JPH1147087A - Endoscope imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable general-purpose image data processing by outputting digital images in the DV format of a general-purpose format. SOLUTION: A CCD 6 of a TV camera 3 is driven based on the clock signal of 13.5 MHz from an SSG 38 and at a preprocess circuit 33, A/D converting circuit and DSP 35, signal processing is performed to digital video signals based on this clock signal of 13.5 MHz as well. The digital video signal in the DV format is outputted to an extension unit 10, image data are compressed by a compression circuit and stored in a memory, the compressed image data stored in the memory are stored on a PC card 13, and the compressed image data from the compression circuit are outputted to a personal computer 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an endoscope image pickup apparatus having an endoscope image output portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. Also, recently, an endoscope externally mounted with a television camera equipped with a television camera equipped with an imaging unit at an eyepiece of an optical endoscope, or an electronic endoscope having a built-in imaging unit at a distal end, has been used. Endoscope imaging devices that display an endoscope image on a monitor have also been widely used.

When an endoscopic examination is performed using, for example, a medical field using such an endoscope imaging apparatus, an operator uses an endoscopic imaging apparatus so as to make a detailed diagnosis later. The user captures and records a mirror image or obtains a hard copy of an endoscope image using a video printer.

However, in the case of a photographing device, it takes a long time to develop a film, and therefore, it is not possible to cope with a demand for immediately confirming an image. In addition, the photographing apparatus and the video printer have the disadvantage that the management of the photographed film or printer paper becomes complicated, and it takes a very long time to search for an endoscopic image.

[0005] Therefore, it is also practiced to record the endoscope image as a digital signal and to make the database of the endoscope image as an image file.

[0006]

As an image pickup means provided in an endoscope external to a television camera or an electronic endoscope, a plurality of types of solid-state image pickup devices different for each endoscope are used. In this solid-state imaging device, the driving frequency, in addition to the number of pixels, differs depending on the NTSC system and the PAL system, which are standard TV signals.

Therefore, in general, in an endoscope imaging apparatus, the solid-state imaging device is driven by a driving method according to the type of the solid-state imaging device. The imaging signal is signal-processed at the same frequency as the driving frequency of the solid-state imaging device, output to a monitor as an analog signal, and an endoscope image is displayed.

For example, a solid-state image sensor having 360,000 effective pixels in the NTSC system and a solid-state image sensor having 420,000 effective pixels in the PAL system are driven at a driving frequency of 13.5 MHz. The solid-state imaging device having 10,000 pixels and the solid-state imaging device having 440,000 effective pixels in the PAL system are driven at a driving frequency of 14 MHz. As a result, a high-resolution endoscopic image is displayed on the monitor from the solid-state imaging device driven at 14 MHz.

On the other hand, in recent years, a DV format conforming to IEEE1394 has been used as a standard format for digital data of images.
The (digital video) format is becoming mainstream. In the DV format, a frequency of 13.5 MHz is used as a sampling frequency, and processing such as compression of digital data is performed using this sampling frequency.

However, the conventional endoscope imaging apparatus has only an analog output corresponding to the driving frequency of the solid-state imaging device as described above, and cannot output a digital signal in the DV format which is the standard format. However, there is a problem that general-purpose data processing cannot be performed.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can output a digital image in a DV format.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope imaging apparatus that enables general-purpose image data processing.

[0012]

An endoscope imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts a body image into a body cavity to capture an image of a subject. A driving unit that drives at a predetermined frequency, a digital signal conversion unit that converts an imaging signal from the imaging unit driven by the driving unit into a digital signal, and performs signal processing on the digital signal from the digital signal conversion unit A signal processing unit; and a digital signal output unit that outputs the digital signal processed by the signal processing unit as a digital signal in a general format.

[0013] In the endoscope imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the digital signal output means outputs the digital signal processed by the signal processing means as a digital signal in a general format. Outputs an image and enables general-purpose image data processing.

[0014]

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

FIGS. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the extension unit of FIG.

(Construction) As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an endoscope 4 with a TV camera in which a TV camera 3 is mounted on a rigid endoscope 2, and a rigid endoscope. A light source device 5 that supplies illumination light to the mirror 2, and a charge-coupled device (abbreviated as CCD) 6 that is a solid-state imaging device built in the TV camera 3
A camera control unit (abbreviated as CCU) 7 for performing signal processing on the image data, a color monitor 8 for displaying an endoscope image based on a video signal output from the CCU 7,
DV compliant with IEEE1394 provided in CCU7
And an extension unit 10 detachably connected to the terminal 9. As shown in FIG.
A C card slot 11 and an external communication terminal 12 are provided. A PC card 13 is provided in the PC card slot 11, and a D card conforming to IEEE 1394 is provided in the external communication terminal 12.
A personal computer (abbreviated as a personal computer) 14 having a V format interface is detachably connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rigid endoscope 2 has an elongated insertion portion 21, a grip portion 22 provided at a rear end of the insertion portion 21, and a rear end of the grip portion 22. The grip 22 is provided with a light guide base 24, and is connected to the light source device 5 via a light guide cable 25.

Although not shown, illumination light from a lamp in the light source device 5 is condensed by a condenser lens and supplied to an incident end face of a light guide in a light guide cable 25, and the illumination light is further hardened. The light is emitted forward through the light guide of the endoscope 2 from the front end of the light guide attached to the illumination window at the front end of the insertion section 21 to illuminate a subject such as an affected part.

An objective lens is attached to an observation window adjacent to the illumination window at the distal end of the insertion section 21 to form a subject image at the image forming position. The formed image is transmitted by a relay lens system arranged in the insertion section 21 facing the objective lens, and forms an image near the eyepiece section 23. This image is obtained by the eyepiece provided in the eyepiece 23 and the imaging lens 26 in the TV camera 3 arranged opposite to the eyepiece.
An image is formed on D6.

A mosaic filter (not shown) is attached immediately before the imaging surface (photoelectric conversion surface) of the CCD 6, and optically separates the light input to each pixel.
That is, the imaging means of this embodiment uses a simultaneous imaging means for obtaining a color imaging signal under white illumination.

The CCD 6 of the TV camera 3 is connected to the CCU 7 and a CCD driver 31 in the CCU 7 applies a CCD drive signal to the CCD 6 so that the CCD 6
The CCD output signal (image signal), which is photoelectrically converted and output at, is input to the amplifier 32 in the CCU 7 and
The signal amplified by is input to the pre-processing circuit 33.

CCD input to the pre-processing circuit 33
The output signal is CDS (correlated double sampling) or S / H
A / D after pre-processing such as (sample hold)
After being input to the conversion circuit 34 and converted into a digital signal, a digital signal processor (abbreviated as DSP) 35
Is input to

In the DSP 35, the input digital signal is line-sequentially separated into three digital signals of Y, Cr and Cb, and converted into RGB digital signals by a matrix conversion formula. The RGB digital signal converted by the matrix conversion formula is subjected to digital processing such as enhancement processing, γ correction, and character superimposition after white balance / black balance adjustment is performed.
The signal is input to the A conversion circuit 36.

The digital signal input to the D / A conversion circuit 36 is converted into an analog signal, converted into a standard video signal in a post-processing circuit 37, and output to the color monitor 8.

The CCU 7 is provided with a reference signal generating circuit (abbreviated as SSG) 38, and a timing signal generating circuit (abbreviated as TG) 39 generates a timing signal based on a 13.5 MHz clock signal generated from the SSG 38. , And the CCD driver 31 drives the CCD 6 according to the timing signal. SS
The 13.5 MHz clock signal from the G38 is supplied to the pre-processing circuit 33, the A / D conversion circuit 34, the DSP 3
5 and also output to the D / A conversion circuit 36.
The CCD output signal (image signal) from the driver 31 is
Processing is performed based on a 3.5 MHz clock signal.

As a result, the digital video signal output from the DSP 35 is output from the DV terminal 9 to the extension unit 10 connected to the DV terminal 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the extension unit 10
A digital video signal output from the DSP 35 is input from a digital video input terminal 41, image data is compressed by a compression circuit 42, and stored in a memory 43.
The compressed image data stored in the PC card slot 11 is output to the PC card 13 inserted in the PC card slot 11 via the driver 44, and the compressed image data from the compression circuit 42 is connected to the external communication terminal 12. Computer 14
Via a driver 45. As a result, the PC card 13 can record the compressed image data.

The PC card 13 which is detachably mounted in the PC card slot 11 of the expansion unit 10 and used for storing (recording) images is a small memory in addition to a flash memory card and a type III hard disk. Cards can be used.

The compression circuit 42 comprises, for example, a DV (digital video) compression circuit. This DV compression circuit
A circuit which compresses an image by a procedure of DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform, Discrete Cosine Transform), quantization, and variable length coding (VLC) by two-dimensional Huffman coding.
The digital video signal output from the V terminal 9 is compressed.

(Operation) Next, the operation of the thus configured endoscope imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

For example, when performing an operation on the abdomen under the observation of the endoscope, the TV camera 3 is mounted on the rigid endoscope 2, connected to the light source device 5 and the CCU 7, and further, the color monitor 8 is connected to the CCU 7. . The extension unit 10 is connected to the DV terminal 9 of the CCU 7, the PC card 13 is connected to the PC card slot 11 of the extension unit 10, and the personal computer 14 is connected to the external communication terminal 12.

Then, the insertion portion 21 of the rigid endoscope 2 is inserted into the abdomen of the patient via a trocar so that the affected part such as an organ inside the abdomen can be observed. In that case (endoscope)
The image is displayed on the color monitor 8, and the operator observes the image.

At this time, the CCD 6 of the TV camera 3
The digital video signal is driven based on the 13.5 MHz clock signal from the SG 38, and the pre-processing circuit 33, the A / D conversion circuit and the DSP 35 also process the digital video signal based on the 13.5 MHz clock signal.
The output of the DSP 35 is a digital video signal.

The digital video signal is transmitted to the extension unit 10
The image data is compressed by the compression circuit 42 and stored in the memory 43, and the compressed image data stored in the memory 43 is transferred to the PC card 13 inserted in the PC card slot 11 via the driver 44. The compressed image data from the compression circuit 42 is output to the personal computer 14 connected to the external communication terminal 12 via the driver 45.

(Effects) As described above, in the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a digital video signal can be output from the DV terminal 9, and therefore, for example, a general-purpose DV compression circuit in the extension unit 10. Since compression processing by the DV system can be performed by the compression circuit 42 and image data communication can be easily performed with a personal computer 14 or the like having a general-purpose interface of a DV format conforming to IEEE 1394, a file of endoscope image data can be obtained. Therefore, the endoscope image data can be easily and reliably managed. Also, since the compressed image data in the DV format can be stored in the PC card 13, external peripheral devices in the DV format and the PC
Endoscope image data can be easily exchanged via the card 13.

FIGS. 3 to 5 relate to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a configuration showing a contact configuration of the TV camera of FIG. Figure,
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the endoscope imaging apparatus of FIG.

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.

(Configuration) As shown in FIG. 3, in the endoscope imaging apparatus 1a of the present embodiment, the CCU 7a
Based on the 13.5 MHz clock signal from G38,
A first TG 51 and a second TG 52 for generating different timing signals are provided. The switching circuit 53 switches the timing signals from the first TG 51 and the second TG 52 to
The data is output to the D driver 31.

The TV camera 3 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (b), a contact 54 that is in a state corresponding to the driving frequency of the CCD 6 is provided.
When the CCD is driven at 14 MHz, the contacts are in the grounded state (FIG. 4A).
In the case of a CCD driven at 5 MHz, the contacts are open (FIG. 4B). The switching circuit 53 inputs the state of the contact 54 as an ID signal to the switching circuit 53. If the ID signal is in the ground state, the switching circuit 53 selects the first TG 51 and selects the first TG 51.
The timing signal from G51 is output to the CCD driver 31 to drive the CCD 6, and if the ID signal is open, the second
The TG 52 is selected, the timing signal from the second TG 52 is output to the CCD driver 31, and the CCD 6 is driven.

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

(Operation) In this embodiment, the TV camera 3
The type of the CCD 6 is identified by the contact point 54, and the timing signals from the first TG 51 and the second
Output to the D driver 31 to drive the CCD 6.

At this time, for example, when the CCD 6 is a CCD driven at 14 MHz, as shown in FIG.
The outer frame excluding the portion B) is the readout area, but in the present embodiment, the timing signal from the second TG 52 is the SSG
Since it is generated based on the clock signal of 13.5 MHz from 38, the read area is displayed on the color monitor 8 in a state where the horizontal resolution is deteriorated and the horizontal resolution is deteriorated.

However, as in the first embodiment, the pre-processing circuit 33, the A / D conversion circuit, and the DSP 35 process digital video signals based on a 13.5 MHz clock signal.

Other operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Effects) As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the CCD 6
A contact 54 for identifying the type of the
The first TG 51 and the second TG 52 depending on the state of the contact 54.
The timing signal from the CCD driver 31
And drives the CCD 6, so that even a plurality of TV cameras 3 having CCDs of different driving frequencies can be optimally driven by one clock signal (13.5 MHz), and reliably comply with IEEE1394. DV
A digital video signal in a format can be output.

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

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

(Structure and Operation) The endoscope image pickup apparatus 1a according to the second embodiment has two TGs, and switches the two TGs by the switching circuit 53 in accordance with the state of the contact point 54 to change the CCD 6
However, in the CCU 7b of the endoscope imaging apparatus 1b according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
7b is a first SSG that generates a 14 MHz clock signal.
61 and a second generating a 13.5 MHz clock signal.
An SSG 62 and a PLL 64 for synchronizing the first SSG 61 and the second SSG 62 are provided. The switching circuit 53 selects the first SSG 61 when the ID signal is in the ground state, and selects the first SSG 61
TG39 based on 14 MHz clock signal from 1
The timing signal from (refer to the first embodiment) is
The signal is output to the D driver 31 to drive the CCD 6. If the ID signal is open, the second SSG 62 is selected and the second SSG 62 is selected.
TG39 based on 13.5 MHz clock signal from
Output to the CCD driver 31
Drive CD6.

The clock signal selected by the switching circuit 53 is supplied to the pre-processing circuit 33, the A / D conversion circuit, the DSP
The signal is output to the D / A conversion circuit 35 and the D / A conversion circuit 36, and signal processing is performed by the clock signal.

Then, the digital video signal output from the DSP 35 is output to the frequency conversion circuit 63 and the second SSG
After being converted to a 13.5 MHz digital video signal of the same frequency as the 13.5 MHz clock signal from 62,
It is output to DV terminal 9.

(Effects) As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, a monitor output can be obtained without deteriorating the horizontal resolution of a high-resolution endoscopic image by a CCD driven at 14 MHz. For a plurality of TV cameras 3 provided with CCDs having different driving frequencies.
A digital video signal in a DV format conforming to EEE1394 can be output.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Since the fourth 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.

(Structure and Operation) As shown in FIG. 7, in the endoscope imaging apparatus 1c of the present embodiment, the CCU 7c
A first SSG 71 for generating a clock signal of 1 MHz;
Second SSG 72 for generating 3.5 MHz clock signal
And P for synchronizing the first SSG 71 and the second SSG 72
LL73, the CCD 6 of the TV camera 3
Is a CCD driven at 14 MHz.

Then, 14 MHz from the first SSG 71
The timing signal from the TG 39 (see the first embodiment) based on the clock signal is output to the CCD driver 31 and the CCD 6 is driven. The 14 MHz clock signal from the first SSG 71 is supplied to the pre-processing circuit 33,
The signal is output to the A / D conversion circuit, the DSP 35, and the D / A conversion circuit 36, and signal processing is performed by the clock signal.

The digital video signal output from the DSP 35 is output to the frequency conversion circuit 74,
Is converted into a 13.5 MHz digital video signal having the same frequency as the 13.5 MHz clock signal from the second SSG 62 synchronized with the 14 MHz clock signal from the first SSG 71, and then output to the DV terminal 9.

(Effect) As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the horizontal resolution is not deteriorated for the high-resolution endoscope image by the CCD driven at 14 MHz, that is, the high-resolution endoscope image is obtained. A digital video signal in a DV format conforming to IEEE 1394 can be reliably output to a TV camera 3 having a CCD.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Since the fifth 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.

(Structure and Operation) In the first embodiment,
Although the endoscope image compressed in the DV format is transmitted to the PC card 13 and the personal computer 14 via the extension unit 10, the endoscope imaging apparatus 1d according to the present embodiment is used.
As shown in FIG. 8, the configuration of the extension unit 10 is built in and the endoscope image recorded on the PC card 13 is expanded and reproduced.

That is, in the CCU 7d, the DSP 3
5 is input to the compression circuit 42 via the switching circuit 81, the image data is compressed by the compression circuit 42 and stored in the memory 43, and the compressed image data stored in the memory 43 is PC card slot 11
The compressed image data from the compression circuit 42 is output via the driver 44 to the PC card 13 mounted on the PC card 13 and is connected via the driver 45 to the personal computer 14 connected to the external communication terminal 12. As a result, the PC card 13
Can record compressed image data.

The CCU 7d is provided with a CPU 82 and a decompression circuit 83. By operating a switch 84 provided on the TV camera 3, the CPU 82 controls the switching circuit 81 and the driver 44, and stores the data in the PC card. After the recorded compressed endoscope image data is input from the driver 44 and decompressed by the decompression circuit 83, the data is output to the D / A conversion circuit 36 via the switching circuit 81, and is output to the D / A conversion circuit 36.
The digital signal, which is the expanded endoscope image data input to, is converted into an analog signal, then converted into a standard video signal in the post-processing circuit 37, and output to the color monitor 8.

When the switch 84 is not operated, the switching circuit 81 outputs the digital video signal output from the DSP 35 to the compression circuit 42 and the D / A conversion circuit 36.

(Effects) As described above, in the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, no extension unit is required, and T
The user can switch the real-time endoscope image from the V camera 3 and the endoscope image stored in the PC card 13 by operating the switch 84. That is, in the first embodiment, only the storage of the compressed endoscope image is performed on the PC card 13, and the reproduction of the compressed endoscope image has to be reproduced once by reading it with a personal computer or the like. In the present embodiment, since the compressed endoscope image stored in the PC card 13 can be expanded and reproduced, the image stored in the PC card 13 can be immediately taken out.

It should be noted that only the configuration of the extension unit according to the first embodiment may be provided in the CCU without providing the switching circuit 81, the CPU 82, and the expansion circuit 83. In this case, the image stored in the PC card 13 is reproduced by a personal computer or the like. However, since no extension unit is required, the apparatus can be made compact.

In each of the embodiments, the endoscope with a TV camera 4 in which the TV camera 3 is mounted on the rigid endoscope 2 has been described as an example. However, the endoscope is not limited to this, but may be a flexible endoscope. TV
A flexible endoscope with a TV camera equipped with the camera 3 or an electronic endoscope in which a CCD is arranged in the distal end portion of the insertion section may be used.

[Supplementary Note] (Supplementary note 1) In an endoscope image pickup apparatus which inserts a body image into a body cavity to pick up a subject image, an image pickup means for picking up the subject image, and a driving means for driving the image pickup means at a predetermined frequency Digital signal conversion means for converting an imaging signal from the imaging means driven by the driving means into a digital signal; signal processing means for signal processing the digital signal from the digital signal conversion means; and the signal processing Digital signal output means for outputting the digital signal signal-processed by the means as a general-purpose format digital signal.

(Additional Item 2) An endoscope image pickup apparatus according to additional item 1, further comprising a clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal for setting a predetermined frequency of the driving signal of the driving means. apparatus.

(Supplementary note 3) The apparatus according to Supplementary note 2, further comprising a second drive signal generation unit that generates a plurality of drive signals at different timings according to the clock signal from the clock signal generation unit. Endoscope imaging device.

(Additional Item 4) A second clock signal generating means for generating a second clock signal for setting a second frequency different from the predetermined frequency of the driving signal of the driving means, and the clock signal Selecting means for selecting the clock signal from the generating means and the second clock signal from the second clock signal generating means, wherein the driving signal generating means comprises: A drive signal is generated, the digital signal output means converts the digital signal processed by the signal processing means to the predetermined frequency based on the clock signal from the clock signal generation means, and outputs a digital signal in a general format. Additional item 2 characterized by being output as
An endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 1.

(Supplementary Note 5) A second clock signal generating means for generating a second clock signal for setting a second frequency different from the predetermined frequency of the driving signal of the driving means, and the clock signal Synchronizing means for synchronizing the clock signal generated by the generating means with the second clock signal, the driving signal generating means generating the driving signal based on the second clock signal, and outputting the digital signal The means converts the digital signal processed by the signal processing means into the predetermined frequency based on the clock signal synchronized with the second clock signal, and outputs the signal as a digital signal in a general format. 3. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 2.

(Additional Item 6) The general-purpose format is
6. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to any one of additional items 1 to 5, wherein the endoscope imaging apparatus has a DV format.

(Appendix 7) The predetermined frequency is 13.
The endoscope imaging apparatus according to any one of additional items 1 to 5, wherein the frequency is 5 MHz.

[0074]

As described above, according to the endoscope imaging apparatus of the present invention, the digital signal output means outputs the digital signal processed by the signal processing means as a digital signal in a general format. A D
The digital image output in the V format can be performed, and general-purpose image data processing can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an extension unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a contact configuration of the TV camera in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the endoscope imaging apparatus in FIG. 3;

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

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope imaging device 2 ... Rigid endoscope 3 ... TV camera 4 ... Endoscope with TV camera 5 ... Light source device 6 ... CCD 7 ... CCU 8 ... Color monitor 9 ... DV terminal 10 ... Expansion unit 11 ... PC Card slot 12 ... External communication terminal 13 ... PC card 14 ... PC 31 ... CCD driver 32 ... Amplifier 33 ... Pre-processing circuit 34 ... A / D conversion circuit 35 ... DSP 36 ... D / A conversion circuit 37 ... Post-processing circuit 38 ... SSG 39… TG

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Kuniaki Kami, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Inside Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Makoto Tsunakawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Kanichi Matsumoto, Inventor 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Shinji Yamashita 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Wataru Ohno 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo In-house Olympus Optical Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Noboru Kusamura 2-43-2, Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hideki Tashiro 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical (72) Inventor Masahiro Hagiwara 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutaka Nakachi 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts a body image into a body cavity to capture an image of a subject, wherein: an imaging unit for capturing the subject image; a driving unit for driving the imaging unit at a predetermined frequency; Digital signal conversion means for converting an image pickup signal from the driven image pickup means into a digital signal; signal processing means for performing signal processing on the digital signal from the digital signal conversion means; and signal processing performed by the signal processing means An endoscope imaging device, comprising: digital signal output means for outputting a digital signal as a general format digital signal.