JPH08163551A - Electron endoscope device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To perform appropriate image quality correction for photographing images independent of observation images and to provide image quality suitable for photographing. CONSTITUTION: This electron endoscope device is provided with a video system center 2 for signal processing the images of an object 19 obtained by picking up the images by an electron endoscope 1, a monitor 4 for ovservation for displaying the output of the video system center 2 as the ovservation images and a photographing device 3 for photographing the photographing images based on the output of the video system center 2. The photographing device 3 is provided with an enhancement circuit 12 for performing an enhancement processing to input video signals, a control part 13 for controlling the enhancement circuit 12 and an enhancement switch 14 for the photographing images for instructing the enhancement processing to the photographing images. Then, independent of enhancement control to the ovservation images on the monitor 4 for observation in the video system center 2, the enhancement control to the photographing images on the monitor 11 for photographing is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus having a photographing means for photographing an endoscopic image obtained by picking up an image with an electronic endoscope on a photographic film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic endoscope is used which is capable of observing an image of a subject such as a body cavity obtained by an endoscope with an image pickup means and displaying it as an endoscopic image on a monitor or the like for observation. In the system, as one means for storing an endoscopic image being observed, a photographing means including a photographing monitor and an exposing means is provided, and an endoscopic image is photographed on a photographic film. An imaging device is used.

Various types of image pickup devices have been proposed in the past. Image information of an endoscope image picked up by an electronic endoscope and signal-processed by a video processor is temporarily stored in an image memory. Generally, the image information of a still image to be output is displayed on a photographing monitor and the image on the monitor is exposed on a film by a camera. When taking a picture, an image similar to the image displayed on the observation monitor connected to the video processor is displayed on the photography monitor, and the user gives a release instruction while checking the image on the observation monitor. To shoot.

In the electronic endoscope apparatus, it is desirable that peripheral devices such as various output means and recording means in the system can obtain images having characteristics suitable for each.
In an electronic endoscopic device equipped with a photographing device, the images displayed on the monitor for observation and the monitor of the photographing device have the same content, but the optimum image is required depending on the purpose of use of each image. The image quality is different for observation and photography.

As an endoscope apparatus having means for correcting image characteristics, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-284040 discloses a correction means for correcting the image quality by a correction amount suitable for moving images and still images, and image quality correction. A device having a switching means for selectively performing is disclosed. In the device of this publication, image quality that is visually suitable for each image can be obtained by selectively performing image quality correction on a moving image and a still image. In addition, JP-A 1-27
Japanese Patent No. 0842 discloses an endoscope apparatus including a correction unit that performs contour correction (enhancement processing) on an image for observation, and changes in signal band such as type of solid-state image sensor and image enlargement / reduction processing. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the optimum image quality.

However, these publications only refer to an image for observation, and do not particularly disclose a technique for obtaining a picked-up image of a suitable image quality on a monitor of a photographing device.

[0007]

As described above, in the electronic endoscope apparatus equipped with the photographing device, the observed image and the photographed image are the moving image and the still image, and those for observation with the naked eye and for the camera. The required image characteristics differ depending on the purpose of use such as shooting and the difference in image form. Therefore, different image quality corrections are performed selectively for the images on the monitor for observation and the image for shooting to obtain the optimum image quality. It is desirable to do so.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, only the image for observation is taken into consideration, and the technique for obtaining the image of the image quality suitable for each of the monitor for observation and the monitor for photographing is not shown. Therefore, even if an appropriate image quality correction (enhancement processing, etc.) is performed on a still image on the observation monitor, the same image quality correction as the observed image is performed on the captured image, or an appropriate image quality correction is performed. Otherwise, there is a possibility that the optimum image quality for taking a photograph on the monitor of the photographing device may not be obtained.

Further, in the conventional apparatus, when the image quality is corrected, independence between the observed image and the photographed image is not taken into consideration. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to enhance only the image on the photographing monitor. In addition, there is a problem that the optimum image quality according to the purpose cannot be obtained on each monitor, such as the image on the observation monitor is enhanced.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and it is possible to perform appropriate image quality correction on a photographed image independently of the observed image, and characteristics suitable for each of the observation monitor and the photographing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic endoscope apparatus capable of obtaining an image of.

[0011]

An electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup means having a solid-state image pickup element, and an image pickup signal output from the image pickup means after being converted into a predetermined video signal. And a signal processing device having a first enhancement control means for controlling the video signal to perform an enhancement process, and an observation for displaying an observation image based on an input video signal from the signal processing device. Monitor, and second enhance control means for performing control for enhancing the input video signal from the signal processing device, and taking a photograph of a photographed image displayed on the monitor based on the video signal. And a device.

[0012]

In the photographing apparatus, the second enhance control means controls the input video signal from the signal processing apparatus to perform the enhancement processing, and the photographed image is photographed based on the video signal.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 1 equipped with an image pickup device such as a CCD, and signal processing for performing signal processing of a video signal of a subject obtained by the electronic endoscope 1. A video system center 2 as a device, a photographing device 3 for photographing an endoscopic image generated by the electronic endoscope 1 and the video system center 2, and an observation monitor 4 for displaying the endoscopic image. It is equipped with.

The video system center 2 is provided with a signal processing section 5 for performing various signal processing on the video signal output from the electronic endoscope 1, and the output video signal is sent to the observation monitor 4 and the photographing device 3. It is designed to output. Further, the video system center 2 is provided with an observation image enhancement switch 6 for instructing edge enhancement correction (enhancement processing) for the observation image, and when the switch 6 is turned on, the observation image output to the observation monitor 4 is changed. It can be enhanced.

The photographing device 3 has an A / D converter 8 for holding an output image from the video system center 2 based on an instruction from a release switch 7 provided in the electronic endoscope 1, an image memory 9, The D / A conversion unit 10, the photographing monitor 11 including a CRT monitor that displays the output image of the image memory 9, the enhancement circuit 12 that performs the enhancement process for the input video signal, and the control of the image memory 9 and the enhancement circuit 12 and the like. There is provided a control unit 13 for performing the above, and a captured image enhancement switch 14 for instructing an enhancement process for the captured image. A camera 15 for photographing is attached to the photographing apparatus 3 via an adapter 16, and an image on the photographing monitor 11 formed through a lens 17 in the adapter 16 is exposed on a photographing film 18. ing.

Next, the operation of the electronic endoscope apparatus of this embodiment will be described.

An image of the subject 19 is formed by the electronic endoscope 1, photoelectrically converted by an internal CCD, sent to the video system center 2, and subjected to various kinds of image signal processing by the signal processing unit 5 to output an image. The signal is sent to the observation monitor 4 and the photographing device 3. On the observation monitor 4, an endoscopic image for observation based on the output video signal of the video system center 2 is displayed. The user can observe the image of the subject 19 by looking at the observation image on the observation monitor 4.

Here, when the observed image enhancing switch 6 provided in the video system center 2 is turned on, contour enhancement correction is performed in the enhancement circuit section in the signal processing section 5, and the output video signal of the video system center 2 is output. The image is enhanced, and the observation image displayed on the observation monitor 4 is an enhanced image. The video signal of the same enhanced image as the observed image is also transmitted to the photographing device 3.

On the other hand, when the observation image enhancement switch 6 is turned off, the signal processing section 5 does not perform the enhancement process, and the observation monitor 4 displays an observation image without enhancement. In this case, the video signal of the same unenhanced image as the observed image is transmitted to the photographing device 3.

The video signal input to the photographing device 3 is A /
The electronic endoscope 1 is converted into a digital signal by the D conversion unit 8.
After being stored in the image memory 9 based on an instruction from the release switch 7 or a foot switch (not shown), it is read as a still image, converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion unit 10, and displayed on the photographing monitor 11. Will be issued. The captured image on the photographing monitor 11 is imaged on the film 14 in the camera 15 via the lens 17 in the adapter 16 and exposed. At this time, a shutter (not shown) in the camera 15 is driven and controlled in association with an instruction from the release switch 7 or the like to take a photograph of the photographed image displayed on the photographing monitor 11.

When the photographed image enhancement switch 14 provided in the photographing device 3 is turned on during photographing, the control unit 1
Reference numeral 3 sends a control signal to the enhancement circuit 12 to control the input video signal to be enhanced. This allows
The enhance circuit 12 enhances the input video signal, and the captured image displayed on the capture monitor 11 becomes an image enhanced with respect to the input image and is photographed.

On the other hand, the enhanced switch 14 for photographed images
When is turned off, the enhancement process in the enhancement circuit 12 is stopped by the control of the control unit 13, and the input image is displayed as it is on the image capturing monitor 11 and is captured.

As described above, in this embodiment, the signal processing device and the photographing device are provided with the respective enhancement switches, and the observation image and the photographed image can be independently enhanced by the instruction control by the switch of each device. I am trying. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image with appropriate image quality on each of the monitor for observation and the monitor for photographing.

As a first example of image quality correction, the observed image is not enhanced, but only the photographed image is enhanced, and the contour enhancement correction is performed. Usually, since a moving image is viewed on the observation monitor, the visual resolution (hereinafter referred to as "resolution") is sufficient. For this reason, when the edge enhancement correction is performed, the image becomes stiff and some doctors dislike the artificial feeling. Therefore, the observed image is often not enhanced. However, if you take a picture without enhancement as it is, the resolution of the still image for shooting is inferior, so in order to maintain good image quality, enhance the captured image independently of the observed image. To do.

In this case, the image that has not been subjected to the edge enhancement correction is displayed as an observation image on the observation monitor 4, and the user observes this image, but the photographing device 3 enhances it. The photographed image is photographed, and it is possible to obtain a photograph with high image quality and high resolution.

As a second example of the image quality correction, it is assumed that both the observed image and the photographed image are enhanced and the edge enhancement is corrected. If it is preferable to enhance the observed image depending on the observation site, lesion, or user preference, both images are enhanced. Note that it is also possible to control the enhancement level so that the observed image and the captured image have different image quality correction degrees, and obtain an image quality suitable for each.

As a third example of the image quality correction, it is assumed that neither the observed image nor the photographed image is enhanced.
Depending on the user's preference and image quality, if it is appropriate not to perform edge enhancement correction, both images should not be enhanced. In addition, when a fine portion can be enlarged and displayed by a zoom means or the like, it is possible to observe and photograph a sufficiently fine image without correction, and therefore, enhancement is not applied.

The image quality correction as described above is performed by using the enhancement switch 6 for the observation image and the enhancement switch 1 for the captured image.
It can be selectively performed by the operation of 4.

According to the present embodiment, the captured image can be enhanced and the edge enhancement correction can be performed independently of the observed image, and the signal processing apparatus can perform the edge enhancement correction based on the image of the subject captured by the electronic endoscope. Appropriate image quality correction can be performed for each of the output observed image and captured image. Therefore, the image quality correction necessary for taking a picture, which is different from the image quality correction necessary for the observation image on the observation monitor, can be independently performed on the captured image. An image having suitable characteristics can be obtained.

In the following embodiments, modifications of the structure of the image pickup device in the electronic endoscope device will be shown.

2 and 3 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a photographing device, and FIG. 3 is an execution of an enhancement process for a photographed image according to the correction state of an observed image. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows a state.

In the photographing apparatus 21 of the second embodiment, it is enhanced whether or not the image signal inputted from the signal processing apparatus (video system center 2) has already been enhanced and the image quality has been corrected. A detection unit 22 is provided. The control unit 23 controls the enhancement circuit 12 based on the detection result of the enhancement detection unit 22 and the operation instruction of the captured image enhancement switch 14.

The structure of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

In the photographing device 21 of the present embodiment, the enhancement detection unit 22 detects whether or not the input video signal from the signal processing device is enhanced, and according to the detection result, the video signal of the photographed image is detected. Enhance control.

When the observed image enhancement switch 6 is turned on and the observed image is enhanced in the video system center 2 and it is detected that the input video signal of the photographing device 21 is already enhanced,
As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 23 controls the enhancement circuit 12 so as not to further enhance the photographing device side even if the photographed image enhancement switch 14 is turned on. That is, in this case, regardless of the state of the captured image enhancement switch 14, the operation of the enhancement circuit 12 is stopped so that the imaging device does not enhance the video signal.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the captured image from being double-enhanced and the edge enhancement correction to become so strong that the image becomes dull. At this time, instead of not enhancing the image capturing device side at all, the enhancement level on the image capturing device side is set to a predetermined value so that it is lower than in the normal case, and an appropriate amount of correction is performed. It is also possible to control it so that it is exposed.

When it is detected that the input video signal is not enhanced, as shown in FIG.
The control unit 23 controls the enhancement circuit 12 according to the state of the captured image enhancement switch 14. That is, when the enhancement switch 14 for photographed image is on, the enhancement circuit 12 is operated to enhance the photographed image on the photographing device side, and when it is off, the enhancement process is stopped.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by detecting the image quality correction state of the video signal input to the photographing apparatus, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, it is unnecessary for an already enhanced image. It is possible to prevent the possibility of executing various enhancement processing, and it is possible to obtain the optimum image quality by appropriately enhancing each of the observation image and the captured image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image pickup apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

The camera 31 of the third embodiment is provided with a camera detector 32 for detecting the type of attached camera. Based on the detection result by the camera detection unit 32, the control unit 33 controls the enhancement circuit 12.

The structure of the other parts is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the explanation is omitted.

In the photographing device 31 of the present embodiment, the type of the camera (1
6 mm, 35 mm, etc.) is detected. When the camera 15 is detected to be 16 mm, the control unit 33
Controls the enhancement circuit 12 to enhance the captured image. On the other hand, when the camera 15 is detected to be 35 mm, the control unit 33 stops the operation of the enhancement circuit 12 so that the captured image is not enhanced.

In the case of a 16 mm camera, the film size is small and the photographed image is small, so the sense of resolution of the photographed image is poor due to the response characteristics of the film. Therefore, the enhancement process is applied to the input video signal to correct the edge enhancement of the captured image to improve the sense of resolution. Three
In the case of a 5 mm camera, the captured image is large enough,
It is possible to take photographs with a high response of the film and a sense of resolution. Therefore, when the enhancement process is not necessary, the image quality correction is not performed.

Although the camera type of 16 mm or 35 mm is detected in this example, the enhancement control may be performed by detecting the lens magnification of the camera.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by detecting the type of camera used in the photographing apparatus, the first
In addition to the effects of the embodiment, it is possible to obtain the optimum image quality by performing the enhancement processing according to the shooting conditions.

[Supplementary Note] As described in detail above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.
That is, (1) an image pickup means having a solid-state image pickup element, and an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup means is converted into a predetermined video signal and outputted. The image signal is subjected to an enhancement process. A signal processing device having first enhancing control means for controlling, an observation monitor for displaying an observation image based on an input video signal from the signal processing device, and an input video signal from the signal processing device. An electronic endoscope having a second enhance control means for performing control for enhancing processing, and a photographing device for photographing a photographed image displayed on a monitor based on the video signal. Mirror device.

(2) The signal processing device turns on enhancement processing for the video signal output by the signal processing device.
It is characterized in that it has a first enhancement switch for deciding off, and the photographing device has a second enhancement switch for deciding on / off of enhancement processing for a video signal inputted to this photographing device. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to attachment 1.

(3) The first enhancement control means controls enhancement of the video signal output by the signal processing device based on an instruction from the first enhancement switch, and the second enhancement control means. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 2, wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus enhances control of a video signal input to the imaging apparatus based on an instruction from the second enhance switch.

(4) The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the photographing apparatus has an enhancement detecting means for detecting an ON / OFF state of enhancement for a video signal input to the photographing apparatus. .

(5) When the second enhance control means detects in the enhance detecting means that the video signal input to the photographing apparatus is in the enhance-on state, the second enhance control means enhances the video signal. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 4, which is not controlled.

(6) The second enhancement control means enhances the video signal only when the enhancement detection means detects that the video signal input to the photographing apparatus is in the enhancement-off state. 5. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 4, wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus is controlled.

(7) The electronic device according to appendix 4, wherein the photographing device has a second enhancement switch for deciding on / off of enhancement processing for a video signal input to the photographing device. Endoscope device.

(8) The second enhance control means instructs the second enhance switch when the enhance detecting means detects that the video signal input to the photographing apparatus is in the enhance on state. Regardless of the above, the electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 7, wherein enhancement control is not performed on the video signal.

(9) The second enhance control means turns on the second enhance switch when the enhance detecting means detects that the video signal input to the photographing apparatus is in the enhance-off state. The electronic endoscope according to appendix 7, characterized in that the enhancement control is performed on the video signal in the case of, and the enhancement control is not performed on the video signal when the second enhancement switch is off. apparatus.

(10) The photographing apparatus comprises a camera for exposing the photographed image on a photographic film, and
The second enhancement control means has a camera detection means for detecting the type of the camera, and the second enhancement control means turns on enhancement processing for a video signal input to the photographing apparatus according to a detection result of the camera detection means. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus is turned off.

(11) An endoscope having an image pickup means, a signal processing means for converting an image pickup signal output from the image pickup means into a predetermined video signal and outputting the video signal, and an input video signal from the signal processing means. An observation monitor that displays an original observation image, a photographing device that displays a photographed image based on an input video signal from the signal processing unit, and photographs the photographed image, and a photographed image in the photographing device The electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising: an enhancement control unit that performs control for performing an enhancement process on the video signal of 1. independently of the observed image.

[0058]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate image quality correction on a photographed image independently of the observed image, and an image having characteristics suitable for each of the observation monitor and the photographing device. There is an effect that can be obtained.

[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. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram showing an execution state of an enhancement process for a captured image performed according to a correction state of an observed image in the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope (video scope) 2 ... Video system center 3 ... Imaging device 4 ... Observation monitor 6 ... Observation image enhancement switch 11 ... Imaging monitor 12 ... Enhancement circuit 13 ... Control unit 14 ... Imaging image enhancement Switch 15 ... Camera

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device having a solid-state image pickup device, and an image pickup signal outputted from the image pickup device after being converted into a predetermined video signal and outputting the image signal. A signal processing device having first enhancing control means for controlling, an observation monitor for displaying an observation image based on an input video signal from the signal processing device, and an input video signal from the signal processing device. An electronic endoscope comprising: a photographing device for photographing a photographed image displayed on a monitor based on the video signal, which has a second enhance control means for performing control for enhancing processing. Mirror device.