JP3238462B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an endoscope system for generating video signals for different solid-state imaging devices using a program logic device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, endoscopes have been widely used in the medical and industrial fields. Recently, an electronic endoscope in which a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD is disposed on a focal plane of an objective lens without using an image guide has been used. When this solid-state imaging device is used, there is an advantage that recording or reproduction of an endoscopic image can be easily performed. For this reason, even in the case of an optical endoscope, a TV camera is attached to the eyepiece and used as an electronic endoscope of a TV camera external type having a function equivalent to the electronic endoscope. There is.

[0003] In the case of the above-mentioned electronic endoscope or electronic endoscope, a video signal processing circuit (video signal generating circuit) for the solid-state image pickup device used is required, and the video signal processing circuit makes the monitor endoscope. A process of converting a mirror image into a video signal that can be displayed is performed. Conventionally, the hardware of the video signal processing circuit is fixed, and the hardware having a number of functions has a circuit for realizing each function, and it is forcibly turned into software whether the circuits are switched. Is common.

Hereinafter, a camera control unit having the function of a conventional video signal processing circuit will be described as an example. FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a conventional general camera control unit (hereinafter, referred to as CCU) 51. A driving clock for driving the CCD 53 is generated by the CCD driving unit 52, the driving clock is applied to the CCD 53, the signal output read from the CCD 53 is converted into an average video signal by the pre-processing unit 54, and the post-processing unit 55 The output unit 56 converts the color, brightness, and the like into signals such as NTSC, Y / C, and RGB, and outputs the signals to the monitor 57.

In this case, the circuits of the CCD driving section 52 and the pre-processing section 54 are determined by the structure of the CCD 53 and the configuration of the color filter. The output section 56 is controlled by a device such as a monitor 57 as an output destination. / C, RGB
We have to deal with each of the cases.

FIG. 7 shows a pre-processing section 54A for a CCD having a filter configuration (same as that shown in FIG. 3) in which R, G, and G color transmission filters are arranged in a line in the vertical direction.
1 shows a circuit configuration. The counter 61 is reset by the horizontal synchronizing signal HD, counts the horizontal transfer clock φ to the CCD having the filter configuration, applies the count output to the demultiplexer 62, and uses the output of the demultiplexer 62 to output the A / D converter. It is determined which of the first to third latches 64 to 66 latches the converted output data of 63. Then, R, G, and B color signal data are output from the first to third latches 14 to 16.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which the R, G, and G color transmission filters are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. In the filter configuration, the R, G, and G color transmission filters are adjacent to each other so as not to be arranged in the vertical direction. A mosaic filter configuration in which the arrangement of the R, G, and G color transmission filters is shifted for each line (FIG. 4)
The circuit configuration of the CCD pre-processing unit 54B having the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

Unlike the filter of FIG. 3, the arrangement of R, G, B changes for each horizontal line. Therefore, in addition to the circuit configuration of FIG. 6, a second counter 67 for counting horizontal lines is provided.
The count output of the second counter 67 is applied to the preset terminal of the first counter 61, loaded with the horizontal synchronizing signal HD, and an initial value of the first counter 61 is generated for each line. The second counter 67 is reset every time the comparator 68 counts three horizontal lines.

[0009]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention With such a configuration,
If you make a CCU and want to support multiple CCDs,
A complicated circuit or a plurality of pre-processing units are required in order to be able to use a plurality of CCDs, and as the number of types of CCD increases, the circuit scale becomes enormous.

[0010] In addition, since one CCD is used in one use, the number of unused circuits is increased by one use so as to correspond to various CCDs. Furthermore, it is not possible to cope with CCDs of the future whose specifications are still unclear. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-316923 discloses a digital device using a programmable logic device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide an endoscope system which has a simple hardware configuration and can be adapted to different CCDs and has a wide adaptability.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, a main part of the circuit is constituted by a digital circuit, and the digital circuit is constituted by a program logic element capable of changing its circuit function by a program. did. By setting a program defining the function of the program logic element by an external communication means, the function of the program logic element constituting the video signal processing circuit can be changed according to the solid-state imaging device to be used. Thus, it is possible to adapt to different solid-state imaging devices without changing hardware.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a main part of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows an overall configuration of the first embodiment, and FIGS. 2 shows an arrangement structure of a color separation filter attached to a CCD.

As shown in FIG. 2, an endoscope system 1 according to a first embodiment has an electronic endoscope 2 provided with image pickup means, a light source unit 3 for supplying illumination light to the electronic endoscope 2, and a video signal. CC with built-in video signal processing unit 4 for processing video signal
U5, a monitor 6 for displaying a video signal processed by the CCU 5 and a personal computer (personal computer) 7 connected to the CCU 5.
It consists of 0.

The electronic endoscope 2 has an elongated, for example, flexible insertion portion 12, and a large-diameter operation portion 13 is connected to the rear end of the insertion portion 12. A flexible universal cord extends laterally from the operation unit 13, and a connector is provided at a distal end of the universal cord. The electronic endoscope 2 is connected to the CCU 5 via the connector. Further, a monitor 6 as display means is connected to the CCU 5.

A light guide 14 for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion section 12 of the electronic endoscope 2. The light guide 14 transmits the illumination light supplied from the light source section 3 and transmits the illumination light. The illumination light can be emitted forward from the emission end face attached to the tip of the light source.

An objective lens system 15 is provided at the distal end of the insertion section 12, and a CCD 16 is provided at an image forming position of the objective lens system 15. A color separation filter 17 for optically color-separating each pixel is attached to a photoelectric conversion surface of the CCD 16. The CCD 16 is connected to a CC constituting the video signal processing unit 4 in the CCU 5 via a signal line.
The D driving unit 18 and the signal processing unit circuit 19 are connected.
In this embodiment, for example, an LCA (Logi) is used as a program logic element whose circuit function can be changed (rewritten) by a program in the digital signal processing portion of the CCU 5.
c Cell Array).

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the signal processing circuit 19 in the CCU 5. The CC input to the signal processing circuit 19
The output signal of D16 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 21. The A / D converter 21 is driven by a first LCA 22 as a program logic element, and the output of the A / D converter 21 is input to a second LCA 23.

The output of the second LCA 23 is the third LCA
24. The output of the third LCA 24 is D / A
The video signal is converted into an analog video signal by the converter 25, input to the monitor 6, and an endoscope image captured by the CCD 16 is displayed on the display surface of the monitor 6.

On the other hand, the first LCA 22 to the third LCA
The LCAs up to 24 are cascaded, and program data for defining each circuit configuration is stored in the S-RAM 26. The contents of the S-RAM 25 can be rewritten by the CPU 27. That is, this CPU 27
The communication with the personal computer 7 outside the CCU 5 is performed via the 232C interface 28 and the RS232C cable 29, and the program data of the LCAs 22 to 24 can be loaded from the personal computer 7.

In this embodiment, the CCU 5 for converting the output of the CCD 16 into a video signal is connected to the personal computer 7 and, for example, an RS23.
They are connected by 2C communication means. And S_
From the RAM 26, the first LCA22 to the third LCA2
4, the digital signal processing function of the signal processing circuit 19 can be changed. By changing the program data, the process of generating video signals for a plurality of types of CCDs can be performed using the same hardware. It can be handled by a hardware configuration. The storage contents of the S-RAM 25 may be backed up by a battery or the like.

For example, the electronic endoscope 2 incorporating the CCD 16 to which the color filter 17A shown in FIG.
In the case of a system configuration to be used by connecting to U5, program data for realizing the circuit configuration of FIG. 7 is loaded from a personal computer 7, and an internal electronic device incorporating a CCD 16 with a color filter 17B shown in FIG. Endoscope 2 is C
In the case of the system configuration used by connecting to CU5,
By loading program data for realizing the circuit configuration of FIG.
Can be changed.

According to the first embodiment, the first LCA 22 to the third LCA 24 forming the signal processing circuit 19 having the same circuit configuration are supported via the communication means according to the CCD used. By loading the program data to be loaded from the personal computer 7, a video signal that can be displayed on the monitor 6 can be generated. Therefore, the signal processing circuit 19
Alternatively, the hardware configuration of the CCU 5 can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a signal processing circuit 41 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is an example in which the image memory 42 is built-in, and both the simultaneous imaging method and the frame sequential imaging method having different principles are compatible. In the signal processing circuit 19 shown in FIG. 1, the fourth LCA is placed between the second LCA 23 and the third LCA 24.
A43 is provided, and the image memory 42 is controlled by the fourth LCA43.

The CPU 27 has a LAN interface 4
4 and connected to the personal computer 7, and the electric scalpel device 46, the endoscope light source device 47, the imaging device 48, etc.
It is connected to the. The LCA program data of the first LCA 22 to the fourth LCA 43 is stored in the ROM 49, and can be switched by a command from the LAN.

That is, in the case of the simultaneous type, the fourth LCA
44, the image memory 42 is driven as a simple frame memory, and in the case of the frame sequential type, it is driven as a synchronization memory. Since the personal computer 7 is connected to various devices, for example, when using the electric scalpel device 46,
The time constant of the digital filter in the second LCA 23 in the CCU is extended to perform an interlocking operation such as making it difficult for an electric scalpel to generate noise in an endoscopic image.

Although FIGS. 1 and 5 show that the signal processing circuits 19 and 41 are configured using LCA, the configuration of the video signal processing section 4 including the CCD drive section 18 is similarly configured. it can. The program logic element is LCA
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another program logic element may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the electronic endoscope 2 or the like provided with the image pickup means (including an external TV camera).
Is connected to the CCU 5 or the like, means for determining or identifying the type of the solid-state imaging device used therein is provided, and the corresponding program is automatically loaded via the communication means by the output of this means. You may do it.
Further, the function may be switched in conjunction with another device or function.

For example, when the connected electronic endoscope is of a frame sequential type, it is switched or set so as to perform field sequential illumination. Switching or setting may be performed so that sequential lighting is performed.

When the electronic endoscope used by the user as the endoscope system or the electronic endoscope external to the TV camera is one type of solid-state image sensor, the image corresponding to the solid-state image sensor is provided. A PROM or the like in which program data for performing signal processing is written may be provided, and a program data generating means using the PROM or the like may be provided in a CCU constituting the endoscope system (in the case of LCA, generally a start-up is performed at the time of startup). A sequence for reading data from the PROM is set).

Then, when the endoscope system is started, the program data in the ROM or the like may be transferred to the program logic element to perform the video signal processing. In this case, the CCU does not necessarily need communication means for loading program data from outside the CCU.

Further, in order to be able to expand or to be applicable to the mode of use, a device using a ROM or the like for generating program data corresponding to a certain solid-state image pickup device and an external device using communication means are used. It may be possible to select a program data to be loaded.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, most of the digital signal processing circuit in the video signal processing circuit is configured using the program logic element, and performs the video signal processing according to the solid-state imaging device. Since the program is supplied to the program logic element, the video signal processing circuit can have a simple hardware configuration, and can also support different types of solid-state imaging devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a color separation filter.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a color separation filter having a different arrangement from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a conventional CCU.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional preprocessing circuit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional pre-processing circuit different from FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 endoscope system 2 electronic endoscope 3 light source unit 4 video signal processing unit 5 CCU 6 monitor 7 personal computer 8 personal computer 9 monitor 10 keyboard 12 insertion unit 13 operation unit 14 ... Light guide 15 ... Objective lens 16 ... CCD 17 ... Color separation filter 18 ... CCD drive circuit 19 ... Signal processing circuit 21 ... A / D converter 22,23,24 ... LCA 26 ... S-RAM 27 ... CPU 28 ... RS232C Interface 29 ... RS232C cable

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An endoscope system for generating a video signal capable of displaying an output signal of a solid-state imaging device by a video signal generation circuit, the endoscope system being provided in the video signal generation circuit and receiving an output signal of the solid-state imaging device. that the program logic element rewritable circuit configuration inside, relative to the program logic device, plural kinds of solid-state imaging device
Of a plurality of types of circuit configuration corresponding to, and includes a signal generating means for generating a signal defining at least one circuit arrangement, wherein the programming signal of said signal generating means
Input to the RAM logic element to generate the video signal.
Circuit outputs video signals corresponding to multiple types of solid-state imaging devices
An endoscope system, comprising: