JPH11276430A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an endoscope device in which transportability to an endoscope provided with a camera element can be improved. SOLUTION: In a light source device 3A, light of a lamp 17 in a casing 15 of it is reflected by a reflector 24 to be supplied to a light source connector 7 of an electron endoscope including a camera element, and 2 means to project an image signal-processed by a video signal processing circuit 21 to the camera element, displayed in an LCD 37 through an LCD drive circuit 34 by light of the lamp 17, and enlarged by a projection optical system by light radiated from the lamp 17 on a screen 38 is equipped, so transportability of the compact LCD 37 is secured, and that a function of a large-sized LCD is secured by the projection optical system.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus suitable for carrying out an endoscopic examination.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. The endoscope transmits illumination light from an illumination lamp in an external light source device through a light guide inserted into an elongated insertion portion, emits the illumination light from an illumination window at the distal end of the insertion portion, and outputs an endoscope inspection part. And an image is formed at an image forming position by an objective optical system attached to an observation window provided adjacent to the illumination window.

In the case of an optical endoscope, the image is transmitted to the rear end side of an insertion portion by an image guide, so that a user can enlarge and observe the image through an eyepiece optical system of an eyepiece.

In the case of an electronic endoscope, an image pickup device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) is arranged at an image forming position, and an output signal of the image pickup device is processed by a video processing device to convert the video signal. By generating the video signal and displaying the video signal on the monitor device, the user can observe the image of the endoscopic examination site displayed on the monitor device.

As described above, when performing an endoscope inspection, an endoscope device using an optical endoscope can be constituted by an endoscope and a light source device. However, an electronic endoscope having a built-in image pickup device is required. In the case of the endoscope device used, a video processing device and a monitor device are further required.

[0006] However, in the case of the former endoscope apparatus, there is an inconvenience that cannot be observed unless peeping through the eyepiece, but the latter is free from such inconvenience and can be observed by a plurality of users. There is.

[0007] In the industrial field, in particular, portability is required from the application. In the case of an endoscope apparatus using an electronic endoscope, an endoscope apparatus using an optical endoscope is required. It is more difficult to secure portability. For this reason, a relatively small and lightweight LCD monitor is conventionally used as a monitor device for displaying an image.

[0008]

In general, an LCD monitor of about 6 inches is used as a monitor for observation with an emphasis on portability, but if it is desired to observe or display on a larger screen, a 10-inch LCD monitor is used. Use an LCD monitor of a certain degree.

However, if the size of the monitor device is increased, the endoscope device becomes larger and heavier, and it is necessary to prepare LCD monitor devices of a plurality of sizes as required. The situation was that portability was impaired.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an endoscope apparatus which can improve portability with respect to an endoscope provided with an image sensor. I have.

[0011]

An endoscope provided with an image sensor, an illumination lamp for outputting illumination light, a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on the image sensor, and an output from the signal processing circuit. By providing a solid-state imaging device for imaging, and projection means for enlarging and projecting the image of the solid-state imaging device on a screen with the light of the illumination lamp, even in the case of an endoscope having an imaging device, By enlarging and projecting the image of the solid-state imaging device on the screen using the light of the lamp, a small-sized solid-state imaging device can be mounted, and an endoscope apparatus suitable for portability can be realized. Like that.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of an endoscope apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a video signal processing circuit, and FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an LCD drive circuit.

An endoscope apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes an electronic endoscope 2 having built-in image pickup means, an illumination light supplied to the electronic endoscope 2, and The light source device 3A has a function of performing signal processing for the imaging means and displaying the endoscope image on the screen.

The electronic endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion section 4, an operation section 5 provided at a rear end of the insertion section 4, and a universal cord 6 extended from the operation section 5. A light source connector 7 which is detachably connected to the light source device 3 is provided at an end of the universal cord 6, and a signal cable 9 further extending from the light source connector 7 is provided with a signal connector 9.

The insertion portion 4 has a distal end portion 10 provided at the distal end thereof, a bendable bending portion 11 provided adjacent to the rear end of the distal end portion 10, and an adjacent to the rear end of the bending portion 11. The flexible section 12 is provided so that the bending section 11 can be bent by operating a bending knob 13 provided on the operation section 5.

A light guide 14 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion section 4 of the electronic endoscope 2 and the like, and a rear end of the light guide 14 projects at the light source connector 7. Then, the light source connector 7 is connected to the housing 15 of the light source device 3A.
As shown in FIG. 2, the lamp 17 in the light source device 3A is connected to the light source
Illumination light is supplied. As the lamp 17, a discharge tube such as a xenon lamp or a metal halide lamp can be used in addition to the halogen lamp.

Further, the signal connector 9 of the electronic endoscope 2 can be detachably connected to the signal connector receiving portion 18 of the light source device 3A. With this connection, charge coupling as an image pickup device of the electronic endoscope 2 is achieved. The element (abbreviated as CCD) 19 (FIG. 3)
Is electrically connected to the video signal processing circuit 21 in the light source device 3A.

The light source device 3A has a built-in lamp lighting power supply circuit 23 to which power is supplied from a power supply circuit 22. The lamp 17 is turned on by the lamp lighting power supply generated by the lamp lighting power supply circuit 23 to collect light. Illumination light is supplied to the end face of the light guide 14 via an optical system.

That is, the light of the lamp 17 is reflected and condensed by the parabolic reflector 24, and the light passing through the aperture of the diaphragm 25 on the optical path is supplied to the light guide 14. I have. This diaphragm 25 is a diaphragm driving circuit 2
6 driven.

The illumination light transmitted by the light guide 14 is emitted from an illumination window at the distal end portion 10 of the insertion section 4 and
The inspection part such as the inside of the plant into which the insertion part 4 is inserted is illuminated. An observation window is provided at the distal end portion 10 adjacent to the illumination window, and an image is formed on the CCD 19 (see FIG. 3) disposed at the image forming position by the objective optical system of the observation window. This CC
For example, a mosaic filter 20 is attached to the imaging surface of D19, and performs optical color separation for each pixel.

As shown in FIG. 3, the video signal processing circuit 21 has a CCD driver 27,
The CCD drive signal from the D driver 27 is
The signal which has been photoelectrically converted by the CCD 19 is read out by the CCD 19 and amplified by the amplifier 28 in the video signal processing circuit 21, and then color-separated into R, G, B color signals by the color separation circuit 29. You.

The R, R output from the color separation circuit 29,
The G and B color signals are converted to digital R and
After being stored in the temporary memory 31 converted into G and B signals, the signals are read out and converted by the D / A conversion circuit 32 into analog R and B signals.
The video signal is converted into G and B signals, further converted into a standard video signal together with a synchronization signal and the like (not shown) by an encoder 33, and output from an output terminal of the video signal processing circuit 21.

The video signal is input to a liquid crystal display element driving circuit (abbreviated as LCD driving circuit) 34 as a solid-state imaging device provided in the light source device 3A.

For example, the output signal of the color separation circuit 29 is input to the dimming signal generation circuit 35, and a dimming signal corresponding to the brightness is generated by, for example, integrating the luminance signal for one frame period. The signal is transmitted through the aperture driving circuit 26 to the aperture 2
5 is controlled.

An LCD drive circuit 34 to which a video signal is input generates an LCD drive signal, and the LCD drive signal is sent to a liquid crystal display element (abbreviated as LCD) 37 provided in the light source device 3 via an LCD connector 36. Apply.

In this embodiment, the LCD 37 is a single-panel color projection LCD.
Is projected on a screen 38 using the light of the lamp 17. The screen 38 uses minute glass beads on the reflection surface to increase the reflectance.

The LCD 37 is a single-panel color projection LCD (for example, about 1.3 inches), and the screen 38 is, for example, about 8 inches. An opening is provided in a part of the reflector 24 on the upper side of the lamp 17,
The light of No. 7 is condensed by a condensing lens 42 provided on a lens barrel 41 disposed at a position facing the opening through this opening, and is emitted as a parallel light flux onto the color display surface of the LCD 37.

The light transmitted through the color display surface of the LCD 37 is enlarged and projected on a screen 38 by, for example, a telecentric optical system 43 as a projection optical system. By employing the telecentric optical system 43, the chief ray passing through the optical system 43 becomes parallel to the optical axis, and even if the flatness of the screen of the screen 38 is not good, a good quality image is hardly affected by this. It can be displayed. The screen 38 is rotatably attached to the upper surface of the housing 15 of the light source device 3 by a free hinge 44 provided at a rear corner, and the angle of the screen 38 can be freely fixed by the free hinge 44.

The lens barrel 41 to which the projection optical system, the LCD 37, and the like are attached is attached to a hemispherically slidable lid 45 provided near the center of the upper surface of the housing 15.
The optical axis of the telecentric optical system 43 that projects a color image on the LCD 37 can be changed in angle so as to be perpendicular to the surface of the screen 38. A handle 46 is provided on a side surface of the housing 15 to be gripped when being carried.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the LCD drive circuit 34. The video signal is input to a color separation circuit 51, where color separation and A / D conversion are performed to output digital R, G, and B signals, and various synchronization signals separated from the R, G, and B signals. Is done. The digital R, G, and B signals are input to an RGB driver 52, subjected to a process such as phase adjustment and γ correction, and output to a sample and hold circuit 53.

Various synchronization signals output from the color separation circuit 51 are input to a timing generator (abbreviated as TG) 54 as a synchronization generation circuit, and a synchronization signal for driving the sample and hold circuit 53 in synchronization with the driving of the CCD 19. Generate

In response to the synchronization signal, the sample and hold circuit 53 samples and holds the RGB signals output from the RGB driver 52 in synchronization with the cycle of the synchronization signal.
Output to D37.

The TG 54 outputs to the LCD 37 various control signals necessary for driving a vertical drive circuit and a horizontal drive circuit (not shown) inside the LCD.

In the endoscope apparatus 1 having such a configuration, the lamp 17 for supplying illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2 is also used as illumination light for projecting a color image on the LCD 37, and the color image on the LCD 37 is displayed on the screen 38. It is characterized in that it is configured to be suitable for portability by being able to perform enlarged projection.

In the present embodiment, the electronic endoscope 2
By connecting to the electronic endoscope 2, illumination light is supplied to the electronic endoscope 2, signal processing for an image pickup device is performed, an image is formed by a solid-state imaging device, and the image is further enlarged and projected. The endoscope device 1 can be configured with the light source device 3A having a projection unit and the like, thereby improving portability.

The operation of the embodiment constructed as described above will be described below. When the endoscope device 1 is used in, for example, an industrial field, the electronic endoscope 2 is connected to the light source device 3A, and the insertion portion 4 of the electronic endoscope 2 is inserted into the inside of a plant or the like, and the inner wall surface is inserted. An endoscopy is performed to determine if there are any scratches or damage.

Further, the universal hinge 44 at the rear of the upper surface of the housing 15 of the light source device 3A is rotated to open the screen 38 also serving as a lid on the upper surface, and the screen surface is made perpendicular to the axis of the lens barrel 41. Is projected on the screen surface.

The CC built into the distal end portion 10 of the electronic endoscope 2
The signal picked up by D19 is subjected to signal processing by a video signal processing circuit 21 in the light source device 3 to generate a video signal. The video signal is input to an LCD drive circuit 34 in the light source device 3, and the LCD drive circuit 34 Small LCD
A color image is displayed on 37 surfaces. The color image on the surface of the LCD 37 is enlarged and projected on the screen 38 by the telecentric optical system 43, so that a high-resolution image or a high-quality image in which a fine portion can be easily visually distinguished as displayed on a large LCD can be obtained. I have to.

Therefore, even if a small LCD 37 suitable for carrying is adopted, an enlarged color image is projected on the screen 38, so that even a small scratch or the like can be easily identified.

A dimming signal is generated by the video signal processing circuit 21, and the dimming signal is used to control the aperture driving circuit 2.
The amount of illumination supplied to the light guide 14 is automatically adjusted by adjusting the opening amount of the diaphragm 25 via 6 so that the brightness becomes suitable for observation. Therefore, the aperture amount of the diaphragm 25 is automatically adjusted by the dimming signal, so that a color image with brightness suitable for constant observation can be obtained.

This embodiment has the following effects. As described above, the portability of the small LCD 37 can be secured by projecting the small LCD 37 onto the screen 38 by the projector method, and a large observation monitor is mounted by enlarging and projecting an image. The light source device 3A is capable of displaying the same high resolution and good image quality.
Can be realized. In addition, the video signal processing means is also a light source device 3.
A good portability can be ensured by being built in A. Also,
Since it has an automatic light control function, it is possible to always obtain a color image having a brightness suitable for observation.

In this embodiment, the case where the screen 38 is used has been described. However, it is also possible to project the image on another larger screen without using the screen 38.

Further, without using the screen 38 or another screen, it is also possible to project on a wall surface, for example. Therefore, since it is not necessary to carry a larger observation monitor, the endoscope apparatus 1 having excellent portability can be provided.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the light source device 3A has a configuration in which the video signal processing circuit 21 is built. In the present embodiment, the light source device 3B and a camera control unit (CCU for short) in which the video signal processing circuit 21 is built. ) 61 as a separate body, for example, C
A mounting portion 63 is provided on the upper side surface of the housing 62 of the
The CU 61 is detachable from the light source device 3B.

The mounting portion 63 is provided with a fixing screw 64 on a rotatable mounting piece with a pin, and by rotating a knob of the fixing screw 64, it can be screwed and fixed to a screw hole (not shown) provided in the light source device 3B. Like that.

The casing 62 of the CCU 61 is provided with a video signal output connector 66 connected to the output terminal of the video signal processing circuit 21. The signal cable 67 connected to the video signal output connector 66 The video signal is input to the LCD drive circuit 34 via a video signal input connector 68 provided on the housing 15 of the light source device 3B to which the end is connected.

The housing 15 of the light source device 3B has a power supply connector 69 connected to the output terminal of the power supply circuit 22.
An operating power supply is supplied to the video signal processing circuit 21 via a power input connector 71 provided on a housing 62 of the CCU 61 to which the other end of a power cable 70 connected to the power supply connector 69 is connected. Can be supplied.

Further, the light source device 3B in the present embodiment
The aperture 25 is connected to a manual aperture adjustment circuit 72, and the aperture 25 is adjusted by an adjustment knob 73 provided on the aperture adjustment circuit 72.
The amount of opening can be adjusted. In the present embodiment, the LCD 37 and the power supply of the LCD drive circuit are
FF is available.

The configuration of the video signal processing circuit 21 is such that the dimming signal generation circuit is removed in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In this embodiment, the light source device 3B has a CCU 6
1, the aperture 25 of the first embodiment is attached.
It has the same operation and effect as the first embodiment except that the function of automatically adjusting the opening amount of the lens by the dimming signal is changed to the function of adjusting manually.

Further, in the present embodiment, when used as an endoscope device using an optical endoscope, by removing the CCU 61 from the light source device 3B, the CCU 61 can be made more compact and suitable for carrying. It can also be used as an endoscope device. In this case, the power supply of the LCD 37 and the LCD drive circuit is turned off and used.

In this case, the aperture of the diaphragm 25 is manually adjusted so as to obtain an appropriate amount of illumination light. This embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment except that the illumination light amount is manually adjusted. Furthermore, when used in combination with an optical endoscope, by removing the CCU 61, it can be used as an endoscope device more suitable for carrying.

In the second embodiment, the CCU 61 containing the video signal processing circuit 21 is made detachable.
The LCD drive circuit 34 may be built in the CCU 61.

That is, when the CCU 61 is detached from the light source device 3B, the LCD drive circuit 34 may not be used at the same time.

The lens barrel 41 is also configured to be detachable,
When removing the CCU 61, the LCD 37 of the lens barrel 41
Alternatively, a projection optical system such as the telecentric optical system 43 may be detachable. With this configuration, when the endoscope apparatus is configured with the optical endoscope,
It can be lighter and can be used as suitable for portability.

The endoscope provided with the image pickup means is not limited to the electronic endoscope 2 in which the image pickup device such as the CCD 19 is arranged at the image forming position of the objective optical system. T with an external TV camera equipped with an image sensor in the eyepiece
An endoscope with an external V-camera may be used, or an endoscope provided with an image sensor in the eyepiece may be used.

An imaging device using an LCD (liquid crystal) is another reflective liquid crystal DRI (Dig) using a micromirror.
Solid state imaging devices such as ital Reflective Imaging can be used.

When it is desired to obtain a high-resolution screen image, it is possible to use a three-panel LCD projection system instead of a single-panel color LCD. However, in this case, the light of the illumination lamp is divided into three colors of RGB,
After passing through each corresponding LCD, it is necessary to perform re-synthesis, and the optical system is somewhat complicated, but portability can be maintained. In addition, the present invention can improve portability not only for industrial use but also for medical use. For example, it is possible to improve simplicity of transportation to the head side.

[Supplementary Notes] An endoscope including an image sensor, an illumination lamp that outputs illumination light, a signal processing circuit that performs signal processing on the image sensor, and a solid-state imaging device that forms an image with an output of the signal processing circuit. An endoscope apparatus provided with projection means for enlarging and projecting the image of the solid-state imaging device on a screen with the light of the illumination lamp. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the illumination lamp, the solid-state imaging device, the screen, and the projection unit are incorporated in a light source device integrated with the illumination lamp.

3. An endoscope provided with an image sensor, an illumination lamp connected to the endoscope and outputting illumination light, a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on the image sensor, and an image output from the signal processing circuit. Solid state imaging device
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a light source device integrated with a projection unit for enlarging and projecting an image of the solid-state imaging device on a screen with light of the illumination lamp. 4. 4. The endoscope device according to claim 3, wherein the light source device has the signal processing circuit portion detachable.

5. An endoscope, an illumination lamp that outputs illumination light, a video signal processing circuit, a solid-state imaging device,
An endoscope apparatus comprising: a screen; and an image of the solid-state imaging device is projected on the screen by light of the illumination lamp. 6. 6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an image captured by a solid-state imaging device is processed by the video signal processing circuit, and is imaged by a solid-state imaging device.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, an endoscope provided with an image sensor, an illumination lamp for outputting illumination light, a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on the image sensor, A solid-state imaging device that forms an image by the output of the signal processing circuit, and a projection unit that enlarges and projects an image of the solid-state imaging device on a screen with light of the illumination lamp are provided. In the case of an endoscope,
By using the light from the illumination lamp and enlarging and projecting the image of the solid-state imaging device onto a screen, a small solid-state imaging device can be mounted, realizing an endoscope device suitable for portability. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a light source device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a video signal processing circuit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an LCD drive circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a light source device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3A ... Light source device 4 ... Insert part 7 ... Light source connector 8 ... Signal connector 14 ... Light guide 15 ... Housing 17 ... Lamp 19 ... CCD 21 ... Video signal processing circuit 22 ... Power supply circuit 23 Lamp lighting circuit 24 Reflector 25 Aperture 27 CCD driver 33 Encoder 34 LCD drive circuit 37 LCD 38 Screen 41 Lens barrel 42 Condensing lens 43 Telecentric optical system 46 Handle 51 Color separation circuit 52 ... RGB driver 53 ... Sample / hold circuit (S / H circuit) 54 ... Timing generator (TG)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope having an image sensor, an illumination lamp for outputting illumination light, a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on the image sensor, and a solid-state imaging device using an output of the signal processing circuit. An endoscope apparatus comprising: an imaging device; and projection means for enlarging and projecting an image of the solid-state imaging device on a screen using light of the illumination lamp.