switching circuit 15, and after the character superimposing processing and the like are performed, the D / A converter 16 performs analog conversion. The converted image signal is output from the image processing device 61 to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6 and is converted into, for example, FIG.
An image is displayed as shown in FIG.

When performing image composition, first, the master screen selection switch 71 on the operation panel 68 is pressed to select the input signal of the master screen. At this time, the select display 74 corresponding to the image input selected by the parent screen selection switch 71 is turned on, and it is possible to determine which image input is selected as the input signal. In the example of FIG. 13, VIDEO 1 (subject (A) from the endoscope 1a) is used as the input signal of the main screen.
Image) is selected. Also, by pressing the parent-child changeover switch 73, the child screen selection switch 72 becomes effective, and the input signal for the child screen can be selected. The selection method and the selection display are the same as in the case of the parent screen. In the example of FIG. 13, VIDEO 2 (the image of the subject (B) from the endoscope 1b) is used as the input signal of the small screen.
Indicates that is selected.

In the image signals thus selected, the signal of the parent screen is input to the frame memory 62 from the input selection circuit 12 and sequentially stored, and the signal of the child screen is input selection circuit 1.
After being input to the interpolation circuit 63 from 2 and subjected to interpolation processing, they are sequentially stored in the 1/4 frame memory 64. Here, when the PinP switch 75 of the operation panel 68 is selected, the image synthesizing process is performed by the synthesizing circuit 65, and the video signal synthesized on the parent-child screen is output to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6. As shown in FIG. 15, a composite screen of parent and child screens is displayed. Also, by pressing the PinP switch 75 again, as shown in FIG. 14, the image of the parent screen selected by the parent screen selection switch 71 (subject (A)
Image) is only displayed.

When the image is rotated, the operation panel 68 is used.
The upper reversing switch 76 is operated. The operation of each switch of the input selection unit 69 and the PinP switch 75, and the operation related thereto are the same as described above.

When the PinP switch 75 is not pressed and the reversing switch 76 is pressed, the video signal stored in the frame memory 62 is subjected to image rotation processing by the rotation circuit 66, and then the first monitor 4 is operated. , Second monitor 5, V
The image output to TR6 and inverted as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed. In addition, as an image rotated image, an inverted image,
A rotated image, a mirror image, etc. can be generated and displayed. Further, if the reversing switch 76 is pressed again in this state, the image can be returned to the original image.

When the PinP switch 75 is pressed and the reverse switch 76 is pressed, the image signals stored in the frame memory 62 and the 1/4 frame memory 64 are combined by the combining circuit 65. After that, the image is rotated by the rotation circuit 66, output to the first monitor 4, the second monitor 5, and the VTR 6, and the image synthesized and inverted as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed.

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the comment data character (indicated by 1234 in the figure) is superimposed on the endoscopic image for an arbitrary set time or continuously in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment. Is displayed.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment,
Even in a device having an image synthesizing and image rotating function, comment data can be arbitrarily superimposed on the video signal subjected to the image synthesizing and image rotating processing, and the display time of the comment data can be arbitrarily set. Thus, the comment data can be easily displayed on the output image, and the output image most suitable for the role of the output destination device can be output.

[Appendix] As described in detail above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.
That is, (1) character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal is provided, and at least one of a video display means for displaying the video signal as an image and a video recording means for recording the video signal is included. In an image processing device for outputting a video signal to an external input device, a superposition time setting means for setting a character superposition time when the character is superposed on the video signal output to the external input device by the character superposition means, An image processing apparatus, comprising: a character superimposition control unit that controls the operation of the character superimposition unit based on the set time set by the superimposition time setting unit.

With this configuration, it is possible to control the display time of the comment data as information about the video signal, and it is possible to output an output image most suitable for the role of the output destination device.

(2) A character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal is provided, and at least one of the video displaying means for displaying the video signal as an image and the video recording means for recording the video signal. In an image processing device for outputting a video signal in which a character is superimposed to an external input device, including the superimposition, a character superimposition time when the character is superimposed by the character superimposing means on the video signal output to the external input device. A time setting means, an information storage means for storing information to be superimposed on the video signal, and a character superposition control means for controlling the operation of the character superposition means based on the set time set by the superposition time setting means. An image processing apparatus comprising:

(3) A video input means for inputting a plurality of video signals and a character superposing means for superposing a character of information on the video signals on the input video signals are provided, and the video signals are displayed as an image. In an image processing device for outputting a video signal in which a character is superimposed to an external input device including at least one of a video display means and a video recording means for recording a video signal, two or more video signals of the plurality of video signals are combined. Image combining means for obtaining a combined image, image rotating means for performing signal processing for obtaining a rotated image for the image of the video signal, and the character superimposing on the output signal of the image combining means or the image rotating means. A superimposing time setting means for setting a character superimposing time when the character is superposed by the means, and the superimposing time setting means. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a character superimposing control means for controlling the operation of the character superimposing means based on the preset set time.

(4) The image processing device further includes an image of the plurality of video signals and two of the plurality of video signals.
The image combining means for outputting to the external input device any one of a combined image obtained by combining the above, a rotated image obtained by rotating the image of the video signal, and a rotated image obtained by rotating at least a part of the combined image. And the image selection device for selectively switching the input or output of the image rotation device.

(5) The character superposition control means is
The image processing device according to appendix (1), wherein the character is superimposed on the video signal by the character superimposing means during the character superimposing time set by the superimposing time setting means.

(6) The character superposition control means is
The image processing apparatus according to appendix (1), wherein the character superimposition on the video signal according to the set time can be selectively executed for each of the external input devices.

(7) The image processing apparatus according to the above-mentioned appendix (1), wherein the superimposition time setting means can execute the setting of the character superposition time for each of the external input devices.

(8) In an image processing apparatus which comprises a character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal and which outputs the video signal to an external input device including a video recording means for recording the video signal. A superimposing time setting means for setting a character superimposing time when the character superimposing means superimposes a character on a video signal output to the external input device; and a recording control means for controlling recording of the video recording means. A character superimposition control for superimposing a character on a video signal by controlling the operation of the character superimposing means during the character superimposing time set by the superimposing time setting means in conjunction with the recording operation of the video recording means. An image processing apparatus comprising:

With this configuration, there is an effect that the display control of the comment data as the information regarding the video signal can be performed without performing a complicated operation.

(9) The image processing device outputs a video signal to an external input device including the video recording means, and includes a recording control means for controlling the recording of the video recording means, and the character superimposition. The control means interlocks with the recording operation of the video recording means, and causes the character superposition means to superimpose a character on the video signal during the character superposition time set by the superposition time setting means. The image processing apparatus according to appendix (1).

(10) The image processing device outputs a video signal to an external input device including the video recording means, and the character of the information regarding the recording operation of the video recording means is used as the information regarding the video signal. Is superposed on the video signal.

With this configuration, there is an effect that other operation can be continued without worrying about the remaining time of the recording tape of the video recording means.

(11) The image processing apparatus according to the above (10), further comprising a computing means for computing information regarding a recording operation of the video recording means to be superimposed on the video signal.

(12) The image processing apparatus according to the above (10), wherein the information regarding the recording operation of the video recording means is a tape remaining time of a VTR (video tape recorder).

(13) The image processing device according to the above (10), wherein the information regarding the recording operation of the video recording means is the recording elapsed time of the VTR.

(14) As information relating to the recording operation of the video recording means, the tape remaining time of the VTR and the recording elapsed time are superimposed on the video signal so as to be displayed alternately. The image processing device according to item 1.

(15) A video which is connected to the endoscope device and which has a character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal from the endoscope device, and which displays the video signal as an image. In an image processing device for outputting a video signal to an external input device including at least one of a display device and a video recording device for recording a video signal, a character is superimposed on the video signal output to the external input device by the character superimposing device. Superimposing time setting means for setting a character superimposing time when superimposing, and character superimposing controlling means for controlling the operation of the character superimposing means based on the set time set by the superimposing time setting means. A characteristic image processing device.

[0098]

As described above, according to the present invention, the time for superimposing the comment data on the output image can be arbitrarily set, and the comment data can be displayed only when necessary in the output image. There is an effect that it can be easily displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an endoscope apparatus including an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view showing the overall structure of an endoscopic device used for endoscopic surgery.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

6 and 7 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

8 and 9 relate to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus including an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 relate to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation when displaying comment data.

12 to 17 relate to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an enlarged part of an operation panel of the image processing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when image combination is not performed.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a display image on the monitor when images are combined on the parent-child screen.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when the image is rotated.

FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory view showing a display image on the monitor when image synthesis and image rotation are performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, 1c ... Endoscope 3 ... Image processing device 4 ... 1st monitor 5 ... 2nd monitor 6 ... VTR 12 ... Input selection circuit 13 ... Character superposition circuit 14 ... Display time setting circuit 15 ... Character superposition switching circuit 17 ... CPU 18 ... Operation panel 19 ... Keyboard 21 ... Character display switching unit 22 ... Display time setting unit 23 ... Input selection unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character superimposing means for superimposing a character of information relating to the video signal on the video signal,
An image processing apparatus for outputting a video signal to an external input device, comprising at least one of a video display means for displaying a video signal as an image and a video recording means for recording the video signal, wherein: A superimposing time setting means for setting a character superimposing time when the character is superposed by the character superimposing means, and a character superimposing control for controlling an operation of the character superimposing means based on the set time set by the superimposing time setting means. An image processing apparatus comprising: