JPH0759042A - Picture storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a separate observing device to observe a different picture in the same cassette by connecting a request origin device or a motion picture recording and reproducing device to a storage device when a video recording or reproduction request is provided as an output. CONSTITUTION:An observing device 510 outputs a reproduction request relating to a cut xsi1 of a patient A to a controller 70. The controller 700 confirms whether or not current operating state and data of VTRs 410-430 and picture memory banks 310-370 are stored and allocates a VTR and a bank not in operation with respect to a reproduction request. The connection of switches 201, 206, 212 of a matrix switcher 200 is controlled by the controller 700 according to the allocation. Thus, the observation device 510 and the VTR 410 are connected directly and one write/read line of the VTR 410 and the picture memory bank 310 is connected. Furthermore, a position of a tape on which the cut #1 is recorded in a rack and a time code of the cut #1 on the tape are read by the controller 700 and the tape is loaded to the VTR 410.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image storage device for generating, storing and displaying moving images.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A main moving image handled in the medical field is a moving image obtained by cardiac catheterization.
In cardiac catheterization, a contrast agent that absorbs X-rays is poured into the vascular lesion of the patient's heart, X-rays are irradiated to the patient, and the transmitted X-ray image is image intensifier (II). It is converted into an optical image, and this optical image is guided to a cine camera by an optical lens and photographed on a cine film.
This imaging is usually performed for 8 to 10 cuts per patient with a cut of about 10 seconds as one unit. After shooting, the cine film is developed and observed with a cine projector.

The inspection with the cine film has problems such as a film storage space, a complicated developing work, and a photographed result cannot be immediately seen. In order to solve this problem, in recent years, digital video tapes without image deterioration have been substituted for cine film.

FIG. 14 (a) shows the structure of a conventional image storage device employing a digital video tape, and FIG. 14 (b).
FIG. 14 shows the configuration of the inspection device shown in FIG. FIG. 14 (a)
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional image storage device includes a plurality of inspection devices 1 and 2, and a plurality of observation devices 3, 4, and 5. Dedicated digital video tape recorders (VTRs) 6 to 10 are connected to the inspection devices 1 and 2 and the observation devices 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Further, the conventional image storage device includes a video cassette changer 11. This video cassette changer 11 is for storing a rack for storing a video cassette of several hundreds, a cassette for unloading from the rack, setting it on a target digital video tape recorder, and storing the cassette in the original position of the rack. It has a robot arm mechanism.

A control device 12 for integrally controlling all of the above-mentioned devices is connected to each of the above-mentioned devices. The control device 12 manages a video database that lists the correspondence between each position of the rack and the attribute information of each cut recorded in each cassette and the correspondence between each cut and each time code stored in each cassette. Using this video database, it is possible to respond to image recording requests from the inspection devices 1 and 2 and reproduction requests from the observation device.

In the inspection apparatus 1, as shown in FIG. 14 (b), an X-ray tube 13 for irradiating X-rays and an image intensifier 14 are arranged to face each other with a subject P on a top plate 15 interposed therebetween. . X-rays are irradiated while a contrast agent that absorbs X-rays is poured into the cardiovascular lesion of the subject P, and the transmitted X-ray image that has passed through the subject P is converted into an optical image by the image intensifier 14. This optical image is captured by the video camera 17 via the optical lens 16. Video camera 17
The video signal output from the image processing unit 19 is subjected to various kinds of image processing such as frequency enhancement processing in the image processing unit 19 via the analog-digital converter (A / D) 18, and the digital-analog converter (D / A) 20. Monitor returned to analog signal 2
It is displayed in 1. Further, the video signal output from the video camera 17 is temporarily stored in the image memory 22 having a storage capacity of about one cut, and the digital video dedicated to the inspection apparatus 1 is also supplied via the digital VTR interface 23. It is sent to the tape recorder 9 and recorded on a video cassette. Incidentally, 24 is a control means for controlling these respective parts in a centralized manner, and 25 is an X-ray generation control part for supplying tube power to the X-ray tube 13.

At the time of image interpretation, for example, when a reproduction request is sent from the observation device 3 to the control device 12 together with information on a specific cut of a specific patient desired by the image interpretation doctor, the cassette recording the cut is digitally dedicated to the observation device 3. Each image that is reproduced by the video tape recorder 6 and constitutes the cut is returned to the requesting observation device 3 and displayed on the monitor. Generally 1 per roll for digital videotape
A moving image of about 0 people can be recorded, the image can be easily duplicated without image deterioration, and the taken moving image can be reproduced in a relatively short time because the developing work such as cine film is unnecessary. There are advantages that cine film does not have.

[0008]

However, the image storage device employing such a conventional digital video tape has various problems as described below. First and foremost, when the images of different patients recorded on the same cassette tape are to be observed by different observation devices, they cannot be simultaneously performed, and one of them is always kept waiting. This waiting time is very long because the same cut is often repeated many times for image interpretation.

Secondly, since the digital video tape recorder is constantly operating during image interpretation, the head is consumed greatly. Thirdly, in the case of immediately observing the image taken by the inspection device with the observation device, the digital video tape recorder is recording, so the reproduction operation cannot be started, and therefore, until all the images of the patient are finished. I can't observe. Furthermore, it is not possible to observe immediately because it is necessary to rewind the tape from recording to playback.

[0010] Fourth, when the moving image recorded on the same cassette tape is to be observed by the observing device during recording of the moving image from the inspection device, wait until the inspection is completed. There must be.

Fifth, since the digital video tape recorder is provided exclusively for each of the observation device and the inspection device, a large number of them are required, and the operation rate of each digital video tape recorder is low, and the efficiency is high. Is bad.

The present invention has been made to address the above-mentioned circumstances, and its first purpose is to observe images of different patients recorded on the same cassette tape by different observation devices. However, one of them is to provide an image storage device that does not have to wait. The second purpose is
An object of the present invention is to provide an image storage device capable of suppressing wear of the head of a digital video tape recorder. Third
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image storage device that can immediately display a moving image captured immediately before, even when the inspection device captures the image. A fourth object is to provide an image storage device capable of displaying, on the observation device, a moving image recorded on the same cassette tape as the recording, even while recording a moving image from the inspection device. That is. The fifth purpose is to immediately respond to irregular recording requests and reproduction requests from the observation devices and inspection devices without waiting time even if the number of digital video tape recorders is less than the total number of observation devices and inspection devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image storage device capable of maintaining the performance of

[0013]

An image storage apparatus according to the present invention outputs a moving image and a plurality of inspection apparatuses for outputting a recording request for the generated moving image, and a request for reproducing a desired moving image. A plurality of observation devices for displaying moving images, a moving image recording / reproducing device for recording and storing a large amount of moving images on a video tape and reproducing the moving images from the video tape, and a storage device for temporarily storing the moving images. And a connection means for arbitrarily connecting the storage device to at least one of the plurality of inspection devices, the plurality of observation devices, and the moving image recording / reproducing device, and based on the recording request or the reproduction request. And a control means for controlling connection of the connection means so as to connect the requesting inspection device or observation device and the moving image recording / reproducing device to the storage device.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when a recording request or a reproducing request is output from any inspection device or observation device, the requesting inspection device or observation device and any one of the moving image recording / reproduction devices are storage devices. Since it is connected to, the moving image generated by the inspection device is once written in the storage device, then sent from this storage device to the moving image recording / playback device and recorded on a video tape, and the moving image requested to be played back is recorded and played back in the moving image. It is possible to reproduce by the device, write this in the storage device once, and then supply from the storage device to the observation device which is the source of the reproduction request. Therefore, even when trying to observe the images of different patients recorded on the same video tape by different observation devices by releasing the moving image recording / reproducing device and the video tape early, it is possible to eliminate waiting for one of them. . Further, since the moving image once written in the storage device may be supplied from the storage device in response to a subsequent reproduction request, it is not necessary to operate the moving image recording / reproducing device each time a repeated reproduction request is made. The operating time of the image recording / reproducing apparatus is shortened, and the consumption of the recording / reproducing head can be suppressed accordingly. Further, since the moving image generated in the inspection device is once written in the storage device and sent from this storage device to the moving image recording / playback device and recorded on the video tape, the moving image recorded during this recording is recorded. Even when a reproduction request is issued, the requested moving image can be immediately supplied from the storage device to the reproduction request source. Further, since the moving image can be transferred to the observation device, the inspection device, or the moving image recording / reproducing device via the storage device, even if the number of the moving image recording / reproducing device is less than the total number of the observation device and the inspection device, the recording is performed. Requests and playback requests can be dealt with quickly.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an image storage device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. The image storage device of the present embodiment (hereinafter abbreviated as “the device of the present embodiment”) is a plurality of units that generate moving images, here two inspection devices 110 and 130, and a plurality of units that display moving images. Three observation devices 510, 5
20, 530, inspection devices 110, 130, and observation device 5
A digital video tape recorder 410, 420, 430 for recording and reproducing a moving image of three moving images, here three, is used, which is less than the total number of 10, 520, 530 (here, five).

Further, the apparatus of the present embodiment has a plurality of image memory banks 310, 320, 330 and 34, here seven.
0,350,360,370 are provided. Each of the image memory banks 310 to 370 is provided with two write / read lines, and by using these two write / read lines independently, it is possible to write and read the video signal at the same time. is there.

The matrix switcher 200 connects the write / read lines of one of the image memory banks 310 to 370 to the inspection devices 110 and 130 and the observation devices 510 and 52.
0, 530 and one of the digital video tape recorders 410, 420, 430, and the other write / read line of each of the image memory banks 310 to 370 is connected to the inspection device 110, 130 and the observation device 510, The connection with either 520 or 530 is switched. This matrix switcher 200
The configuration of will be described later.

The apparatus of this embodiment also includes a video cassette changer 600. The video cassette changer 600 takes out a cassette for storing a large number of cassette tapes, an arbitrary cassette tape from the rack, and stores the cassette tape in an arbitrary digital video tape recorder 41.
0, 420, 430 and set the cassette tape to a digital video tape recorder 410, 42.
The robot arm mechanism for returning from 0,430 to the original position of the rack.

Further, the apparatus of the present embodiment is provided with a control device 700 for controlling the overall operation of the apparatus of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the inspection device 110 (130 has the same structure) receives the tube voltage from the X-ray generation control device 123 and receives X-rays.
The X-ray tube 111 that irradiates the rays and the image intensifier 112 are arranged to face each other with the subject P on the top plate 113 interposed therebetween. X-rays are exposed while a contrast agent that absorbs X-rays is poured into the cardiovascular lesion area of the subject P, whereby the transmitted X-ray image that has passed through the subject P is converted into an optical image by the image intensifier 112. It This optical image is captured by the video camera 115 via the optical lens 114.
A video signal output from the video camera 115 is subjected to various image processing such as frequency enhancement processing in an image processing unit 117 via an analog-digital converter (A / D) 116, and a digital-analog converter (D / A) ) 118, after being converted back to an analog signal, it is displayed on the monitor 119. The video signal output from the video camera 112 is temporarily stored in the image memory 120 having a storage capacity of about one cut, and also a digital VTR interface (I / F).
It is supplied to one input terminal of the matrix switcher 200 via 121. The control unit 122 uses the inspection device 11
This is for centrally controlling the operation of the entire zero. Further, the control unit 122 outputs a recording request together with attribute information such as a patient name and a cut number when a moving image is generated. The recording request and the attribute information are sent to the control device 700 via the communication means 124.

As shown in FIG. 3, the observation device 510 (52)
0 and 530 have the same structure), a video signal supplied from one output terminal of the matrix switcher 200 is input through a digital VTR interface (I / F) 513, and the image processing unit 514 performs frequency enhancement processing on the video signal. Various image processing of the digital analog converter (D /
A) Display on monitor 516 via 515. The control unit 511 controls the operations of the digital VTR interface 513 and the image processing unit 514, and communicates a reproduction request together with attribute information regarding a specific cut of a desired patient input by operating an input device such as a keyboard (not shown). Output to the control device 700 via 512.

The image memory bank 310 (the other image memory banks 320 to 370 have the same structure) is a storage means capable of simultaneously writing and reading video signals as described above, and various types are currently being developed. However, any of them may be adopted. For example, the image memory bank 310 includes two magnetic disks, a write / read drive device individually associated with each magnetic disk, and a write / read line for each drive device. The video signal stored in the other magnetic disk can be read at the same time while the video signal is being written to. The image memory bank 310 may be the image storage device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 3-105460. This image storage device is provided with a plurality of data input / output ports for inputting / outputting image data to / from the storage element, and the number of shift stages can be controlled so that the phases of the respective data are provided in the respective data input / output ports. A plurality of shift registers, a timing controller that generates a cycle selection signal that controls a writing or reading cycle of a storage element, a read / write controller that sends a signal that switches a writing or reading timing to the storage element, and a plurality of data input / outputs An image input / output to / from each data input / output port according to the cycle selection signal, comprising an address controller that sends a signal to the storage element to switch addresses of a plurality of image data input / output to / from the port based on the cycle selection signal. By controlling the data and making the memory element write and read, Also 2
Simultaneous operations of writing and reading image data can be achieved through separate write / read lines of the book. Here, the latter image storage device will be used as the image memory bank 310 in the following description.

As shown in FIG. 4, the matrix switcher 200 has a plurality of switches arranged in a matrix. In each of the image memory banks 310 to 370,
Two switches are provided for each. Inspection device 11
The switch 204 corresponds to 0, and the switch 205 corresponds to the inspection device 130. The observation device 510 corresponds to the switch 201, the observation device 520 corresponds to the switch 202, and the observation device 530 corresponds to the switch 20.
3 is supported. Digital video tape recorder 410
Corresponds to the switch 212, the digital video tape recorder 420 corresponds to the switch 213, and the digital video tape recorder 430 corresponds to the switch 214. Each wiring of the two switches of each of the image memory banks 320 to 370 is connected to the image memory bank 310.
This is the same as the wiring of the two switches 206 and 207.
Therefore, only the wirings of the switches 206 and 207 of the image memory bank 310 will be described here, and the description of the other wirings will be omitted.

Each of the switches 206 and 207 has one fixed terminal 206f and 207f and one fixed terminal 206f and 20f.
A plurality of selection terminals 206a to 206e and 207a to 207e, which correspond to the total number of inspection devices and observation devices in this case, are connected to 7f. The fixed terminal 206f of the switch 206 is connected to one of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 310, and the switch 207
Fixed terminal 207f is connected to the other write / read line of the image memory bank 310. The selection terminals 206a to 206e of the switch 206 correspond to the switches 212 to 2 of the digital video tape recorders 410 to 430, respectively.
The selection terminals are commonly connected to the 14 selection terminals, and separately connected to the selection terminals of the switches 201 to 205 of the inspection apparatuses 110 and 130 and the observation apparatuses 510 to 530, respectively.
Therefore, switch 206 and switches 212 through 21
4 and switches 201 to 205 to control one of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 310 to the digital video tape recorder 410.
To 430, and any of the inspection devices 110 and 130 and the observation devices 510 to 530 can be selectively connected. The selection terminals 207a to 207e of the switch 207 are connected to the inspection devices 110 and 13 respectively.
0 and the selection terminals of the switches 201 to 205 of the observation devices 510 to 530 are separately connected. Therefore,
The image memory bank 310 is controlled by controlling the switching of the switch 207 and the switches 201 to 205.
The other write / read line of the inspection device 110, 130
And any of the observation devices 510 to 530 can be selectively connected.

The switching of each switch of the matrix switcher 200 is controlled by the controller 700. The control device 700 performs this switching control with the request source from which the recording request or the reproduction request is issued, the image memory banks 310 to 370, and the digital video tape recorder 4.
10 to 430 based on the current operating status. The control device 700 recognizes which cassette tape the requested cut is recorded on,
Manage the video database. In this video database, a correspondence table that associates each position of the rack with attribute information such as patient name of each cut recorded in each cassette, each cut stored in each cassette, and its time code are stored. And a correspondence table in which

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the initial state, all the image memory banks 310 to 37
It is assumed that the video signal is not written in 0, and the digital video tape recorders 410, 420, 430 and the image memory banks 310 to 370 are all inactive.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of each part when a reproduction request is issued from any one of the observation devices 510 to 530. In FIG. 5, WRL is an abbreviation for write / read line. Patient A from the observation device 510
A reproduction request relating to the cut # 1 having a certain number is output to the control device 700. The control device 700 confirms whether the digital video tape recorders 410, 420 and 430 and the image memory banks 310 to 370 are currently operating and whether or not they are storing data, and selects those that are not in operation in response to the reproduction request. assign. Here, all the digital video tape recorders 410, 420, 430 are not in operation, and all the image memory banks 310 to 37 are
Since 0 does not store data and is not operating,
Any digital video tape recorder 410 and image memory bank 310 can be assigned. When data is stored in all the image memory banks 310 to 370, the control device 700 measures the access frequency of each of the image memory banks 310 to 370 within the predetermined period before the current time point and determines the most accessible. Allocate infrequent image memory banks to playback and recording requests.

According to this allocation, the connection of the switches 201, 206, 212 of the matrix switcher 200 is controlled by the control device 700. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the observation device 510 and the digital video tape recorder 410 are directly connected, and at the same time, the digital video tape recorder 410 and one write / read line of the image memory bank 310 are connected.

Further, the position in the rack of the cassette tape a in which the cut # 1 is recorded and the time code of the cut # 1 in the cassette tape a are read from the video database by the control device 700. Based on the read information, the controller 700 controls the robot arm mechanism of the video cassette changer 600, whereby the cassette tape a is taken out from the rack and the digital video tape recorder 410 is operated.
Inserted in. After this insertion, the controller 700 controls the digital video tape recorder 410, whereby the cassette tape a is fast-forwarded and the cut # 1 is cued.

After the above work is completed, the cut # 1 is reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 410.
The cut # 1 is directly supplied to the observation device 510 and is written in the image memory bank 310 via one of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 310.

While the cut # 1 is being reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 410, it is assumed that a reproduction request is made again from the beginning of the same cut # 1. In this case, the connection of each switch 201, 206, 207 is switched. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the other write / read line of the image memory bank 310 becomes the observation device 51.
The video signal of the cut # 1 which is already connected to the image memory bank 310 and is connected to the image memory bank 310 is connected to the observation device 5 via the other write / read line of the image memory bank 310.
It is read toward 10. When the cut requested to be played back exists in any of the image memory banks as described above, it is possible to supply the cut from the image memory bank to the requesting observation device so that the cassette tape is played back by the digital video tape recorder. Then, priority is always given to supplying the cut from the digital video tape recorder to the requesting viewing device.

Incidentally, the digital video tape recorder 41
Even if the reproduction of the cut # 1 requested by the control device 700 is completed, 0 continues the reproduction operation until the reproduction of all the remaining cuts # 2 to # 5 related to the patient A is completed. The reproduced video signal of cut # 2 is written in the image memory bank 310 via one write / read line of the image memory bank 310.

Here, after the second display of the cut # 1,
It is assumed that a reproduction request for cut # 2 is made. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, since the digital video tape recorder 410 is in the process of reproducing the cut # 3, the cut # already written in the image memory bank 310 is cut.
The two video signals are read out toward the observation device 510 via the other write / read line. When all the other cuts relating to the patient A have been reproduced and written to the image memory bank, the cassette tape a is immediately rewound and returned to the original position of the rack by the robot arm mechanism. After all the cuts relating to the patient A have been written to the image memory bank 310, the observation device 510
In response to the reproduction request for each cut of the patient A from, the image signal of the cut is read from the image memory bank 310 to the requesting observation device 510, as shown in FIG.

Since the cut video signal reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 410 is written in the image memory bank 310 as described above, the number of subsequent reproduction requests written is small by reading from the image memory bank 310. The waiting time can be dealt with, and a relatively long waiting time due to rewinding of a video tape or the like as in the conventional case is eliminated. Also, all the cuts of the patient A other than the requested cuts are reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 410, and these are written in the image memory bank 310. In response to the subsequent reproduction request, the image memory bank 310 outputs the cuts. Since the reading is dealt with, it is not necessary to wait for the video tape a to be inserted into the digital video tape recorder 410 until the diagnosis of the patient A is completed as in the conventional case, and the video tape a and the digital video tape recorder 410 can be operated at an early stage. It can be released and used for other requests.

Here, it is assumed that in the state shown in FIG. 8, the inspection apparatus 110 requests the recording of the moving image of the patient B. In this case, the control device 700 allocates the image memory bank 320 that is not in operation to this recording request. According to this allocation, the switches 204 and 208 of the matrix switcher 200 are switching-controlled by the control device 700. This allows
One of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 320 is connected to the inspection device 110. As shown in FIG. 9, the video signal of the moving image generated by the inspection device 110 is input to the image memory bank 320 via one of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 320 and written therein. When the writing of the video signal to the image memory bank 320 is completed, as shown in FIG. 10, when all the digital video tape recorders 410 to 430 are not operating at ideal timing, as shown in FIG. Is recorded on an arbitrary cassette tape b of the digital video tape recorder 410, for example. Then, after the recording is completed, the cassette tape b is immediately rewound and returned to the original position of the rack by the robot arm mechanism.

FIG. 11 shows the case of patient C in the situation shown in FIG.
A request for reproduction of a certain cut is issued from the observation device 520,
Further, the reproduction request for a certain cut of the patient B is the observation device 530.
It is a figure which shows the wiring when it is taken out from. Control device 70
In order to deal with the reproduction request of a certain cut of the patient C, 0 indicates whether the cut requested to be reproduced is written in any of the image memory banks 310 to 370 in response to the reproduction request from the observation device 520. To investigate the. When the cut is written in any of the image memory banks 310 to 370, the cut is supplied from here to the requesting observation device 520. On the other hand, if the cut is not written in any of the image memory banks 310 to 370, the video tape c recording the cut is unloaded from the rack and is inserted into, for example, the digital video tape recorder 420 that is not currently in operation. It Then, as in the case shown in FIG. 6, the switches 202, 210, 213 of the matrix switcher 200 are switching-controlled so that one of the write / read lines of the image memory bank 330, which is not currently in operation, becomes the digital video tape recorder 420. The video signal of the cut of the patient C, which is connected to the observation device 520 and reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 420, is supplied to the observation device 520 and is written in the image memory bank 330.

Next, the control device 700 controls the switches 203 and 208 to handle the reproduction request for a certain cut by the patient B.
And the other write / read line of the image memory bank 320 which is reading the cut of the patient B to the digital video tape recorder 410 by switching control of the observer 53.
Connect to 0. As a result, the video signal of patient B is sent to the digital video tape recorder 410 and recorded on the cassette tape b at the same time.
Observation device 530 through the other write / read line of 0
Is supplied to.

The patient C's cuts of the cassette tape c are reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 420, written in the image memory bank 330, and all the patient B's cuts written in the image memory bank 320 are digital video tapes. FIG. 12 shows the wiring for coping with the reproduction request of the patients C and B from the observation devices 520 and 530 in the state where the recorder 410 has completed the recording on the cassette tape b. In response to the reproduction request of the patient B from the observation device 530, all the cuts of this patient B have already been recorded in the image memory bank 32.
Since it exists in 0, the image signal of the requested cut is supplied from the image memory bank 320 to the observation device 530. Also, a certain cut of the patient C requested to be reproduced by the observation device 520 has already been recorded in the digital video tape recorder 4.
20 and is written in the image memory bank 330, all the other cuts other than those requested by the patient C are reproduced by the digital video tape recorder 420 and are recorded in the image memory bank 330 as described with reference to FIG. While writing to the bank 330, at the same time, the video signal of the requested cut is sent from the image memory bank 330 to the image memory bank 330.
Is supplied to the observation device 520.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5, and includes two magnetic disks as the image memory banks 310 to 370, a write / read drive device individually associated with each magnetic disk, and a drive device for each drive device. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram in the case of adopting the one having the write / read line of FIG. 1. In this case, each magnetic disk is used while switching between writing and reading in accordance with a reproduction request.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of observation devices, a plurality of inspection devices, a plurality of digital video tape recorders, and a plurality of image memory banks can be connected in any combination through the matrix switcher. ,
Therefore, even if the number of digital video tape recorders is less than the total number of observation devices and inspection devices, it is possible to quickly respond to the reproduction request and the recording request. Also,
Since the video signal of the cut reproduced by the digital video tape recorder is written in the image memory bank, the reproduction request can be quickly dealt with by reading from the image memory bank for the subsequent reproduction request. As in the prior art, the waiting time for rewinding the video tape is eliminated, and the consumption of the head of the digital video tape recorder can be reduced. In addition, a series of all cuts of the same patient other than the requested cuts are played back by the digital video tape recorder and written in the image memory bank, and read from this image memory bank for subsequent playback requests. It is not necessary to wait with the relevant video tape inserted in the digital video tape recorder until the diagnosis of the patient is completed as in the conventional case, so that the video tape and digital video tape recorder can be released early and It is possible to promptly respond to the reproduction request and the recording request of.

In the above description, all cuts of the same patient are written in the same image memory bank, but cuts of the same patient may be written in different image memory banks. Further, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be modified in various ways.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a recording request or a reproduction request is output from any inspection device or observation device, the requesting inspection device or observation device and moving image recording / reproduction are performed. Since any one of the devices is connected to the storage device, the moving image generated by the inspection device is once written in the storage device and then sent from this storage device to the moving image recording / playback device to be recorded on a video tape, and a playback request is made. The moving image can be played back by the moving image recording / playback device, and once written in the storage device, it can be supplied from this storage device to the viewing requesting viewing device, whereby the moving image recording / playback device and the video tape can be played at an early stage. Even when trying to view images of different patients recorded on the same videotape by using different viewing devices, it is no longer necessary to wait for one of them. Since the moving image written in the storage device may be supplied from the storage device in response to a subsequent reproduction request, it is not necessary to operate the moving image recording / reproducing device each time a repeated reproduction request is made. The operating time of the playback device can be shortened, and the consumption of the recording / playback head can be suppressed accordingly. In addition, the moving image generated by the inspection device is once written in the storage device and then transferred from this storage device to the moving image recording / playback device. Since it is sent and recorded on a video tape, even if a playback request for the recorded moving image is issued during this recording, the storage device must immediately supply the requested moving image to the playback request source. Can
Further, since the moving image can be transferred to the observation device, the inspection device, or the moving image recording / reproducing device via the storage device, even if the number of the moving image recording / reproducing device is less than the total number of the observation device and the inspection device, the recording is performed. It is possible to provide an image storage device capable of promptly responding to a request and a reproduction request.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image storage device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the inspection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the observation device in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the matrix switcher of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the device of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing wiring determined by switching of a matrix switcher during reproduction by a digital video tape recorder.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another wiring determined by switching of a matrix switcher during reproduction by a digital video tape recorder.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing wiring determined by switching of a matrix switcher after reproduction by a digital video tape recorder is completed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing wirings determined by switching of a matrix switcher when writing and reading moving images to and from a plurality of image memory banks.

FIG. 10 is determined by switching a matrix switcher when recording a moving image read from one image memory bank on a cassette tape and supplying a moving image read from another image memory bank to an observation device. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing wirings determined by switching of a matrix switcher when recording, reproducing and writing a moving image for each image memory bank at the same time.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing wirings determined by switching of a matrix switcher when simultaneously reproducing and writing a moving image for each image memory bank.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart corresponding to FIG. 5 for explaining an operation when an image memory bank including two magnetic disks is adopted.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a conventional image storage device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 110, 130 ... Inspecting device, 200 ... Matrix switcher, 310 to 370 ... Image memory bank, 410 to 430 ... Digital video tape recorder, 510 to 530 ... Observing device, 600 ... Video cassette changer, 700 ... Control device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 5/78 510 Z 7734-5C 5/7826 7/18 B (72) Inventor Hiroshi Asahina Tochigi Prefecture No. 1385 Shimoishigami, Otawara-shi 1 Stock Company Toshiba Nasu Factory

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of inspection apparatuses that generate a moving image and output a recording request for the generated moving image, a plurality of observation apparatuses that output a reproduction request for a desired moving image and display the moving image, and a video. A moving image recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and storing a large amount of moving images on a tape and reproducing the moving images from a video tape, a storage device for temporarily storing the moving images, the storage device, and the plurality of inspection devices. Connection means for arbitrarily connecting at least one of the plurality of observation devices and the moving image recording / reproducing device, an inspection device or an observation device that is the request source based on the recording request or the reproduction request, and An image storage device, comprising: a control unit that controls connection of the connection unit so that any one of the moving image recording / playback devices is connected to the storage device. 2. A plurality of inspection devices which generate a moving image and output a recording request of the generated moving image, a plurality of observation devices which output a reproduction request of a desired moving image and display the moving image, and a video. A moving image recording / playback device for recording and storing a large amount of moving images on a tape and playing back the moving images from a video tape; a plurality of storage devices for temporarily storing moving images; Connection means for arbitrarily connecting the inspection device, the plurality of observation devices, and at least one of the moving image recording / playback devices, and an arbitrary storage device for the recording request or the playback request. A control means for allocating to the original inspection device or observation device and controlling the connection of the connection means so that the allocated storage device is connected to the requesting inspection device or observation device. Image storage device, wherein the door. 3. The moving image with the least frequency of reproduction request when the recording means makes a recording request when all the storage devices have already stored moving images. 3. The image storage device according to claim 2, wherein a storage device storing the above is allocated to the recording request, and the inspection device that has issued the recording request is connected to the allocated storage device. 4. The storage device includes means for simultaneously writing and reading a moving image, and the control means connects the storage device to any one of the plurality of observation devices and any one of the moving image recording / reproducing devices. By controlling the connection means as described above, the moving image reproduced by the moving image recording / reproducing apparatus is written into the storage device, and at the same time, the moving image written in the storage device is read out toward the observation device. The image storage device according to any one of claims 1 and 2. 5. The image storage device according to claim 4, wherein the storage device is composed of at least two magnetic disk devices capable of writing and reading independently of each other. 6. The control means, when the moving image requested to be reproduced is stored in the storage device, connects the storage device and an observation device as a reproduction request source and reproduces the reproduction from the storage device. Supplying the moving image requested to be reproduced to the requesting observation device is performed by connecting the moving image recording / reproducing device and the reproduction requesting observation device from the moving image recording / reproducing device to the requesting observation device. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein priority is given to supplying the moving image requested to be reproduced. 7. The control unit receives the recording request and controls the connecting unit to connect the inspection device of the recording request source and the storage device to generate the inspection device of the recording request source. The moving image is written in the storage device, and then written in the storage device by controlling the connecting means so as to connect the storage device to either the moving image recording / playback device at an arbitrary timing. The image storage device according to claim 1, wherein a moving image is recorded by the moving image recording / playback device.