WO2003070087A1

WO2003070087A1 - Endoscope device

Info

Publication number: WO2003070087A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/001528
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitsuhiro Ito
Original assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2000-10-17
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2003-08-28
Also published as: JP2002119469A; JP3776709B2

Abstract

An endoscope device capable of operating an effective one of dimming regulating means without worrying about a type of an imaging device involving the availability of an electronic shutter function, wherein a CCU (5) comprises a CCD driver (11) for identifying the availability of a CCD’s electronic shutter function built in a camera head to be connected, a front panel (15) for setting the regulation of dimming, by an electronic shutter dimming means, of the CCD driver (11), and a CCU-side CPU (13) for effectuating setting by the front panel (15) based on the identification results by the CCD driver (11). A light source device (6) comprises a dimming circuit (24) for controlling a diaphragm (23), a front panel (26) for setting the regulation of dimming by this dimming circuit (24), and a light source-side CPU (25) for effectuating setting by the front panel (26) based on CCD information received via a communication line (14).

Description

Statement +

Technical field

The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly, to an endoscope apparatus having a feature in a brightness control portion of a light source. Background art

In recent years, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used in medical fields, industrial fields, and the like. The endoscope apparatus is capable of diagnosing a diseased part or the like in a body cavity without requiring an incision by inserting an elongated insertion part into the body cavity, or inserting a treatment tool as needed to perform treatment. Can be installed.

In such an endoscope device, an illumination light supplied from a light source device that generates the illumination light is transmitted by a light guide, and an illumination window on the distal end side of the insertion unit illuminates a subject such as the inside of a living body. ing. The endoscope used in the endoscope apparatus captures the illuminated subject image from the objective optical system at the distal end of the input unit, transmits the captured image to a handpiece-side eyepiece unit by a transmission unit such as an image guide, and the like. The optical system enables magnification observation.

Further, recent endoscope apparatuses include a television camera detachably attachable to an eyepiece of the endoscope, and a camera for processing signals from a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD built in the television camera. A control unit (hereinafter referred to as a CCU). The solid-state image pickup device in the television camera captures an image of the illuminated object to obtain an electric signal, and the electric signal is processed by the CCU for monitoring. Electronic endoscope devices for displaying such information have also been widely used.

Such a conventional endoscope apparatus is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-257911, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-1923232. Some light control methods are roughly divided into those that have the two types of light control methods described below. The endoscope described in the former (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 1-257971) extracts a luminance signal from a video signal from a television camera, and separately obtains a reference value and the luminance. There has been proposed a light-emission control system in which a signal is compared with a reference signal and a luminance signal is adjusted so that the reference signal and the luminance signal match so that the amount of light is adjusted by operating an aperture blade. In other words, in the method of adjusting the light amount, automatic light adjustment is performed so that the brightness of the monitor is equal to the reference value. Then, by varying the reference value, automatic dimming is performed so that the screen has the brightness desired by the user. In the endoscope device described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. Hei 11-257911, a luminance signal is extracted from a video signal, but the luminance signal is extracted in advance by the CCU side. There is also a method of inputting to the light source device in the form of a luminance signal.

The endoscope device described in the latter (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-1919232) is a dimming system in which the CCU controls everything. This is a state in which the CCU side controls the aperture blade by outputting a dimming signal while detecting the position signal of the aperture blade in the light source device on the CCU side. The automatic dimming is basically performed by the electronic shutter on the CCU side as described below.

First, the CCU outputs a dimming signal so that the position of the aperture blade is fixed substantially at the center. Next, in this state, dimming is performed by the electronic shutter function. The target value of the electronic shutter is set by a user to a desired brightness by a dimming level adjusting means provided on the CCU side. When the electronic shutter is about to exceed its operating range, the aperture is slightly moved to adjust the light intensity so that it is always within the operating range of the electronic shutter. For this reason, the amount of illumination light supplied is always kept to a minimum.

By the way, the variable means of the reference signal for dimming is based on the light source device in the former case (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-57971) and the latter (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-1992). In this case, the CCU is valid. Therefore, conventionally, it has been necessary to use the variable means for dimming on the light source device side and the CCU side in accordance with the dimming method described above.

For this reason, the conventional endoscope apparatus easily informs the user which of the dimming adjustment means, which is effective, of the dimming adjustment means existing on both the light source device side and the CCU side. There is a need. When the adjustment on the ecu side is effective, the operability is good because the adjustment means can be adjusted by the switch provided on the camera head, but when the adjustment on the light source device side is effective, The operability was not good because the operation was performed by the switches provided in the premises.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and transmits information on the type of the connected image sensor, that is, the type of the charge storage function to the light source device side by the communication means. When an image sensor that shares the type information of the image sensor and the charge accumulation time can be varied with respect to the readout cycle is connected, the dimming level adjustment means on the CCU side is enabled and the dimming on the light source device side is enabled. When the level adjustment means is disabled and the image pickup device whose charge accumulation time is almost equal to the read cycle is connected, the light adjustment level adjustment means on the CCU side is disabled and the light adjustment level adjustment means on the light source device side is disabled. To provide an endoscope apparatus that enables the user to operate the more effective dimming level adjustment means without worrying about the type of the connected image sensor. Aim. Disclosure of the invention

An endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes: a stop for adjusting illumination light from a light source; a light source apparatus having stop control means for controlling the stop; and a subject image illuminated with the illumination light from the light source apparatus. A first imaging device having a first imaging element capable of photoelectrically converting to an electric charge and accumulating at an accumulation time substantially equal to a readout cycle; and A second image pickup device having a second image pickup device capable of accumulating in an accumulation time, and the first image pickup device or the second image pickup device being detachably connected and drivingly controlling the image pickup device. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a drive control unit that reads out the stored charges as an image signal; and an image processing apparatus that has a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on the image signal. Identify imaging device A first setting unit provided in the image processing apparatus for performing setting for adjusting the drive control means; a first setting unit provided in the image processing apparatus, based on an identification result of the identification unit First control means for controlling the first setting means and transmitting the identification result to the light source device; provided in the light source device; Second setting means for setting the aperture control means of the light source device, and the second setting means provided in the light source device and based on the identification result transmitted by the first control means. And second control means for controlling BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a configuration example of the endoscope apparatus capable of defining a restriction on the operation range of the diaphragm blade. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The endoscope apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a rigid internal endoscope that inserts an insertion portion 2a into a body cavity and transmits an optical image of a subject such as an affected part to an eyepiece 2c provided above the operation portion 2b. A built-in endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 2 and a CCD 3 a having an electronic shutter function in which a charge storage time is independently variable with respect to a readout cycle; a built-in camera head 3 that can be freely attached to c and a CCD 4a that does not have an electronic shutter function, that is, has a charge storage time that is almost the same as the readout cycle. A camera head 4 that can be selectively attached to the eyepiece 2 c of the endoscope 2, a CCU 5 that performs signal processing on image signals obtained by the camera heads 3 and 4, A light source device 6 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 2, and a video signal processed by the CCU 5; That it has a Moeta 7 for displaying an object image. In the figure, a camera head 3 incorporating a CCD 3a having an electronic shutter function is attached to an eyepiece 2c of the endoscope 2.

The endoscope 2 is configured such that the illumination light from the light source device 5 is connected to the light source device 5 by detachably connecting a light guide cable 2 d extending from the side of the operation unit 2 c. Supplied. This illumination light is transmitted to the distal end side of the entrance 2a, and illuminates the subject through an illumination window (not shown). The illuminated subject image is taken in through an observation window (not shown) provided on the distal end surface of the insertion section 2 and transmitted to the eyepiece 2c by light guide means (not shown) such as a relay lens. Has become.

The camera head 3 incorporating the CCD 3 a having the electronic shutter function is provided with a connector 8 a detachably connectable to the CCU 5 at an end of a signal cable 8. On the other hand, the camera head 4 having the CCD 4a without the electronic shutter function is provided with a connector 9a detachably connectable to the CCU 5 at an end of a signal cable 9. I have.

The CCU 5 has a connector receiving portion 10 to which the connector 8a or 9a of the camera head 3 or 4 can be detachably connected. For example, the camera head 3 is detachably attached to the eyepiece 2 c of the endoscope 2, and the connector 8 a of the camera head 3 is detachably attached to the connector receiving portion 10 of the CCU 5. Connect to Then, the optical image of the subject transmitted to the eyepiece 2 c of the endoscope 2 is captured by the CCD 3 a in the camera head 3 and converted into an image signal. This image pickup signal is subjected to signal processing by the CCU 5 to become a video signal, so that the subject image can be observed on the monitor 7.

Next, the configurations of the CCU 5 and the light source device 6 will be described.

The CCU 5 determines the type of the CCD 3 a or 4 a of the camera head 3 or 4 connected to the connector receiving portion 10, and based on the determined result, determines the type of the CCD according to the type of the CCD. And a CCD driver 11 for driving and controlling the CCD.

The CCD driver 11 includes a processing circuit (not shown) for driving and controlling the CCD 3a having an electronic shutter function and a processing circuit for driving and controlling the CCD 4a having no electronic shutter function. . That is, the processing circuit for driving and controlling the CCD 3a having the electronic shutter function has an electronic shutter dimming means for performing dimming control of the electronic shutter function.

Then, the CCD driver 11 selects one of these processing circuits based on the result of discriminating the type of the CCD 3a or 4a and drives and controls the CCD. ing. The CCD driver 11 obtains an image signal from the CCD 3 a or 4 a via the connector receiving portion 10, and outputs the image signal to the video signal processing circuit 12. At the same time, the CCD driver 11 outputs CCD information to the CPU 13 on the CCU side based on the result of determining the type of the CCD 3a or 4a.

The video signal processing circuit 12 generates a standard video signal from the input image signal. This video signal is output to the monitor 7 and displays a subject image (endoscopic image) on the display surface of the monitor 7. Further, the video signal processing circuit 12 generates a brightness signal corresponding to the brightness of the endoscope image from the imaging signal, and outputs the brightness signal to the light source device 6.

The CCU-side CPU 13 transmits the information of the CCD to a light-source-side CPU of the light source device 6 described later via the communication line 14. With this operation, information on the type of CCD can be shared between the CCU 5 and the light source device 6.

Further, the CCU-side CPU 13 is connected to a front panel 15 on the CCU side for performing settings for adjusting the dimming by the electronic shutter dimmer of the CCD driver 11. The CPU 13 of the CCU, based on the information of the CCD, based on the information of the CCD, when the CCD incorporated in the camera head connected to the connector receiving portion 10 of the CCU 5 has an electronic shutter function Then, the setting on the front panel 15 is enabled.

The set value set on the front panel 15 is transmitted to the electronic shutter light control means of the CCD driver 11 via the CPU 13 on the CCU side. It has been adjusted.

The front panel 15 displays characters such as "EXPOS ER" on a display unit, not shown, provided on the front panel 15 when dimming level adjustment is enabled on the CCU side. It has become. Thus, the front panel 15 can notify the user that the adjustment of the dimming level is effective on the CCU side.

Further, the front panel 15 operates to depress a plurality of switches (not shown). This makes it possible to perform various settings such as setting of a brightness target value and selection of a dimming mode of automatic dimming or manual dimming. Further, the front panel 15 includes an indicator (not shown) for displaying a dimming level and a dimming mode of the electronic shutter.

Next, the configuration of the light source device 6 will be described.

The light source device 6 includes a light source lamp 21 that emits illumination light, a lamp power supply 22 that supplies power to the light source lamp 21, and an aperture blade (hereinafter, referred to as a light source) that adjusts the amount of illumination light of the light source lamp 21. An aperture) 23, a dimming circuit 24 for controlling the aperture 23, and a light source side CPU 25 for controlling the dimming circuit 24 based on the CCD information received via the communication line 14. It is composed.

The light source-side CPU 25 is connected to a front panel 26 on the light source side for making settings for adjusting dimming in the dimming circuit 24. Based on the received CCD information, the light source side CPU 25 determines that the CCD incorporated in the camera head connected to the connector receiving portion 10 of the CCU 5 does not have an electronic shutter function. In some cases, the setting on the front panel 26 is made valid.

The set value set on the front panel 26 is transmitted to the dimming circuit 24 via the light source CPU 25, and the dimming in the dimming circuit 24 is adjusted by the set value. Has become.

The dimming circuit 24 drives the diaphragm 23 so that the brightness signal output from the video signal processing circuit 12 of the CCU 5 matches the set value set on the front panel 26. Has become.

The front panel 26 displays characters such as "BR I GHTN ESS" on a display unit (not shown) provided on the front panel 26 when the dimming level adjustment on the light source side is valid. ing. Thus, the front panel 26 can notify the user that the adjustment of the dimming level is effective on the light source side.

Further, similarly to the front panel 15 of the CCU 5, the front panel 26 is operated by pressing a plurality of switches (not shown) to set a target brightness value ゃ automatic dimming or manual dimming. Various settings such as dimming mode selection are possible It is. Further, the front panel 26 includes an indicator (not shown) for displaying a dimming level, a dimming mode, and the like of the aperture.

The operation of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

First, a camera head 4 having a built-in CCD 4a having no electronic shutter function is attached to the eyepiece 2c of the endoscope 2, and the connector 9a is connected to the connector receiving section 10 of the CCU 5. And perform an endoscopy.

Then, the CCD driver 11 determines that the CCD 4a of the camera head 4 to be connected is a CCD having no electronic shutter function, and drives the CCD 4a according to the determined result. Control. The CCD driver 11 obtains an image signal from the CCD 4 a via the connector receiving section 10 and outputs the image signal to the video signal processing circuit 12. At the same time, the CCD driver 11 outputs information on the CCD to the CPU 13 on the CCU side based on the determined result, and shares information on the type of the CCD with the light source device 6.

The video signal processing circuit 12 processes the imaging signal from the CCD 4a, outputs the video signal to the monitor 7, and displays a subject image (endoscopic image). At the same time, the video signal processing circuit 12 outputs the brightness signal generated by the imaging signal to the dimming circuit 24 of the light source device 6.

At this time, 11 times 111 3 disables the adjustment on the front panel 15 based on the received CCD information and turns off the characters such as “EXPOSER” on the display unit provided on the front panel 15. Also, 〇〇11 side? 111 3 also turns off indicators such as dimming level and dimming mode.

On the other hand, based on the received CCD information, the light source side CPU 25 enables the settings on the front panel 26 and lights up characters such as "BR I GHTNE SS" on the display unit provided on the front panel 26 at the same time. . This notifies the user that the adjustment of the dimming level is effective on the light source side. The light source side CPU 25 also turns on indicators such as a dimming level and a dimming mode at this time.

The set value set on the front panel 26 is transmitted to the dimming circuit 24 via the light source CPU 25. The dimming circuit 24 drives the diaphragm 23 so that the brightness signal output from the video signal processing circuit 12 of the CCU 5 matches the set value. Next, from this state, a camera head 3 having a built-in CCD 3a having an electronic shutter function is attached to the eyepiece 2c of the endoscope 2, and the connector 8a is connected to the connector receiving section 10 of the CCU5. Connect and perform endoscopy.

Then, the CCD driver 11 determines that the CCD 3 a of the camera head 3 to be connected is a CCD having an electronic shutter function, and drives and controls the CCD 3 a according to the determined result. . The CCD driver 11 obtains an image signal from the CCD 3 a via the connector receiving section 10, and outputs the image signal to the video signal processing circuit 12. At the same time, the CCD driver 11 outputs the information of the CCD to the CPU 13 based on the result of the determination, and shares the information on the type of the CCD with the light source device 6.

The video signal processing circuit 12 processes the imaging signal from the CCD 3a, outputs the video signal to the monitor 7, and displays the subject image (endoscopic image). At the same time, the video signal processing circuit 12 outputs the brightness signal generated by the imaging signal to the dimming circuit 24 of the light source device 6.

At this time, the CPU 13 on the CCU validates the settings on the front panel 15 based on the received information on the CCD and simultaneously displays characters such as “EX POSER” on the display unit on the front panel 15. Lights up. This notifies the user that the dimming level adjustment is effective on the CCU side. Further, the CPU 13 on the CCU also turns on indicators such as a dimming level and a dimming mode.

The set value set on the front panel 15 is transmitted to the CCD driver 11 via the CPU 13 on the CCU side. The CCD driver 11 adjusts the drive signal for the electronic shutter output to the CCD 3a so as to match the set value.

On the other hand, the light source side CPU 25 disables the adjustment on the front panel 26 based on the received CCD information and simultaneously turns off the characters such as "BR I GHTNE SS" on the display unit provided on the front panel 26. . The light source side CPU 25 also turns off indicators such as the dimming level and the dimming mode at this time. At this time, the position of the stop 23 of the light source device 6 is fixed substantially at the center.

As a result, the endoscope device 1 of the present embodiment is a type of CCD connected to the CCU 5. Depending on the type, only the front panel for which the dimming level adjustment is effective can be turned on and operated, so that the user can adjust the dimming level without hesitation.

Note that the CCU 5 also has a function of intentionally turning off the electronic shutter function even when the CCD a 3 having the electronic shutter function is connected. When the electronic shutter function is turned off by the user, the dimming level must be adjusted by the light source device 6. For this reason, the CCU 5 can perform the same operation as in the case without the electronic shutter function by notifying the light source device 6 side of the electronic shutter function to the OFF via the communication line 14. is there.

(Second embodiment)

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The second embodiment is configured such that the means for setting each dimming level described in the first embodiment can be operated by pressing a switch provided on the camera head. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so that the description is omitted, and the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral.

As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope device 30 according to the second embodiment includes a switch capable of operating the front panel 15 of the CCU 5 or the front panel 26 of the light source device 6 on the camera heads 3 and 4. 3 1 is provided.

When the switch 31 is pressed, information by this operation is inputted from the connector 8a or 9a to the CPU 13 on the CCU side via the connector receiving portion 10. Then, as described in the first embodiment, when the camera head 3 having the built-in CCD 3a having the electronic shutter function is connected, the dimming level of the front panel 15 of the CCU 5 is adjusted. Since the adjustment is valid, the CCLHfflCPU 13 operates so that the dimming level can be set on the front panel 15 according to the pressing operation of the switch 31. At this time, since the adjustment on the front panel 26 of the light source device 6 is invalid, no particular operation is performed in response to the pressing operation of the switch 31.

Here, conventionally, the switches provided on the camera head were limited to the functions of the CCU 5, such as white balance, AGC, and dimming level adjustment means. Since only one camera head switch is provided, these functions can be assigned according to the user's preference. We use after having done attachment work. Further, in FIG. 2, one switch 31 is provided on the camera heads 3 and 4, but two or more switches 31 may be provided. In the second embodiment, a communication means (communication line 14) from the CCU 5 to the light source device 6 is provided, so that in addition to the CCD type information, the switch information of the camera head is also transmitted to the light source device 6 at the same time. It is possible to make adjustments on the front panel 26 of the light source device 6 by the switch 31 even in the case of the CCD 4 a having no electronic shutter function.

That is, when a camera head 4 having a built-in CCD 4a without an electronic shutter function is connected, adjustment of the dimming level on the front panel 26 of the light source device 6 is effective. The light source side CPU 25 operates so that the dimming level can be set on the front panel 26 in response to the pressing operation of the switch 31 transmitted via the communication line 14. At this time, since the adjustment on the front panel 15 of the CCU 5 is invalid, no particular operation is performed when the switch 31 is pressed.

As a result, the endoscope apparatus 30 according to the second embodiment has an effect that the operability is improved in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

(Third embodiment)

FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The conventional endoscope device detects the state of attachment of the light guide cable 2d to the light source device 6, and when it is not attached, dims the light with the aperture 23 of the light source device 6 so that unnecessary light is not emitted. I was For this reason, in the conventional endoscope device, when the light guide cable 2d is not connected to the light source device, the light is dimmed, so that it is possible to prevent glare and the like. When the light guide and camera head were removed from the endoscope during replacement, sufficient light did not enter the camera head, so it was determined that the automatic light control was dark, and the aperture 23 was fully opened.

In the third embodiment, when the user performs dimming when exchanging the endoscope, the dimming is forcibly performed by pressing a switch provided on the light source device 6, and the switch is pressed again. And a function to return to normal operation. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted, and the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the endoscope device 40 according to the third embodiment is configured by providing a stampy mode switch 41 on the front panel 6 of the light source device 6.

When the stamp pie mode switch 41 is pressed, information by this operation is input to the light source side CPU 25. Then, when the light source side CPU 25 recognizes this standby mode, it enters a standby mode described below.

When the light source CPU 25 enters the standby mode, the dimming circuit 24 performs dimming by forcibly closing the aperture 23 in response to the stampy mode signal output from the light source CPU 25. . This continues until the operation of the stamp pie mode switch 41 is performed again. Then, when the reproduction standby mode switch 41 is operated, the dimming circuit 24 returns to the normal operation by the standby mode signal. As a result, the endoscope device 40 according to the third embodiment can reduce the light intensity by operating the standby mode switch 41 by the user. The light from the light guide cable 2d can be dimmed.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

By the way, the conventional endoscope device uses two types of light guides. One type can withstand 100% of the light emitted from the lamp (hereinafter referred to as high brightness mode), and the other type can withstand only 50% of the incident light (hereinafter referred to as normal mode). It is.

A conventional endoscope apparatus is, for example, by adjusting the operating range of an aperture blade as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-2455503 filed earlier by the present applicant. The above two types of light guides were made available. That is, when the conventional endoscope apparatus is connected to the light guide in the high-brightness mode, the emission light of the lamp can be reduced to 100 by using the entire operating range of the aperture blade from fully closed to fully open. % Used.

On the other hand, when a conventional mode endoscope is connected to a light guide in the normal mode, the operating range of the aperture blades is limited to half the range between fully closed and fully open, so that the light emitted from the lamp is about 50%. Only had to use. At this time, the endoscope device regulates the operating range of the diaphragm blade by the first reference voltage determined by the resistance constant during automatic light control, while the CPU controls the CPU during manual light control. The operating range of the aperture blade is limited by the second reference voltage output from the controller.

For this reason, the limit range when connecting the light guide in the normal mode may be slightly shifted depending on the dimming mode. Therefore, it has been desired to provide an endoscope apparatus capable of defining the operating range of the aperture blade in both automatic light control and manual light control regardless of the light control mode of the light guide.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, a configuration example of an endoscope apparatus capable of defining the limitation of the operation range of the diaphragm blade will be described.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing an endoscope apparatus according to a configuration example of the endoscope apparatus capable of defining a restriction on the operation range of the diaphragm blade.

As shown in FIG. 4, the endoscope device 50 has an insertion part 51a inserted into a body cavity and transmits an optical image of a subject such as an affected part to an eyepiece part 51c provided above the operation part 51b. A rigid endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 51 and a CCD 52a are built-in, and a camera head that can be freely attached to the eyepiece 51c of the endoscope 51 is provided. C, a CCU 53 that performs signal processing on an image pickup signal obtained by the camera head 52, a light source device 54 that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 51, and an image that is subjected to signal processing by the CCU 53. And a monitor 55 for displaying a subject image by a signal.

The CCU 53 includes a CCD driver 61 that drives and controls a CCD 52 a of a camera head 52 to be connected, and an imaging signal from the CCD 52 a input through the CCD driver 61. A signal processing circuit generates a standard video signal, and outputs a video signal processing circuit 62 to the monitor 55, and an endoscope image based on an imaging signal from the CCD 52 a input through the CCD driver 61. And a brightness extraction circuit 63 for extracting an image brightness signal corresponding to the brightness of the light source and outputting the image brightness signal to the light source device 54. The light source device 54 can be connected to two types of light guides, a high brightness mode and a normal mode.

In this embodiment, a predetermined reference voltage is provided to specify the maximum light amount of the light source described later, and a position signal proportional to the position of the aperture blade is compared with the reference signal. When the aperture blade is about to open above the reference voltage, the aperture blade is fixed at the position of the reference voltage, and the reference voltage can be selected in either automatic light control or manual light control. In both dimming modes, the configuration is such that the MAX light quantity of the light source in the normal mode is the same.

That is, the light source device 54 includes a light source lamp 71 that emits illumination light, a lamp power supply 72 that supplies power to the light source lamp 71, and a diaphragm that adjusts the amount of illumination light of the light source lamp 71. A blade (hereinafter referred to as an aperture) 73, an aperture driver 74 that drives the aperture 73, an aperture position detector 75 that detects the aperture position of the aperture 73, and a desired brightness. Front panel 76 for inputting brightness setting values for CPU, CPU 77 for generating signals such as mode signals from brightness setting values input on front panel 76, and digital brightness from CPU 77 The D / A converter 78 converts the set value to analog, and the analog brightness set value converted by the DZA converter 78 and the brightness extraction circuit 63 of the CCU 53. Divides the output image brightness signal by the A divider 79, an automatic manual switching switch 81 that switches between the automatic dimming signal from the divider 79 and a manual dimming signal, and outputs the signal to the aperture driver 74. Switching between the analog brightness setting value from the A converter 78 and the aperture fixed reference voltage V for fixing the aperture 73 to a predetermined fixed aperture amount, and outputs it to the automatic Z manual switching switch 81 And a mode control section 83 for controlling the automatic / manual switching switch 81 and the manual dimming / normal mode switching switch 82.

The light source device 54 has four patterns of dimming modes by a combination of automatic / manual dimming and on / off of the high-luminance mode by the above-described configuration.

Next, each of the dimming modes of the light source device 54 will be described.

① Automatic dimming on and high brightness mode on

The mode control unit 83 fixed the automatic / manual dimming switch 81 to the a side, and divided the image brightness signal from the CCU 53 and the brightness setting value set on the front panel 76. The aperture 73 is driven by the automatic light control signal to perform automatic light control.

② Automatic dimming on and high brightness mode off The mode control unit 83 first fixes the switching switch 81 to the a side and the manual dimming Z normal mode switching switch 82 to the d side, and performs automatic dimming.

Then, the mode control unit 83 compares the aperture position signal from the aperture position detection unit 75 with the fixed aperture reference voltage V, and attempts to open the aperture 73 from the position set by the reference voltage V. In this case, the switching switch 81 is switched to the b side, and the aperture 73 is fixed at the position set on the d side of the switching switch 82.

Next, the mode control unit 83 monitors the automatic light control signal, and when the aperture 73 is closed by a certain amount or more, that is, when the image brightness signal is a certain amount or more than the brightness set value. When it becomes bright, the switching switch 81 is returned to the a side, and the operation of the automatic light control is restarted.

By repeating this operation, the mode control section 83 operates automatically for dimming when it is closed below the fixed aperture reference voltage V, and does not open any more when it tries to open from the fixed aperture reference voltage V In this way, the maximum amount of emitted light can be suppressed.

③ Manual dimming on and high brightness mode on

The mode control unit 83 fixes the switching switch 81 to the b-side and the switching switch 82 to the c-side, and performs manual dimming only with the brightness setting value.

④Manual dimming on and high brightness mode off

The mode control unit 83 first fixes the switching switch 81 to the b side and the switching switch 82 to the c side, and when the brightness setting value is closer to the aperture fixed reference voltage V, the brightness setting value is Perform manual light control accordingly.

Here, when the brightness setting value is on the side open from the fixed aperture reference voltage V, the mode control unit 83 switches the switching switch 82 to the d side, and the position set on the d side of the switching switch 82. Fix the aperture 7 3 with.

Then, when the brightness setting value is set to a value closer to the aperture fixed reference voltage, the mode control unit 83 returns the switching switch 82 to the c side, and performs manual light control using the brightness setting value. I do.

By repeating this operation, the mode control section 83 limits the operating range of the aperture 73 for manual light control from the fully closed to the aperture fixed reference voltage V.

As a result, the endoscope apparatus 50 of this embodiment has a fixed reference voltage for both automatic light control and manual light control. Since it is specified by the pressure V, the fully open position of the aperture 73 when the high brightness mode is off can be specified regardless of the dimming mode.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that many changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Industrial applicability

As described above, according to the present invention, information on the type of the connected imaging element, that is, the information on the type of the charge storage function is transmitted to the light source device side by the communication means, and both the CCU side and the light source device side When the type information of the image sensor is shared and an image sensor having a charge storage variable unit is connected, the dimming level adjusting unit on the CCU side is enabled, and the dimming level adjusting unit on the light source device side is disabled. On the other hand, when the image sensor without the charge storage variable means is connected, the user is connected by disabling the dimming level adjusting means on the CCU side and enabling the dimming level adjusting means on the light source device side. Light control can be performed by operating the light control level adjustment means that is more effective without worrying about the type of imaging element.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A stop for adjusting the illumination light from the light source; a light source device having an aperture control means for controlling the stop; and a photoelectric conversion of a subject image illuminated by the illumination light from the light source device into electric charges. A first image pickup device having a first image pickup element capable of accumulating in an accumulation time substantially equal to a readout cycle, and capable of photoelectrically converting the subject image into electric charges and accumulating the charge in a storage time that is variable with respect to the readout cycle A second imaging device having a suitable second imaging device, and the first imaging device or the second imaging device are detachably connected, and drive control of the imaging device is performed to capture the accumulated electric charge. An endoscope apparatus comprising: a drive control means for reading out as a signal; and an image processing apparatus having signal processing means for performing signal processing on the imaging signal.

Identification means for identifying an imaging device connected to the image processing device;

A first setting unit that is provided in the image processing apparatus and performs a setting for adjusting the drive control unit;

First control means provided in the image processing device, for controlling the first setting means based on the identification result of the identification means and transmitting the identification result to the light source device;

A second setting unit provided in the light source device and performing setting for adjusting aperture control unit of the light source device;

Second control means provided in the light source device, for controlling the second setting means based on the identification result transmitted by the first control means;

An endoscope device comprising: '

2. When the first imaging device is connected to the image processing device, the setting by the first setting device of the image processing device is enabled, and the setting by the second setting device of the light source device is enabled. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus is invalidated.

3. When the second imaging device is connected to the image processing device, the setting by the second setting device of the light source device is enabled, and the setting by the first setting device of the image processing device is enabled. 2. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the endoscope apparatus is invalidated.

4. The setting of the first setting means or the second setting means, which is enabled, is performed by pressing a switch provided on the imaging device. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

5. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, by pressing a switch provided in the light source device, the aperture control unit is set to a stand-by mode, and the aperture unit is fully closed to perform dimming.

6. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aperture control unit is set to a stand-by mode, and the aperture unit is fully closed to perform dimming by a pressing operation of a switch provided in the imaging device.

7. It is characterized in that, among the first setting means or the second setting means, the setting display of the disabled one is turned off, and the setting display of the enabled one is turned on. The endoscope device according to claim 2 or claim 3.