JPH10276973A - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic endoscope device which can observe a continuously changing endoscopic image (dynamic image) even when a photograph is taken. SOLUTION: In an electronic endoscope device consisting of an electronic endoscope 1 with solid imaging elements, a video signal processing device 2 which receives an output signal of the solid imaging elements, and an observing monitor means 10, a main observing monitor means 10a whose image is changed according to the operation of an operator and a sub observing monitor means 10b whose image is controlled according to an image of the main observing monitor means 10a. This allows a main screen and sub screen to be displayed at a time on the same observing monitor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope device, and more particularly, to an electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device, a video signal processing device for receiving an output signal of the solid-state imaging device and performing signal processing, and an observation device. The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus comprising a monitor unit for use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an endoscope for observing an internal organ of a body cavity or the like by inserting an elongated endoscope insertion section into a body cavity, wherein a charge-coupled device is provided at the tip of the endoscope insertion section. (C
A solid-state image sensor such as a CD) is arranged to image a subject in a body cavity, perform signal processing on an endoscopic image obtained by the imaging, and display a video image on a display screen of an observation monitor means. Endoscope devices are generally put to practical use.

In such an electronic endoscope apparatus, when a photograph is taken and recorded for an endoscope image which is picked up by a solid-state image pickup device and displayed on an observation monitor means, the change usually occurs continuously. An endoscope image (moving image) in the body cavity to be displayed is displayed as a still image by temporarily stopping (freezing) the image on a display screen, and the still image is captured and recorded by a recording device such as a camera. This is because, when taking a photograph of a continuously changing moving image, it is considered that if the movement of the subject is intense, a clear image cannot be recorded due to blurring, blurring, or the like.

However, if the display screen of the observation monitor means is frozen in order to take a photograph, when a still image is displayed on the display screen of the observation monitor means, it continuously changes. This means that the situation inside the body cavity cannot be observed in real time.

Therefore, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-8915, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-355, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-356, etc. There have been proposed various electronic endoscope apparatuses configured to simultaneously display a freeze image (still image) and a real-time image (moving image).

That is, the electronic endoscope apparatus described in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-8915, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-355, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-356, etc. A real-time endoscopic image (moving image) is displayed on the means, and when a freeze instruction is given by an operation member or the like in this state, the observation monitor means displays the freeze image at the time when the freeze instruction signal is generated. (Still image) and a real-time image (moving image) are simultaneously displayed on the same screen. Further, when a release instruction signal is input by an operation member for taking a picture in this state, only a freeze image (still image) is displayed on the observation monitor means, and this still image is recorded. doing.

Here, the configuration of the conventional general electronic endoscope apparatus as described above will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

A conventional electronic endoscope apparatus has an electronic endoscope 10 having a solid-state image pickup device (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) at a distal end thereof.
1 and a digital camera control unit (hereinafter C
CU) 102 and an observation T for displaying an endoscope image.
It comprises a V monitor 110 and a photographing device 113 which is a recording device for photographing.

The endoscope 101 comprises an elongated endoscope insertion section and an operation section connected to the insertion section. The operation section includes a freeze switch 101a for generating a freeze signal and a freeze switch 101a. Various operation members such as a release switch 101b for generating a release signal when taking a picture are provided. Then, the endoscope 10
1 is electrically connected to the CCU 102 so that the freeze signal and the release signal are transmitted to the memory control circuit 108.

The photographing device 113 includes a monitor 111 for displaying an image similar to the endoscope image displayed on the TV monitor 110, and a film (see FIG. 1) for displaying the endoscope image displayed on the monitor 111. (Not shown) and the like.

The CCU 102 includes a preamplifier circuit for amplifying an image sensor output signal output from the CCD of the endoscope 101, a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit for extracting video information from the image sensor output signal, and the like. Means 103 for converting an analog signal output from the preprocessing means 103 into a digital signal.
A D converter 104; a signal processing circuit 105 for performing signal processing such as white balance, contour emphasis, enlargement processing, and color tone adjustment on the image pickup device output signal digitized by the A / D converter 104; The first for the main screen for electrically recording the signal from the circuit 105
A memory 106 and a second memory 107 for a sub-screen, a memory control circuit 108 for controlling the first and second memories 106 and 107, and a digital image signal recorded in the first and second memories 106 and 107. It is composed of a D / A converter 109 for converting to an analog image signal.

The analog image signal output from the D / A converter 109 is output to the TV monitor 110 and the photographing device 113 which are electrically connected to the CCU 102, and the image is displayed on the TV monitor 110. At the same time, the information is also displayed on the monitor 111 in the photographing device 113.

Further, the image displayed on the monitor section 111 receives a release signal from the release switch 101b of the endoscope 101 electrically connected to the photographing apparatus 113 via the CCU 102, and receives a release signal from the camera. Part 1
Image recording is performed on a film (not shown) by 12.

The operation of the above-described conventional electronic endoscope apparatus configured as described above will be described.

First, an endoscope insertion portion of the endoscope 101 is inserted into a body cavity, a desired subject is illuminated by a light source device (not shown), and an optical image of the subject in the body cavity is transferred to a CCD. Take an image. The CCD converts an optical image of the subject into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the CCU 102 as an output signal of the image sensor.

The output signal output from the CCD is subjected to an amplification process, a CDS process and the like by the pre-processing means 103, and then converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by the A / D converter 104.

The digital image signal converted by the A / D converter 104 is subjected to white balance processing for adjusting the level of the RGB signal, enhancement processing of the outline, image enlargement processing, and color adjustment processing by the signal processing circuit 105. And so on.

The image signal processed by the signal processing circuit 105 is stored in the first memory 1 for the main screen.
06, and is also electrically recorded in the second memory 107 for the sub-screen.

Here, the signal processing circuit 1 is stored in the second memory 107 for the sub-screen by the memory control circuit 108.
An output signal from the sub-screen 05 is input while being thinned out and reduced, whereby an image signal for a sub-screen is created. Here, the display of the image signal for the sub-screen recorded in the second memory 107 is displayed smaller than the display of the image signal for the main screen recorded in the first memory 106. .

The memory control circuit 108 controls the first and second memories 106 and 107 based on a freeze signal from a freeze switch 101a of the endoscope 101 and a release signal from a release switch 101b.

That is, the first and second memories 106 and 107
Is output from the D / A as described above.
Converted into an analog signal by the converter 109,
It is output to the TV monitor 110 for observation and the photographing device 113. At this time, the first and second memories 106, 1
The form of the image signal output from 07 is controlled by the memory control circuit 108, and the screen is displayed as shown below.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the change of the screen display displayed on the observation TV monitor 110 is as follows. First, in the state of “normal observation” M101, the endoscope image in the body cavity changes continuously. Only (moving image) is displayed in the main screen display area a. In the “normal observation” state, other information such as patient data and apparatus state information may be displayed in the empty area other than the main screen display area a. In this case, the operator selects in advance whether or not to display information such as patient data. Whether or not to display information such as patient data is determined by a freeze instruction by the freeze switch 101a or a release by the release switch 101b. Even when the instruction is given, it does not change.

Next, the operator operates the freeze switch 101a.
When the freeze instruction is performed by operating
As shown in 102, the display of the main screen display area a in the display screen of the TV monitor 110 is switched to a frozen state (still image), and the sub-screen display area b is changed to a display area other than the main screen display area a. Appears, and a moving image is displayed here.

From this state, when the operator further operates the release switch 101b to give a release instruction,
As shown in the "release time" M103, the sub-screen display area b disappears from the display screen of the TV monitor 110, and only the main screen display area a (and the information display of the patient data) where the still image is displayed is displayed. The state is displayed, and the photographing (recording) operation by the photographing device 113 is performed.
Then, when the photographing operation is completed, the display of the main screen display area a is switched to a moving image as shown in “normal observation (initial state)” M104.

In the state of “normal observation” M101,
When a release instruction is issued, the display screen of the TV monitor 110 immediately changes to the display of "at the time of release" M103, and a photographing operation (recording operation) is performed.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, the change in the screen display displayed on the monitor unit 111 of the photographing apparatus 113 is exactly the same as the display screen displayed on the observation TV monitor 110 in FIG. Is made.
That is, during normal observation, the display screen C101 is displayed, and the state is switched to the state of the display screen C102 by the freeze instruction. When the release switch 101b is operated by the operator and the release instruction is issued, the TV monitor 110 "On release" M103
15 (see FIG. 15), the still image output from the D / A converter 109 is displayed in the main screen display area a, that is, the “recorded image” C103 in FIG. A photographing operation is performed on the still image and recorded.

After the recording operation is completed, the display screen C1 is displayed.
As shown in 04, the display of the main screen display area a is switched to a moving image.

As described above, the memory control circuit 108 controls the TV
Image display (reproduction operation) on the monitor 110 and the photographing device 1
The output from the first and second memories 106 and 107 is controlled so that the image display of the thirteen monitor unit 111 changes according to the freeze instruction and the release instruction from the freeze switch 101a and the release switch 101b. The photographing operation (recording operation) is controlled.

[0029]

However, the means disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-8915, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-355, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-356, etc., and FIGS. In the above-described conventional general electronic endoscope apparatus, when a release instruction is issued and a photograph (recording) of an endoscope image is performed, a main screen display area in a display screen of the TV monitor 110 or the monitor unit 111 is used. a, a frozen image is displayed on the sub screen display area b.
Is not displayed, so that it is not possible to observe a continuously changing endoscope image (moving image) only at the moment when a photograph is taken (a few seconds at the moment of release). There is.

Further, when image data and patient data are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of a single observation monitor, there is another problem that information other than images, such as patient data, becomes difficult to read.

Further, since a still image and a moving image are displayed simultaneously while a freeze instruction is given and a freeze image is displayed on the display screen of the observation monitor, for example, a multi-pixel CCD is used. Since the endoscope image captured by the used electronic endoscope has a large screen, if this is displayed on a conventional observation monitor, the main screen and the sub-screen overlap, and the endoscope image and the patient data, etc. There is also a problem that information cannot be referred to.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus using a multi-pixel, high-resolution solid-state imaging device (CCD). It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of simultaneously displaying and observing a main screen and a sub-screen on the same observation monitor even when displaying an endoscope image.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a continuously changing endoscope image (moving image) even at the moment of photographing.
To provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of observing the image.

[0034]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device; and a signal processing device for receiving an output signal of the solid-state imaging device. In an electronic endoscope apparatus comprising a video signal processing device for performing the following and a monitor device for observation, a main observation monitor device whose screen content changes in accordance with an operation of an operator, and a change in the screen content of the main observation monitor device And a sub-observation monitor for controlling the contents of the screen in accordance with the sub-screen.

Therefore, the electronic endoscope according to the present invention
The content of the screen displayed on the main observation monitor changes in accordance with the operation of the operator, and the content of the screen displayed on the sub observation monitor is controlled in accordance with the change in the content of the main observation monitor.

[0036]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment has
It comprises an electronic endoscope 1 having a CCD at the distal end, a CCU 2 which is a video signal processing device, observation monitoring means 10a and 10b for displaying an endoscope image, and a photographing device 13 for photographing. .

The endoscope 1 has an elongated endoscope insertion portion,
Various operation members such as a freeze switch 1a for generating a freeze signal and a release switch 1b for generating a release signal for taking a photograph are constituted by an operation section or the like connected to the insertion section. Are arranged.

The photographing device 13 includes a monitor section 11 for displaying an image similar to the endoscope image displayed on the first TV monitor 10a, and a film for displaying the endoscope image displayed on the monitor section 11. (Not shown) and the like.

The above-mentioned observation monitor means includes a first TV monitor 10a for the main screen as the main observation monitor means and a second TV monitor for the sub-screen which is the sub-observation monitor means and the sub-monitor means.
It is composed of two TV monitors of the V monitor 10b.

The CCU 2 includes a preamplifier circuit for amplifying an output signal from the CCD of the endoscope 1, a preprocessing means 3 including a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit for extracting video information from the image sensor output signal, and the like. An A / D converter 4 for converting an analog signal output from the pre-processing means 3 into a digital signal;
The image sensor output signal digitized by the converter 4 is subjected to white balance, contour enhancement, enlargement processing,
A signal processing circuit 5 for performing signal processing such as color tone adjustment; a first memory 6 for a main screen and a second memory 7 for a sub-screen for electrically recording signals from the signal processing circuit 5; , A memory control circuit 8 for controlling the second memories 6 and 7,
A first D / A converter 9a for converting a digital image signal recorded in the first memory 6 into an analog image signal,
It comprises a second D / A converter 9b for converting a digital image signal recorded in the second memory 7 into an analog image signal.

The analog image signal output from the first D / A converter 9a is output to the first TV monitor 10a to display an image for the main screen and to display the image in the photographing device 13. It is also output to the monitor unit 11 and displayed.

The image displayed on the monitor section 11 receives a release signal from a release switch 1b of the endoscope apparatus 1 electrically connected to the photographing apparatus 13 via the CCU 2, The image is recorded on a film (not shown) by the camera unit 12.

Further, the analog image signal (moving image) output from the second D / A converter 9b is
The image is output to the TV monitor 10b to display an image (moving image) for the sub-screen.

The operation of the thus configured electronic endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment will be described below.

First, the endoscope insertion portion of the endoscope 1 is inserted into a body cavity, a desired subject is illuminated by a light source device (not shown), and an optical image of the subject in the body cavity is converted to a CCD. Image. The CCD converts an optical image of the subject into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to the CCU 2 as an output signal of the image sensor.

The output signal of the image sensor is subjected to amplification processing, CDS processing,
The analog / digital converter 4 converts the analog signal into a digital signal.

The digital image signal converted by the A / D converter 4 is converted by the signal processing circuit 5 into RG
The white balance processing for adjusting the level of the B signal, the processing for enhancing the outline, the processing for enlarging the image, the processing for adjusting the color tone, and the like are performed.

The image signals subjected to various image processing by the signal processing circuit 5 are electrically recorded in the first memory 6 for the main screen and also stored in the second memory 7 for the sub-screen. Electronically recorded. Here, the second
The output signal from the signal processing circuit 5 is thinned out and input to the memory 7 while being reduced by the memory control circuit 8, whereby an image signal for a sub-screen is created.

The memory control circuit 8 controls the first and second memories 6 and 7 according to a freeze signal from the freeze switch 1a of the endoscope 1, a release signal from the release switch 1b, and the like.

That is, the digital signal output from the first memory 6 is converted to the first D / A converter 9a as described above.
Is converted into an analog signal by the first T for the main screen.
It is output to the V monitor 10a and the photographing device 13. The digital signal output from the second memory 7 is the second D / D
The analog signal is similarly converted by the A converter 9b and output to the second TV monitor 10b for the sub-screen.

At this time, the form of the image signal output from the first and second memories 6 and 7 is controlled by the memory control circuit 8, and the screen is displayed as shown below.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the screen display displayed on the first TV monitor 10a is first the "normal observation" MM
In the state 1, the endoscope image (moving image) in the body cavity that changes continuously is displayed in the screen display area a.

Next, when the operator operates the freeze switch 1a to give a freeze instruction, the memory control circuit 8 controls the writing operation of the image signal to the first memory 6 to be interrupted, and the first TV monitor 10a As shown in "Freeze" MM2, a still image based on the image signal at the time when the freeze instruction is issued is displayed in the screen display area a, and the display screen is automatically switched to the freeze state.

In this state, when the operator further operates the release switch 1b to give a release instruction, the display screen of the TV monitor 10a displays a still image in the screen display area a as shown in "release" MM3. The photographing (recording) operation by the photographing device 13 is performed without any change in the displayed state. When the photographing operation is completed, the memory control circuit 8 controls the writing operation of the image signal to the first memory 6 to be restarted, and the screen display is performed as shown in the “normal observation (initial state)” MM4. The display of the area a is automatically switched to a moving image.

When a release instruction is given in the state of MM1 during "normal observation", the first TV monitor 10
The display screen a changes immediately to the display "MM3" at the time of release, and a photographing operation (recording operation) is performed.

In response to such a change in the screen display of the first TV monitor 10a, the screen display of the second TV monitor 10b changes from the state of "normal observation" SM1 to the state of "freeze" as shown in FIG. "SM2," Release time "SM
3. Until the state of "normal observation (initial state)" SM4, the memory control circuit 8 controls the second memory 7 regardless of generation of the freeze signal and the release signal, and the screen display area of the second TV monitor 10b. The moving image is continuously displayed on a.

On the other hand, the monitor 1 of the photographing device 13
As shown in FIG. 3, the screen display displayed on the screen 1 is exactly the same as the display screen displayed on the first TV monitor 10a in FIG.

That is, when the release switch 1b is operated by the operator in the state of "normal observation" C1, the state of "freeze" C2, and the operator, the state of the "release" MM3 of the first TV monitor 10a (FIG. 2). 3), the still image output from the first D / A converter 9a is displayed in the main screen display area a, that is, the "recorded image" C3 in FIG. Performed and image recorded, "normal observation (initial state)" C4
Return to the state.

As described above, the memory control circuit 8
By controlling the first and second memories 6 and 7, the first and second memories are controlled.
The image display (reproduction operation) of the TV monitors 10a and 10b and the image display on the monitor unit 11 of the photographing device 13 and the photographing operation (recording operation) are controlled.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the first and second TV monitors 10a and 10b are provided as observation monitoring means, and the first TV monitor 10a includes a freeze switch 1a operated by an operator, Since the content of the display screen is controlled to be changed in accordance with the operation of the release switch 1b and the like, the continuously changing state in the body cavity is always displayed as a moving image on the second TV monitor 10b. Even when one of the observation monitor means is frozen in taking a picture, the other monitor means (the second Tv monitor 10b) can observe a constantly changing state in the body cavity.

Further, in the first embodiment, the first monitor 10a for the main screen and the second monitor 10b for the sub-screen are used as observation monitor means, and each monitor is configured as a dedicated monitor. Therefore, the state of the image in each situation can be displayed and observed in a large image on the entire monitor screen, and, unlike the case where images of a plurality of situations are simultaneously displayed on the same observation monitor means, one display is performed. The image does not overlap with the other display image, and the endoscope image can be reliably observed.

Further, a second TV monitor 10b for a sub-screen
If a device having a display area (screen) of a certain size is used, an image signal to be displayed on the second TV monitor 10b is electrically controlled by the second memory 7 controlled by the memory control circuit 8. There is no need to perform any signal processing such as thinning and reduction. Therefore, it is possible to easily observe, on a large screen, a moving image having a large amount of information such as an endoscope image obtained by an electronic endoscope apparatus using a solid-state imaging device (CCD) with a larger number of pixels and a higher resolution.

Although FIGS. 2 to 4 show each screen display area as a part of the display screen, it may be displayed on the entire screen.

In the electronic endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, the first and second TV monitors 10 are used as observation monitoring means.
a and 10b, and when in a state during normal observation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the display screens of the first and second TV monitors 10a and 10b are exactly the same moving image. Is displayed and is not efficient.

Therefore, in such a case, a modified example in which the control by the memory control circuit 8 is changed so that one of the monitor means displays other information such as patient data and apparatus information may be considered. FIG. 5 conceptually shows a change in the screen display of the second TV monitor, which is the sub-observation monitoring means in such a modification. The operation of the screen display of the first TV monitor will be described below with reference to FIG.

That is, when in the state at the time of normal observation, the display screen of the first TV monitor 10a for the main screen becomes a display screen of a moving image as shown in FIG. 2 as in the first embodiment. The patient data, device information, and the like are displayed on the second TV monitor 10b for the sub-screen, as shown in "normal observation" SM5 in FIG.

The patient data displayed here includes, for example, ID No. , Patient name, examination date, patient age, patient gender, chart data, etc., and these patient data are displayed on the display screen in the form of characters or the like. Further, in addition to these patient data, other information such as the number of photographs, the state of the VTR, the number of recordings on the printer, etc. on the device side may be displayed in the form of characters or the like, similar to the patient data. .

In this state, when the freeze switch 1a is operated by the operator to give a freeze instruction,
In response to this, the display screen of the first TV monitor 10a is switched to a frozen state (still image), and at the same time, the second TV
The display screen of the V-monitor 10b is the “freeze” S
Switching to a moving image as in M2.

Further, when the release switch 1b is operated by the operator and a release instruction is issued, the display screen of the first TV monitor 10a is received by the photographing device 13 in a frozen state (still image). A recording operation is performed.
The screen display of the monitor 10a switches to a moving image.

When the photographing operation is being performed as described above, the display of the moving image is continued on the second TV monitor 10b as shown in "release time" SM3 in FIG. The state is switched to the state of “normal observation (initial position)” SM6 in FIG. 5, that is, a display screen for patient data and the like.

As described above, according to the modified example, the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained, and in addition to the change of the screen content of the first monitor 10a for the main screen, The contents of the screen of the second TV monitor 10b for observation are controlled by the memory control circuit 8 to display a moving image on the first TV monitor 10a in a normal observation state and the second TV monitor.
Since the display of the patient data and the like is separately performed on the monitor 10b, the observation monitor means does not narrow the image area of the first TV monitor 10a and does not overlap the moving image to be observed with the patient data and the like. One of the first monitors 10a displays only an image for observation, and the other second monitor 10b displays more patient data at normal times, and a moving image of an endoscope image at the time of freeze or release. Can be displayed. Thereby, reliable observation and diagnosis can be performed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the configuration is basically the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), but a single observation monitor means is controlled by the memory control circuit 8. A T
The difference is that the main screen and the sub-screen are simultaneously displayed on the screen of the V monitor 10.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the first and second TVs
A single TV monitor 10 capable of displaying a parent-child screen is provided in place of the monitors 10a and 10b, and a single D / A converter is provided in place of the first and second D / A converters 9a and 9b provided in the CCU 2A. 9 are arranged.

The second embodiment is a recording apparatus having a monitor section 11A having a built-in memory 11Aa for electrically recording image signals, separately from the photographing apparatus 13 in the first embodiment. Another photographing device can be selectively connected.

In other words, another photographing device is prepared in addition to the photographing device 13 in the electronic endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, and the photographing device 13 and this other photographing device are connected. Optionally, it is connected to CCU2.

The above another photographing device includes the monitor 1
A memory 11Aa for electrically recording an image signal is built in 1A, and a moving image is displayed as a still image by the memory 11Aa, and the display image is recorded by the camera unit 12.

The monitor section 11 of the photographing apparatus 13 may be detachably formed, and the monitor section 11 and the monitor section 11A may be selectively mounted.

Further, an endoscope image based on the image signal output from the D / A converter 9 is displayed as a monochrome image on the monitor section 11A of the another photographing apparatus. Can be recorded on a film or the like as a color image.

That is, the monitor section 11A and the camera section 12
The optical filters of R, G, and B are inserted in time series between them to sequentially display the respective images of the R, G, and B signal components. An input monochrome image signal is converted into a color image, and the color image is recorded on a film.

The other constituent members are the same as those described in the first embodiment.
Since the third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the thus configured electronic endoscope apparatus of the second embodiment will be described. 7 shows a display screen of the TV monitor 10, and FIG. 8 shows a photographing device (recording device) 1.
3 conceptually shows a screen display of the monitor unit 3 of FIG. FIG. 9 conceptually shows a screen display of the monitor unit 11A of another photographing device (recording device).

First, in a normal observation state, the TV
The display screen of the monitor 10 has a “normal observation” M shown in FIG.
1, a moving image (child screen) is displayed in the sub-screen display area b, and at the same time, a moving image (parent screen) is displayed in the main screen display area a on the same display screen.

At this time, the image displayed in the sub-screen display area b is subjected to thinning-out and reduction processing on the output signal from the signal processing circuit 5 by the second memory 7 controlled by the memory control circuit 8. Therefore, the display in the sub-screen display area b is smaller than the display in the main screen display area a.

When a freeze instruction is given from this state,
The display of the main screen area a is switched to a frozen state (still image) as shown in “at the time of freeze” M2, and the sub-screen display area b
Indicates that the moving image is continuously displayed.

When the release instruction is given, the display of the main screen display area a is frozen (still image) and the display of the sub screen display area b is recorded in the state of a moving image as in the case of "release" M3. The operation is performed. After the end of the recording operation, the display of the main screen display area a is switched to the moving image as in the “normal observation (initial state)” M4, and the moving image is continuously displayed in the sub-screen display area b. .

As described above, in the sub-screen display area b, a moving image that constantly changes irrespective of instruction signals such as a freeze instruction and a release instruction is displayed.

Next, when the photographing device 13 is used, the form of the display screen of the monitor section 11 of the photographing device 13 is exactly the same as the form of the display screen displayed on the TV monitor 10.

That is, for each of the display screens M1, M2, M3 and M4 of the TV monitor 10 shown in FIG. 7, the display of the monitor section 11 is as shown in FIG.
5, C6, C7, and C8 are displayed in exactly the same form.

In this case, the display screen of the monitor section 11 when the release instruction is given and the recording operation is performed is the "recorded image" C7, and the display of the sub-screen display area b is a moving image. For this reason, the recorded image in the sub-screen display area b recorded on a film or the like may be blurred or the like and may not be recorded clearly. In such a case, another photographing device having a monitor unit 11A having a built-in memory 11Aa is used.

Even when another photographing device incorporating the memory 11Aa is used, the form of the display screen of the monitor section 11A is the "recorded image" C11 (FIG. 9) after the release instruction.
The state is the same as that of the display screen displayed on the TV monitor 10 except for the state shown in FIG.

That is, the display screen M of the TV monitor 10 shown in FIG.
The monitor unit 11A shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in each form of display screens C9, C10, and C12 for each form of 1, M2, and M4. However, the display image on the monitor unit 11A at this time is a monochrome image.

When the release instruction is given, the display of the sub-image display area b of the monitor section 11A is frozen from the moving image to the still image, and the "recorded image" C11 is received.
State. That is, in response to the release instruction, all the image signals (still images) including the main screen display area a and the sub screen display area b are stored in the memory 11Aa in the monitor 11A.
Is temporarily recorded and displayed. In this state, the camera section 12 performs a recording operation. For this reason, the recorded images in the main screen display area a and the sub-screen display area b recorded on the film or the like do not have blurring or the like.

[0094] Even in the state where the photographing operation is being performed, the display of the moving image is continued in the sub-screen display area b on the TV monitor 10 side.

A sub-screen display / non-display switch (not shown) is used as an operation switch linked to the monitor 11A of the photographing device.
When the switch is turned on / off, display / non-display of the sub-screen in the “recorded image” C11 can be selected.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
In a case where images in two states are simultaneously displayed on the display screen of a single TV monitor 10, even when a moving image is always displayed on the display screen of the TV monitor 10, the photographing operation is performed smoothly. In addition, since the moving image is always displayed, safety can be ensured.

Further, by using another photographing apparatus having a monitor section 11A having a built-in memory 11Aa, a still image recording operation can be performed, so that a more reliable recorded image can be obtained.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment has a configuration basically similar to that of the above-described second embodiment (see FIG. 6).
The effect of the control of the display screen of the observation monitor means is different depending on the situation. Therefore, the same components as those in the above-described first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

Note that the photographing device 13A in the electronic endoscope apparatus of the third embodiment incorporates another photographing device of the second embodiment, ie, a memory 11Aa for electrically recording image signals. The same device as the photographing device having the monitor unit 11A is used.

FIG. 11 conceptually shows a change in the screen display of the TV monitor 10, and FIG. 12 conceptually shows a change in the screen display of the monitor section 11A of the photographing device (recording device) 13A. The operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, in the state at the time of normal observation, T
On the display screen of the V monitor 10, a moving image is displayed in the main screen display area a, and patient data and the like are displayed in the sub screen display area b, as in "during normal observation" M5 shown in FIG. .

When a freeze instruction is issued from this state,
The memory control circuit 8 controls the first memory 6 to interrupt the recording operation of the output signal from the signal processing circuit 5. Then T
The display screen of the V-monitor 10 is "M" at the time of "freeze" in FIG.
The display of the main screen display area a switches to a frozen state (still image) as shown in FIG. Further, the memory control circuit 8
By controlling the memory 7, a moving image is displayed in the sub-screen display area b in the display screen of the TV monitor 10. Even in this state, the patient data and the like are displayed at the same position.

The image displayed in the sub-screen display area b at this time is subjected to thinning-out and reduction processing on the output signal from the signal processing circuit 5 by the second memory 7 controlled by the memory control circuit 8. Therefore, the display of the sub-screen display area b is smaller than the display of the main screen display area a.

Subsequently, when a release instruction is given, the display of the main screen display area a is in a frozen state (still image) and the display of the sub screen display area b is in the state of a moving image, as in "at release" M7. A photographing operation (recording operation) is performed by the photographing device 13A. The recorded image obtained by the recording operation performed here becomes a color image by the optical filter between the monitor unit 11A and the camera unit 12, as described above.

After the end of the recording operation by the photographing device 13A, the display of the main screen display area a is switched to a moving image as in the "normal observation (initial state)" M8, and the memory control circuit 8 operates the second memory. The reading of the image signal from 7 is interrupted. Thereby, the display of the moving image in the sub-screen display area b disappears. In this case as well, the patient data and the like continue to be displayed at the same position.

In the normal observation state, a moving image is displayed only in the main screen display area a.
It is controlled so that a moving image is displayed in the sub-image display area b only when an instruction signal such as a freeze instruction or a release instruction is issued and the main screen display area a becomes a still image.

When a freeze instruction or a release instruction is issued, a moving image is displayed so as to be superimposed on patient data and the like displayed in the sub-screen display area b.
The display time of the “freeze” and “release” states is considered to be extremely short compared to the time during the normal observation state. There is no problem even if the moving images are displayed in a superimposed manner and the patient data or the like cannot be referred to.

On the other hand, the monitor unit 11 of the photographing device 13A
The display mode of A is substantially the same as the display screen displayed on the TV monitor 10, and is different from the display screens M5, M6, and M8 of the TV monitor 10 in FIG. The display screens C13, C14,
It is displayed in each form of C16. However, the display image on the monitor unit 11A at this time is a monochrome image.

Subsequently, when a release instruction is given, the display of the sub-image display area b of the monitor section 11A is frozen from a moving image to a still image, and is switched to the state of "recorded image" C15.

That is, the monitor unit 1 receives the release instruction
All image signals (still images) including the main screen display area a and the sub screen display area b are temporarily recorded and displayed on the memory 11Aa in 1A. In this state, the camera unit 12
Performs a photographing operation. For this reason, the recorded images in the main screen display area a and the sub screen display area b recorded on the film or the like do not blur.

Note that the recorded image obtained by the recording operation performed here is, as described above, a monitor section 11A.
A color image is formed by an optical filter between the camera and the camera unit 12.

Further, even when the photographing operation is being performed as described above, the moving image is continuously displayed on the sub-screen display area b of the TV monitor 10.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained, and the sub-screen is displayed in a normal observation state. Sub-screen display area b
, It is possible to display patient data, device status information, and the like.

When a freeze instruction is given by the freeze switch 1a and the freeze state (still image) is obtained, a moving image is automatically displayed on the sub-screen display area b in conjunction with the freeze state, and the release switch 1 is turned on.
Even when the release instruction is given by b, since the moving image is always displayed in the sub-screen display area b of the TV monitor 10, the moving image can always be observed.
Therefore, safety can be ensured.

Further, the monitor unit 1 of the photographing device 13A
1A has a built-in memory 11Aa.
The still image recorded and displayed on the TV monitor 10 is photographed by the camera unit 12, so that the moving image is displayed in the sub-screen display area b on the TV monitor 10 side while the sub-screen display area of the monitor unit 11A is displayed. By displaying a still image on b, the recorded image recorded on the film is not blurred.

Next, an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the third embodiment (see FIG. 10), and differs from the third embodiment (see FIG. 10) in the operation of controlling the display screen of the observation monitor means performed by the memory control circuit 8. . Therefore, the illustration and description of the configuration of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be omitted with reference to FIG.

Further, the photographing device 13A according to the fourth embodiment has a memory 1 built in the monitor 11A.
By controlling the operation of 1Aa, the display image on the monitor 11A is enlarged and displayed, and the enlarged image can be recorded on a film. For this, the photographing device 13
A mode switch (not shown) on the operation panel of A
A normal display for simultaneously displaying the main screen and the sub-screen on the display screen of the monitor unit 11A in the same manner as in the above-described third embodiment when the operator operates this mode changeover switch. It is possible to switch between a mode (normal mode) and a display mode (enlargement mode) in which a display image on the monitor unit 11A is enlarged and displayed.

FIG. 13 conceptually shows a change in the screen display of the monitor unit 11A when the photographing device (recording device) 13A in the electronic endoscope according to the fourth embodiment is in the enlargement mode. . Since the operation of the TV monitor 10 and the display screen thereof are exactly the same as those of the third embodiment, the illustration and detailed description thereof will be omitted with reference to FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 13, in the operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus of the fourth embodiment, the mode switch of the photographing apparatus 13A is operated by the operator, and the display on the monitor section 11A is enlarged. The case where the mode has been switched will be described. The operation in the normal mode is exactly the same as in the third embodiment.

First, in the state at the time of normal observation, T
The display screen of the V monitor 10 is the “normal observation” M in FIG.
5 is the same as that shown in FIG. At this time, a display screen C shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 17, only a moving image similar to the moving image displayed on the main screen display area a of the TV monitor 10 is enlarged and displayed as a monochrome image.

In this state, the freeze switch 1a
Is operated to give a freeze instruction, the memory control circuit 8 controls the first memory 6 and the recording operation of the output signal from the signal processing circuit 5 is interrupted. As a result, the display screen of the TV monitor 10 switches to the display of “at the time of freeze” M6 in FIG. In conjunction with this, the display on the monitor unit 11A is also enlarged such that only a still image similar to the still image displayed on the main screen display area a of the TV monitor 10 is enlarged as in a display screen C18 shown in FIG. Will be displayed as

Next, when the release switch 1b is operated to give a release instruction, the TV monitor 10
Is switched to the "release" M7 display. In conjunction with this, the monitor unit 11A displays the contents displayed on the TV monitor 10 at the time when the release instruction is issued, that is, a still image in the main screen display area a, a moving image in the sub screen display area b, and patient data. Are recorded in the memory 11Aa, and an image to be recorded based on the recorded information is displayed on the monitor 11A. The image displayed on the monitor 11A is photographed (recorded) by the camera 12.

Here, when the release instruction is an instruction for the first photographing operation, the monitor unit 11A displays the entire display content recorded in the memory 11Aa as one still image on the monitor unit 11A. I do. Therefore, FIG.
As shown in the third “recorded image” C19, the moving image in the sub-screen display area b displayed on the TV monitor 10 is also displayed as a still image on the monitor unit 11A.

If the release instruction is an instruction to take a second or subsequent picture, the monitor section 11A displays the main screen display area a in the display contents recorded in the memory 11Aa.
Only the still image is enlarged and displayed.

After the recording operation is completed, the TV monitor 10
Is switched to the display of "normal observation (initial state)" M8 in FIG. 11, and the display of the monitor unit 11A is switched to the enlarged moving image as shown in the display screen C20 in FIG.

As in the second embodiment, if a display / non-display switch (not shown) for the sub-screen is provided in the photographing device 13A or the CCU 2, the photographing is performed by turning on / off the switch. "Recorded image" C19 for performing
It is also possible to select display / non-display of the sub-screen in the middle.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, it is possible to obtain exactly the same effects as those of the third embodiment.

Further, a mode changeover switch is provided in the photographing device 13A to switch between the normal mode and the enlargement mode, so that the photographing operation (release instruction) is performed a plurality of times by switching to the enlargement mode. In this case, only the main screen necessary for diagnosis or the like can be enlarged and recorded without recording unnecessary patient data and the like in the second and subsequent recorded images. Therefore, since the subject can be confirmed by the enlarged recorded image, it is easy to perform more reliable diagnosis and the like.

[Supplementary Note] According to the embodiment of the present invention, an invention having the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) An electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device, a video signal processing device for performing signal processing by receiving an output from the solid-state imaging device, and a monitor for observation. An electronic endoscope apparatus provided with a main observation monitor unit whose screen content changes according to a user's operation, and a sub-monitor unit whose screen content is controlled according to a change in the screen content of the main observation monitor unit.

(2) In the electronic endoscope described in Appendix 1, the screen content of the sub-monitor means always displays a moving image.

(3) In the electronic endoscope device according to Supplementary Note 1, the screen content of the sub monitor means has a screen pattern for displaying at least patient data.

(4) In an electronic endoscope apparatus including a solid-state imaging device, a video signal processing device that receives an output from the solid-state imaging device to perform signal processing, and a monitor for observation, a freeze is generated. An electronic endoscope apparatus that always displays a moving image on an observation monitor even at the time of release or release.

(5) An electronic endoscope having an electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device, a video signal processing device for performing signal processing by receiving an output from the solid-state imaging device, and an observation monitor capable of displaying a parent-child screen. An electronic endoscope apparatus having a screen display including at least a moving image when displaying a main / sub screen in the endoscope apparatus.

(6) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to Supplementary Note 5, wherein only the moving image is used during normal observation, and the main and sub screens are used during freeze and release.

(7) An electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging device, a video signal processing device for performing signal processing by receiving an output from the solid-state imaging device, an observation monitor capable of displaying a parent-child screen, and an observation image In an electronic endoscope apparatus comprising a recording device for recording, when displaying the main and sub-screens, a display means having a screen display including at least a moving image, and a recording device for performing control not to record at least a small-screen image when recording an image. Provided.

[0137]

As described above, according to the present invention, when displaying an endoscope image obtained by an electronic endoscope apparatus using a multi-pixel, high-resolution solid-state imaging device, the same observation monitor is used. In addition, it is possible to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of simultaneously displaying and observing the main screen and the sub screen.

Further, it is possible to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of observing a continuously changing endoscope image (moving image) even at the moment of photographing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in a screen display displayed on a first TV monitor in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display displayed on a monitor unit of the photographing device in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a monitor screen view showing a change in screen display displayed on a second TV monitor in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display displayed on a second TV monitor in a modification of the electronic endoscope according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a monitor screen view showing a change in screen display displayed on the TV monitor in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display displayed on a monitor unit of the photographing device in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 6;

9 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display displayed on a monitor unit of another photographing device in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a monitor screen view showing a change in screen display displayed on the TV monitor in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display displayed on a monitor unit of the photographing device in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display of a monitor unit when the photographing device in the electronic endoscope according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is in an enlargement mode.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a conventional general electronic endoscope apparatus.

FIG. 15 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display of an observation TV monitor in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a monitor screen diagram showing a change in screen display of a monitor unit of the photographing device in the electronic endoscope in FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope 2 ... Camera control unit (CCU; Video signal processing device) 6 ... 1st memory 7 ... 2nd memory 10 ... TV monitor (monitoring means for observation) 10a ... 1st TV monitor ( Main observation monitor means) 10b Second TV monitor (sub observation monitor means) 11, 11A Monitor section (recording apparatus) 12 Camera section (recording apparatus) 13, 13A Photographing apparatus (recording apparatus)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electronic endoscope having a solid-state image sensor;
In an electronic endoscope apparatus comprising a video signal processing device that receives an output signal of the solid-state imaging device and performs signal processing, and an observation monitor device, a main observation monitor device whose screen content changes in accordance with an operation of an operator An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: a main observation monitor unit; and a sub-observation monitor unit whose screen content is controlled according to a change in the screen content.