JP2000300514A - Image pickup device for endoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device for an endoscope which enables obtaining of an easily observable image in the case where an object to be observed moves periodically and in the case the object does not move periodically. SOLUTION: It is judged whether an object to be observed moves periodically or not by comparing a voice signal detected by a microphone 10 with an output of a frequency/voltage conversion circuit in a control part 22 as reference value. When any movement is not detected, an LED 16 as lighting means is made to emit light continuously to perform a normal imaging. When any movement has been detected, the LED 16 is allowed to emit light in a pulse train in synchronization with the period of the movement, and the output signal of a CCD 18 is made greater than in the case of a gain control amplifier 29 in continuous emission of light, thereby a brighter image suited for observation is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope imaging apparatus suitable for observing a site having periodic movement such as a vocal cord in a body cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes having an elongated insertion portion have been widely used in medical and industrial fields for examining organs in body cavities or inside plants. In addition, a television camera-mounted endoscope in which a television camera having a built-in imaging means is mounted on an electronic endoscope having an imaging means or an optical endoscope has come into wide use. In the case of an optical endoscope, the endoscope is inspected by combining the endoscope and the light source device, but in the case of including an imaging unit, a signal processing device for further performing signal processing on the imaging unit is provided. ,
It is used as an endoscope imaging device in combination with a monitor that displays a video signal generated by the signal processing device.

[0003] When an object to be observed in a body cavity moves or vibrates periodically, such as a vocal cord, faster than an imaging cycle, it may be difficult to observe the object.
For this reason, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-66357, the movement of the vocal cords is detected by a microphone, and sequentially illuminated with a plurality of color lights in synchronization with the sound wave waveform. Discloses an endoscope imaging apparatus that displays a color image on a monitor.

In this case, R, G,
A rotating filter with a fan-shaped B filter and a disk-shaped chopper with a fan-shaped notch and intermittent light shielding are arranged, and the rotation of the rotating filter and the chopper are controlled in synchronization with the sound wave waveform. I am trying to do it.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art discloses an apparatus in which the state in which the vocal cords are moving can be observed with a still image or a slow motion image. However, the state in which the vocal cords are not moving or the surroundings of the vocal cords are observed. As described above, there is no disclosure or suggestion of obtaining an image which is easy to observe when observing in a normal state.

[0006] For example, when the vocal cords are moving, the vocal cords are irradiated with very short pulse-like illumination light, and the irradiation amount is much smaller than that in a normal state (continuous irradiation). turn into.

In particular, in the example of FIG. 2 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-66357, pulse-like illumination is performed once every three periods of the vocal cords without performing pulse-wise illumination every one period of the vocal cords. It is much smaller than in the normal case (this prior art discloses a case of R, G, B field sequential illumination). In contrast, even when the illumination is performed in a pulsed manner for each cycle of the vocal cords, the illumination becomes very small as compared with the case of the continuous illumination.

Therefore, even if it is possible to observe a state in which the vocal cords are moving and a state in which the vocal cords are not moving, the image displayed on the monitor is different from that in the state in which the vocal cords are not moving.
The moving image becomes very dark, making it difficult to observe. Therefore, even when the vocal cords as the observation object are moving and when the vocal cords are not moving,
A device that can obtain an image that is easy to observe is desired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an endoscope imaging apparatus capable of obtaining an image which is easy to observe even when an object to be observed moves periodically and when it does not move. It is intended to provide.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image picked up by a solid-state imaging device, a periodic movement of an observation target is determined. Motion detecting means for detecting, light emitting means for emitting light in a pulse, and when the motion detecting means detects a periodic motion,
Timing control means for controlling the timing of the pulsed light emission of the light emitting means, and control of the degree of amplification of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device and imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device, based on the detection result of the motion detection means By providing switching control means for performing at least one of the above, when the motion detection means does not detect the motion of the amplification degree of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device when the motion detection means detects the motion by the amplification control by the switching control means. By making the control larger, the observation image displayed even when the level of the output signal of the solid-state imaging device is small when motion is detected is changed to a bright and easy-to-observe image, or by the imaging time control by the switching control means, By turning off the imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device when the motion detection unit detects the motion, To allow or to easily image observed by prevented from becoming flicker noise observation image due to the fluctuation of irregular pulse emission times during imaging time in the case where ON of the image time control.

In addition, in an endoscope image pickup apparatus for displaying an observation image picked up by a solid-state image pickup device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detection for detecting a periodic movement of an object to be observed. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, and detection results of the movement detecting means Switching control means for increasing the amplification of a signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor when periodic motion is detected so as to increase the amplification of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device as compared with the case where no periodic motion is detected. With this, it is possible to perform control by the switching control unit to increase the amplification degree of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device when the motion detection unit detects a motion as compared with a case where no motion is detected. Also to easily image observed brightly observation image to be displayed when the level of the output signal of the solid-state image pickup device is small in the case where in the motion-detection.

Also, in an endoscope image pickup apparatus for displaying an observation image picked up by a solid-state image pickup device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detection for detecting a periodic motion of an observation object. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, and detection results of the movement detecting means A switching control means for variably controlling an imaging time taken by the solid-state imaging device when at least a periodic movement is detected, and a switching control means for turning off an element shutter. When the detection means detects a motion, the imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device
By setting to F, it is possible to prevent an observation image like flicker noise due to irregular fluctuation of the number of times of pulse emission during the imaging time when the imaging time control is turned on, and to make the image easy to observe.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus of the first embodiment, and FIG. Shows the internal configuration of the unit,
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining the operation of the control unit, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the light emitting means in the vocal cord observation state.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope image pickup apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention has an electronic endoscope 2A having a built-in image pickup means, and this electronic endoscope 2A is detachably connected. , A video processor 3 that performs signal processing, and a color monitor 4 that is connected to the video processor 3 and that displays a video signal output from the video processor 3.

The electronic endoscope 2A has a rigid and elongated insertion section 5 and a grip section (operation section) 6 provided at the rear end of the insertion section 5.
And a flexible cable portion 7 extending from the grip portion 6.
And a connector 8 provided at the proximal end of the cable section 7 and detachably connected to the video processor 3. The electric connector section 9 is provided on the grip section 6 of the electronic endoscope 2A. And a microphone (hereinafter abbreviated as a microphone) 10 as a sensor for acoustically detecting a periodic movement.
The rear end of the cable 11 extending from the cable is detachably connected.

The microphone 10 is a bone conduction type microphone for detecting sound by bone conduction employed in a stethoscope, for example, and has a low detection sensitivity with respect to an audio signal transmitted through ordinary air.

The insertion section 5 is formed of an exterior tube such as a stainless steel tube, and has an illumination system 13 and an imaging system 14 at its distal end 12. Specifically, the distal end of the cylindrical outer tube is notched obliquely and the distal end surface is inserted into the insertion section 5.
At an angle smaller than the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.

An illumination lens 15 is attached to an illumination window provided on the front end surface, and an illumination system 13 is provided inside the illumination lens 15.
A light-emitting diode (abbreviated as LED) 16 including a white light-emitting diode that emits white light or a plurality of light-emitting diodes that simultaneously emit light in red, green, and blue colors is disposed as a light-emitting means, The light emitted by the LED 16 is emitted diagonally forward and orthogonal by the illumination lens 15 and emitted to illuminate the obliquely forward observation object.

The illuminated observation object is, for example, a charge as a solid-state image pickup device arranged at an image forming position by an objective lens 17 attached to an imaging window (observation window) provided adjacent to the illumination window on the distal end surface. Coupling element (hereinafter abbreviated as CCD)
An image is formed at 18. A color separation filter 19 such as a mosaic filter is arranged on the imaging surface of the CCD 18. The color separation is performed for each pixel, for example, into R, G, and B, and the color-separated image is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 18.

The LED 16 is connected via a drive line 21 to a control unit 22 provided in the holding unit 6. The microphone 10 is also connected to the control unit 22 via the electric connector unit 9. The control unit 22 controls the microphone 10 as described later.
Is controlled so that the LED 16 emits light in a pulsed manner via the drive line 21 in accordance with the detection signal. The control unit 22 is connected to a power supply circuit 24 in the video processor 3 via a power supply line 23, and the power supply circuit 24 supplies power required for operation.

The CCD 18 also forms a signal processing system 27 in the video processor 3 via a signal line 25.
The power supply circuit 24 is connected to a drive circuit 28 and a gain control amplifier 29 capable of variably controlling the gain.
18 and CCD drive circuit 2 in video processor 3
The power supply necessary for the operation is also supplied to each circuit such as 8).

The CCD drive circuit 28 is connected to a timing generator (abbreviated as TG in FIG. 1) 31, applies a CCD drive signal to the CCD 18 in synchronization with a timing signal from the timing generator 31, and converts the photoelectrically converted signal charge. Is read. The read signal is input to a variable gain amplifier 29, amplified, separated into, for example, R, G, and B color signals by a color separation circuit 32, and further converted from an analog signal into a digital signal by an A / D conversion circuit 33. The signals are converted into signals and stored in the memories 34a and 34, respectively.
4b and 34c.

The digital color signals stored in the memories 34a, 34b and 34c are simultaneously read out at a predetermined frame period, input to the post-processing circuit 35, and subjected to post-processing such as contour emphasis. The digital signal is converted into an analog color signal by the / A conversion circuit 36 and output to the color monitor 4 together with the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit 37. The synchronization signal generation circuit 37 is also connected to the timing generator 31, and the timing generator 3
A synchronization signal is generated in synchronization with the timing signal from the control signal No. 1.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control unit 22. Microphone 1
The voice input from 0 is converted into a voice signal of an electric signal, and is amplified by the amplifier 40 in the control unit 22. FIG. 3A shows the amplified audio signal. 2A to 2G show the signals in FIGS. 3A to 3G.

This audio signal is input to an audio frequency extraction unit 41 composed of a band-pass filter or the like, and, for example, from 100 Hz to 5 Hz as shown in FIG.
A basic audio signal waveform of about 00 Hz is extracted. The output signal of the audio frequency extracting unit 41 is input to the waveform shaping circuit 42, and is shaped into a rectangular wave whose waveform is shaped as shown in FIG.

The output signal of the waveform shaping circuit 42 is converted from a frequency to a voltage by a frequency / voltage conversion circuit (F in FIG. 2).
/ V) 43 and converted to a DC voltage (see FIG. 3D) proportional to the frequency. The output signal of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is input to the voltage shift circuit 44, and a voltage having a value shifted from the voltage value generated by the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 by, for example, a small constant value is generated.

As will be described later, this constant value is for imaging a fast movement of the vocal cords as a slow movement that can be visually recognized. The smaller the fixed value, the slower the movement. Also, by setting this constant value to 0, it is possible to observe with a still image. This fixed value can be variably set by the user.

The output signal of the voltage shift circuit 44 is input to a voltage / frequency conversion circuit (abbreviated as V / F in FIG. 2) 45 for converting a voltage to a frequency, and is proportional to the voltage as shown in FIG. The frequency is converted into, for example, a square wave signal. The output signal of the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45 is input to the pulse width adjustment circuit 46, and has a short pulse width synchronized with the rising edge of the rectangular wave signal shown in FIG. Luminescence signal is generated.

The pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is composed of, for example, a one-shot multivibrator, and the pulse width output from the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 selects and sets a resistance value for determining the time constant directly or through a multiplexer or the like. The pulse width setting unit 46a is connected, and can be variably adjusted by operating the pulse width setting unit 46a.

The pulse width setting section 46a may be provided in the control section 22. However, the pulse width setting section 46a may be provided in a place which can be easily operated from outside the control section 22, for example, on the outer surface of the grip section 6 as shown in FIG.
The surgeon may be able to set the pulse width.

The output signal of the pulse width adjusting circuit 46 is:
An output signal from the DC power supply 47 for steady light emission is applied to the contacts a and b of the switching circuit 48, and is applied to the LED 16 via the drive circuit 49 connected to the common contact c.

The output signal of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is input to a comparator 50 and compared with a reference voltage Vr input to the comparator 50. The reference voltage Vr is set to a voltage value for detecting whether or not the vocal cords to be observed are moving in a predetermined frequency range.
The output voltage is set when a signal having a frequency slightly lower than 0 Hz is input to the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43. Therefore, when an audio frequency signal in the frequency range extracted by the audio frequency extraction unit 41 is input, a motion detection signal for detecting a periodic motion of the observation target is output.

The output signal of the comparator 50 is supplied to a switching circuit 48.
When a motion is detected, the common contact c is turned on with the contact a so that a pulsed light emission signal shown in FIG. 3F is applied to the LED 16, and conversely, no motion is detected. In this case, the common contact c is turned on with the contact b, and in this state, a constant light emission drive signal for constantly emitting light is applied to the LED 16 as shown in FIG.

The output signal of the comparator 50 is transmitted via a signal line 20 to a gain control amplifier (FIG. 2) in the CCU 3 of FIG.
In this case, GCA is abbreviated). Then, control is performed to switch the gain (amplification degree) of the gain control amplifier 29 depending on whether the motion is detected based on the output signal of the comparator 50 or not. That is, when a motion is detected, the gain (amplification degree) of the gain control amplifier 29 is increased.
9 is made smaller. For example, when a motion is detected, for example,
By increasing the value by about 0 dB, it is possible to obtain an image having a brightness that is easy to observe as in the case where no motion is detected.

In the present embodiment having such a configuration, the microphone 10 as the motion detecting means for detecting the periodic motion of the observation object, and the electronic endoscope 2A having the rigid insertion portion 5
LED 16 as a light emitting means capable of steady light emission and pulsed light emission, and a pulsed LED 16 (in addition to a function of switching between steady light emission and pulse light emission) in conjunction with an output signal of microphone 10. It is characterized in that a control unit 22 for controlling the light emission timing and a gain control means (gain switching control means) for controlling the gain of the CCD output signal in accordance with the presence or absence of the periodic movement of the observation target are provided. ing.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described below. In the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the observation is performed without the microphone 10 attached near the vocal cords as the observation target, the microphone 10 does not detect the audio signal, and the audio frequency extraction unit 41 is also used. An audio signal is not extracted, and its output becomes, for example, almost zero.

Accordingly, the output level of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 becomes almost 0, and the signal when the operation of the comparator 50 is not detected becomes, for example, "L" level. Is selected, and a DC voltage is applied from the DC power supply 47 to the LED 16 via the drive circuit 49 as a constant light emission drive signal. That is, in this state, the LED 16 constantly emits light (steady light emission).
In this state, observation can be performed with the electronic endoscope 2A having the ordinary oblique rigid insertion portion 5.

The gain of the gain control amplifier 29 to which the "L" level signal is applied is set to a small gain state (as compared with the case where motion is detected). In this state, the LED 16 constantly emits light. Therefore, for example, when an image of one frame is obtained, a normal one frame period (1/1) is used.
The CCD 18 receives light while being illuminated for only 30 seconds.
Then, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is set to a gain such that an image with almost appropriate brightness can be obtained under the illumination in that case. Therefore, in a state in which no motion is detected, an image having an appropriate brightness is displayed on the monitor 4, and the operator can observe the observation target in a state in which the observation target object can be easily identified.

On the other hand, in order to observe the condition of the vocal cords, the microphone 10 is attached to the outside of the vocal cords in the vicinity of the neck streak through attaching means such as a suction cup, and the microphone 10 is set to a state where the signal of the microphone 10 is inputted to the control unit 22. The person instructs the patient to make the vocal cords move periodically, that is, to oscillate at the audio frequency, for example, to emit a sound such as “Ah”.

When the patient emits the sound, the sound is detected by the microphone 10, amplified by the amplifier 40 in the control unit 22, and the sound signal shown in FIG. Then, the audio frequency extraction unit 41 extracts an audio signal having a waveform as shown in FIG.

FIG. 3B of the audio frequency extracting unit 41.
The output signal shown in FIG.
After the waveform is shaped as shown in FIG.
And converted into a voltage proportional to the frequency.

In this case, the voltage is, for example, as shown in FIG.
This voltage is higher than the reference voltage Vr. Accordingly, the output of the comparator 50 becomes the "H" level when the movement is detected, and the switching circuit 48 turns on the contact a, and a signal for increasing the gain is applied to the gain control terminal of the gain control amplifier 29. . Then, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is made very large, and the CCD output signal level is set to substantially the same order as in the case of normal observation.

After the output voltage of the frequency / voltage conversion circuit 43 is slightly shifted by the voltage shift circuit 44,
The signal is input to the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45 and, for example, FIG.
The signal shown in (E) is output. In this case, the voltage shift circuit 44 shifts the voltage by a small negative voltage.

The output signal of the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45 is input to the pulse width adjustment circuit 46, and a signal having the pulse width shown in FIG. 3 (F) is output to the drive circuit 49 via the contact a of the switching circuit 48. . Therefore, the LED 16 is shown in FIG.
The signal shown in (F) is applied as a pulsed light emission drive signal, and light is emitted in a pulsed manner by the pulsed light emission drive signal. FIG. 4 shows the periodic movement of the vocal cords and the state of pulsed light emission.

In accordance with the periodic opening / closing state of the vocal cords, the vibration frequency of the vocal cords extracted by the audio frequency extracting unit 41 becomes a sinusoidal waveform shown in FIG.
If the frequency is set to Hz, a signal (see FIG. 3E) of a frequency slightly different from this by a frequency corresponding to the fixed value shifted by the voltage shift circuit 44 is generated via the voltage / frequency conversion circuit 45, and the signal of this frequency is generated. Synchronously, the pulse width adjustment circuit 46 outputs a signal having the waveform shown in FIG.

Assuming that this frequency is 99 Hz, for example, the difference of 1 Hz from the frequency 100 Hz of the periodic movement of the vocal cords.
(This value corresponds to a constant value shifted by the voltage shift circuit 44), and the light emission timing is shifted relatively to the LED.
16 will emit light.

For example, if light is emitted in the state where the vocal cords are most opened first, then 1/1 of the timing when the vocal cords are most opened next.
A pulsed light emission in which the opening state of the vocal cords changes at 1 Hz is performed in such a manner that the light is pulsed at a timing 1/100 second behind 00 seconds, and an image of this pulsed light emission state is formed on the CCD 18. You.

Then, after one frame period of 1/30 second, the CCD drive signal from the CCD drive circuit 28 is applied, and the signal charges accumulated in the CCD 18 are read out and temporarily stored in the memories 34a, 34b, 34c. The image stored in the memories 34a, 34b, 34c one frame before is displayed on the monitor 4.

According to the present embodiment that operates as described above, with a simple configuration, it is possible to observe whether the vocal cords as the object to be observed are moving or stationary. Even in this case, a bright image that can be easily observed can be obtained, and diagnosis can be easily performed.

That is, compared with the normal observation in which the imaging is performed with the LED 16 constantly emitting light, the amount of light emission during the same one frame period is much larger when the movement is detected and the pulse emission is performed. And in that case CC
The level of the D output signal is also greatly reduced, and the image is dark when displayed on the monitor 4 as it is. However, in the present embodiment, when the motion is detected and the pulse is emitted to perform imaging, Since the gain for the CCD output signal is greatly increased compared to the case of constant light emission,
A bright image that is easy to diagnose can be obtained even when pulse emission is performed in a state where there is periodic movement (in addition to obtaining a bright image that is easy to observe in normal observation).

In the case of normal observation, an image having a good S / N can be obtained by suppressing the gain of the gain control means.

Since the pulse width can be variably set by the pulse width setting section 46a, the gain when pulse light emission is increased and the pulse width is widened so that light emitting means with a small light emission amount can be used. In the present embodiment, the electronic endoscope 2A having the rigid insertion portion 5
However, it is apparent that the present invention can be similarly applied to an electronic endoscope having a flexible insertion portion. In the case of softness, the vocal cords can be observed without using the oblique type.

When a pulse is emitted by detecting a movement as compared with the case of normal observation, the gain control amplifier 29
Is increased, the intensity of the light emitted from the LED 16 may be increased instead. In addition, when the light emission of the LED 16 is increased and the level of the CCD output signal is still low, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 may be increased.

That is, when the pulse is emitted by detecting the movement as compared with the case of the normal observation, the gain control amplifier 2
The gain of LED 9 may be increased, and the emission intensity of LED 16 may be increased.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment has an imaging function using an element shutter in addition to the functions of the first embodiment.

The endoscope imaging apparatus 1 'of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
, A video processor 3 ′ further provided with an element shutter control circuit 30 for performing element shutter control on the video processor 3.

The element shutter control circuit 30 receives the luminance signal Y one frame before from the color separation circuit 32. The element shutter control circuit 30 integrates the luminance signal Y for one frame, and the integrated value is appropriate. Compared with a reference value in the case of an image with a high brightness, the result of the comparison is used to determine the imaging period during which an image with the appropriate brightness is obtained in the next frame, that is, the speed of the element shutter. A signal for determining the speed of the element shutter is output to the CCD drive circuit 28. In this way, the image capturing period is variably controlled so that an image with appropriate brightness can be obtained for each frame.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, a motion detection signal is applied from the control circuit 22 to the gain control amplifier 29 and also to the element shutter control circuit 30 to detect the motion detection signal. In this case, the element shutter is turned off. That is, when a periodic motion is detected, the variable control of the imaging period by the element shutter is stopped. On the other hand, when no motion is detected, the imaging period is variably controlled by the element shutter.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of the CCD drive circuit 28 in this case. The CCD drive circuit 28 receives the vertical transfer pulse and the horizontal transfer pulse input from the timing generator 31, amplifies them by buffer amplifiers 28a and 28b, and applies them to the CCD 18 side.
The CCD signal output from the CCD 18 is stored in the memories 34a, 34b, and 34c via the gain control amplifier 29 and the like.

When the element shutter function is turned on, the signal charges imaged during the imaging period at the set shutter speed are transferred to the buffer amplifiers 28a and 28b as described above.
The CCD output signal read from the CCD 18 is transferred to the memories 34a, 34b, 34c via the gain control amplifier 29 and the like by the vertical transfer pulse and the horizontal transfer pulse amplified by
After that, a signal for rapidly sweeping out or starting out signal accumulation until the start of imaging of the next frame, that is, a shutter pulse shown in FIG.
And unnecessary signal charges remaining when imaging is performed in the next frame are swept away from the CCD 18.

In FIG. 6, when the shutter pulse is output from the timing generator 31 via the switch 28c and the buffer amplifier 28d, the element shutter is ON, and when the shutter pulse is not output by turning off the switch 28c, the element shutter is OFF. Is shown. The switch 28c is controlled by the motion detection signal via the element shutter control circuit 30. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, when no motion is detected by the motion detection, the element shutter is turned on and the imaging period is variably controlled to obtain an image having a brightness suitable for observation. In this case, the gain variable amplifier 29 is set to a predetermined gain smaller than that when motion is detected as described in the first embodiment, and imaging is performed.

On the other hand, when a motion is detected, the element shutter is turned off, and the gain control amplifier 29 sets a large gain as described in the first embodiment to obtain an image suitable for observation. Like that.

In the present embodiment, when no motion is detected, an image suitable for observation can be obtained by variably controlling the imaging period by the element shutter. On the other hand, when the motion is detected, the element shutter is turned off and the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is increased as in the first embodiment, so that an image suitable for observation can be obtained.

When motion is detected, it is conceivable that the element shutter is turned on to variably control the image capturing period for capturing an image under pulsed light emission. It is not preferable to unnecessarily lengthen the imaging period, and when the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is increased and the imaging period is variably controlled, the number of times of pulse emission during the imaging period fluctuates irregularly. This results in an image accompanied by flicker-like noise (bright image and dark image).

In the present embodiment, when a motion is detected, the element shutter can be turned off so that an image free of flicker noise can be obtained.

According to the present embodiment, when a periodic motion is not detected, a bright image with a good S / N suitable for observation can be obtained by variable control of the imaging period. If it is detected, the variable control of the imaging period is set to OF
F, a bright image suitable for observation can be obtained by increasing the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 as in the first embodiment. In this case, the variable control of the imaging period is turned off.
By doing so, generation of flicker-like noise can be avoided.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Although the LED 16 is used as the light emitting means in FIG. 1 and the like, a lamp may be used instead. When the insertion section 5 is short and the light transmission loss in the light guide when the light guide is inserted through the insertion section 5 is small, the rigid endoscope 2B according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. Can also be adopted.

The rigid endoscope 2B shown in FIG.
In A, the LED 51 is not provided, and a lamp 51 as a pulsed light emitting means is housed in the grip 6, and an output signal of the control unit 22 is input to the lamp 51.

The light of the lamp 51 is incident on the rear end of the light guide 53 inserted into the insertion portion 5 through the condenser lens 52, and the illumination light transmitted by the light guide 53 is transmitted from the front end to the illumination lens 15 Then, the light is irradiated to the observation object side. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

The operation of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment. The light emitted from the lamp 51 has a smaller loss due to transmission by the light guide 53 than in the first embodiment. However, if the length of the light guide 53 is, for example, about several tens cm, it can be used sufficiently for vocal fold observation. And the loss in that case can be considerably reduced. The same applies to the case of the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 'in FIG. In that case, the same effects as in the second embodiment are obtained.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
Has been adopted.

The camera head-mounted endoscope 2C is, for example, a fiber scope 55 as a flexible endoscope, an adapter 57 detachably attached to an eyepiece 56 of the fiber scope 55, and detachably attached to the adapter 57. And a camera head 58 mounted on the camera.

The fiber scope 55 includes a flexible (soft) insertion portion 61, an operation portion 62 at the rear end of the insertion portion 61,
It comprises an eyepiece 56 at the rear end of the operation unit 62. Also,
A light guide 63 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion portion 61, and an illumination system 64 including a prism and an illumination lens is disposed at the tip thereof, and a light guide base near the operation portion 62 is provided at the rear end of the light guide 63. 65.

One end of a light guide cable 66 is detachably connected to the light guide base 65, and the other end of the light guide cable 66 is detachably connected to a light guide connection portion 67 provided on the camera head 58 by, for example, press-fitting. You.

A light source unit 68 is provided in the camera head 58. The light source unit 68 includes a lamp 69 and a condenser lens 70, and the lamp 69 is controlled to emit light by the control unit 22 in the camera head 58. Is done. This control unit 22
Has a configuration similar to that of FIG. 2, for example. The camera head 58 is provided with a sound collection unit 71. This sound collector 71
Is constituted by a microphone, for example, and the detection signal is
Is input to

The light from the lamp 69 is transmitted to the light guide cable 66 and the light guide 63 in the fiberscope 55.
Through the illumination system 64 to illuminate the observation object side such as the vocal cords.

At the distal end of the insertion section 61, an observing observation system 7 composed of an objective lens and a prism is provided adjacent to the illumination system 64.
2 are provided. The distal end face of the image guide 73 is arranged at the image forming position of the observation system 72, and the image formed on the distal end face is transmitted to the rear end face by the image guide 73.

The rear end of the image guide 73 is arranged near the front end of the eyepiece 56, and can be magnified by the eyepiece 74. The adapter 57 attached to the eyepiece 56 has a lens system and an optical filter.

The image transmitted to the rear end of the image guide 73 is formed on the CCD 77 via the optical system of the adapter 57 and the image forming lens 76 of the camera head 58. This CCD
A color separation filter 78 such as a mosaic filter is arranged in front of the imaging surface 77. A connector (not shown) at the end of the camera cable 79 extending from the camera head 58 is detachably connected to the video processor 3 in FIG.

The CCD 77 is connected to one end of a signal line 80 in a camera cable 79, and the other end of the signal line 80 is
Is connected to a CCD drive circuit 28 and a gain control amplifier 29 in the video processor 3.

In the present embodiment, the light from the light source 68 provided in the camera head 58 is transmitted by the light guide cable 66 in the fourth embodiment, but the light cable 66 is relatively short. If a cable is used, transmission loss of light in the light guide cable 66 can be reduced. Therefore, substantially the same effects as in the third embodiment can be obtained.

As a modification of the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a connector 9 may be provided on the camera head 58, and the microphone 10 of the first embodiment may be input to the control unit 22 via the connector 9.

The endoscope 2C 'of the modification shown in FIG.
When the channel 85 is provided in the fiber scope 55 as described above, a microphone 86 may be attached to the end of the channel 85, and an output signal of the microphone 86 may be input to the control unit 22. In this case, the microphone 86 is not of the bone conduction type, and a normal voice detection microphone may be used.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The camera head mounted endoscope 2D shown in FIG. 11 includes a fiber scope 81 and a camera head 82 which is detachably mounted on the eyepiece 56 of the fiber scope 81.

This fiberscope 81 is different from the fiberscope 55 shown in FIG. 9 in that the rear end of the light guide 63 is fixed near the front end of the eyepiece 56, and a coupling lens 83 is arranged facing this rear end.

The camera head 82 has a light source section 68 like the camera head 58 of FIG.
The light from the lamp 69 is incident on the rear end of the light guide 63 via the condenser lens 70 and the coupling lens 83 facing the lens 70.

As in the case of FIG. 10, an imaging lens 76 is arranged in the camera head 82 so as to face the eyepiece 74 of the eyepiece 56, and forms an image on the CCD 77. In addition,
In the present embodiment, an optical filter 83 such as an infrared cut filter is disposed between the lens 74 and the lens 76.
The control unit 22 in the camera head 82 is detachably connected to the external microphone 10 by the connector 9. Other configurations are the same as those of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 9, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

This embodiment is different from the embodiment of FIG.
The labor for connecting the light guide cable 66 can be omitted, and the light from the light source unit 68 provided in the camera head 82 can be transmitted by a shorter illumination light transmission unit and radiated toward the observation target site. The other effects are the same as those of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 12, the endoscope imaging apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
Reference numeral 01 denotes an endoscope 102 which is inserted into a body cavity or the like to obtain an optical image of a subject such as a lesion, a light source device 103 for supplying illumination light to the endoscope 102, and an inner light source device 103. An LG cable 104 (in this embodiment, a light guide is abbreviated as LG) for transmitting illumination light to the endoscope 102, and an LG cable 104 for converting an observation magnification of an optical image of a subject obtained by the endoscope 102. An optical adapter 105; a camera head 106 for capturing an optical image obtained by the optical adapter 105 to obtain an image signal;
It mainly comprises a CCU 107 (camera control unit) that obtains a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor from the imaging signal obtained in step 06, and a television monitor 108 that displays the video signal from the CCU 107.

The endoscope 102 has an insertion portion 111 for insertion into a body cavity or the like, a grip portion 112 provided at a base end of the insertion portion 111 for gripping the endoscope 102, An eyepiece unit 113 is provided at the base end of the unit 112 so that the optical image of the subject obtained by the endoscope 102 can be visually observed.

[0093] One end of the LG cable 104 is detachably attached to the grip portion 112 side of the endoscope 102, and the other end of the LG cable 104 is detachably attached to the light source device 103.

The front end of the optical adapter 105 is detachably attached to the eyepiece 113 of the endoscope 102. The front end of the camera head 106 is detachably attached to the rear end of the optical adapter 105. From the rear end of the camera head 106, the camera head 1
A CCU cable 114 through which an electric cable or the like for transmitting the imaging signal obtained in step 06 to the CCU 107 extends, and the other end of the CCU cable 114 is connected to the CCU 107
It is detachably connected to.

As shown in FIG. 13, the light source device 103
Is a lamp 121 that emits illumination light, and the lamp 12
1 and a lamp driving circuit 122 for driving the lamp 12
An aperture 123 for limiting the amount of illumination light emitted in 1;
A motor 124 for driving the diaphragm 123 and a dimming circuit 12 for driving the motor 124 to control the amount of illumination light
5 and a condenser lens 126 that collects illumination light. The amount of illumination light emitted from the lamp 121 is adjusted by a stop 123, condensed by a condenser lens 126, and is incident on a light incident end of an LG bundle 127 inserted through the LG cable 104. I have.

In the endoscope 102, the light source device 1
LG bundle 128 that guides the illumination light supplied from 03 through the LG bundle 127 to the tip of the insertion portion 111
A light distribution optical system 129 composed of a light distribution lens or a lens cover for irradiating the illumination light guided by the LG bundle 128 from the tip of the insertion section 111 toward the subject; An objective optical system 131 including an objective lens, a prism, a lens cover, and the like for obtaining an optical image, a rod lens, a relay lens, and the like for optically transmitting the optical image obtained by the objective optical system 131 to the eyepiece unit 113 , And an eyepiece 133 that emits an optical image emitted from the image transmission optical system 132 as a visible optical image. The optical adapter 105 is connected to the eyepiece 133.
It has a lens 134 for converting, for example, the observation magnification of the optical image emitted from the optical system.

The camera head 106 is formed with an imaging optical system 140 composed of an imaging lens and an optical filter for forming an optical image emitted from the optical adapter 105, and an image is formed by the imaging optical system 140. A CCD 141 serving as an image pickup means for picking up a subject image and outputting an image pickup signal; a CCD drive circuit 142 for driving the CCD 141;
A gain control amplifier 143 for amplifying a CCD output signal output from the CD 141, an electric cable 144 inserted through the CCU cable 114 and connecting the CCD drive circuit 143 and the gain control amplifier 143 to the CCU 107; A slit rotating plate 145 inserted into the optical path of the imaging optical system 140 to shield and transmit an optical image.
And the motor 1 for driving the slit rotating plate 145 to rotate.
46, a motor control circuit 147 for controlling the driving of the motor 146, and a photo sensor 148 for detecting the rotation speed of the slit rotating plate 145, that is, the rotation frequency.
, A microphone 149 for obtaining a subject's sound such as a patient's voice, and a moving device 150 for inserting and removing the slit rotating plate 145 and the like in a direction H orthogonal to the optical path.

As shown in FIG. 14, for example, one slit 151 is formed in the slit rotating plate 145 at a position corresponding to the optical path of the subject image, and at a position corresponding to the optical path of the photosensor 148. For example, n slits 152 are formed. With the slit 151 formed, when the slit rotating plate 145 rotates, the subject image formed on the CCD 141 is repeatedly shielded and transmitted. Further, since the slit 152 is formed, when the slit rotating plate 145 rotates, n of the rotation frequency F1 of the slit rotating plate 145 becomes n.
The pulse of the double frequency nF1 (Hz) is
Is output.

As shown in FIG. 15, the motor control circuit 147 includes an F / V conversion circuit 161 for converting the frequency nF1 (Hz) of the pulse signal output from the photosensor 148 to a voltage V1 (V), An amplifier circuit 162 for amplifying a weak audio signal obtained by the microphone 149 and removing distortion as necessary, and a microphone 149 via the amplifier circuit 162
And an F / V conversion circuit 163 for converting the frequency F2 of the audio signal obtained from the F / V into a voltage V2 (V).
Voltage V1 output from the F / V conversion circuit 16
A comparison circuit 164 for comparing the voltage V2 output from the third circuit
And a motor drive circuit 165 that drives the motor 146 by changing the output voltage to the motor 146 in accordance with the output from the comparison circuit 164, and the voltage V2 output from the F / V conversion circuit 163 with the reference voltage Vr. (Second) comparison circuit 16
6.

The output of the comparison circuit 166 is
0 and output to the gain control amplifier 143, and when there is no motion detection, the moving device 150
5 and the motor 146 are moved out of the optical path, and the gain of the gain control amplifier 143 is set to a small gain.

On the other hand, when the movement is detected, the moving device 150 places the slit rotating plate 145 in the optical path, and sets the gain of the gain control amplifier 143 to a large gain.

The motor drive circuit 165 includes the comparison circuit 1
64, the voltage for driving the motor 146 is kept constant when V1 = V2, and the voltage for driving the motor 146 is reduced when V1> V2, and V1 <
In the case of V2, the motor 146 is controlled by increasing the voltage for driving the motor 146.

As shown in FIG. 16, the voltages V1 and V2 increase as the frequencies F1 and F2 increase. At this time, the relationship between the frequencies F1 and F2 is, for example, F2−
When F1 = 1 (Hz), V1 = V2. That is, the motor control circuit 47 controls the motor 146 such that the rotation frequency of the slit rotation plate 45 is always lower than the frequency of the audio signal by 1 Hz. For example, when the frequency of the audio signal is 100 Hz, the motor 146 is controlled so that the rotation frequency of the slit rotation plate 145 becomes 99 Hz.

FIG. 17 shows the frequency (period) of the audio signal,
The relationship with the light-shielding / light-transmitting timing by the slit rotating plate 145 is shown. As shown in FIG. 17, when the frequency of the audio signal is, for example, 100 Hz, that is, the period is (1/100) second, the slit rotating plate 145 transmits the subject image at the period of (1/99) second. Here, when the frequency of the audio signal changes to 150 Hz, the period of light transmission by the slit rotating plate 145 changes accordingly to (1/149) seconds.

The moving device 150 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
The configuration is as follows. Slit disk 145 and motor 1
46 is attached to a plate-like mounting bracket 201,
At the lower part of the mounting bracket 201, a flange portion 202 bent in the horizontal direction is formed.

Below the flange 202, two rails 2 fixed to the housing side of the camera head 106 are provided.
03 and 203 are sandwiched between the right and left slide portions 20
4 are formed. The slide portion 204 is slidably fitted to the rails 203, 203 so that the slit disk 145 and the motor 146 can be moved.

A rack gear 205 is mounted on the surface of the mounting bracket 201, for example, on the CCD 141 side along the moving direction of the slit disk 145. The worm gear 20 rotated by a moving motor 206 constituting the moving device 150 is mounted on the rack gear 205.
7 are engaged. The motor 206 is mounted on the bracket 2
08, the camera head 106 is fixed to the housing side.

By rotating the moving motor 206 forward and backward, the slit disk 145 and the motor 146 can be freely inserted and removed from the imaging optical path via the worm gear 207 and the rack gear 205.

Flat rectangular columnar switch pressing portions 211a and 211b are provided on the upper surfaces of both ends of the flange portion 202 of the mounting bracket 201 in the moving direction. Further, at both ends of the moving range of the slit disk 145, the micro switch 212a for switching position detection is located at a position pressed by the switch pressing parts 211a and 211b.
212b is provided.

The microswitches 212a, 212a,
By detecting that the slit disk 145 has reached the end of the moving range by pressing the switch 212b by the switch pressing portions 211a and 211b, the rotation of the moving motor 206 is stopped, and the slit disk is stopped. The movement range of 145 is regulated.

In the illustrated example, when the switch pressing portion 211a presses the micro switch 212a, the slit disk 145 is in the image pickup optical path, and light from the optical adapter 105 passes through the slit 151 of the slit disk 145. When the light enters the CCD 141, while the switch pressing portion 211b presses the microswitch 212b, the slit disk 145 is located at a position outside the imaging optical path and the light from the optical adapter 105 side is emitted. CCD1 without the slit disk 145
41.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The amount of illumination light emitted from the lamp 121 is adjusted by the stop 123, condensed by the condenser lens 126, and incident on the light incident end of the LG bundle 127.
And then to the LG bundle 128,
Light is emitted from the light distribution optical system 129 at the distal end of the insertion section 111 toward a subject, for example, a vocal cord of a patient.

In this case, when the vocal cords emit sound, the sound signal obtained through the microphone 149 is input to the F / V conversion circuit 163 through the amplifier circuit 162, and is proportional to the frequency of the sound. The voltage is output from the F / V conversion circuit 163.

When this voltage is higher than the reference voltage Vr, as shown in FIG.
Insert 45 into the imaging optical path. Further, the gain of the gain control amplifier 143 is set to a large value.

The subject image due to the reflected light from the vocal cords passes through the objective optical system 131, the image transmission optical system 132, the eyepiece 133, the lens 134, and the image forming optical system 140, and then becomes C
An image is formed on the CD 141. At this time, the subject image is repeatedly shielded and transmitted by the slit rotating plate 145 located in the optical path of the imaging optical system 140, and the intermittent subject image is formed by the CCD.
Image 141 is formed.

On the other hand, every time the slit 152 formed in the slit rotating plate 145 passes through the photosensor 148, a pulse is emitted from the photosensor 148. The pulse signal of the frequency nF1 is transmitted to the F / F of the motor control circuit 147.
The signal is input to the V conversion circuit 161.

On the other hand, an audio signal of frequency F 2 obtained from the vocal cords via microphone 149 is input to F / V conversion circuit 163 via amplification circuit 162. F / V conversion circuit 1
61 and the F / V conversion circuit 163 convert the input frequencies nF1 and F2 into voltages V1 and V2, respectively.
Compares these voltages V1 and V2 and gives a signal of the comparison result to the motor drive circuit 165.

The motor driving circuit 165 is provided with the comparing circuit 1
64, the voltage for driving the motor 146 is kept constant when V1 = V2, and the voltage for driving the motor 146 is reduced when V1> V2, and V1 <
In the case of V2, the motor 146 is driven such that the voltage for driving the motor 146 is increased.

At this time, the F / V conversion circuits 161 and 163
Is such that V1 = V2 when F2-F1 = 1 (Hz). That is, the motor control circuit 147 controls the motor 146 such that the rotation frequency of the slit rotation plate 145 is always lower than the frequency of the audio signal by 1 Hz. For example, when the frequency of the audio signal is 100 Hz, the motor 146 is controlled so that the rotation frequency of the slit rotation plate 145 becomes 99 Hz.

As described above, since the rotation frequency of the slit rotation plate 145 is lower than the audio frequency by, for example, 1 Hz, the phase at which the subject image is transmitted by the slit 151 of the slit rotation plate 145 is determined by the slit rotation plate 145. 1
Every time it rotates, it lags behind the phase of the audio signal.

When the audio frequency is 100 Hz, for example, every time the slit rotation plate 145 makes one rotation, the phase of the subject image transmitted by the slit rotation plate 145 is (1/99) of the phase of the audio signal. − (1/100) = (1 /
9900) seconds. When the audio frequency is 100 Hz, the actual vocal cords vibrate once in 0.01 second, but the subject image that intermittently passes through the slit rotating plate 145 is (1/100) / (1/990).
It looks as if it vibrates once in 0) × (1/99) = 1 second.

The slit rotating plate 145 is used for the image forming optical system 14.
Since the subject image is located in the optical path 0, the subject image captured by the CCD 141 is an intermittent image of the vocal cords that appears to vibrate, for example, once per second. The CCD 141 photoelectrically converts the optical image, and is driven by a driving pulse given from the CCU 107 via the electric cable 144 and the CCD driving circuit 142 to output an imaging signal. This imaging signal is
Amplified by the gain control amplifier 143, the electric cable 14
4 is transmitted to the CCU 107. CCU107
Converts the imaging signal into a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor and outputs the video signal to the television monitor 108. Then, an image of the vocal cords is displayed on the television monitor 108 as a slow image.

On the other hand, when no motion is detected, the slit rotating plate 145 is set to move outside the optical path, and the gain of the gain control amplifier 143 is set to a small value.
Then, the captured image is displayed on the television monitor 108.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
The camera head 106 includes a slit rotating plate 145, a motor 146, a photo sensor 148, and a motor control circuit 14.
7 and a microphone 149, and a subject such as a vocal cord moving at high speed is intermittently imaged, so that the subject image can be observed as a slow image.

At this time, the light source device 103 emits ordinary continuous illumination light, and is not a light source device that emits strobe light. That is, the camera head of the existing ordinary endoscope apparatus is replaced with the camera head 106 of the present embodiment, so that an endoscope capable of observing a fast-moving subject like the endoscope apparatus 101 of the present embodiment can be observed. A mirror device can be configured, and compared with a case where the light source device is replaced with a strobe light source, a cost and a new storage space required for expanding the function of the endoscope device so that a subject moving at high speed can be observed. The effect of reduction can be obtained.

If no movement is detected, the slit rotating plate 145 is set to a state where it can be retracted from the image pickup optical path and can always be picked up, and the image can be picked up in the same manner as in a normal endoscopy.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the conventional example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-66357, it is not known at which position the chopper that blocks the emitted light quantity will stop when the vocal cord observation state is turned off. There is a problem that the camera stops at a position where light cannot be observed.

That is, according to the present embodiment, an observation image can be reliably obtained without switching to a normal observation state from a state in which a vocal cord moving at a high speed is observed without such a problem. Further, a bright image can be obtained regardless of whether the vocal cords move at a high speed as in the first embodiment or in a normal observation state.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing an internal configuration of an optical adapter and a camera head according to a modification of the sixth embodiment. Note that the same components as those in the sixth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, in this modification, the sixth
An optical adapter 105a is provided instead of the optical adapter 105 (see FIG.
6 (see FIG. 13) was provided with a camera head 106a. In this modification, the slit rotating plate 145 and the motor 1
46, the motor control circuit 147, the photo sensor 148, the microphone 149, and the moving device 150 are connected to the optical adapter 105a.
These are not provided in the camera head 106a. And the slit rotating plate 145 is
It is arranged in front of the lens 134. Other configurations are the same as those of the sixth embodiment. In the present modified example configured as described above, the same effect as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained.

In general, the optical adapter is smaller in size and inexpensive than the camera head because the CCD, its driving circuit, CCU cable, etc. are not provided.
Compared with the first embodiment, the effect of reducing the cost and new storage space required when extending the function of the endoscope apparatus so that the subject moving at high speed can be observed can be obtained.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the imaging slit 151 of the slit rotating plate 145 in the sixth embodiment is used for detecting the rotational position. The slit rotating plate 145 'in the present embodiment has a slit 151a as shown in FIG.

The slit 151a forms the slit 151 for imaging in the slit rotating plate 145 shown in FIG. 14, and the slit 151 extends radially outward to form a slit peripheral portion 151b. A plurality of slits 152 in FIG. Not formed. And the slit peripheral part 1
The position of the slit 151a is detected by the photosensors 148 opposed to both sides so as to sandwich the slit 51b, and when the slit rotating plate 145 'rotates, the slit rotating plate 145' rotates.
The photosensor 148 outputs a pulse having a frequency F1 (Hz) of a rotation frequency F1 of 5 '.

As shown in FIG. 21, this photo sensor 148
Is output from the F / V conversion circuit 16 of the motor control circuit 147.
1 ', which is compared with the output of an F / V conversion circuit 163 for F / V converting an audio signal from a microphone by a comparison circuit 164, and controlled so that V1 = V2 as in the seventh embodiment. Is done.

F / V of F / V conversion circuit 161 'in FIG.
The conversion characteristic is determined by the F / V conversion circuit 161 in FIG.
The output of the F / V conversion circuit 161 'is set to V1 as in FIG. 15, and is rotated so that V1 = V2 as in FIG. Will be in control.

The other constructions are the same as those of the sixth embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the imaging slit can also be used for detecting the rotational position, and the cost can be reduced. The other effects are the same as those of the sixth embodiment.

In the sixth and seventh embodiments, the slit rotating plate 145 is inserted and removed from the optical path in accordance with the detection result of the periodic movement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If no movement is detected, for example, the slit may be compulsorily fixed so as to be located in the optical path.

In the sixth and seventh embodiments, the slit rotary plate 145 is inserted and removed from the optical path in accordance with the result of the detection of the periodic movement. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a prism for changing the optical path is arranged in the optical path, and when periodic movement is detected, light for imaging is made to enter the CCD through the slit rotating plate 145. When no movement is detected, the prism is rotated. In conjunction with this, the CCD is moved from the previous optical path in conjunction with this, and the slit rotating plate 14 is moved through the optical path changed by the prism.
Alternatively, the light may be switched so that light for imaging is incident on the CCD without passing through the CCD.

Although the presence or absence of movement is detected by a microphone using a voice signal, the movement of the slit rotating plate 145 or the solid-state image sensor can be controlled by switching means such as a manual switch.
The switching control of the pulse light emission or the continuous light emission in the first embodiment or the like may be performed.

In the second embodiment, when a motion is detected, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is set to a large value so that a bright image suitable for observation is obtained. Can be controlled so as to match with a reference value corresponding to an image having a brightness suitable for observation.

More specifically, as in the case of normal observation (continuous light emission), a value obtained by integrating the luminance signal output from the color separation circuit 32 for one frame, for example, is compared with the reference value, and the next value is calculated. In this case, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 in the frame is controlled, and at this time, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is also controlled by the information on the number of times of pulse emission in each frame.

For example, if the number of times of pulse emission is “a” in the previous frame and “b” in the next frame, the gain of the gain control amplifier 29 is set to “a” with respect to the gain control level of the previous frame. / B times (when the gain can be changed in proportion to the gain control level). By doing so, an image having a brightness suitable for observation can be obtained. Further, generation of flicker-like noise can be prevented. It should be noted that embodiments and the like configured by partially combining the above-described embodiments and the like also belong to the present invention.

[Supplementary Notes] In an endoscope imaging apparatus that displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like,
Motion detection means for detecting a periodic motion of the observation target;
A light emitting unit that emits light in a pulse, a timing control unit that controls a timing of a pulse light emission of the light emitting unit when the movement detecting unit detects a periodic movement; An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: switching control means for performing at least one of amplification control of a signal obtained from a solid-state imaging device and imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device.

2. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a movement detection unit that detects a periodic movement of an observation target; A light emitting unit that emits light, a timing control unit that controls the timing of a pulsed emission of the light emitting unit when the movement detecting unit detects a periodic movement, and a periodic result based on a detection result of the movement detecting unit. Switching control means for controlling the amplification degree to increase the amplification degree of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device when motion is detected as compared with the case where no periodic motion is detected, and Endoscope imaging device.

[0145] 3. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a movement detection unit that detects a periodic movement of an observation target; A light emitting unit that emits light, a timing control unit that controls a timing of a pulsed light emission of the light emitting unit when the movement detecting unit detects a periodic movement, and a detection result of the movement detecting unit. When an unusual movement is detected, an element shutter for variably controlling the imaging time for imaging by the solid-state imaging element is set to O.
An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: a switching control unit for setting to an FF.

[0146] 4. In the supplementary note 1 or 2, the switching control means sets the gain of the gain control amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the solid-state imaging device to be larger when periodic motion is detected than when no periodic motion is detected. Switch to. 5. In addition 1 or 3, when no periodic movement is detected, the switching control means turns on an element shutter for variably controlling an imaging time for imaging by the solid-state imaging element.
To

6. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device, a motion detection unit that detects a periodic motion of an observation target; Illuminating light irradiating means for irradiating an object with continuous illumination light and pulsed illumination light, and when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, irradiation of pulsed illumination light by the illumination light irradiating means. Timing control means for controlling timing, and switching control means for performing at least one of amplification degree control of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device and imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device, based on a detection result of the motion detection unit. , An endoscope imaging apparatus characterized in that:

[0148] 7. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device, a motion detection unit that detects a periodic motion of an observation target; Illuminating light irradiating means for irradiating an object with continuous illumination light and pulsed illumination light, and when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, irradiation of pulsed illumination light by the illumination light irradiating means. Timing control means for controlling timing, and the detection result of the motion detection means, when a periodic motion is detected, the amplification degree of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device is compared with the case where the periodic motion is not detected. An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: switching control means for controlling amplification increase so as to increase the amplification degree.

8. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device, a motion detection unit that detects a periodic motion of an observation target; Illuminating light irradiating means for irradiating the object with continuous illumination light and pulsed illuminating light, and when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, irradiation of the pulsed illuminating light by the illuminating light irradiating means. Timing control means for controlling timing, and switching control for turning off an element shutter for variably controlling an imaging time for imaging by the solid-state imaging element when at least periodic movement is detected based on a detection result of the motion detection means. And an endoscope imaging device. 9. In an endoscope imaging apparatus for observing the inside of a body cavity or the like, switching means for switching between normal observation and strobe observation,
An endoscope imaging apparatus, wherein an electronic shutter of a solid-state imaging device is controlled in conjunction with the switching means. 10. In Appendix 9, brightness control is performed by an electronic shutter during normal observation, and the electronic shutter is turned off during strobe observation.

11. 2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope imaging apparatus for observing the inside of a body cavity with a strobe, a rotation filter for receiving incident light of a solid-state imaging element at a constant period is provided, and when the sotrobo observation is OFF, a moving means for removing (retreating) the rotation filter from an optical path. An endoscope imaging apparatus, comprising: 12. In an endoscope imaging apparatus for observing the inside of a body cavity with a strobe, a rotation filter for receiving incident light of a solid-state imaging device at a constant period is provided, and at least one of the rotation filter and the solid-state imaging device is moved when sotrobo observation is OFF. An endoscope imaging apparatus comprising a moving unit.

13. 2. Description of the Related Art In an endoscope imaging apparatus for observing a body cavity with a strobe, a rotary filter for receiving incident light of a solid-state imaging device at a constant period is provided in a camera head or an adapter, and is linked with a switching unit for controlling ON / OFF of a sotrobo observation. An endoscope imaging apparatus, further comprising a moving unit for moving at least one of the rotary filter and the solid-state imaging device.

14. In an endoscope imaging apparatus that displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a movement detection unit that detects a periodic movement of an observation target; A light emitting unit that emits light, a timing control unit that controls the timing of pulsed light emission of the light emitting unit when the movement detecting unit detects a periodic movement, and a periodic result based on a detection result of the movement detecting unit. An endoscope provided with switching control means for increasing control such that the intensity of the pulsed light emission of the light emitting means is increased when motion is detected as compared with the case where no periodic motion is detected. Imaging device.

[0153]

As described above, according to the present invention, in an endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image captured by a solid-state imaging device, A movement detecting means for detecting a periodic movement of an object, a light emitting means for emitting light in a pulsed manner, and a timing for controlling the timing of the pulsed light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects the periodic movement. Control means, and switching control means for performing at least one of amplification degree control of a signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor and imaging time control by the solid-state image sensor based on a detection result of the motion detecting means. Therefore, by the amplification degree control by the switching control means, the control to make the amplification degree of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device larger when the motion detection means detects the motion than when the motion detection is not performed. Or the motion detected easily images also observed brightly observation image to be displayed when the level of the output signal is small in the solid-state imaging device in the case by performing,
By switching the imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device to OFF when the motion detection unit detects the motion by the imaging time control by the switching control unit, irregular time during the imaging time when the imaging time control is ON is set. It is possible to prevent an observation image like flicker noise due to a change in the number of times of pulse emission from occurring and to make an image easy to observe.

Further, in an endoscope imaging apparatus for displaying an observation image picked up by a solid-state image pickup device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detection for detecting a periodic motion of an object to be observed. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, and detection results of the movement detecting means Switching control means for increasing the amplification of a signal obtained from the solid-state image sensor when periodic motion is detected so as to increase the amplification of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device as compared with the case where no periodic motion is detected. Therefore, the switching control means performs control to make the amplification degree of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device larger when the motion detection means detects a motion than when no motion is detected. Possible to easily image observed brightly observation image level of the output signal of the solid-state image pickup device is displayed even smaller in the case where the motion detected.

Further, in an endoscope image pickup apparatus for displaying an observation image picked up by a solid-state image pickup device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, a motion detection for detecting a periodic motion of an observation target object. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, and detection results of the movement detecting means A switching control means for variably controlling an imaging time taken by the solid-state imaging element when at least periodic movement is detected, and a switching control means for turning off the element shutter. When the motion detecting means detects the motion, the imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device is turned off.
Accordingly, when the imaging time control is turned ON, it is possible to prevent the observation image from becoming a flicker noise-like observation image due to the irregular fluctuation of the number of times of pulse emission during the imaging time, and to make the image easy to observe.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a control unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the light emitting means in a vocal cord observation state.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an endoscope imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a CCD drive circuit.

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

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

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope in a modified example.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to another modification.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an endoscope according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of an endoscope, a light source device, an optical adapter, and a camera head.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a shape of a slit rotating plate.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a motor control circuit.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing input / output characteristics of an F / V conversion circuit.

FIG. 17 is an operation explanatory diagram showing a relationship between an audio signal and light transmission / shielding timing by a slit rotating plate.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a moving device that moves a slit rotating plate in and out of an imaging optical path.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing an internal configuration of an optical adapter and a camera head according to a modification of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a structure of a slit rotating plate according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a motor control circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Endoscope imaging device 2A ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Video processor 4 ... Color monitor 5 ... Insertion part 6 ... Grasping part (operation part) 10 ... Microphone 13 ... Illumination system 14 ... Imaging system 15 ... Illumination lens 16 ... LED 17 ... Objective lens 18 ... CCD 22 ... Control unit 27 ... Signal processing system 28 ... CCD drive circuit 29 ... Gain control amplifier 31 ... Timing generator 41 ... Sound frequency extraction unit 42 ... Waveform shaping circuit 43 ... Frequency / voltage conversion circuit 44 ... voltage shift circuit 45 ... voltage / frequency conversion circuit 46 ... pulse width adjustment circuit 47 ... DC power supply 48 ... switching circuit 49 ... drive circuit 50 ... comparator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H040 BA00 BA11 BA23 CA04 CA06 CA10 GA02 GA05 4C061 AA13 AA29 BB02 BB03 CC06 CC07 DD03 FF02 JJ17 LL02 LL03 NN01 NN05 QQ06 QQ09 RR03 RR03 RR24 RR26 SS03 SS07 TT04 CC05 EA05 ED03 ED07 EF06 EH07 FA00 FB03 HA01 HA12

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An endoscope image pickup apparatus for displaying an observation image picked up by a solid-state image pickup device by inserting an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like, wherein the motion detection detects a periodic movement of an observation target. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, detection results of the movement detecting means Switching control means for performing at least one of amplification degree control of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device and imaging time control by the solid-state imaging device. 2. An endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image picked up by a solid-state imaging device, wherein the motion detection detects a periodic motion of an observation target. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, detection results of the movement detecting means Switching control means for increasing the amplification of a signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device when periodic motion is detected so that the amplification of the signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device is larger than when the periodic motion is not detected. An endoscope imaging apparatus characterized in that: 3. An endoscope imaging apparatus which inserts an insertion portion of an endoscope into a body cavity or the like and displays an observation image picked up by a solid-state imaging device, wherein the motion detection detects a periodic motion of an observation target. Means, light emitting means for emitting light in pulses, timing control means for controlling the timing of pulse light emission of the light emitting means when the movement detecting means detects a periodic movement, detection results of the movement detecting means Switching control means for turning off an element shutter for variably controlling an imaging time of imaging by the solid-state imaging element when at least periodic movement is detected, and an endoscope imaging apparatus provided with: .