JPS63153039A - Electronic type 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 [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and particularly to an electronic endoscope apparatus equipped with an electronic endoscope having a solid-state image sensor at its tip.

[Prior Art] An electronic endoscope device processes a video signal received from a solid-state image sensor provided at the tip of an electronic endoscope, and displays this video signal on a monitor as a transendoscope image. 8@
It is. There are various types of electronic endoscopes, each of which has an insertion section with a different diameter depending on the observation site. In electronic endoscopes, in order to obtain high-resolution images, it is better to have a large number of pixels per solid-state image sensor, but the diameter of the solid-state image sensor, which determines the number of pixels, is determined by the diameter of the insertion section. Various types of electronic endoscopes have a built-in solid-state image sensor with a number of pixels corresponding to the diameter of the insertion section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the conventional electronic endoscope Im table device, if the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor changes depending on the type of electronic endoscope, the solid-state 1
Since it is necessary to change the frequency of the control signal that drives the image element and extracts the video signal from the solid-state image sensor,
It is necessary to change the electronic endoscope unit depending on the type of endoscope. Therefore, when using multiple types of electronic endoscopes, the electronic endoscope system becomes expensive and inconvenient to handle. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope VL device that can change the control conditions of a solid-state single image element depending on the type of electronic endoscope.

[Means for Solving the Problems J] According to the present invention, the video processor determines the driving conditions of the solid-state image sensor built in various types of electronic endoscopes and the conditions for extracting video signals from the solid-state image sensor. An electronic endoscope device is provided that includes a condition changing circuit that changes according to the characteristics of an image element.

[Operation] The condition change circuit selects the solid-state mQ element drive circuit that outputs horizontal and vertical transfer pulses with a frequency corresponding to the number of pixels of the solid-state II image element built into the electronic endoscope, and the video processing circuit selects the Process the signal at a timing that corresponds to the driving frequency.

[Embodiment] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a solid-state image sensor 13 is built into the distal end portion 12 of the endoscope 11. A plurality of signal lines 20 from the solid-state image sensor 13 are connected to the endoscope connector 1 via the endoscope insertion section 14, the operation section 15, and the universal cord 17, together with the light guide fiber 19 for introducing illumination light.
8.

Endoscope connector 18 is attached to electronic endoscope control unit 21 . The signal line 20 is connected to a three-stage changeover switch 22. The three contacts of this switch 22 are connected to drive circuits 23^ and 238.23C, respectively. Each of these drive circuits 23A, 23B, and 23C is composed of frequency dividers FDu and FDv, as shown in FIG.
It is reset by a timing pulse from the timing pulse generator 24, divides the clock signal, and outputs a driving signal for horizontal and vertical transfer pulses φII and φV. Drive circuits 23^, 23B, 23C are 100,000, 5
Drive signals suitable for driving solid-state image sensors having 10,000 and 20,000 pixels, respectively, ie, drive signals with frequencies of 10 MHz, 5 MHz, and 2 MHz are output, respectively. These drive signals are selectively guided to the solid-state image sensor 13 of the electronic endoscope 11 via the switch 22. The switch 22 has a male end connected to the line 20 as shown in FIG.
3 connected to the input terminals of the R gate and this OR gate, respectively.
It is composed of two AND games 1-. AND goo 1-
One input terminal is connected to the drive circuits 23A and 238, 23C, respectively, and the other input terminal is connected to the contact of the changeover switch SW. This changeover switch SW is changed according to the type of electronic endoscope.

A video signal output line Vout of the solid-state image sensor 13 is connected to a video processor 25. The video processor 25 receives the timing signal from the timing pulse generator 24 and processes the video signal according to the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor. The output of video processor 25 is connected to a monitor (not shown).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a large-diameter electronic endoscope, for example, an electronic endoscope 11 incorporating a solid-state image element 13 with 100,000 pixels, is connected to an electronic endoscope control unit 21. In this case, the selector switch 22 is switched gJ to select the drive circuit 23^. Since the drive circuit 23^ outputs a drive signal of 10M)-tz, this drive signal is connected to the signal line 2.
0 to the 100,000 pixel solid-state image sensor 13. The solid-state image sensor 13 operates at 10MHz! It is driven by the IJ signal and outputs a video signal corresponding to 100,000 pixels. The video signal can be input to video processor 25 via video signal line vout. This video processor 25 controls the video signal by the timing signal of the timing pulse generator 24! It processes the video signal and outputs a television signal.

Next, when a medium-diameter electronic endoscope, that is, an electronic endoscope with a built-in solid-state i-image element having 50,000 pixels, is connected to the electronic endoscope control unit 21, the changeover switch 22 is switched to select drive port N238. Therefore,
The 50,000 pixel solid-state image sensor 13 is driven by a 5 MHz drive pulse and outputs a video signal corresponding to 50,000 pixels.

Similarly, when an electronic endoscope with a diameter of ■, that is, an electronic endoscope with 20,000 pixels, is connected to the electronic endoscope head-closing unit 21, a video signal corresponding to 20,000 pixels is transmitted to the solid state. It is output from the gtb element 13.

As explained above, the type of electronic endoscope, namely solid I
Since the driving conditions of the solid-state image sensor can be selected according to the number of I-image hydrogen element pixels, various electronic endoscopes can be controlled under optimal conditions.

FIG. 4 shows an electronic endoscope closing unit in which each of the drive circuits 23^, 238.23C is configured by a variable frequency divider VFD I (and VFDv). V F Do and VFDv are configured by, for example, a programmable counter, and the frequency division ratio can be changed by an N-bit digital switch DS that constitutes a frequency division ratio setting circuit.The frequency division ratio is determined by the type of the electronic endoscope 11. , the digital switch DS is switched in accordance with the identification of the type of electronic endoscope.

The digital switch O3 inputs an N-bit output representing the type of electronic endoscope, that is, the number of pixels of the solid-state device, to variable frequency dividers (programmable counters) VFOn and VFDv. As a result, the variable frequency dividers VFDu and VFDv output horizontal and vertical transfer pulses with frequencies corresponding to the number of pixels. .

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the frame sequential method. In the field-sequential method, the light source 26 and the electronic endoscope 11's lie 1 to guide f? A filter 27 for three colors (R, G, B) is disposed between the guide fiber 19 and the guide fiber 19, and when this filter 27 is rotated, the red, helmet, and green lights pass through the guide fiber 19. For example, it is guided into the body cavity sequentially every 1/90 seconds.

Therefore, the solid-state image sensor 13 outputs R, G, and B video signals for one screen, for example, about once every 1/90 seconds.

The R, G, and B video signals are input to a video processor 25.

As shown in FIG. 6, the video processor 25 has an input changeover switch SW1, frame memories M1, M2, M3 connected to the contacts of this switch SW1, and an output changeover switch SW2. The input changeover switch SW1 and the output changeover switch SW2 are changed by 1.7J depending on the type of electronic endoscope, and the R, G, and B video signals input to the video processor 25 are selectively stored in the memories M1 to M3. is input.

For example, a type A electronic endoscope is an electronic endoscope 811.
E unit t” 21: If connected, 10M
Reading and writing are controlled by the clock of H2, and R, G, and 8 video signals are sequentially stored in the memory M1 having a storage capacity of 100,000 pixels. The R, G, and B video Δ' signals stored in the memory M1 are simultaneously read out and outputted as a color video signal via the output changeover switch SW2.

In order to recognize the type of electronic endoscope 11, a ROM 30 storing information indicating the type of electronic endoscope 11 is provided in endoscope connector 18, as shown in FIG. This ROM30 is an electronic endoscope m fl/I B unit 1-
21, and electronic endoscope type information is read out. ROM read circuit 31
Based on the electronic endoscope type information read by
The changeover switch 22 shown in the figure and FIG. 5, the switch SW shown in FIG. 3, or the switches SW1 and SW shown in FIG.
2 can be changed to #J.

FIG. 8 shows an example of mechanically recognizing the type of electronic endoscope. According to this, two types are distinguished depending on whether the endoscope connector 18 is provided with the bin 32 or not. For example, a type A electronic endoscope has bin 3.
Type B electronic endoscopes are not provided with a bottle. The presence or absence of this bin 32 is detected by the switch [+733. That is, in the case of type A, the contact 33a
is opened, and in the case of type B, contact 3311 is closed. By opening either of the contacts 33a and 33tl, the electronic endoscope type can be used for 72 hours.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, one frame memory M is commonly used for storing video signals from several types of electronic endoscopes. That is, the video signal line Vout is directly connected to the memory M. A peak pulse generator WR and a read pulse generator RD are connected to output and read terminals of this memory M. Write and read pulse generators WR and R[) are connected to the power ends of frequency divider WF[] and RFD. Frequency dividers WFD and RFO are electronic internal pA
#j! The frequency division ratio can be changed by a selection signal turned blue via the type changeover switch SW, and the clock signal is divided in accordance with this frequency division ratio.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, for example, when a type A electronic endoscope is used, the frequency dividers WFD and RFD are connected via switch SW (no. The frequency division ratio is set to output a signal with the required frequency every m.When the output signals of the frequency dividers WFD and RFD are input to the capture and read pulse generators WR and RD, the capture and read pulse generators The read pulse generators WR and RD input aging pulses or read pulses to the memory M to capture or read control the memory M, i.e.
In output, R, G, and B side sequential video signals corresponding to 100,000 pixels are written into the memory M in synchronization with an interpolation pulse of a frequency determined by the division ratio of the frequency divider WFD. In reading, R, G equivalent to 100,000 pixels
, B video signals are simultaneously read out from the memory M in synchronization with the read pulses at a frequency determined by the division ratio of the frequency divider RFD.

The video signal read from the memory M is sent to the signal processing circuit SP.
The signal is input into the system and subjected to signal processing. Signal processing circuit SP is RG
The B video signal is output to a monitor and displayed as a color image. The signal processing circuit SP outputs a composite video signal, which is supplied to an image recording device (not shown). Note that the capture and read pulse generators WR and RD and the frequency dividers WFD and RFO are reset every frame by a timing pulse from the timing pulse generator 24.

As mentioned above, by changing the capture and reading timing of the memory M according to the type set by the type changeover switch sw, 'Fj
, it is possible to process video signals obtained from several types of electronic endoscopes. In addition, the type changeover switch SW is the 7th
It is possible to automatically switch in response to type detection by an electronic endoscope type detection means as shown in FIGS.

In addition, in the case of the field sequential method, since R, G, and B are sequentially switched, the number of hydrogen element pixels in the solid-state Wa image is one solid-state j
The number of pixels required for all R, G, and B in the lltfGI element can be reduced to 1/3 compared to the usual method.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the solid-state R-quadrant element, which is built in the tip of an electronic endoscope and whose number of pixels is determined according to the diameter of the electronic endoscope, is driven by a drive signal according to the number of pixels. Since the drive is controlled, various electronic endoscopes can always operate under optimal conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic endoscope device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a drive circuit, FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an electronic endoscope type selector switch, and FIG. Figure 4 shows an electronic endoscope m used in an electronic endoscope device according to another embodiment.
A circuit diagram of the nlJ l unit, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a field-sequential electronic endoscope device, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the memory section of the video processor used in the electronic endoscope shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a type identification unit that electrically identifies an electronic endoscope type, FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a type identification unit that mechanically identifies an electronic endoscope type, and FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a video processor of an electronic endoscope device according to another embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Electronic endoscope, 13... Prisoner tIji element, 19... Light guide fiber, 20... Signal line, 21... Electronic endoscope #J III unit, 22 ...Electronic endoscope type selector switch, 23A
~23C...Drive circuit, 24...Timing pulse generator, 25...Video processor, FDH, FDv
-Frequency divider, M, Ml ~M3-...Memory, WF[),
RFC... Frequency divider, WR... Harmful pulse generator,
R[)...Read pulse generator. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Jun Tsuboi Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic endoscope device that includes an electronic endoscope control unit that controls an electronic endoscope that has a built-in solid-state image sensor in its tip, the electronic endoscope control unit drives the solid-state image sensor. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising a condition changing means for changing conditions and processing conditions of a video signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor according to characteristics of the solid-state image sensor. (2) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition changing means is means for changing the horizontal and vertical pulse frequencies of the solid-state image sensor according to the number of pixels. (3) The condition changing means includes means for recognizing identification means provided in the electronic endoscope and means for selecting the optimum conditions for the solid-state image sensor based on a recognition signal from the recognition means. The electronic endoscope device according to scope 1. (4) The solid-state image sensor has R, G,
B video signal is output, and the condition changing means outputs the R, G video signal.
, used to convert the B video signal into a simultaneous signal,
The electronic endoscope according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of memories provided corresponding to different numbers of pixels, and means for selecting these memories according to the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor. Mirror device. (5) The selection means includes means for recognizing identification means provided in the electronic endoscope, and means for selecting optimal conditions for the solid-state imaging device based on a recognition signal from the identification means. The electronic endoscope device according to item 4. (6) The solid-state image sensor has R, G,
B video signal is output, and the condition changing means outputs the R, G video signal.
, a memory means used for converting a B video signal into a simultaneous signal, and a read/write signal output means for selectively outputting different read/write signals to the memory means according to the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor. An electronic endoscope device according to claim 1.