JPH11313797A - Endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of brightness irregularities of illumination light due to respective characteristics of a light emitting element. SOLUTION: A driving signal output circuit 37 for outputting driving data for that the first - third light emitting elements 21, 22 and 23 of an illumination part 24 emit light, and first - third holding circuits 38, 39 and 40 for performing the input/holding of the driving data, output ON/OFF, reset and a setting operation, etc., are used. A CPU 34 constitutes a microcomputer together with an I/O port 36, a ROM 45 and a RAM 46. By a light quantity measurement program executed by the CPU 34, plural light quantity data corresponding to the driving level of the illumination part 24 are stored in a memory 35.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to an endoscope apparatus characterized by a light amount adjusting portion of a light emitting element as a light source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity, an organ inside the body cavity or the like can be observed with an eyepiece by an image transmission means such as an image guide, or inserted into a treatment instrument channel as necessary. Optical endoscopes capable of performing various medical treatments using the above-mentioned treatment tools, and electronic endoscopes provided with an image pickup means including a solid-state image pickup device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) at the distal end thereof are widely used.

Conventionally, in an endoscope as described above, means for supplying illumination light include a means for inserting illumination light into an endoscope insertion portion and supplying illumination light from a light source device to the light guide. In addition, for example, JP-A-60-559
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 24, there is a device in which a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode is provided at the end of an endoscope, and the light emitting element emits light.

In an endoscope apparatus using such a light-emitting element as a light source, dimming is performed by varying the drive current of the light-emitting element, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-55924, for example.

[0005]

However, in the prior art as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-55924, the light amount is not adjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the light emitting elements. There is a problem that brightness unevenness occurs due to variation in the brightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of uneven brightness of illumination light due to the characteristics of each light emitting element. I have.

[0007]

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
A light emitting element as a light source, an endoscope device that is inserted into a lumen and observes a subject illuminated by the illumination light emitted by the light emitting element, wherein a driving unit that drives the light emitting element to emit light; and Measuring means for measuring light emission characteristics when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels; recording means for recording the light emission characteristics; and variable light emission amount of the light emitting element based on the light emission characteristics recorded by the recording means. And a light amount changing means for controlling the light amount.

In the endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, the measuring means measures a light emission characteristic when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels, and the light amount variable means adjusts the light emission characteristic recorded by the recording means. By varying the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element based on the above, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven brightness of illumination light due to the characteristics of each light emitting element.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope device, and FIG. 2 is a light source device of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a light quantity measurement program by the CPU of FIG.

(Structure) As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 4 having an elongated, for example, flexible insertion portion 3 to be inserted into a body cavity 2. At the rear end of the insertion section 3, an operation section 5 having a large diameter is continuously provided. A flexible universal cable 6 extends laterally from near the rear end of the operation unit 5, and a connector 7 is provided at a distal end of the universal cable 6.

The electronic endoscope 4 is connected via a connector 7 to a video processor 8 having a built-in signal processing circuit, and illuminates the endoscope 4 via the connector 7. It is connected to a light source device 9 for supplying light. Further, the video processor 8 includes:
A color monitor 10 is connected, and an image of a subject in the body cavity 2 is displayed on the color monitor 10.

On the distal end side of the insertion portion 3, a rigid distal end portion 11 containing a solid-state image pickup device, for example, a CCD, and a curved portion 12 that can bend to the rear side adjacent to the distal end portion 11 are sequentially provided. By rotating a bending operation knob 13 provided on the operation unit 5, the bending unit 12 is turned.
Can be bent in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. The operation section 5 is provided with an insertion port 14 that communicates with a treatment tool channel (not shown) provided in the insertion section 3.

Here, the video processor 8 detects the brightness of the image in the process of processing the image pickup signal from the electronic endoscope 4, and sends a light control signal to the light source device 9 based on the brightness. Is output.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light source device 9 includes a first light emitting element 21 and a second light emitting element 22 each including three LEDs or the like.
Illuminating section 24 having a first light emitting element 23 and a third driving circuit 26 for driving the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, 23 of the illuminating section 24. 27 and the first to third light emitting elements 2 of the illumination unit 24
A lens system 29 for condensing the illumination light from 1, 22, 23 on the incident surface of the light guide 28 inserted through the universal cable 6 and the insertion section 3 via the connector 7;

The illumination light condensed on the incident surface of the light guide 28 is transmitted to the insertion section 3 by the light guide 28 and is radiated from the distal end portion 11 into the body cavity 2.

The illuminating section 24 includes three light emitting elements 21,
Although it is assumed that the light-emitting elements are composed of the light-emitting elements 22 and 23, the number of the light-emitting elements constituting the illumination unit 24 may be one or more.

The light source device 9 includes a photodetector 30 that can be inserted into the optical path between the lens system 29 and the light incident surface of the light guide 28 and detects the amount of illumination light from the lens system 29, There is provided a photodetector driving device 31 for moving the lens 30 to two positions, that is, an insertion position in the optical path between the lens system 29 and the entrance surface of the light guide 28 and a retracted position from the optical path.

The photodetector driving device 31 causes the photodetector 30 to detect the position where it is inserted into the optical path indicated by the broken line in the figure and the retracted position from the optical path indicated by the solid line in the figure. In the detection state, the photodetector 30 detects the amount of light illuminated from the illumination unit 24 and passing through the lens system 29. .

Further, the light source device 9 includes an I / V converter 32 for converting a current signal corresponding to the amount of illumination light detected by the photodetector 30 into a voltage signal when the photodetector 30 is in a detection state. , An A / D converter 33 for converting a voltage signal from the I / V converter 32 into a digital signal, and an A / D converter 33
And a memory 35 for storing light amount data converted into digital data under the control of the CPU 34.

Here, the memory 35 stores a plurality of light amount data corresponding to the drive levels of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 according to a light amount measurement program executed by the CPU 34, which will be described later.

The light source device 9 includes a control signal from the CPU 34 and an I / O port 36 from the video processor 8.
The memory 35 is accessed based on the dimming signal input through the controller, the stored light amount data is read, and the illumination light having the light amount corresponding to the dimming signal is supplied to the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 of the illumination unit 24. A drive signal output circuit 37 for outputting drive data for emitting light, input / holding of drive data from the drive signal output circuit 37 selected by a control signal from the CPU 34, output ON / OFF, reset,
A first hold circuit 38, a second hold circuit 39, and a third hold circuit 40 for performing a set operation;
The outputs of the hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 are converted into analog signals, and the drive signals are converted into first to third drive circuits 25, 26,
The first D / A converter 41, the second D / A converter 42, and the third D / A converter 43 that output the signals to the D / A converter 27 are provided.

Here, the first hold circuit 38, the first D /
The A converter 41, the first drive circuit 25, and the first light emitting element 21 correspond one-to-one, and the signal held and output by the first hold circuit 38 by the control signal from the CPU 34 is the first D / A. The first light-emitting element 21 of the illumination unit 24 is driven by the first drive circuit 25 after being output to the converter 41 and converted into an analog signal.

Similarly, the signal held and output by the second hold circuit 39 is output to the second D / A converter 42 and converted into an analog signal, and the second light emission of the illumination unit 24 is performed by the second drive circuit 26. The signal that drives the element 22 and is output from the third hold circuit 40 is output from the third D / A converter 4.
3 and converted into an analog signal, and the third drive circuit 27 drives the third light emitting element 23 of the illumination unit 24.

The CPU 34 includes an I / O port 36, a ROM 45, and an RA connected via a data bus line 44.
A so-called microcomputer is configured together with the M46, and the ROM is used while utilizing the temporary storage function of the RAM 46.
45 and the I / O port 36
The photodetector driving device 31, the memory 35, and the driving signal output circuit are connected through the data bus line 44 in accordance with a signal input from the display operation panel 47 via the CPU and a dimming signal input from the video processor 8. 37 and the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 are controlled.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the power of the light source device 9 of the endoscope device 1 is turned on, the CPU 34 of the light source device 9 executes a light quantity measurement program preset in the ROM 45.

In the light quantity measurement program, the CPU 34
As shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S1, the photodetector driving device 31 is driven, and the photodetector 30 is inserted into the optical path between the lens system 29 and the entrance surface of the light guide 28 (detection state:
Along with the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 2), initial settings such as resetting the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 to turn off the output are performed.

Next, at step S2, "1" is set to the parameter j. The j-th light emitting element of the illumination unit 24 is selected as a processing target by the parameter j. In this case, the first light emitting element 21 is a processing target.

Next, in step S3, the CPU 34
Sets the initial value of the drive data stored in the ROM 45 in advance in the first hold circuit 38, which has been reset in step S1 and has its output turned off, and holds it.

Then, in step S4, the CPU 34
The drive data held by the first hold circuit 38 is transferred to the first D /
The first D / A converter 41 converts the drive data into an analog value, and the first drive circuit 25 turns on the first light emitting element 21 by the analog drive signal. The illuminated light of the first light emitting element 21 enters the photodetector 30 through the lens system 29, and the light detector 30 detects the amount of light.

Then, the CPU 34 proceeds to step S5.
The measurement and storage of the light amount of the first light emitting element 21 are executed. That is, the first light emitting element 2 detected by the photodetector 30
1 is converted into a voltage signal by the I / V converter 32,
The data is converted into a digital signal by the D converter 33 and stored in the memory 35 as light amount data. As a result, in this case, the light amount data of the first light emitting element 21 driven by the initial drive data is stored in the memory 35.

Next, the CPU 34 determines in step S6 whether the drive data has reached a predetermined maximum value stored in the ROM 45 in advance. If the drive data has not reached the maximum value, the process proceeds to step S7, where If reached, step S
Proceed to 8. In this case, since the drive data is the initial value,
Proceed to step S7.

In step 7, the CPU 34 increases the value of the drive data by one step, and returns to step S4. Then, by executing the processing of steps S4 and S5, the light amount data of the first light emitting element 21 driven by the drive data increased by one step from the initial value is stored in the memory 35.

Then, it is again determined in step S6 whether the drive data has reached the predetermined maximum value, and the processing of steps S4 to S7 is repeated until the drive data reaches the predetermined maximum value. Light amount data of the first light emitting element 21 driven by drive data for each step from an initial value to a maximum value is stored as light emission characteristic data.

When it is determined in step S6 that the drive data has reached the predetermined maximum value, the CPU 34 sends a control signal to the first hold circuit 38 to reset the first hold circuit 38, and the output of the first D / A converter 41 Is turned off, the maximum light amount data Pmax of the first light emitting element 21 based on the maximum drive data of the maximum value is compared with predetermined limit light amount data P stored in the ROM 45 in advance in step S8.

Then, in step S9, the maximum light amount data P
It is determined whether or not max is smaller than predetermined limit light amount data P.

In step 10, the CPU 34 determines whether or not the parameter j has exceeded 2, and if it is within 2, the parameter j is incremented in step S11 and the process returns to step S3. finish. In this case, since the parameter j is 1, step S
Proceed to 11.

In step S9, the maximum light amount data Pma
If x is smaller than the predetermined limit light amount data P, the life of the first light emitting element 21 is determined as the life of the I / O port 3 in step S12.
The display of the replacement of the light emitting element is displayed on the display operation panel 47 through 6.

By the processing up to this point, the first light emitting element 21
The light quantity measurement of is completed. Then, after step S10, the parameter j is incremented in step S11 and the processing target is set to the second light emitting element 22, and the processing from step S3 to step S7 is repeated, whereby the first light emitting element 2
Similarly to the case of 1, the light amount data of the second light emitting element 22 driven by the drive data for each step from the initial value to the maximum value is stored in the memory 35 as light emission characteristic data.

Then, the CPU 34 controls the second hold circuit 3
9, the second hold circuit 39 is reset, the output of the second D / A converter 42 is turned off, and the life of the second light emitting element 22 is determined in steps S8 and S9. The processing is performed in the same manner as in the case of 21.

When the measurement of the light amount of the second light emitting element 21 is completed, the process proceeds to step S11 via step S10. In step S11, the parameter j is incremented to set the processing target to the third light emitting element 23, and the processing of steps S3 to S7 is performed. Is repeated in the same manner as in the case of the first light-emitting element 21, the 1
Light amount data of the third light emitting element 23 driven by the drive data for each step is stored as light emission characteristic data.

Then, the CPU 34 sets the third hold circuit 4
After the control signal is sent to 0, the third hold circuit 40 is reset, and the output of the third D / A converter 43 is turned off. The life of the third light emitting element 23 is determined in steps S8 and S9, and the first light emitting element is determined. The process is performed in the same manner as in the case of No. 21, and it is determined in step S10 that the parameter j has exceeded 2, and the process ends.

Therefore, according to the light quantity measuring program, the light quantity data of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22 and 23 driven by the drive data for each step from the initial value to the maximum value are emitted in the memory 35. It will be stored as characteristic data.

When the light quantity measurement of all the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 by the light quantity measurement program is completed, the photodetector driving device 31 is driven to drive the photodetector 30 to the lens system 29 and the light guide 28. It is retracted from the optical path between the incident surfaces (non-detection state: the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2).

In the light source device 9, based on the dimming signal input from the video processor 8 through the I / O port 36, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 to read the light emission characteristic data, and The optimum drive data for each of the three light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 is stored in the first
Or to the third hold circuits 38, 39, 40 in sequence. When the outputs of all the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 are turned on by the CPU 34, the first to third light emitting elements 21, 2 are turned on.
Endoscope observation is performed under illumination light having the optimum light amount of 2, 23.

Here, when the dimming signal input from the video processor 8 through the I / O port 36 changes, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 again, and the first to third light emitting elements 21 and By outputting the optimal drive signal for each of the optical signals 22 and 23, the endoscope observation is always performed under the optimal illumination light.

The light quantity measurement program may be executed at an arbitrary time other than when the light source device 9 is turned on by inputting a signal from the display operation panel 47.

When the memory 35 is constituted by a non-volatile memory, the light quantity measurement program is not executed when the power is turned on by the input signal from the display operation panel 47, and the first to third measurement data previously measured are not executed. Light emitting element 2
Endoscope observation may be performed using the light emission characteristic data of 1, 22, and 23.

(Effect) As described above, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the light source device 9 is turned on, the light emission characteristic data of each of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 is measured. With the light emission characteristic data, the light amount can be adjusted for each of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 based on the dimming signal input from the video processor 8 through the I / O port 36. It is possible to eliminate the difference in light amount between the light sources and the uneven brightness caused by the change in light amount with time.

Further, when a part of the light-emitting elements becomes insufficient in light amount due to aging, the state is detected when the light source device 9 is turned on, and the display operation panel 47 displays replacement of the light-emitting elements. Before observing with illumination light having uneven brightness, it is possible to know when to replace the light emitting element.

Further, in a light source device that illuminates by using light emitting elements of different colors such as red, green, and blue, the brightness of each light emitting element can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a phenomenon that the white balance cannot be obtained or the unevenness in brightness due to the difference in the light amounts of the light emitting elements of the same color.

In this embodiment, an electronic endoscope having a CCD at the distal end of the insertion section has been described as an example of the endoscope. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An endoscope with a TV camera detachably connected to the eyepiece of the optical endoscope that transmits the light may be used. Also, as the optical endoscope, even if the insertion part is a flexible endoscope, the insertion part may be a flexible endoscope. A rigid rigid scope may be used. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to a medical endoscope inserted into a body cavity but also to an industrial endoscope.

Second Embodiment FIGS. 4 and 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a light source device, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a program.

(Configuration) Since the second embodiment is almost the same as the first embodiment, only different points will be described, and the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light source device 9 of the present embodiment excludes the photodetector driving device 31 of the first embodiment from the configuration and inserts the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4. An endoscope insertion port 52, an endoscope detection section 53 connected to a data bus line 44 for detecting whether or not the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 has been inserted into the endoscope insertion port 52; 1
And a light detector 30 for detecting the amount of light emitted from the emission surface of the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 of the light guide 28 for transmitting the illumination light from the third light emitting elements 21, 22, 23. It is configured with.

The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the power of the light source device 9 is turned on, the CPU
34 executes a light quantity measurement program preset in the ROM 45.

In the light quantity measuring program of the present embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 34 first executes step S2.
In step 1, a display for instructing insertion of the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 into the endoscope insertion port 52 is displayed on the display operation panel 47 through the I / O port 36. Then, the CPU 34 determines whether or not the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 has been inserted into the endoscope insertion opening 52 by the endoscope detection unit 53 in step S22,
If not inserted, the steps S21 and S22 are repeated until the distal end 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 is inserted into the endoscope insertion port 52, and the distal end 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 is inserted into the endoscope insertion port 52.
Is inserted, the insertion is detected based on the endoscope detection signal from the endoscope detection unit 53, and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, initial settings such as resetting the first to third hold circuits 38, 39 and 40 and turning off the output are performed.

Thereafter, steps S2 to S12 described in the first embodiment are repeated (see FIG. 3).

When the measurement of the light amounts of all the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 by the light amount measurement program is completed, in the light source device 9, the light control input from the video processor 8 through the I / O port 36 is performed. Based on the signal, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 and reads the light emission characteristic data, and the first to third light emitting elements 2
The optimum drive data for each of 1, 22, and 23 is sequentially output to the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40. When the outputs of all the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 are turned on by the CPU 34,
Endoscope observation is performed under illumination light in which the light amount of each of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 is optimal.

Here, when the dimming signal input from the video processor 8 through the I / O port 36 changes, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 again, and the first to third light emitting elements 21 and By outputting the optimal drive signal for each of the optical signals 22 and 23, the endoscope observation is always performed under the optimal illumination light.

The light quantity measurement program may be executed at any time other than when the light source device 9 is turned on by inputting a signal from the display operation panel 47.

When the memory 35 is constituted by a non-volatile memory, the light quantity measurement program is not executed when the power is turned on by the input signal from the display operation panel 47, and the first to third measurement data previously measured are not executed. Light emitting element 2
Endoscope observation may be performed using the light emission characteristic data of 1, 22, and 23.

(Effect) As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the distal end portion 1 of the electronic endoscope 4 is added.
Since the light emission characteristic data of each light emitting element is measured from the light amount of the illumination light from No. 1, the effect that the light control including the light transmission characteristic in the light guide 28 can be performed can be obtained.

Third Embodiment FIGS. 6 to 10 relate to a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a structural diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus, and FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the video processor in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the light amount detection block in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a light emission diagram in FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an element driving block.

(Structure) The third embodiment is almost the same as the second embodiment. Therefore, only different points will be described, and the same structures will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the electronic endoscope 4 has first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 in the distal end portion 11, and the video The processor 8 processes the imaging signal from the electronic endoscope 4 and drives the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23. The light source device 9 is different from the second embodiment. Is omitted.

Although the three light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 are built in the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4, the number of light emitting elements may be one or more.

As shown in FIG. 7, first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, 23 are provided in the distal end 11 of the electronic endoscope 4.
And a solid-state imaging device, for example, a CCD 101, for imaging an object in the body cavity 2;
The first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, 23 of the illumination unit 24
Is illuminated from the illumination window 102 to the subject in the body cavity 2 through the lens system 29, and the returned light is transmitted to the observation window 1
An image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 101 through the lens system 104 through the lens system 03, and charge is accumulated by the CCD 101 so that an object in the body cavity 2 is imaged.

The CCD 101 is driven by a drive signal transmitted from the video processor 8 via a signal line 105, and the image signal is transmitted to the video processor 8 via a signal line 106. The lighting unit 24
The first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 are driven by respective drive signals transmitted by signal lines 107, 108, and 109 from the video processor 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the video processor 8
Is an imaging signal processing block 121 for driving the CCD 101 and processing an imaging signal, an endoscope insertion port 52 for inserting the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4, and an electronic endoscope for the endoscope insertion port 52. It detects whether the tip 11 of the mirror 4 has been inserted and also detects the amount of illumination light from the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 built in the tip 11 of the electronic endoscope 4. The light amount detection block 122 and the first to third light emitting elements 21 of the illumination unit 24 that process the endoscope detection signal and the light amount signal from the light amount detection block 122,
Light emitting element driving block 123 for driving and controlling 22 and 23
And a connector 7, a universal cable 6
And signal lines 105, 106, and 10 inserted through the insertion portion 3.
7, 108, and 109 are connected to the CCD 101 and the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23.

The imaging signal processing block 121 of the video processor 8 performs various signal processing on the imaging signal,
For example, a standard TV signal is generated, an image of a subject in the body cavity 2 is displayed on the color monitor 10, and a dimming signal is output to the light emitting element driving block 123.

As shown in FIG. 9, the light quantity detection block 122 detects whether or not the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4 has been inserted into the endoscope insertion port 52, and outputs an endoscope detection signal to the light emitting element driving block. An endoscope detecting section 53 for outputting to 123 and a photodetector for detecting the amount of illumination light from the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22 and 23 built in the distal end portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 4. And a light-emitting element driving block 123 which converts a current signal of the photodetector 30 into a voltage signal and converts it into a light amount signal
And an I / V converter 32 for outputting to the

As shown in FIG. 10, the light emitting element drive block 123 includes an A / D converter 33 for converting a voltage signal, which is a light amount signal from the I / V converter 32 of the light amount detection block 122, into a digital signal. , CPU 34, memory 3
5. I / O port 36 for inputting an endoscope detection signal of endoscope detection unit 53 of light amount detection block 122, ROM 45,
RAM 46, drive signal output circuit 37, first to third hold circuits 38, 39, 40, first to third D / A converters 41, 42, 43, first to third drive circuits 25,
26 and 27, and the connection relationship of these components is the same as that of the first or second embodiment, so that the description is omitted.

In this embodiment, the endoscope detection signal and the light amount signal from the light amount detection block 122 are input to the light emitting element drive block 123 via the I / O port 36. The display operation panel 47 is provided with the video processor 8.
And is connected via the I / O port 36 of the light emitting element drive block 123.

The other structure is the same as that of the second embodiment.

(Operation) When the power of the video processor 8 is turned on, the CPU 34 of the light emitting element drive block 123 executes a light quantity measurement program preset in the ROM 45.

The light quantity measuring program in this embodiment is as follows.
Since this is the same as the light quantity measurement program of the second embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5, its description is omitted.

When the light quantity measurement of all the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 is completed by the light quantity measuring program, the light emitting element driving block 123 of the video processor 8 outputs the I / O signal from the imaging signal processing block 121 to the I / O signal processing block 121.
Based on the dimming signal input through the O port 36, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 to read the light emission characteristic data, and reads the first to third light emitting elements 21, 2
The optimum drive data is sequentially output to the first to third hold circuits 38, 39, and 40 for each of the second and third hold circuits. And C
All the first to third hold circuits 3 by the PU 34
When the outputs of 8, 39, and 40 are turned on, the endoscope observation is performed under the illumination light in which the light amount of each of the first to third light emitting elements 21, 22, and 23 is optimal.

Here, when the dimming signal input from the imaging signal processing block 121 through the I / O port 36 changes, the drive signal output circuit 37 accesses the memory 35 again, and the first to third light emitting elements By outputting the optimal drive signal for each of 21, 22, and 23, the endoscope observation is always performed under the optimal illumination light.

The light quantity measurement program may be executed at any time other than when the power of the video processor 8 is turned on by inputting a signal from the display operation panel 47.

When the memory 35 is constituted by a non-volatile memory, the light quantity measurement program is not executed when the power is turned on by the input signal from the display operation panel 47, and the first to third measurement data previously measured are used. Light emitting element 2
Endoscope observation may be performed using the light emission characteristic data of 1, 22, and 23.

(Effect) As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained.

[Supplementary note] (Supplementary note 1) An endoscope apparatus which uses a light emitting element as a light source, inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a lumen, and observes a subject illuminated by illumination light emitted by the light emitting element. A driving unit that drives the light emitting element to emit light, a measuring unit that measures a light emitting characteristic when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels by the driving unit, a recording unit that records the light emitting characteristic, An endoscope apparatus comprising: a light amount varying unit that varies a light emission amount of the light emitting element based on the light emission characteristics recorded by a recording unit.

(Additional Item 2) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1, wherein the light source includes a plurality of the light emitting elements.

(Additional Item 3) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1 or 2, wherein the measuring means executes the measurement of the light emission characteristics when power is turned on.

(Additional Item 4) The endoscope apparatus according to Additional Item 1 or 2, wherein the recording means is a nonvolatile recording means.

(Additional Item 5) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 2, wherein the light amount varying means uniformly adjusts the light emission amount of each of the light emitting elements.

(Supplementary note 6) The measuring means detects a maximum illuminance of the light emitting element, and, when the maximum illuminance detected by the measuring means is equal to or less than a predetermined illuminance, a notifying means for notifying an abnormality of the light emitting element. Additional item 1 characterized by having
Or the endoscope apparatus according to 2.

(Supplementary Note 7) The measuring means measures emission characteristics of light emitted from the tip of the endoscope when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels. 3. The endoscope device according to 1 or 2.

(Additional Item 8) The endoscope apparatus according to additional item 7, wherein the light emitting element is disposed in a distal end portion of the endoscope.

(Supplementary Note 9) An image pickup means for picking up an image of the subject illuminated by the illumination light emitted by the light emitting element, and a signal processing means for signal processing an image pickup signal from the image pickup means, The endoscope apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signal processing means includes the driving means, the measuring means, the recording means, and the light quantity varying means.

(Supplementary Note 10) In a light source device for supplying illumination light by a light emitting element, a driving means for driving the light emitting element to emit light, and a light emission characteristic when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of driving levels by the driving means A light source comprising: a measuring unit that measures the light emission characteristics; a recording unit that records the light emission characteristics; and a light amount variable unit that changes a light emission amount of the light emitting element based on the light emission characteristics recorded by the recording unit. apparatus.

[0097]

As described above, according to the endoscope apparatus of the present invention, the measuring means measures the light emission characteristics when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels, and the light quantity varying means records the light. Since the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element is changed based on the light emitting characteristics, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of uneven brightness of the illumination light due to the respective characteristics of the light emitting element.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the light source device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a light quantity measurement program by a CPU of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a light source device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a light quantity measurement program by the CPU of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration inside a distal end portion of the electronic endoscope in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the video processor of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a light amount detection block in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a light emitting element drive block in FIG. 8;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope apparatus 4 ... Electronic endoscope 8 ... Video processor 9 ... Light source apparatus 10 ... Color monitor 21 ... 1st light emitting element 22 ... 2nd light emitting element 23 ... 3rd light emitting element 24 ... Illumination part 25 ... 1st Drive circuit 26 Second drive circuit 27 Third drive circuit 28 Light guide 29 Lens system 30 Photodetector 31 Photodetector drive 32 I / V converter 33 A / D converter 34 CPU 35 Memory 36 I / O port 37 Drive signal output circuit 38 First hold circuit 39 Second hold circuit 40 Third hold circuit 41 First D / A converter 42 Second D / A converter 43: third D / A converter 44: data bus line 45: ROM 46: RAM 47: display operation panel

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Miyoshi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope apparatus which uses a light emitting element as a light source, is inserted into a lumen, and observes a subject illuminated by illumination light emitted by the light emitting element, wherein: a driving means for driving the light emitting element to emit light; Measuring means for measuring light emission characteristics when the light emitting element is driven at a plurality of drive levels by the driving means; recording means for recording the light emission characteristics; and the light emitting element based on the light emission characteristics recorded by the recording means. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a light amount varying means for varying the amount of emitted light.