JP2731564B2 - Monitor image capturing device for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope monitor image capturing apparatus that captures an image displayed on a monitor with a still camera.

[Prior Art] In recent years, imaging devices can be miniaturized using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD, and have been widely used in imaging devices such as TV cameras and endoscopes.

An image picked up by the image pickup means using the solid-state image pickup device or the like is displayed on a monitor device, and has an advantage that the image can be easily recorded and reproduced by a VTR or the like.

On the other hand, when it is desired to examine only a specific image in detail, or when performing a comparison, it may be inconvenient if the monitor image is displayed on the monitor image. There is a shooting device.

Japanese Patent Application No. 62-254071 filed by the present applicant is an example of the related art of the monitor image photographing apparatus.

This related technology example is provided in a photographing device body equipped with a monitor,
Still photography can be performed by attaching an endoscope camera via a camera adapter. In this device, a shutter is provided in the camera adapter, and the shutter is closed except during exposure.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-237132 filed by the present applicant proposes a device having a shutter opening mechanism capable of setting a shutter to an open state independently of a photographing operation of a camera.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Incidentally, Japanese Patent Application No. 62-254071 as an example of the related art described above.
However, even if the user looks through the viewfinder to check the monitor image, the monitor image cannot be viewed because the shutter is closed. Therefore, in order to check whether an appropriate image is displayed, the camera and the adapter must be removed. Further, a photographer who does not know that the shutter is closed may erroneously recognize that a failure has occurred if an image is not displayed even when looking through the viewfinder.

To cope with such a problem, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 63-237132 is disclosed.
However, in this related art example, a manual switch that can independently operate the shutter opening mechanism is required, or when the shutter is opened by the manual switch when the shutter is operated for shooting, and when the shutter is closed. The operation of the shutter is different from the case in which the control is performed, and there is an inconvenience that the control is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a simple operation and allows a user to observe a monitor image from a finder with a camera mounted thereon without performing complicated control. The purpose is to provide.

Means and Action for Solving the Problems The monitor image photographing apparatus for an endoscope of the present invention opens a shutter to enable observation of a monitor image from a finder except for a photographing operation, and once a shutter release signal is input, closes the shutter once. After setting the state, the mirror for prohibiting the monitor image from being formed on the film is operated to release the prohibition of image formation, the shutter is opened again to start the exposure operation, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the shutter is closed. A photographing control means for returning the mirror to the state and then opening the shutter again is provided.

In the present invention, the shutter is always in the open state, and the monitor image is observed from the finder. When photographing a monitor image, when a release signal is input to the photographing control means, the photographing control means closes the shutter once, raises a mirror for shielding the film, and sets a photometric state. Thereafter, the photographing control means opens the shutter to take a photograph. After the photographing is completed, the shutter is closed to return the mirror, and the shutter is opened again so that the monitor image can be observed from the finder.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a monitor image photographing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the imaging control means, FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating the operation of the imaging control means, and FIG. 5 is a circuit illustrating an example of a photometric circuit. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope video system 11 having the first embodiment includes a video scope 14 having a solid-state image sensor (hereinafter abbreviated as SID) 13 and an image guide formed by a fiber bundle. A fiber scope 16 having a 15; an external video camera 19 which can be attached to the eyepiece 17 of the fiber scope 16 and has a built-in SID 18; and a general connector 21 of the video scope 14 or a light guide connector 22 of the fiber scope 16. And a connector receiver 24 for connecting the signal connector 23 of the video camera 19,
Video processor incorporating signal processing means and light source means
25, and a monitor image photographing device 27 of the first embodiment having a built-in monitor 26 for displaying a video signal output from the video processor 25.

It should be noted that another monitor 28 is connected to the video processor 25 so that an endoscope image can always be displayed on the monitor 28.

Each of the video scope 14 and the fiber scope 16 has an elongated insertion portion 31, into which a light guide 32 for transmitting illumination light is inserted.
The illumination light transmitted in step (1) is emitted from the emission end face to the subject through the light distribution lens 33.

An objective lens 35 is provided at the distal end 34 of each of the insertion sections 31.
In the fiberscope 16, the incident end face of the image guide 15 faces.

In the case of the video scope 14, the light guide 32 inserted through the insertion section 31 is inserted through a universal cord 37 extended from the operation section 36 to the outside, and reaches the light guide connector 38. On the other hand, in the case of the fiberscope 16, the light is further passed through the light guide cable 39 from the operation unit 36,
The light guide connector 22 is reached. When these light guide connectors 38 and 22 are attached to the light guide connector receptacles of the video processor 25, illumination light is supplied by the light source device in the video processor 25.

A signal transmission cable 40 also extends to a video camera 18 that can be mounted on the eyepiece 17 of the fiber scope 16, and a signal connector 23 is attached to the end of the cable.

By connecting the signal connector 41a of the video scope 14 and the signal connector 23 of the video camera 18 to the signal connector receptacle of the video processor 25, a drive signal for signal reading can be applied to the SID 13 or 18 and the read signal is read. The video signal processing can be performed on the signal, the video signal processing is performed, and the video signal is converted into a predetermined video signal.
And 28 can output the video signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, the monitor image photographing device 27 can mount a photographing (endoscope) camera 43 via a camera adapter 42 to a photographing device main body 41 having a monitor 26 built therein. Also, instead of this camera 43, a camera equivalent jig
44 can be installed.

The side facing the monitor screen of the photographing apparatus main body 41 is open so that a mount 46 of the camera adapter 42 having a mount 45 such as an A-mount can be mounted.

The camera adapter 42 has an adapter frame that opens to both sides.
First lens 48 and second lens 49 for forming an image in 47
Are provided apart from each other in the optical axis direction.
Between them, a shutter 52 that can open and close the shutter blades 51 is provided.

A mount portion such as a C mount is provided in the other opening of the camera adapter so that the mount portion 53 of the camera 43 can be mounted.

The mirror 55 is controlled to be up and down by a mirror control unit 96 (shown in FIG. 3).

Further, when a release button (not shown) of the camera 43 is pressed, the mirror 55 rotates and retreats from the optical path, and an image is formed on the film 59 without being reflected by the mirror 55.

Also, without mounting the camera 43, a camera-equivalent jig 44 having the same mounting portion 61 as the mounting portion 53 of the camera 43 is provided.
When the camera is mounted, by opening the shutter 52, a monitor image can be formed on the screen 62 disposed at the same image forming position as the film 59.

By the way, in the first embodiment, the shutter 52 provided in the camera adapter 42 is guided via a lead wire 63 to a contact 64 provided, for example, near the mount section 46, while facing the contact 64. A contact receiver 65 is provided on the photographing apparatus main body 41 side, and the contact 64 is connected to the contact receiver 65 by mounting the camera adapter 42. The contact receiver 65 provided on the photographing apparatus main body 41 is connected to a microcomputer 104 to which a shutter control unit 67 is adjacent via a lead wire 66, and the shutter 52 is controlled by a shutter opening / closing signal sent from the microcomputer 104 to the shutter control unit 67. Opening and closing can be controlled.

Further, a release switch 68 is provided on the photographing apparatus main body 41, and the release switch 68 is
A release signal can be input to 4.

The one lens 49 in the camera adapter 42
The lens frame is provided with a focus adjusting cam pin 69, and by moving the cam pin 69 in the optical axis direction of the lenses 48 and 49, an image without blurring is formed at the image forming position where the film 59 is provided. A focus adjusting means capable of forming an image is formed.

The camera 43 is provided with a photometric light receiving element 101, and the output of the light receiving element 101 is sent to a photometric control unit 97 (shown in FIG. 3). The photometry control unit 97 is connected to the microcomputer 104 together with the mirror control unit 96. The photometry control unit 97 receives a photometry start or end signal, and the mirror control unit 96 receives an up or down signal. ing.

The photometric control unit 97 is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example. When the photometric signal from the microcomputer 104 turns off the FET 106, the current generated in the light receiving element 101 is integrated by an integrating circuit composed of a capacitor 107 and an operational amplifier 109, and the exposure integrated signal e shown in FIG. Become. This signal e
Is compared with the reference voltage A by the comparator 108, and when the signal e becomes higher than the reference signal A, the exposure end signal c shown in FIG.
Output from 108.

The operation of the first embodiment thus configured will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the general connector 21 of the video scope 14 is attached to the connector receiver 24 of the video processor 25, and the video processor 25 is connected to the monitor photographing device 27, so that an image is captured by the video scope 14. The endoscope image is displayed on the monitor screen of the monitor 26 as a monitor image. In the camera 43 attached to the monitor photographing device 27 via the adapter 42, the monitor image can be observed from the finder 58 because the shutter 52 of the adapter 42 is in the normally open state.

3 and 4, the operation when a monitor image is photographed will be described.

4 (a) from the release switch 68 to the microcomputer 104
When the release signal indicated by is input, the microcomputer 104
Outputs a shutter close signal to the shutter control unit 67, and the shutter control unit 67 outputs a shutter close drive signal d shown in FIG. Thereafter, the microcomputer 104 outputs a signal for instructing the mirror controller 96 to turn up the mirror 55. The mirror control unit 96 receives this signal and raises the mirror 55 as shown in FIG. Further, after that, the microcomputer 104 outputs a photometric signal b for instructing the start of photometry as shown in FIG.
Starts integration of the exposure amount from the light receiving element 101. In this case, since the shutter 52 is closed, the exposure amount is not substantially input. When the photometry control section 97 starts integration, the microcomputer 104 outputs a shutter open signal to the shutter control section 67 to open the shutter 52. When the shutter 52 is opened, the integration of the exposure amount actually starts, and when the exposure amount integration signal e shown in FIG. 7F exceeds the reference voltage A, the exposure end signal c in FIG. And the shutter control section 67 outputs a shutter closing signal d to close the shutter 52. Subsequently, the microcomputer 104 instructs the mirror controller 96 to lower the mirror 55 after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the mirror controller 96 lowers the mirror 55. This predetermined time is held by a timer (not shown) provided in the microcomputer 104.

Note that the maximum value of the exposure time is determined in advance, and if the exposure amount is small and does not reach the reference voltage A, the microcomputer
104 closes the shutter 52 at the maximum value of the exposure time. Therefore, the mirror down timing may be a time obtained by adding α to the maximum value of the exposure time. Here, α may be the same as the time from when a close signal is applied to the shutter 52 when the shutter 52 is opened to when the shutter 52 is completely closed, or a longer time.

The microcomputer 104 outputs an open signal of the shutter 52 after the mirror 55 is completely down. When the shutter 52 is opened, the monitor image passes through the lenses 48 and 49, the mirror 55, and the pentaprism 56, reaches the finder lens 57, and the observer can observe the monitor image from the finder 58.

Although a series of controls is performed by the microcomputer 104, the control may be performed by a logic circuit.

According to the present embodiment, since the shutter 52 is open except during the shooting operation, the monitor image can be observed with the camera 43 attached to the shooting device main body 41.

Incidentally, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 3, an exposure end signal c 'may be outputted to the microcomputer 104, and the microcomputer 104 may instruct the mirror control signal 96 to perform a mirror down by this signal c'. With this configuration, when the light amount is large and the exposure time is short, a series of operations can be completed in a short time. That is, the time from the closing of the shutter 52 to the lowering of the mirror 55 can be reduced.

 FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In the first embodiment, the release switch 68 is connected to the photographing apparatus main body.
On the other hand, in the monitor image photographing apparatus 70 of the second embodiment, the release switch 68 is connected to the camera adapter 42.
Is provided. The release switch 68 protrudes from, for example, the adapter frame 47, and a contact 72 provided on the camera adapter 42 is electrically connected to a contact receiver 73 on the photographing apparatus main body 41 side when the camera adapter 42 is mounted. Is connected to the shutter control section 67 via the.

 The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, by operating the release switch 68 provided on the camera adapter 42, the signal can be transmitted to the shutter controller 67 of the photographing apparatus main body 41 via the contact 72 and the contact receiver 73. Then, the contact receiver 6 from the shutter controller 67
5. A shutter opening signal is sent to the shutter of the camera adapter 42 via the contact 64, and the shutter 52 is set to the open state.

The operation and effects of the second embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

 FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the third embodiment, for example, the shutter control section 67 of the second embodiment is provided in the camera adapter 42. The shutter control section 67 is connected to the release switch 68 and the shutter 52 via lead wires 82 and 83, respectively.

In this embodiment, the contacts 64 and 72 and the contact receivers 65 and 73 in the second embodiment are not required.

The operation and effects of this embodiment are almost the same as those of the second embodiment.

 FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, for example, in the first embodiment, the imaging device body 41 is not provided with the release switch 68, but is provided with a connector receiver 91, and a connector 92 connectable to the connector receiver 91 is provided at one end. In this configuration, a remote cable 94 provided with a release switch 68 at an end is connected.

The operation and effects of this embodiment are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the remote cable 94 is attached to the photographing apparatus main body 41. However, the remote cable 94 may be attached to the camera adapter.

Also, although not specifically shown, the shutter is opened by not pressing the release switch as a dedicated switch and pressing other operation switches (for example, switches for brightness adjustment, color adjustment, etc.) in a special manner. Software that can be put into a state may be incorporated.

Note that the present invention can also be applied to a camera that can be connected without using the camera adapter 42.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a monitor image can be observed from a finder with a simple operation and a camera mounted without performing complicated control.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 5 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the monitor image photographing apparatus of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of an endoscope video system having the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the photographing control means, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a photometric circuit, and FIG. 6 is a configuration showing a schematic structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 41: Camera body, 42: Camera adapter 52: Shutter, 55: Mirror 67: Shutter control unit 68: Release switch 96: Mirror control unit, 97: Photometry control unit 101: Light receiving element , 104 ... microcomputer

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A photographing apparatus main body having an image display monitor, and photographing the monitor image, wherein the photographing apparatus moves between an observation position for guiding photographing light to a finder and a photographing position for guiding photographing light to a film surface. A photographing camera having a possible optical path switching means; an adapter provided between the photographing camera and the photographing apparatus main body; a monitor for displaying the image and the photographing photograph being incorporated in the adapter; A shutter for determining the amount of exposure of the photographic camera on the film surface, and opening the shutter except for a photographing operation, and setting the optical path switching means as an observation position from the finder. The monitor image is made observable, and when a release signal is input, the shutter is once closed, and then the optical path switching means is moved to a photographing position. The exposure operation is started with the shutter in the open state, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the shutter is closed and the optical path switching means is subsequently returned to the observation position,
And a photographing control means for opening the shutter again.