JPH0824667B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus capable of using both a frame sequential image pickup unit and a simultaneous image pickup unit.

[Problems to be Solved by Prior Art and Invention] In recent years, by inserting an elongated insertion portion into a body cavity,
BACKGROUND ART An endoscope is widely used which is capable of observing internal organs in a body cavity or the like and performing various therapeutic treatments by using a treatment tool inserted in a treatment tool channel as necessary.

Further, various electronic endoscopes using a solid-state image pickup device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) as an image pickup means have been proposed. This electronic endoscope has a higher resolution than a fiberscope,
There are advantages such as easy recording and reproduction of images, and easy image processing such as image enlargement and comparison of two screens.

In the method of capturing a color image of the electronic endoscope, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-82731, illumination light is sequentially supplied to R (red), G (green), B (blue), etc. A frame-sequential method of switching and, for example, as shown in JP-A-60-76888, a filter in which color filters for transmitting R, G, B color lights respectively are arranged in a mosaic pattern on the front surface of a solid-state image sensor. There is a simultaneous system with an array. The frame-sequential method has an advantage that the number of pixels can be reduced as compared with the simultaneous method, while the simultaneous method has an advantage that no color shift occurs.

Further, the electronic endoscope has been diversified depending on its purpose of use. For example, for the upper digestive system, the outer diameter of the insertion part is often 10φ-12φmm, and for the bronchus, the outer diameter is 3φ.
Most are ~ 5φmm. Thus, the outer diameter of the insertion part is 3
It is physically and performancely impossible to use the same type of image pickup element and the same type of image pickup method for various electronic endoscopes ranging from φ to 12φ mm. That is, for example, the outer diameter 3φ
For those having a diameter of up to 5 mm, it is extremely advantageous to reduce the number of pixels of the solid-state image pickup device and use the frame sequential method as the image pickup method in order to reduce the outer diameter of the insertion portion. On the other hand, outer diameter 10φ
It is advantageous to increase the number of pixels and to use the simultaneous image pickup method for improving the image quality for those having a diameter of up to 12 mm.

By the way, the electronic endoscope is generally used by being connected to a control device having a built-in light source device and a video signal processing circuit, and an observation image is displayed on a monitor connected to the control device. There is.

Although the illumination method and the video signal processing are different between the frame sequential method and the simultaneous method, the conventional control device is provided with only the illumination device and the video signal processing circuit corresponding to either the frame sequential method or the simultaneous method. It was a thing. for that reason,
The user needs to prepare different systems and perform different operations depending on the imaging method, which is inefficient and economical.

In JP-A-60-243625, a control device for a frame-sequential type electronic endoscope is connected to an endoscope equipped with an optical fiber bundle for image transmission, and is displayed on a display screen of a monitor TV or the like. An observable connection system is disclosed.
However, this system cannot use an electronic endoscope with a different imaging method.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to use both a frame-sequential imaging unit and a simultaneous imaging unit, and at least one of the imaging units is independent. An object is to provide an imaging device that can be used.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] The image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is divided into a frame sequential system and a simultaneous system.
In an image pickup apparatus that outputs image signals of standard format by allowing input of image pickup signals of two different image pickup methods, an image pickup signal of one of the two different image pickup methods is input, and this image pickup signal is output. A first processing circuit for converting into a signal of a predetermined format, and a signal of a predetermined format from the first processing circuit are input, and a first processing circuit processes the signal of the predetermined format to generate a video signal of the standard format. Video signal generation circuit of
A first unit section having an external input section of the first video signal generation circuit, and an image pickup signal of the two different image pickup methods by another image pickup method different from the one image pickup method are input, and the image pickup is performed. A second processing circuit for converting a signal into the signal of the predetermined format and the external input section are configured to be connectable, and the signal of the predetermined format converted by the second processing circuit is transmitted to the external input section. An external output section and a second video signal generation circuit for processing the signal of the predetermined format converted by the second processing circuit to generate a video signal of a standard format, and attached to and detached from the first unit section. The second unit section is configured freely, and enables both the frame sequential imaging method and the simultaneous imaging method to be used, and at least one of the both imaging methods. It is obtained by allowing a single use.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a frame sequential system preprocessing circuit, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a simultaneous system preprocessing circuit, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram showing an example of a post-processing circuit, sixth.
The figure is a perspective view showing a state in which the simultaneous endoscope apparatus is separated and used.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscope apparatus 1 includes a frame-sequential electronic endoscope 2 and a fiber scope 3 having an image guide formed of a fiber bundle as an image transmitting means.
In the eyepiece 4 of the fiber scope 3, a simultaneous television camera 5 which is detachably connected, a light source device and a video signal processing circuit are built in, and the electronic endoscope 2 and the fiber scope 3 are provided. And a control device 6 to which the television camera 5 is connected, and a color CRT monitor 7 as display means connected to the control device 6.

The electronic endoscope 2 has a slender, for example, flexible insertion portion 11 and a large-diameter operating portion 12 connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 11. A flexible cable 13 extends laterally from the rear end of the operation portion 12, and a connector 14 is provided at the tip of this cable. The connector 14 is integrally provided with an electric system socket 15 and an illumination system socket 16. The illumination system socket 16 includes an illumination system terminal 16a and an air / water supply system terminal 16b communicating with an air / water supply channel (not shown) provided in the insertion portion 11. On the front surface of the control device 6, for example, the electric system socket 15 and the illumination system socket 16 are provided.
Electrical connector receiver for frame-sequential system
17, lighting system connector receiver 18 is provided, these sockets 1
The electronic endoscope 2 is connected to the control device 6 by 5, 16 and connector receivers 17, 18.

The frame sequential electrical connector receiver 17 can be connected not only to the frame sequential electronic endoscope 2 but also to a frame sequential television camera.

On the other hand, in the fiber scope 3, as in the case of the terminal endoscope 2, the operation portion 22 having a large diameter is continuously provided at the rear end of the elongated insertion portion 21 having flexibility. A flexible cable 23 extends laterally from the rear end of the operation section 22, and an illumination system connector 24 is provided at the tip of this cable.
The illumination system connector 24 includes an illumination system terminal 24a and an air / water supply system terminal 24b communicating with an air / water supply channel (not shown) provided in the insertion portion 21. The illumination system connector 24 is adapted to be connected to the illumination system connector receiver 18. The illumination system connector 24 is
Not only the illumination system connector receiver 18 of the control device 6 but also the sixth
As shown in the figure, it can also be connected to various light source devices 98 for light guide type endoscopes.

A flexible cable 26 extends laterally from the television camera 5, and an electrical connector 27 is provided at the tip of the cable 26. This electrical system connector 27
For example, the front surface of the control device 6 is connected to a simultaneous system electrical system connector receiver 28 provided below and in proximity to the illumination system connector receiver 18.

The illumination system connector receiver 18 and the simultaneous system electrical system connector receiver 28 are not limited to the fiber scope 3 and the television camera 5, but may be a simultaneous system solid-state image pickup device having a simultaneous system solid-state image sensor at the tip of the insertion portion. An electronic endoscope can also be connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, a light distribution lens 32 is provided at the tip 31 of the insertion portion 11 of the electronic endoscope 2, and the light distribution lens 32 is provided at the rear end side of the insertion portion 11. An emission end of a light guide 33 formed of a flexible fiber bundle inserted through the optical fiber is arranged. The base end of the light guide 33 is connected to the illumination system socket 16. By connecting the connector 14 to the connector receivers 17 and 18 of the control device 6, the illumination light emitted from the light source device 10 in the control device 6 enters the light guide 33. The light source device 10 includes a lamp 35 that emits white light and a color transmission filter of three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), which is rotated by a motor 36.
37 and. Then, the illumination light emitted from the lamp 35 passes through the rotary color filter 37 and is sequentially converted into light of each wavelength of red, green, and blue, is condensed by a condenser lens 38, and enters the light guide 33. It is supposed to be done. In this embodiment, the rotary color filter 37
Can be moved in the direction of arrow A, and can be inserted and removed between the lamp 35 and the condenser lens 38. The light incident on the light guide 33 is guided to the tip 31 by the ride guide 33, emitted from the emission end of the ride guide 33, passes through the light distribution lens 32, and is irradiated onto the subject. It has become.

An image forming optical system 41 including an objective lens is provided at the tip end portion 31 of the electronic endoscope 2, and the image forming optical system 41 is provided.
At the image forming position of the solid-state image pickup device 4 such as CCD as an image pickup means.
Two are arranged. The solid-state image pickup element 42 is driven by a frame sequential driver 97 in the control device 6. Return light corresponding to red, green, and blue light from the subject passes through the imaging optical system 41 and is received by the solid-state image sensor 42. The output signal of the solid-state imaging device 42 is amplified by the preamplifier 43 provided in the tip portion 31, the insertion portion 11, the signal line 44 inserted in the cable 13 and the electrical system socket 15 of the connector 14, the surface. It is adapted to be inputted to the video signal processing unit 50 for the field sequential system in the control device 6 through the electrical system connector receiver 17 for the sequential system. In the video signal processing unit 50, the solid-state image sensor
The output signal of 42 is first input to a preprocessing circuit 45 as shown in FIG. 3, for example. This preprocessing circuit 45
Then, a video signal is extracted from the output signal of the solid-state imaging device 42 by the sample hold circuit 46, γ corrected by the γ correction circuit 47, and then converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 48. This digital signal is output by the multiplexer 49.
The colors are switched in synchronism with the sequential lighting of the color plane, and red, green, and
It is stored in the R frame memory 51, the G frame memory 52, and the B frame memory 53 corresponding to each color of blue. The frame memories 51, 52 and 53 are simultaneously read at a speed matching the display device such as the color CRT monitor 7 and converted into analog signals by the D / A converters 54, 55 and 56, respectively, and then R, G, A B color signal is generated. The R, G, B color signals are transmitted to the matrix circuit 57.
Then, the luminance signal Y and color difference signals RY and BY are converted.

The luminance signal Y and the color difference signal RY of the matrix circuit 57,
Each output terminal of BY is connected to one switching contact of the changeover switch 59, and the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY, B are connected.
-Y is input to the freeze section 60 via the changeover switch 59. In this freeze section 60,
The luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY are respectively A
After being converted into digital signals by the / D converters 61, 62, 63, they are stored in the frame memory 64. The digital signal read from the frame memory 64 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converters 65, 66 and 67, and is input to the post process circuit 68 as shown in FIG. 5, for example. There is. In this post-process circuit 68, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal R-
Y and BY are input to the NTSC encoder 69, converted into NTSC signals and output. In addition, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY are the inverse matrix circuit 7
It is also input to 0, converted into R, G, B signals by the inverse matrix circuit 70, and the R, G, B signals are output via the drivers 71, 72, 73. As described above, in this embodiment, the NTSC signal and the R, G, B signals can be output. Then, the NTSC signal or the R, G, B signals are input to the monitor 7, and an observation image is displayed on the monitor 7.

When the freeze unit 60 freezes, one frame of data is stored in the frame memory 64, and thereafter writing to the frame memory 64 is stopped and a still image can be displayed on the monitor 7. ing.

On the other hand, the tip of the insertion portion 21 of the fiber scope 3
A light distribution lens 82 is arranged at 81, and an emission end of a light guide 83 made of a flexible fiber bundle inserted into the insertion portion 21 is arranged at the rear end side of the light distribution lens 82. ing. The base end of the light guide 83 is connected to the illumination system connector 24. Then, the illumination light emitted from the light source device 10 in the control device 6 enters the light guide 83. When the illumination system connector 24 of the fiberscope 3 is connected to the illumination system connector receiver 18 of the control device 6, the rotary color filter 37 of the light source device 10 is moved in the direction of arrow A so as to recede from the optical axis. Then, the white illumination light emitted from the lamp 35 is made to enter the light guide 83 without passing through the rotary color filter 37. The light incident on the light guide 83 is guided by the light guide 83 to the tip portion 81.
And is emitted from the emission end of this light guide 83,
The object is illuminated through the light distribution lens 82.

An imaging optical system 84 including an objective lens is provided at the tip 81 of the fiber scope 3, and a fiber inserted into the insertion portion 21 is provided at the imaging position of the imaging optical system 84. The front end surface of the image guide 85 formed of a bundle is arranged. The observation image formed by the image forming optical system 84 is guided to the eyepiece section 4 by the image guide 85 and can be observed by the eyepiece section 4. By connecting a television camera 5 to the eyepiece unit 4, the observation image can be taken.

The television camera 5 includes a solid-state image pickup device 87 arranged at the image forming position of the eyepiece section 4 and a preamplifier 88 for amplifying an output signal of the solid-state image pickup device 87. In addition, on the front surface of the solid-state image pickup device 87, a filter array (not shown) in which color filters that transmit R, G, B and the like are arranged in a mosaic pattern is provided. The solid-state image sensor 87 is driven by a simultaneous system driver 89 in the control device 6. The solid-state image sensor 87
Output signal is amplified by the preamplifier 88, the signal line and the electrical system connector 27 inserted in the cable 26,
Control device 6 via electrical system connector receiver 28 for simultaneous system
It is adapted to be input to the video signal processing unit 90 for simultaneous system therein. In the video signal processing unit 90, the output signal of the solid-state image pickup device 87 is first input to a preprocess circuit 91 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. This preprocessing circuit
At 91, the output signal of the solid-state image sensor 87 is input to the luminance signal processing circuit 92, and the luminance signal Y is generated. Also,
The output signal of the solid-state image pickup device 87 is also input to the color signal reproducing circuit 93, and the color signal reproducing circuit 93 outputs the color difference signals RY, B.
-Y is reproduced and the white balance circuit for color temperature correction
After passing through 94, the switching circuit 95 causes the two color difference signals R
-Y, BY is converted.

The luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY generated by the preprocessing circuit 91 are input to the NTSC encoder 96, converted into NTSC signals and output. The output terminals of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY of the preprocessing circuit 91 are connected to the changeover switch 5
9 is connected to the other switching contact, and the luminance signal Y
The color difference signals RY and BY are input to the freeze unit 60 via the changeover switch 59.
That is, in this embodiment, the freeze unit 60 and the post-process unit 68 are shared by the frame sequential electronic endoscope 2 and the simultaneous television camera 5. Therefore, by switching the changeover switch 59, the video signal of the observation image captured by the electronic endoscope 2 and the image of the observation image captured by the fiber scope 3 and the television camera are output from the post-process circuit 68. Signals are switched and output.

By the way, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the simultaneous system video signal processing unit 90 is housed in a housing 90a and is detachably unitized with respect to the control device 6. Therefore, it is possible to use only the simultaneous imaging means. This unitized video signal processor 90
Can be inserted into and removed from the control device 6 from the front side.
The respective output terminals of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY are connected to the changeover contact of the changeover switch 59. Further, the simultaneous system electrical system connector receiver 28 is provided on the front surface of the housing 90a of the simultaneous system video signal processing unit 90.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the fiber scope 3
The illumination system connector 24 is connected to the light source device 98 for the light guide type endoscope, and the electrical system connector 27 of the television camera 5 connected to the eyepiece 4 of the fiber scope 3 is connected.
Is connected to the electrical connector receiver 28 of the video signal processing unit 90, an NTSC signal is output from the video signal processing unit 90, and an observation image picked up by the simultaneous method can be displayed on the monitor 7. It is like this.

Thus, in this embodiment, the frame sequential electronic endoscope 2 is used.
And a simultaneous television camera 5 connected to the fiber scope 3 and the eyepiece 4 of the fiber scope 3.
And a control device 6 to which these are connected. Then, in the control device 6, the electronic endoscope 2
Light source device 10 capable of supplying a frame-sequential illumination light that conforms to the above and a white illumination light that conforms to the television camera 5, a video signal processing unit 50 for a frame sequential system, and a video signal processing unit 90 for a simultaneous system
Etc. are provided. Therefore, it is possible to use both the electronic endoscope 2 which is the image pickup means of the frame sequential method and the television camera 5 which is connected to the fiber scope 3 which is the image pickup means of the simultaneous method.

Further, the simultaneous system video signal processing unit 90 is detachably unitized with respect to the control device 6, and can be used only by the simultaneous system image pickup means. Therefore, the television camera 5 connected to the fiber scope 3 which is the simultaneous image pickup means can be used alone.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the simultaneous system video signal processing unit 90 is detachably attached to the upper portion of the other portion of the control device 6, and when placed on the other portion of the control device 6, the preprocessing circuit 91 is provided. The respective output terminals of the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY are connected to the changeover contact of the changeover switch 59.

Other configurations, operations and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the freeze section 60 in the control device 6 is not provided between the changeover switch 59 and the post process 68, but is provided in the simultaneous system video signal processing section 90. That is,
Pre-processing circuit 91 of the simultaneous system video signal processing unit 90
The luminance signal Y and the color difference signals RY and BY output from
The signal is output to the NTSC encoder 96 and the changeover switch 59 via the freeze unit 60. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

According to the present embodiment, even when the television camera 5 connected to the fiber scope 3 which is the image pickup means of the simultaneous system is used alone, the freeze section 60 is used to freeze the NTSC signal and stop it. It becomes possible to display an image.

When the frame sequential image pickup means is used, it is possible to display a still image by using the frame memories 51, 52, 53 in the frame sequential image signal processing unit 50.

 Other functions and effects are similar to those of the first embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and for example, the frame-sequential imaging means may be a frame-sequential television camera connected to the eyepiece section 4 of the fiber scope 3, or the simultaneous system. The image pickup means may be an electronic endoscope in which a simultaneous solid-state image pickup element is provided at the tip of the insertion portion.

When the light source device 10 is shared by the frame sequential method and the simultaneous method, connector receivers may be separately provided and the lamp may be moved. Further, when the rotary color filter 37 is provided with a transparent portion and the simultaneous image pickup means is used,
The white light emitted from the lamp 35 may be incident on the light guide 83 through this transparent portion. Further, the light source devices for the frame sequential method and the light source for the simultaneous method may be separately provided.

The electric system connector receiver and the illumination system connector receiver of the control device 6 may be common or separate.

Furthermore, the video signal processing unit 50 for the frame sequential system, or both the video signal processing unit 50 for the frame sequential system and the video signal processing unit 90 for the simultaneous system may be detachable from the control device 6. . Further, the attaching / detaching means is not limited to those shown in the first and second embodiments, and for example, both video signal processing sections 50, 90
Can be detachably connected to the left and right, and various other means can be used.

Also, the video signal processing circuit of the frame sequential system and the simultaneous system is
It is not limited to the one that shares a part as in the above embodiment, but may be provided separately.

As described above, the present invention is based on the control device 6 as an imaging device.
A first processing circuit including the frame sequential video signal processing unit 50, a first video signal generation circuit including only the freeze unit 60 and the post process unit 68, or the post process unit 68,
A first unit section having an external input section including a changeover switch 59, a preprocessing section 91 only, or a second processing circuit including a preprocessing section 91 and a freeze section 60, and an NTSC encoder
A second video signal generation circuit composed of 96 and a selector switch 59
The simultaneous system video signal processing section 90 having an external output section consisting of
And a second unit portion consisting of.

Furthermore, in addition to the monitor 7, an image filter, a monitor type still camera, a video tape recorder, or the like may be connected to the control device 6.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

1. When the second unit is attached to the first unit, both the video signal from the first unit and the video signal from the second unit are output from the standard format video signal output of the first unit. be able to. Therefore, the peripheral device that may be connected to the first unit unit, for example, the image processing apparatus, the image recording apparatus, or the like, can be connected to the second unit without reconnection.
Can be shared with the unit.

2. The second unit can also display images independently, so
By making the unit section and the second unit section independent, it becomes possible to separately perform the field-sequential endoscopic observation and the simultaneous endoscopic examination on two subjects.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 6 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire endoscope apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope apparatus, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a frame sequential type preprocessing circuit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a simultaneous system preprocess circuit, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a postprocess circuit, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the simultaneous system endoscope apparatus is used separately. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... Endoscope device, 2 ... Electronic endoscope 3 ... Fiber scope 5 ... TV camera, 6 ... Control device 7 ... Color CRT monitor 14,24,27 ... Connector 17,18, 28 …… Connector receiver 42,87 …… Solid-state image sensor 50 …… Video signal processing unit for frame sequential system 60 …… Freeze unit 90 …… Video signal processing unit for simultaneous system

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus capable of inputting image pickup signals by two different image pickup methods of a frame-sequential method and a simultaneous method and outputting a video signal of a standard format, wherein one of the two different image pickup methods is used. A first processing circuit, which receives an image pickup signal of an image pickup method and converts the image pickup signal into a signal of a predetermined format, and a signal of a predetermined format from the first processing circuit are input and process the signal of the predetermined format. And a first video signal generation circuit for generating a video signal of the standard format, and a first unit section having an external input section of the first video signal generation circuit; An image pickup signal according to another image pickup method different from the one image pickup method is input, and the image pickup signal is converted into a signal of the predetermined format.
Processing circuit, an external output unit configured to be connectable to the external input unit and transmitting the signal of the predetermined format converted by the second processing circuit to the external input unit, and the second processing circuit. A second video signal generation circuit for processing the converted signal of the predetermined format to generate a video signal of a standard format; and a second unit section detachably attached to the first unit section, An imaging device including.