JP2000079094A - Electronic endoscopic instrument capable of digital output - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify signal processing in outputting an image signal to a device or network having a digital processing function, and prevent deterioration of image quality. SOLUTION: A processor device 2 applies specified signal digital processing to image data obtained by a CCD of a high picture element number, that is 800,000 picture elements, for example, disposed at a tip of an electronic scope. In this case, an image read from a frame memory 19 is outputted as an analogue image signal, and digital image data is outputted through a frame memory 34 and through an interface circuit 37 and a digital in/out terminal 38 to the external. In this digital output, reading the memory 34 is controlled based on interface information of a control memory 41, so conditions of an external device or network connected are matched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope device, and more particularly to a device configuration for improving the quality of an image captured and displayed using a solid-state image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic endoscope apparatus is a CCD (Charge Coupled) which is a solid-state image pickup device arranged at the tip of an electronic scope.
Device) captures an in-vivo image obtained through the objective optical system, reads out the CCD image data, and displays the in-vivo image on a monitor or the like. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, image quality has been improved from the past, and a CCD having, for example, about 400,000 pixels is currently used. The enhancement of the image quality of the endoscope image depends on the progress of the CCD manufacturing technology, but it is expected that the image quality will be further improved in the future with the emergence of the high pixel count CCD.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned electronic endoscope apparatus, an image signal is output to an external monitor or the like via an analog terminal, and a device such as a personal computer having various digital image processing functions or a network is provided. When the connection is made to an analog signal, an analog signal is converted into a digital signal, and there is a disadvantage that processing becomes complicated. That is, since the image signal in the electronic endoscope is digitally processed, the digital signal is converted into an analog signal in order to output the digital signal to a monitor or the like, and further processing for converting the analog signal into a digital signal is required. Becomes Moreover,
The addition of such processing also causes a problem that the image signal is degraded and the image quality is degraded.

In addition, the above-mentioned devices and networks having various digital image processing functions, such as personal computers, are provided with input signals due to the difference between hardware constituting them and software such as an OS (operating system), applications, and drivers. Are generally different from each other, when connecting to these devices, matching is performed via another circuit member. However, in a medical device such as an electronic endoscope, it is preferable not to interpose a separate circuit member due to restrictions on use conditions.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify signal processing when outputting an image signal to a device having a digital processing function or to a network, and to prevent deterioration in image quality. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of easily outputting a digital image signal to the outside without passing through a separate circuit member.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic scope in which a solid-state image pickup device is provided, and a method for connecting the electronic scope to image data input thereto. And a digital output unit for outputting digital image data to the outside. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the processor device has an interface function for connecting to a digital processing external device or a network. The invention according to claim 3, wherein the processor device has an image memory for outputting in accordance with the processing capability of the external device or the network, and a control memory that stores interface data corresponding to the external device or the network. Is provided.

According to the above arrangement, for example, a high-resolution in-vivo image of the object to be observed is obtained using a 800,000-pixel CCD which is twice the number of conventional pixels, and this image signal is converted into a digital signal and then converted to a predetermined signal. Is performed. Then, in the processor device, the finally formed digital image signal is transmitted through the interface circuit to, for example, IS
The image signal is converted into a signal in an output format according to standards such as O1394 and RS232C, and this image signal is output from a digital output unit to a personal computer or the like. Therefore, it is possible to directly capture an endoscope image into a personal computer or the like without using a special circuit member for connection.

An image memory for digital output is provided, and by controlling this image memory,
The processing capability of the external device or the network, for example, the processing speed, the data rate of the output signal can be matched. Further, in this case, the control memory stores data relating to a device such as a personal computer to be connected to an interface or a network, for example, information such as the signal processing (transmission) speed, data rate, and image signal format. It is possible to output a digital image signal under conditions corresponding to the connected device. Therefore, there is an advantage that a plurality of external devices of different types can be easily connected.

[0009]

1 and 2 show the configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to an embodiment. In an electronic scope 1 shown in FIG. 2, a CCD 11 is disposed at the tip of the electronic scope. . The CCD 11 has, for example, 1024 in the horizontal direction,
It consists of about 800,000 pixels (the number of pixels is arbitrary) divided into 768 in the vertical direction, and is driven and controlled by the CCD driver 12. The CCD driver 12 reads out 15 frames of image data per second from the CCD 11 by forming and outputting each control pulse (readout pulse) based on a horizontal clock frequency of about 15 MHz in this example.

The CCD 11 is connected to a digital signal processor (DSP) 13 for performing signal processing such as white balance and gamma correction on an image signal (video signal). The DSP 13 outputs the signal from the CCD 11. The above-described predetermined processing is performed after the analog image signal is converted into a digital signal. This DSP13
Is stored, for example, in the connector section (circuit section) of the electronic scope 1, and the electronic scope 1 is
Are connected to the processor device 2 (FIG. 1).

In the processor device 2 shown in FIG. 1, the output of the DSP 13 is input, the mirror circuit 15 inverts the left and right of the image in a predetermined direction, and the output image signal of the CCD 11 is converted into a luminance (Y) signal and a color difference (R). -Y, BY) signal conversion circuit 16, a superimpose circuit 17 for displaying information (patient information, etc.) relating to radiography on the screen, and information characters for the superimpose circuit 17, A character generation circuit 18 for generating symbols and the like is provided, and a frame memory 19 for storing frame image data is provided at a stage subsequent to the superimposition circuit 17.

A memory controller 20 is connected to the frame memory 19, and an oscillator is provided in the processor device 2.
A timing generator 21 for forming various timing signals including a read signal, and a CP for controlling the entire apparatus
U22 is provided.

That is, in the frame memory 19, under the control of the memory controller 20, the image data output from the superimpose circuit 17 is written at a rate of 15 frames / second (sec). After that, the above CCD
Approximately 60 MHz which is 4 times the clock frequency in 11
At a clock frequency of 1
Control is performed so as to read out 60 frames (60 frames / sec) of image data per second.

Further, after the frame memory 19,
From the luminance signal (Y) and the color difference signals (RY, BY), R for forming R (red), G (green), and B (blue) signals is formed.
GB matrix circuit 25, isolation device 2
6. A D / A converter 27 is provided. The RGB signals output from the D / A converter 27 are output as analog signals to a dedicated monitor or the like. Further, at the subsequent stage of the frame memory 19, a D / A converter 30, a color coder 3
1, the isolation device 32 is also arranged,
It can output a Y (luminance) / C (color) signal and an NTSC signal. The NTSC signal can be obtained by controlling the reading of the NTSC system by the memory controller 20.
In the case of an RGB signal formed via the above, if read control of the NTSC system is performed, an RGB output of this system can be obtained.

On the other hand, an isolation device 33 and a frame memory 3 for storing only still image data are provided so as to branch from the output line of the superimpose circuit 17.
4. A memory controller 35 is connected, and an interface circuit 37 conforming to a standard such as ISO 1394 or RS232C (or another standard) and a digital input / output terminal 38 are connected to the frame memory 34.

That is, in this example, not only the above-described analog signals such as the RGB signals, but also digital image signals such as luminance signals and color difference signals can be digitally output to a personal computer or the like via the interface circuit 37. I have. The interface circuit 37 is connected to the CPU 22.
Connected to an external device such as a personal computer or a network.

Further, the processor device 2 is provided with a panel operation unit 40, and operation signals and setting information of the panel operation unit 40 are output to the CPU 22. This C
The PU 22 is provided with a control memory (such as an EPROM) 41 storing interface information of an external device connected to the digital input / output terminal 38.
The input / output of data conforming to various interface standards or connected devices can be performed based on the first information.

In this embodiment, the CCD 11 of about 800,000 pixels shown in FIG. 2 is driven and controlled by the CCD driver 12 and has a low frame rate of 15 frames (or fields) / sec. Or field) images are sequentially read. The image data is written to the frame memory 19 after being subjected to various kinds of signal processing through the above-described DSP 13, signal conversion circuit 16, superimpose circuit 17, and the like. Thereafter, the image data is sequentially read from the frame memory 19 at a high speed of 60 frames / sec under the control of the memory controller 20, and the image data thus read is output in various formats.

That is, as described above, the signal that has passed through the RGB matrix circuit 25 is converted into an analog signal D / D
The NTSC signal (analog signal) output to the dedicated monitor via the A converter 27 and passing through the color coder 31 is N
Output to the TSC TV monitor. In this example,
Normally, a moving image is output via the frame memory 19, but when the freeze switch (operation unit) of the electronic scope 1 is pressed, new writing of the frame memory 19 is prohibited, and the image of the frame memory 19 at that time is prohibited. A still image is displayed by outputting data.

An image signal is also supplied to the other frame memory 34. When the freeze switch is depressed, the still image signal stored in the frame memory 34, that is, the luminance is stored under the control of the CPU 22. The digital still image signal of the color difference signal is output from the digital input / output terminal 38 via the interface circuit 37 to an external device such as a personal computer or a network. Therefore, by processing digital signals in a personal computer or the like, it becomes possible to use the image of the observed object in various formats. The still image (similarly to the moving image) digital signal includes data for confirming the identity of the patient, patient data such as other examination data, and audio data in some cases.

Furthermore, such an interface circuit 3
In the output of the digital image signal through 7, the reading of the dedicated frame memory 34 is controlled based on the interface information stored in the control memory 41, so that the signal suitable for the communication conditions of the connected device or network is output. Conversion and alignment are performed. The conditions include a signal processing (reading) speed, a format of an image signal, and the like. The CPU 22 recognizes information from a connected device or the like, and transmits an image signal under conditions suitable for the device or the like.

In the above embodiment, only a still image is digitally output, but a moving image can be similarly output digitally under the control of the memory controller 35. Further, the output of the frame memory 19 can be used as a digital signal.
5 may be output as a digital signal.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
For a processor device that performs predetermined signal digital processing on image data obtained by a high-pixel-number solid-state imaging device arranged in an electronic scope, an interface circuit and a digital input / output unit are provided, and a digital image signal is transmitted to an external device or a network Since output is possible, it is possible to simplify signal processing when outputting to a device having a digital processing function or a network, prevent image quality from being reduced, and to output digital image signals without passing through a separate circuit member. Can be easily output to the outside.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the processor device is provided with the memory storing the interface data, the endoscope device can be easily connected to various devices and networks. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in a processor device of an electronic endoscope device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration in an electronic scope of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic scope, 2 ... Processor device, 11 ... CCD, 19, 34 ... Frame memory, 20 ... Memory controller, 21 ... Timing generator, 22 ... CPU, 37 ... Interface circuit, 38 ... Digital input / output terminal, 41 ... Control For memory.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic scope having a solid-state imaging device disposed therein, and a processor device for performing predetermined signal digital processing on image data input by connecting the electronic scope. An electronic endoscope device capable of digital output, including a digital output unit for outputting image data to the outside. 2. The electronic endoscope device capable of digital output according to claim 1, wherein the processor device has an interface function for connecting to a digital processing external device or a network. 3. The processor device is provided with an image memory for outputting according to the processing capability of the external device or the network, and a control memory storing interface data corresponding to the external device or the network. 3. An electronic endoscope apparatus capable of digital output according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: