JPH05146401A - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a system configuration which can have portability and also, has versatility and especially, by which an endoscope becomes useable even in the case a light source unit, etc., is in fault and moreover, to easily execute the setting operation of an image processing, etc., by this system configuration and to simplify the configuration. CONSTITUTION:In the electronic endoscope device for driving and controlling a CCD 11 disposed in a tip part and forming an image in a body to be observed, a driving circuit for driving a CCD 11 and a circuit for executing a processing up to the pre-stage of a memory 30 in a video signal obtained by the CCD 11 are made independent as a driving/processing unit 14 and also, formed so as to be freely attachable/detachable and in this driving/processing unit 14, a key operating part 19 is disposed. By the key operating part 19, setting operations such as a gamma correction and adjustment of white balance, enlargement/reduction of an electronic zoom, etc., are executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an electronic endoscope apparatus for displaying a video signal obtained by a solid-state image pickup device on a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic endoscope for observing the inside of a body cavity such as a digestive tract or the inside of a thin tube of a structure by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) which is a solid-state image pickup device provided at a tip portion is well known. In the electronic endoscope, the image of the inside of the observed body, which is picked up by the CCD, is displayed on the monitor. Therefore, by observing the image displayed on the monitor,
In the medical field, diagnosis and various treatments are performed, and in the industrial field, the condition inside the thin tube can be inspected.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus, an electronic endoscope (electronic scope) is connected to an external processor apparatus, and a monitor is connected to the external processor apparatus. There is. This external processor device is a relatively large device and therefore cannot be easily carried.In the medical field, in the case of a simple examination or group examination in a room other than an operating room or an examination room, the device is not carried in. , I couldn't do the setting easily. On the other hand, in the industrial field, it is often the case that the object to be inspected cannot be moved, and a device that is easy to carry is required.

Further, the electronic endoscope apparatus has various purposes, for example, it may be used for a simple examination, or may be used for a detailed examination / treatment, and further, a detailed examination / treatment. In that case, it is necessary to freeze the image or change the color display state for observation. However, this device is not configured so as to be used differently depending on the purpose, and there is a problem that it lacks versatility.

Further, in the electronic endoscope apparatus, the video signal processing circuit incorporated in the external processor unit or the light source unit for illuminating the inside of the body to be observed may fail. In this case, the external processor unit is repaired as a unit. This makes it impossible to use the electronic endoscope.

Furthermore, although an IC component is used in the electronic endoscope apparatus, this IC component has been replaced by a new one in accordance with the changes of the times, and the speed thereof has been increasing in recent years. On the other hand, components other than the IC including the light source device can be used for a longer period of time than the above IC components, and waste occurs due to the mixture of components having different service lives in one device.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention has proposed that a circuit for driving the CCD and a part of the circuit for processing the video signal are independently configured as separate units, but in this case, in order to perform image processing. It is necessary to have a configuration in which the setting operation and the like can be efficiently performed and the configuration can be simplified.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to have portability and versatility, and in particular, even when a light source device or the like is broken down, An object of the present invention is to provide a system configuration that can be used, and to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus that can easily perform setting operations for image processing and the like with this system configuration and can simplify the configuration.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic endoscope apparatus for driving and controlling a solid-state image pickup device arranged at a distal end portion to form an image inside an object to be observed. In the above, a drive circuit for driving the solid-state image pickup device and a circuit for processing the video signal obtained by the solid-state image pickup device up to the memory front stage are independently formed as a drive / processing unit and detachably formed, and the drive / processing is performed. It is characterized in that a key operation unit is provided in the unit.

[0010]

According to the above structure, the drive / processing unit can be attached to and detached from the external processor unit provided with the light source device, the memory, the optional circuit, etc., or the operation unit. The unit and the external processor device can be handled separately, and an image can be displayed based on the video signal processed by the driving / processing unit itself. Then, in this case, the electronic endoscope can be operated by the key operation unit provided in the drive / processing unit, the functionality is improved, and the influence of lighting noise of the light source in the processor device is prevented. ..

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1 (a) is an overall view and FIG. 1 (b) is a drive / processing unit configuration diagram. .. In FIG. 1A, the electronic endoscope 10 is provided with a CCD 11 at its tip and an operation section 12 at its intermediate portion. The operation of this operation section 12 causes the tip to bend and An operation for photographing or treatment becomes possible. The electronic endoscope 10 is connected to a driving / processing unit 14 by a connector 13, and the driving / processing unit 14 is formed separately (separately) from other devices and is detachably formed, and a connector 15 is used to form an external processor. Connected to the device 16.
A fiber cable 17 for supplying light to the electronic endoscope 10 is branched from the middle and is connected to the external processor device 16 by a connector 18.

The drive / processing unit 14 is provided with a key operating portion 19, and the key operating portion 19 is provided with a plurality of push-type key buttons 1 to 9 as shown in the drawing.
By pressing the key buttons 1 to 9, setting operations such as electronic shutter speed and gamma correction can be performed.

In FIG. 1B, the above-mentioned independent drive /
The processing unit 14 is provided with a CCD driving circuit 20 for driving the CCD 11, a synchronizing signal generating circuit 21, and a CPU (central processing unit) 22 including a microcomputer for controlling the entire unit, and a video transmitted from the CCD 11. An A / D converter 23, a digital signal processing circuit 24, and a D / A converter 25 are provided to process the signal.
The digital signal processing circuit 24 performs signal processing such as signal amplification, gamma correction, clamping, blanking, etc., and in the simultaneous type device, the output of the processing circuit 24 enables image display.

The above-mentioned key operating unit 19 is connected to the CPU 22 composed of a microcomputer or the like, and the key operating unit 1
The operation signal of 9 is supplied to the CPU 22, and this CP
The U22 controls the circuit section in the drive / processing unit 14 and the circuit section in the external processor device 16 from the connector terminal 15c.

The external processor unit 16 shown in FIG. 1A is provided with a light source unit 27 and a light quantity control circuit 28.
The light of the light source unit 27 controlled by the light amount control circuit 28 is supplied to the distal end of the endoscope via the fiber cable 17. In the frame-sequential type endoscope, the light source unit 27 has a color filter, and this color filter is used for RG.
Each light of B is sequentially output to the inside of the observed body. Further, in a pulse transformer (which may be a photocoupler or the like) 29 as an isolation device for inputting the output from the drive / processing unit 14, a memory 30 for storing image data, a setting of color conditions of display colors and a frame sequential type. An optional circuit 31 for correcting color misregistration and an output unit 32 are provided. Pulse transformer 29
Has a role of electrically disconnecting the electronic endoscope 10 side (patient circuit side) from the external processor device 16 side (output circuit side) and maintaining a predetermined withstand voltage in the electronic endoscope 10. ..

The first embodiment can be applied to both the simultaneous type and the frame sequential type. With such a configuration, the image display operation is performed based on the setting of the key operation unit 14. It will be. First, the light output from the light source unit 27 (RGB light in the frame-sequential type) is the filter cable 1
When the image of the object to be observed is emitted from the distal end portion into the object to be observed via 7, the CCD 11 captures the image of the object, and the output of the CCD 11 is supplied to the drive / processing unit 14. Then, in the drive / processing unit 14, the output of the CCD 11 is converted into a digital signal, and the digital signal processing circuit 24 performs amplification processing, gamma processing, clamp processing, white balance processing, etc. on the digital video signal,
After this, it is converted into an analog signal and output.

The output of the driving / processing unit 14 is input to the memory 30 via the pulse transformer 29 in the external processor unit 16, the image data in the memory 30 is read out, and the output unit 32 is used. The image is displayed by outputting it to the monitor. in this case,
Since the image data is stored in the memory 30, it is possible to freeze and observe a desired image, and the option circuit 31 in the subsequent stage can change the color display state for observation, or the color shift in the frame sequential method. Can be prevented.

In such an operation, in the key operation section 14, for example, the gamma correction is adjusted by the key button 1, the white balance is adjusted by the key button 2, the electronic shutter speed is 1/30, 1/60 by the key button 3. , 1/250,
Setting such as 1/1000, enlargement of electronic zoom with key button 4, reduction of electronic zoom with key button 5, on / off of freeze with key button 6, setting of detail (three levels) with key button 7, monitoring with key button 8 The color bar output and setting for display color adjustment, and the iris level of the light source unit 27 are set by the key button 9. In the case of the embodiment, the selection / setting of the set value is performed by displaying the data on the monitor. For example, in the case of the display color adjustment, a color bar or the like is displayed, and the setting is performed by increasing or decreasing the color bar. be able to.

When the key operation unit 14 is provided in the drive / processing unit 14 as described above, it is not necessary to set control lines for the independent drive / processing unit 14, and the signal processing circuit, CPU (microcomputer), etc. are not required. Because they are in close contact,
For example, malfunction due to lighting noise from the light source unit 27 is less likely to occur. Moreover, by adopting a configuration corresponding to the circuit function in the drive / processing unit 14, there is an advantage that the drive / processing unit 14 can be easily replaced.

Further, in the first embodiment, the drive / processing unit 14 is a separate body and detachable, so that
There is an advantage that the processing unit 14 and the external processor device 16 can be handled separately, and if, for example, one of them fails, it can be replaced with a replacement unit and device. Further, in recent years, since the IC parts have changed drastically, it may be necessary to change the configuration of the IC parts in the drive / processing unit 14, but even in such a case, the external processor device 16 is not replaced,
By replacing only the drive / processing unit 14, it becomes possible to cope with a new component configuration. Furthermore, the electronic endoscope 1
Even when 0 itself changes, the drive / processing unit 14 can be changed and used according to the changed electronic endoscope 10.

The digital signal processing circuit 24 of the drive / processing unit 14 can be an analog processing circuit, and the subsequent processing can be digitally processed without the D / A converter 25. In this case, the pulse transformer 29 as an isolation device in the external processor unit 16 is replaced with a photo coupler.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, a video signal that can be directly input to the monitor from the driving / processing unit can be taken out. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, in addition to the configuration of the drive / processing unit 14 of the first embodiment, the drive / processing unit 34 has a dedicated code for outputting a synchronized video signal. 35a, 35b and connector 36
a, 36b, a power cord 37 for inputting power, and a connector 38 are provided. Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the CP having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is internally provided.
U39, synchronization signal generation circuit 40, CCD drive circuit 41,
A / D converter 42, digital signal processing circuit 43, D / A
A converter 44 is provided, and in addition to this, a pulse transformer 45 as an isolation device is provided. The pulse transformer 45 includes at least the D / A converter 4
4 and the output of the synchronization signal generation circuit 40 are supplied, and the video signals can be output from the dedicated codes 35a and 35b.

A key operating portion 46 is provided in the drive / processing unit 34 in a state of being connected to the CPU 39, and the function of the key operating portion 46 is the same as that of the first embodiment. This second embodiment can be applied to a simultaneous endoscope, and a video signal synchronized by the signal processing of the driving / processing unit 34, for example, Y (luminance) / C.
A (color difference) signal, a composite signal, an RGB signal, a synchronization signal, etc. will be output.

According to the configuration of the second embodiment, simple image display can be performed without the external processor device 16. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the fiber cable 17 and the power cord 37 are attached to the simple light source device 47.
Are connected with respective connectors 18 and 38, and a monitor 48
Dedicated cords 35a and 35b to connectors 36a and 36b
Connect with. The light source device 47 has a power supply circuit 49, a control circuit 50, and a light source unit 51, and is intended only for supplying observation light, and is used in a conventional endoscope for observing only by optical means. You can use simple things. In such a connection state, since the video signals processed and synchronized by the drive / processing unit 34 are output to the monitor 48 via the dedicated lines 35a and 35b,
Freezing and color adjustment are not possible, but it is possible to observe the inside of the observed body.

In this case, the key operation section 46 can perform setting operation for the circuit section provided in the drive / processing unit 34. It should be noted that a photograph can be taken on the monitor 48, and recording can be performed by connecting the dedicated cords 35a and 35b to a video device.

The second embodiment can be used, for example, in a simple examination such as a mass examination in the medical field, or in a normal thin tube examination in the industrial field. In this case, the external processor unit 16 is not necessary. Therefore, the device can be made portable. Moreover, when the external processor device 16 itself cannot be used due to a failure or the like, the electronic endoscope 10 can be used by the simple light source device 47. Furthermore, when observing a place or the like where a certain amount of light is obtained, it is possible to observe without a light source device.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the drive / processing unit is arranged in the operating section. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation section 12 of the electronic endoscope 10 is provided with an angle knob 53 for bending the tip of the endoscope up and down and left and right, and a photographing shutter 54 and the like. The drive / processing unit 55 is detachably attached to the rear end of the operation unit 12 by the connector 56 in a downsized state. The dedicated cords 57a and 57b and the connector 36 are connected to the drive / processing unit 55.
a, 36b, a power cord 58, and a connector 38 are provided. Further, the drive / processing unit 55 is provided with a key operation section 59.

Therefore, as in the case of the second embodiment, the fiber cable 17 and the power cord 5 are attached to the simple light source device 47.
By connecting 8 and connecting the dedicated cords 57a and 57b to the monitor 48, it is possible to display an image inside the observed body without using the external processor device 16. Further, the key operation unit 59 enables the setting operation of various processes as described above.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A drive circuit for the solid-state image pickup device and a circuit for processing the video signal obtained by the solid-state image pickup device up to the memory front stage are independently formed as a drive / processing unit and detachably formed. Since the key operation unit is provided, the setting operation of the image processing can be facilitated and the external processor device and the drive / processing unit can be handled separately, and the transition of the IC parts or the electronic endoscope can be performed. It becomes easy to replace only the drive / processing unit according to the type of the device, and the constituent parts of the endoscope can be effectively used according to the life. In addition, the portability of the endoscope can be improved, and the endoscope can be used even if a component in the external processor device fails.
There is an advantage that versatility can be improved.

Further, by providing the key operation section in the drive / processing unit, it is not necessary to set the control line for the independent drive / processing unit, and the structure corresponding to the circuit function in the drive / processing unit is simplified. The advantage is that the drive / processing unit can be easily replaced.
Moreover, since it is in close contact with the signal processing circuit, the CPU (microcomputer), etc., there is an advantage that malfunction due to lighting noise of the light source, for example, is unlikely to occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 (a) is an overall diagram, and FIG. 1 (b) is a diagram showing a configuration inside a drive / processing unit. Is.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment, FIG. 2A is an overall view, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a configuration of a drive / processing unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another usage state in the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Electronic endoscope, 11 ... CCD, 14, 34, 55 ... Drive / processing unit, 13, 15, 18, 36, 38 ... Connector, 16 ... External processor device, 19, 46, 59 ... Key operation part, 20 ... CCD drive circuit, 21 ... Synchronous signal generating circuit, 24, 43 ... Digital signal processing circuit, 27, 51 ... Light source part, 29, 45 ... Pulse transformer, 30 ... Memory, 47 ... Light source device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic endoscope apparatus for driving and controlling a solid-state imaging device disposed at a tip end to form an image of an inside of an observed body, which is obtained by a drive circuit and a solid-state imaging device for driving the solid-state imaging device. An electronic internal view characterized in that a circuit for processing up to the preceding stage of a memory for an obtained video signal is formed as a drive / processing unit independently and detachably formed, and a key operation unit is arranged in this drive / processing unit. Mirror device.