JPS5969058A - Photographic apparatus for endoscope apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is based on the invention. In an endoscope device that selectively uses a light source and a light source for rounds to observe and photograph the inside of a body cavity, it is possible to prevent image capture due to the collimation light during strogophotography, and also to prevent images from disappearing during observation on a monitor. The present invention relates to an imaging device for an endoscope device that avoids the situation ku.

In general, in the cameras of endoscope devices that have a built-in solid-state image sensor such as a CCD or Noro, the unique characteristic of this solid-state image sensor is that when taking images by switching between a collimation light source and a strobe light source. Unless the solid-state image pickup device is kept in a dark state for at least one field or one frame scanning period, the light from both beams will be mixed, resulting in a so-called fogging phenomenon. This is a collimation light source,
This is due to the difference in luminescence between the Halodan Lang and Stroy J+" light sources, and the Xenon Lanzo light source. During this period of darkness, there is no image on the monitor screen, causing anxiety for anxious viewers. It gives

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus that selectively uses two or more types of light sources, which avoids fogging caused by different types of light sources and also avoids anxiety on the part of the observer. There is a particular thing.

The imaging device for an endoscope apparatus of the present invention includes a camera control means for extracting an image signal and a transfer signal generated every one field or one frame scanning period from a camera incorporating a solid-state image sensor, a main memory means for sequentially storing image signals from the means, a release detection means for detecting the operation of a shirt release button for strobe photography and generating a release detection signal, and a release detection means that arrives only after the release detection signal is detected. After receiving the transfer signal, at least 2 fields or 2
Stroke after the frame scanning period has passed? light source sequence means for generating a timing signal for starting photographing; sub-memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; and sub-memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; The apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a switching means for switching to the sub-memory means.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Since the configuration of the endoscope apparatus is known, it will be briefly explained with reference to FIG. This endoscope device 10 is composed of an image guide section 12, an operation section 4 consisting of a shutter, L/IJ, etc., a light guide section, a light source device 18, and a camera section 20. ing. First, the mirror 22 inside the source device No. 8 is inspected by
4 side, for example, from one end of the light guide section made of glass fiber, through the light guide optical path integrally molded inside the operating section 14 and the image guide section 12, to the distal end section 17. radiate light. On the other hand, when the image guide section 12 is inserted into the body cavity through its distal end noa, the optical path of the image guide section 12 made of glass fiber, for example, forms an optical path separate from the fiber optical path of the light guide section 16. The observation image of the body cavity irradiated with the collimation light is introduced from the distal end 17 to the camera section 20, where it is converted into an electrical signal by a solid-state image sensor, and a synchronization signal etc. is superimposed on this to be transmitted to the TV. In order to double the signal and take it out, the converted electrical signal is processed by a processing circuit 26, which will be described later, and then observed on a monitor 28.

In the case of photographing with a strobe, the epsilon tip 22 is tilted toward the strobe lamp 30 and the shirt release button 32 is pressed to cause the strobe lamp 30 to emit light at a desired instant, as will be described later. A control circuit 34 is provided in the light source device 18 for determining the start and end instants of the light emission duration of the flash.

FIG. 2 shows an electronic circuit of an embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. The portion surrounded by the broken line in the figure corresponds to the processing circuit 26 in FIG. Camera section 20 with built-in solid-state imaging device
The output terminal of is connected to a camera control circuit 50, one of the output terminals is connected to a main memory device 52 emitted from, for example, a desk memory or tape memory device, and the other is used to temporarily store image signals. It is connected to the sub-memory device 54. As this sub-memory device 54, for example, C.
OD memory, CTD memory, IC memory, etc. can be used. However, since the signal from a solid-state image sensor is an analog signal, when using a digital memory such as an IC memory, it is necessary to convert this analog signal into a predetermined digital signal. Also, T from the camera control circuit 5θ
The V image signal is supplied to the monitor 28 via the normally closed contact NC of the display switching circuit 56.

On the other hand, the release button 32 is connected to a release detection circuit 58 that detects the suppressing operation of the shirt release button 32 and generates a release signal.

The output terminal of this detection circuit 58 is connected to the light source sequence circuit 60.
Connect to. The sequence control signal from the sequence circuit 6° is transferred to the sag memory device 54 and the display switching circuit 56.
supply. Further, the image output signal from the sag memory device 54 is selectively supplied to the monitor 28 via the normally open contact No. of the display switching circuit 56.

Next, the operation of this circuit will be explained with reference to the waveform diagram of FIG.

First, normally, in the endoscope device 10, the collimation lamp 2
4 is always turned on, the camera section 20 outputs an observed image of the inside of the body cavity as an electrical signal in the form of a serial signal, for example, every frame scan. Since a camera control circuit 50 that superimposes a synchronization signal on this output signal and applies one ringing voltage to the built-in solid-state image sensor is connected to the camera unit 20, the output signal from this circuit 50 is transmitted to the TV monitor 28. This is a T'V signal that can be directly displayed. This TV signal is supplied to the main memory device 52 and is constantly stored therein. At the same time, the normally closed contact NC of the display switching circuit 56
The observed image is constantly displayed on the monitor 28.

Next, when the desired observation image is recognized on the monitor 28 and the shirt release button 32 is pressed at time t1, a release detection signal is generated from the release detection circuit 58 and supplied to the light source sequence circuit 60. On the other hand, this sequence circuit 60 is supplied with a TV signal from the camera control circuit 50, and extracts a transmission signal from this signal to form the start timing of strobe light emission as described later. This is sent to the output terminal 62. Further, in response to the release detection signal, the collation lamp 24 is turned off or the mirror 22 is tilted toward the strobe lamp 30 by a control signal from the output terminal 64 of the sequence circuit 60.

As described above, even if the release button is operated at time t1, the solid-state image sensor in the camera section 2θ is irradiated with collimation light from t1 to t4 due to factors such as inertia. That is, the irradiation is performed over the next field period. Therefore, when the image information during the field period to which this tl belongs is supplied from the sequence circuit 60 to the sub-memory device 54 for storage, the display switching circuit 56 is connected to the contact N Ol1jll.
The image is displayed on the monitor 28.

To explain this further, by time t4, during the transfer period t2 to t3 using the transfer dart signal, the image signal during the field scanning period to which time t1 when the shirt release button 32 was operated is read out from the image sensor. This image signal is displayed on the monitor 28 in the field scanning period to which time t4 belongs, that is, in the next field scanning period. During this period, the image sensor is partially irradiated with the illumination light, so that it is not possible to take an image using an O-Bot during this field period (to prevent fogging). Therefore, for safety reasons, there are eight cases in which the image sensor is kept in a dark state for the next field period, one field period, or more. This can prevent camouflage caused by the collimation light. During this period of darkness, there is no image on the monitor 28 because no image information is extracted. Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to avoid this situation, time t1
The image information stored in the sag memory device 54 is read out and displayed on the monitor 28 until the flash photography is completed.

A sequence circuit 60 detects the transfer dart signal (transfer period) after the release button 32 is depressed, supplies a switching signal to the display switching circuit 56, and also supplies a control signal to the sub-memory device 54. Control circuit 50
This storage information is temporarily stored on the monitor 28 for a predetermined period of time.

On the other hand, the sequence circuit 60 supplies a timing signal for strobe light emission to the strobe control circuit 34 in the light source device 18 via the output terminal 64 after two or more field periods have elapsed since the above-mentioned control signal was supplied. After the Stro is photographed, it is transferred from time t5 to time t6t, and this Stro? The photographed image is displayed on the monitor 28 after time t6.
It will be shown above.

What should be noted here is that although an image is always displayed on the monitor 28, this displayed image may not be the image actually photographed by the camera unit 2o at the time it is being displayed. (Of course, in this case, the display delay of one field period or one frame period peculiar to the image sensor is ignored). That is, during the dark state period of the image sensor,
Previously photographed images temporarily stored in the sub-memory device 54 are displayed.

Note that the duration of the transfer r-) signal is extremely short compared to the running period (approximately 3.35 μsec vs. approximately 1
6.7 m5ec, ), and it is assumed that the release button is not operated during this period.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the fogging phenomenon caused by mixing the collation light and the strobe light, and
Since the image is always displayed on the monitor, it has the advantage of not causing anxiety to the viewer.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and the line types may be modified.

For example, in the embodiment, two fields are used for one frame scanning period, but it can also be implemented using a method in which one field = one frame scanning period.

It is also possible to display the strobe light image over several field periods, and in this case, the strobe light image can be observed sufficiently.

Of course, this Stroze light image may be displayed on a monitor.

Furthermore, when displaying an image on a monitor, it is also possible to display whether the image information is an image of the subject actually being observed or an image stored in the sub-memory device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire system in which the imaging device of the present invention is incorporated into an endoscope device, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the imaging device of the invention, and FIG. FIG. 10... Endoscope device, 18... Light source device, 2o...
Camera section, 26... Processing circuit, 32... Shirt release button, 50... Camera control circuit, 52...
Main memory device, 54...Sub memory device, 56.
...Display switching circuit, 58...Release detection circuit, 60
...Light source sequence circuit. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Suzuko Takehiko 292 Procedural amendment, 1ll (W, 58..3.19 Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Kazuo Wakasugi 1, Indication of the case Patent application No. 180849/1984 2, Invention Name Imaging device for endoscope device 3, Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant (037) Orin Gusu Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 6, Amendment specification 1, Title of the invention Photographing device 2 for endoscopy device, Claims Image signal and 1 f from a camera incorporating a solid-state image sensor
- a camera control means for generating a synchronization signal generated during a field or one frame scanning period; A main memory means for sequentially storing image signals from the camera control means, a release detection means for detecting the operation of the shirt release button for flash photography and generating a release detection signal, and a release detection means for generating a release detection signal by detecting the operation of the shirt release button for flash photography; Stroke after receiving the synchronization signal that arrives for the first time? and a light source sequence means for generating a timing signal for starting beard photography. It is characterized by comprising sub-memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal, and switching means for switching from the main memory means to the sub-memory means by receiving the timing signal. An imaging device for an endoscope. 3. Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention provides an endoscope apparatus for observing and photographing the inside of a body cavity by selectively using a strobe light source and a light source for rounds.
The present invention relates to a photographing device for an endoscope device that prevents fogging of images using illumination light during strobe photographing and avoids a state where no images are displayed during observation on a monitor. In general, in the camera of an endoscope device that incorporates a solid-state image sensor such as a COD or BBD, the unique characteristics of this solid-state image sensor include at least one If the solid-state image sensing device is not kept in a dark state for a period longer than a field or one frame scanning period, the light from both light sources will be mixed, resulting in a so-called fog phenomenon. This is due to the difference in emission spectrum between the collimation light source 1, a normal halodane lamp, and the strobe light source, a normal xenon lamp. Further, during this period of darkness, there is no image on the monitor screen, which causes anxiety to the viewer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope device used in the field of photography, which avoids fogging caused by different types of light sources and avoids anxiety on the part of an observer. The imaging device for an endoscope apparatus of the present invention includes a camera control means for taking out an image signal and a synchronization signal generated every one field or one frame scanning period from a camera incorporating a solid-state image sensor, and an image capturing device from the camera control means. main memory means for sequentially storing signals; release detection means for detecting the operation of a shirt release gettan for flash photography and generating a release detection signal; and the synchronization signal that arrives only after this release detection signal is detected. A light source sequence means for generating a timing signal for starting strobe photography after reception; a sub-memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; and a sub-memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; The present invention is characterized by comprising a switching means for switching from the memory means to the sub-memory means. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Since the configuration of the endoscope apparatus is known, it will be briefly explained with reference to FIG. The endoscope device 10 includes an image guide unit 12 and a shutter release? An operation section 14 consisting of a button and the like. Light guide section 16, light source device 18, and camera section 20
It is composed of. First, the mirror 22 inside the light source device 18 is tilted toward the collation lamp 24 side, and the light guide section 16 made of, for example, glass 7-eye is provided at one end of the light guide section 16 inside the operation section 14 and the image guide section 12. The circulating light is emitted from the distal end portion 17 through the light guide light path. On the other hand, the image guide section 12 is
As you insert it into the body cavity, you will see the light guide part 1.
6 through the optical path of an image guide part 12 made of glass fiber, for example, which forms a separate optical path from the fiber optical path of 6. The observation image of the body cavity irradiated with the collimation light is introduced from the distal end 17 to the camera section 2o, where it is converted into an electrical signal by a solid-state image pickup device, and a synchronization signal etc. is superimposed on this to be taken out as a TV signal. Therefore, this converted electrical signal is processed by a processing circuit 26, which will be described later, and is observed on a monitor 28. In the case of photographing with a strobe, the mirror 22 is removed from the optical path of the stroboscope/pull 3o, and the shirt release button/32 is pressed to cause the stropola/pull 30 to emit light at a desired instant, as will be described later. I'm letting you do it. A control circuit 34 is provided in the light source device 18 for determining the start instant and end instant of the light emission duration of this strobe light emission. FIG. 2 shows an electronic circuit of an embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention. The portion surrounded by the broken line in the figure corresponds to the processing circuit 26 in FIG. Camera unit 2o with built-in solid-state image sensor
The output terminal of is connected to the camera control circuit 50, one of the output terminals is connected to a main memory device 52 consisting of, for example, a desk memory or a tape memory device, and the other is connected to a submemory device 52 for temporarily storing image signals. Nanasou+w54
Connect to. This sub-memory device 54 may be one such as a CCD memo! I, CTD memory. IC memory etc. can be used. However, since the signal from the solid-state image sensor is an analog signal, it is necessary to convert the analog signal into a predetermined digital signal when using a digital memory such as an IC memory. In addition, the display switching circuit 5 displays the TV image signal from the camera control circuit 5θ.
The signal is supplied to the monitor 28 through the normally closed contact NC 6. On the other hand, the release button 32 is connected to a release detection circuit 58 that detects the suppression operation of the shirt release button 32 and generates a release signal. The output terminal of this detection circuit 58 is connected to the light source sequence circuit 60.
Connect to. The sequence control signal from this sequence Ii+l path 6° is supplied to the sub-memory device 54 and the display switching circuit 56. In addition, the sub memory device 5
4 and selectively supplied to the monitor 28. Next, the operation of this circuit will be explained with reference to the waveform diagram of FIG. First, in the endoscope IQ, the collation lamp 24 is always on, so the camera unit 20 transmits an electrical signal in the form of a serial signal to the observed image inside the body cavity every 1 frame scan. is output as A camera control circuit 50 that superimposes a synchronization signal on this output signal and applies a drive voltage to the built-in solid-state image sensor is connected to the camera section 20, so the output signal from this circuit 50 is transmitted to the 'rv monitor 28. This is a TV signal that can be displayed directly. This TV signal is supplied to the main memory device 52 and is constantly stored therein. At the same time, the normally closed contact NC of the display switching circuit 56
The observed image is constantly displayed on the monitor 28. Next, when the desired observation image is recognized on the monitor 28 and the button 32 of the shirt release 72 is pressed at time t, a release detection signal is generated from the release detection circuit 58 and supplied to the light source sequence circuit 60. On the other hand, this sea 47
A TV signal is supplied from the camera/h control circuit 50 to the 7 circuit 60, and a transfer dart signal (used as a synchronization signal in this example) is extracted from this signal and used as a stroboscopic signal as described later. - Form the start timing of two light emissions and send this to the output terminal 62. In addition, in response to the release detection signal, a control signal from the output terminal 64 of the seat 477 circuit 60 turns off the rounds f24 or excludes the mirror 22 from the optical path of the strode/g 30. As mentioned above, even if the release button / is operated at time t1, the solid-state image sensor in the camera section 20 will not operate at 11-t due to causes such as inertia. During this period, the illumination light is illuminated. That is, irradiation is performed over the next yield period. Therefore, the image information during the field period to which this tl belongs is supplied from the sequence circuit 60 to the sub-memory device 54 and stored therein, and the display switching circuit 56 is switched to the contact No side to display the image on the monitor 28. To explain this further, by time t4, during the transfer period 12 to t3 by the transfer dart signal, the image signal during the field scan 1υj to which time t1, when the shirt saucer 9-zubota/32 was operated, belongs is read out from the image sensor. . This image signal is displayed on the monitor 28J during the field scanning period to which time t4 belongs, that is, the next field scanning period. During this period, the image sensor is partially irradiated with illumination light, so it is not possible to take pictures using a strobe during this field period (to prevent fogging). Therefore, for safety reasons, it is necessary to maintain the image pickup device in a dark state for one field period following the 10,000 field period at the moment of shirt release, or for a further F field period. This can prevent fogging caused by illumination light. This darkness! During the period L~, no image information is taken out, so the monitor 2sJ1 is in a no-image state. Therefore, according to the present invention, in order to avoid this situation, the image information stored in the sub-memory device 54 at time t1 is continuously output 17 and displayed on the monitor 28 until the strobe photography is completed. Transfer gate after suppression of release button 32 (
i number (transfer period) is detected by the sequence circuit 60, and a switching signal is supplied to the display switching circuit 56, and a control signal is also supplied to the sub-memory device 54, and the camera control circuit 5
The TV signal from 0 is temporarily stored, and this stored information continues to be supplied to the monitor 28 for a predetermined period of time. On the other hand, by this sequence circuit 6θ, 1lI of L
A timing signal for strobe light emission is supplied to the strobe control circuit 34 in the light source device 18 via the output terminal 64 after one field period has elapsed since the IJ etc. signal is supplied. After flash photography, transfer from time t to time t
6, and the image after this strobe photography is displayed on the monitor 28J:l after time t6. What should be noted here is that although an image is always displayed on the monitor 28J, this displayed image may not be the image actually taken by the camera unit 20 at the time it is being displayed. (Of course, in this case, the display delay of one field period or Vil frame period peculiar to the image sensor is ignored). That is, during the dark state period of the image sensor, the image is temporarily stored in the sub-memory device 54. , a previously captured image is displayed. Note that the duration of the transfer gate signal is extremely short compared to the scanning period (approximately 3.35 μsec vs. approximately 1
6.7 m5ec), it is assumed that the release button is not operated during this period. However, if the release button is operated. It is also possible to use a delay circuit or the like to delay this release signal so that it becomes equivalent to what occurs in the next field or frame. [h. As described in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the fogging phenomenon caused by mixing the collation light and the strobe light, and
Since an image is always displayed on the monitor L, there is an advantage that it does not cause anxiety to the observer. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be modified to include line types. For example, in the present application, it is possible to implement a system in which there are two fields and one frame scanning period, or a system in which one field = one frame scanning period. Furthermore, the strobe light image can be projected over several field periods, and in this case, the strobe light image can be sufficiently observed. Of course, it is not necessary to display this strobe light image on a monitor. Back to the nest. When displaying an image on a monitor, it is also possible to display whether the image information is an image of the subject actually being observed or an image stored in a sub-memory device. In the example, a CCD transfer gate was used as the synchronization point, but the invention is not limited to this.
It is possible to generate a synchronization signal separately and use this, or it is also possible to use the COD reset signal. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the shack release button 32 is attached to the operating section 14 of the endoscope device;
Without any regrets, the camera section 20 or the processing circuit 2
6 may be provided. Further, the operating section 14 can be detachably attached to the camera section 20. It is clear that the present invention can also be implemented in an endoscopy device with a built-in solid-state image sensor in which the camera section 20 is incorporated in the distal end section 17. 4 Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the entire system in which the imaging device of the present invention is incorporated into an endoscope device, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of the imaging device of the invention. FIG. 3 is an operational diagram for explaining the operation of FIG. 2. 10... Endoscope device, 18... Light source device, 20...
- Camera section, 26... Processing circuit % 32... Shack release button, 50... Camera control circuit, 52.
...Main memory device, 54... Sub memory device, 5
6...Display switching circuit, 58...Release detection circuit,
60...Light source sequence circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Camera control means for extracting an image signal and a transfer gate signal generated every one field or one frame scanning period from a camera incorporating a solid-state image sensor, and an image signal 'f from this camera control means: sequentially. It has a main memory means for storing information, and detects the operation of the shirt release button for flash photography and generates a release detection signal. and a transfer gate signal reception signal that arrives only after the release detection signal is detected, at least two frames r, and a two frame scanning period i1J.
a light source sequence means for generating a timing signal for starting strobe photography after the elapse of time; a sag memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; and a sag memory means for temporarily storing the image signal by receiving the timing signal; A photographing device for an endoscope apparatus, comprising: switching means for switching from the sag memory means to the sag memory means.