JP5325374B2 - Electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope apparatus that is connected to an electronic endoscope, supplies illumination light to the electronic endoscope, and / or processes an image photographed by the electronic endoscope.

  An electronic endoscope has a light source device for supplying illumination light and a signal processing device for an electronic endoscope for processing an image signal photographed by an imaging device of the electronic endoscope and outputting it to a TV monitor or the like A processor or the like that has both functions is connected. These apparatuses are generally collectively referred to as an electronic endoscope apparatus.

Some of such electronic endoscope apparatuses include a liquid crystal monitor for indicating the state of the apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. In such an electronic endoscope apparatus, a light source such as a backlight or a sidelight is provided to make it easy to see an image displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor, and light from the light source is behind (back side) of the liquid crystal monitor. From the front to the front (front side). As a result, the contrast of the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor is increased, and it is easy for the user to see. This is a particularly useful feature in that the visibility of characters is improved when the image is character information.
JP 2006-34560 A

  As described above, in the conventional configuration, since the liquid crystal monitor provided in the electronic endoscope apparatus includes the light source, the screen of the liquid crystal monitor is easy to see. This configuration is useful when it is desired to see the content displayed on the liquid crystal monitor. However, since the diagnosis and treatment by the electronic endoscope are performed while observing another monitor for displaying the video imaged by the electronic endoscope, the liquid crystal monitor of the endoscope apparatus should be less noticeable. . In particular, since diagnosis and treatment using an electronic endoscope are often performed in a dark room, the light from the light source of the liquid crystal monitor becomes annoying. For this reason, in a conventional endoscope apparatus, a liquid crystal monitor is shielded so that light from a light source does not enter the eyes during diagnosis or treatment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the electronic endoscope device has high visibility and the light from the display device is not obstructive at the time of diagnosis or treatment. An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention is connected to an electronic endoscope that outputs an endoscopic image as a video signal and a monitor, and processes the video signal to obtain an endoscopic image. An electronic endoscope apparatus for generating a video signal for displaying a video signal on a monitor, the display means for displaying a state display image indicating the state of the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope apparatus, and a display means The brightness control means for controlling the brightness of the displayed state display image and the state when the input operation to the input means of the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope apparatus is not performed for a predetermined time. have a, a luminance changing means for reducing the brightness of the display image, the luminance changing unit, among the state display image displayed on the display unit, the brightness of a portion of the image is greatly reduced than the luminance of the other part To reduce the brightness of the status display image So, it does not change the brightness of the other part, characterized in that.

That is, in the electronic endoscope apparatus of the present invention, the brightness of the display means (liquid crystal monitor or the like) of the endoscope apparatus decreases unless the input means of the endoscope apparatus is operated for a certain period of time. Usually, when performing diagnosis and treatment using an endoscope, the operator operates the electronic endoscope itself and does not operate the input means on the endoscope apparatus side. Therefore, according to the configuration of the present invention, the brightness of the display means is suppressed during the diagnosis and treatment by the endoscope, and the light from the display means does not become an obstacle to the operator. Further, the brightness changing means lowers the brightness of the state display image so that the brightness of one part of the image is lower than the brightness of the other part. For example, the display means is a liquid crystal monitor and the input means is the liquid crystal monitor. When the touch sensor panel is provided on the surface of the touch panel, the area other than the area expected to be input by the touch sensor (for example, a button-like icon displayed on the liquid crystal monitor) may be darkened. it can. Therefore, in a state where diagnosis or treatment is performed by an endoscope, most of the region of the state display image displayed on the display means is darkened to suppress the brightness of the display means, and the diagnosis or treatment is interrupted. Thus, when it is desired to operate the input means, it is possible to easily determine the position of the touch sensor to be operated.

Further, when an input operation is performed on an input unit included in the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope device when the luminance of the state display image is decreased , the luminance changing unit may be configured to increase the decreased luminance. According to this configuration, when the diagnosis or treatment by the endoscope is temporarily interrupted and the electronic endoscope apparatus is to be adjusted, the state is instantaneously bright (that is, high visibility) by operating the input means. The display image is displayed on the display means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an electronic endoscope apparatus in which the display device of the electronic endoscope apparatus has high visibility and the light from the display apparatus is not obstructive during diagnosis or treatment. Realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope system having an electronic endoscope apparatus and an electronic endoscope according to the present invention. The electronic endoscope apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 100, an electronic endoscope processor 200, a monitor 300, and a keyboard 400. The electronic endoscope processor 200 processes an image periodically picked up by the CCD 103 built in the distal end of the electronic endoscope 100, and after performing various image processing on the image, a signal format that can be displayed on the monitor 300 It is a device to convert to. The electronic endoscope processor 200 has a function as a light source device for irradiating the periphery of the distal end portion of the electronic endoscope 100.

  In the present embodiment, a liquid crystal touch panel 240 for an operator to operate the electronic endoscope processor 200 is provided on the surface of the case 201 of the electronic endoscope processor 200. The surgeon can perform various settings of the electronic endoscope processor 200 by operating the liquid crystal touch panel 240. The keyboard 400 is mainly used when performing complicated operations that are difficult to perform on the liquid crystal touch panel 240. The keyboard 400 is connected to a keyboard connector 204 formed on the surface of the case 201 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200.

  First, the function of the electronic endoscope processor 200 as a light source device will be described. The electronic endoscope processor 200 includes a light source unit 220 including a lamp power source 221, a lamp 222, a diaphragm 223, a photoelectric conversion element 224, a peripheral control 225, and a condenser lens 226 in a case 201. The peripheral control 225 can control the aperture 223 and the lamp control unit 221a of the lamp power supply 221 to control the opening of the aperture 223 and the magnitude of electric power supplied to the lamp 222 (that is, the illuminance of the lamp 222). it can. Here, the peripheral control 225 is connected to the system control 210 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200, and the system control 210 controls the peripheral control 225 to control the opening degree of the diaphragm 223 and the illuminance of the lamp 222. Can do.

  The photoelectric conversion element 224 is disposed close to the optical path of the light emitted from the lamp 222. Further, the output of the photoelectric conversion element 224 is input to the system control 210. Therefore, the system control 210 can detect the illuminance of the lamp 222 from the output of the photoelectric conversion element 224.

  The system control 210 controls the lamp control unit 221a by feedback control based on the output of the photoelectric conversion element 224, and controls the illuminance of the lamp 222 to a desired value. Further, the system control 210 finely controls the amount of light incident on the condenser lens 226 by controlling the opening of the diaphragm 223.

  The condenser lens 226 collects the light that has passed through the diaphragm 223 and makes it incident on the incident end 102 a of the light guide 102 of the electronic endoscope 100. The light incident on the incident end 102a is guided to the distal end portion (distal end) of the insertion tube 101 of the electronic endoscope 100 by the light guide 102, and is emitted from there to illuminate the observation object near the distal end of the insertion tube 101. To do.

  Next, an imaging function of the electronic endoscope 100 and a captured image processing function by the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 will be described. The electronic endoscope 100 incorporates a CCD 103 at the distal end portion of the insertion tube 101. In addition, an objective optical system 104 is built in the distal end side of the CCD 103, and an image near the distal end portion of the insertion tube 101 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 103. The CCD 103 takes out an image formed on the light receiving surface as a CCD signal and transmits it to the signal processing circuit 110 of the electronic endoscope 100.

  The signal processing circuit 110 processes the received CCD signal as an image signal of a predetermined format and transmits it to the first signal processing circuit 231 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200. Various devices of the electronic endoscope 100 such as the signal processing circuit 110 are controlled by a microcomputer 122 built in the electronic endoscope 100. The microcomputer 122 is connected to the system control 210 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200, and the system control 210 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 sends a predetermined command to the microcomputer 122 to cause the signal processing circuit 110 to be connected. Can be controlled. Note that the electronic endoscope 100 includes an EEPROM 124 therein. This stores firmware of the microcomputer 122, model information of the electronic endoscope 100, and the like.

  Next, the first signal processing circuit 231 performs predetermined image processing (color balance correction or the like) on the image signal, and transmits the image signal to an OSD (On the Screen Display) circuit 232. The OSD circuit 232 superimposes predetermined character information (date and time, type of endoscope, comments input by the operator, etc.) on an image corresponding to the received image signal, and further superimposes this on a video signal in a predetermined format. Convert. This character information is transmitted from the system control 210. In the present embodiment, the OSD circuit 232 generates an RGB video signal, a Y / C separation signal, and an NTSC signal, and outputs them to the RGB terminal 234a, the Y / C terminal 234b, and the NTSC terminal 234c, respectively. The RGB terminal 234a, the Y / C terminal 234b, and the NTSC terminal 234c are respectively formed on the surface of the case 201 of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200, and by connecting an appropriate monitor to any of these terminals via a cable. The image can be displayed on the monitor. In the present embodiment, since an NTSC standard TV monitor is used as the monitor 300, the monitor 300 is connected to the NTSC terminal 234c.

  Imaging by the CCD 103 of the electronic endoscope 100 is performed periodically (30 times per second). That is, an image of 30 frames per second is sequentially processed by the first signal processing circuit 231 and the OSD circuit 232. As a result, the image captured by the CCD 103 is displayed on the monitor 300 as a moving image. Here, a timing control 233 is used to control the timing of signal processing by the first signal processing circuit 231 and the OSD circuit 232.

  Next, the operation unit of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 will be described. The liquid crystal touch panel 240 is a touch sensor panel provided on the surface of a liquid crystal monitor. When the surgeon touches the surface of the liquid crystal touch panel 240, the touched position is detected as coordinates on the liquid crystal touch panel 240, and the coordinates are transmitted to the system control 210. The system control 210 executes various processes based on these coordinates.

  The configuration of the liquid crystal touch panel 240 will be described in detail below. FIG. 2 shows an example of display contents on the screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 240 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part of the screen is a message display area MA in which text information such as the current date and time and the type of the electronic endoscope 100 is described. The lower part of the screen is an input unit display area IA in which a plurality of buttons B1, B2, and B3 for executing some processing by touching the touch sensor panel at the position are arranged. In the example of FIG. 2, the message display area MA is located at the upper part of the screen and the input part display area IA is located at the lower part of the screen. However, these arrangements can be changed according to the display contents on the screen. That is, depending on the screen, the message display area MA is on the left side of the screen and the input unit display area IA is on the right side of the screen. Alternatively, the message display area MA is the outside of the screen and the input part display area IA is the center of the screen.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of the structure of the liquid crystal touch panel 240 of this embodiment. The liquid crystal touch panel 240 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a backlight panel 243, a liquid crystal panel 241 and a touch sensor panel 242 are stacked in this order.

  The touch sensor panel 242 is a kind of contact sensor. When the touch sensor panel 242 is touched, information indicating the coordinates of the touched position is transmitted to the touch sensor drive circuit 245. The touch sensor drive circuit 245 calculates the coordinates of the touched position from this information and sends it to the system control 210 (FIG. 1).

  The touch sensor panel 242 is made of a transparent material, and the display content of the liquid crystal panel 241 disposed behind the touch sensor panel 242 can be seen through. The liquid crystal panel 242 is connected to the second signal processing circuit 244. The second signal processing circuit 244 is connected to the system control 210 (FIG. 1). The system control 210 controls the second signal processing circuit 244, so that a desired image (for example, the image illustrated in FIG. 2) can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 241.

  Thus, what kind of image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 241 is known to the system control 210. Therefore, the system control 210 can determine which part of the image is touched using the coordinate data sent from the touch sensor drive circuit 245. For example, when the operator touches the position of the button B1 in FIG. 2, the system control 210 determines that “light amount adjustment” is selected, and executes a program for adjusting the light amount. Further, when the surgeon is touching a place other than the buttons B1, B2, and B3, the system control 210 determines that there is no processing to be executed.

  A backlight panel 243 is disposed behind the liquid crystal panel 241. The backlight panel 243 has a large number of white LEDs arranged in a matrix (in the present embodiment, a total of 54 white LEDs of 9 rows in the horizontal direction and 6 rows in the vertical direction are used). . The light from the white LED passes through the liquid crystal panel 241 and the touch sensor panel 242. As a result, the contrast of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 241 is increased and the operator can easily see it.

  Each of the white LEDs constituting the backlight panel 243 is connected to the backlight control 246. The backlight control 246 can adjust the illuminance for each of the white LEDs. The backlight control 246 is connected to the system control 210, and the system control 210 controls the backlight control 246 to adjust the amount of light transmitted through a predetermined area on the liquid crystal panel 241. it can. This control is used in the backlight automatic adjustment function described later.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the contrast of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel is improved by the light from the backlight panel, making it easy to see. However, when performing diagnosis and treatment using an endoscope, the interior of the room is generally darkened, so that the light from the backlight is somewhat obstructive. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the backlight light quantity at the time of diagnosis / treatment is automatically adjusted by the backlight automatic adjustment function described below.

  The backlight automatic adjustment function is realized by the system control 210 executing the routine shown in FIG. This routine is periodically executed once per second while the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 is powered on.

  In this routine, it is determined whether the light amount of the backlight panel 243 should be adjusted using the value of the variable BL_COUNTER. The variable BL_COUNTER is a variable in which the number of seconds until the light amount adjustment is performed is stored. Note that immediately after the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 is turned on, the initial value N is stored in the variable BL_COUNTER. The number of seconds of the initial value N can be appropriately changed by the operator operating the liquid crystal touch panel 240. When this routine is executed, step S1 is executed.

  In step S <b> 1, it is determined whether or not the electronic endoscope 100 is connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus 200. If the electronic endoscope 100 is connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 (S1: YES), the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is 0. If the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is 0 (S2: YES), this means that the backlight has already been adjusted, and thus this routine ends. If the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is other than 0 (that is, 1 or more) (S2: NO), the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is decreased by 1. Next, the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is 0. If the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is other than 0 (S4: NO), it is determined that there is no need to adjust the backlight, and this routine ends. If the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is 0 (S4: NO), the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, the backlight is adjusted. Specifically, the system control 210 controls the backlight control 246 to adjust the light amount of the white LED that constitutes the backlight panel 243. For example, the white LED corresponding to the area MA in FIG. 2 is turned off, and the illuminance of the white LED corresponding to the area IA is slightly reduced (for example, to about half the normal illuminance). As a result, the amount of light emitted from the liquid crystal touch panel 241 is reduced so that it is not annoying for the operator. Further, the white LED around the buttons B1 to B3 (that is, the area IA) is provided so that the buttons B1 to B3 can be easily found when the diagnosis and treatment are temporarily interrupted and various adjustments of the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 are performed. Does not turn off. Next, this routine ends.

  In the present embodiment, the illuminance of the white LED corresponding to the area IA is reduced. However, the illuminance of the white LED in this portion may not be reduced. In the present embodiment, the white LED corresponding to the area MA is turned off. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the light emitted from the area MA is not sufficiently disturbing to the operator. And it is good also as a structure which reduces the illumination intensity of white LED so that it may become darker than area IA.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1 that the electronic endoscope 100 is not connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 (S1: NO), the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, it is determined whether BL_COUNTER is 0. If BL_COUNTER is 0, it means that the backlight has been adjusted. Therefore, in this case (S11: YES), the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, the system control 210 controls the backlight control 246 to return the illuminance of all the white LEDs constituting the backlight panel 243 to the initial value. As a result, the liquid crystal panel 241 is uniformly illuminated by the backlight panel 243. Next, the process proceeds to step S13.

  On the other hand, if BL_COUNTER is other than 0 in step S11, it means that the backlight is not adjusted, that is, all white LEDs constituting the backlight panel 243 are uniformly lit. Therefore, in this case (S11: NO), the process proceeds to step S13 without executing step S12.

  In step S13, N is substituted for the variable BL_COUNTER. Next, this routine ends.

  By executing the routine described above every second, the light from the liquid crystal touch panel 241 is emitted during diagnosis / treatment by the endoscope after N seconds have elapsed after the electronic endoscope 100 is connected to the electronic endoscope apparatus 200. The amount of light of the backlight panel 243 is adjusted so as not to obstruct the surgeon.

  Further, when the electronic endoscope 100 is detached from the electronic endoscope apparatus, the light amount of the backlight panel 243 is restored and the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is reset. As a result, the next time the electronic endoscope 100 is reconnected and diagnosis / treatment is performed, the light amount of the backlight panel 243 is adjusted after N seconds have elapsed after the reconnection.

  In the present embodiment, when a predetermined operation is performed by the operation unit 105 of the electronic endoscope 100 (for example, a predetermined operation button is pressed), and the predetermined operation is performed by the liquid crystal touch panel 240 or the keyboard 400, the backlight panel. The light quantity of 243 is restored.

  When this interrupt routine starts, step S21 is executed. In step S21, it is detected what the operation that has started this interrupt routine is, and it is determined whether or not the light intensity of the backlight panel 243 should be restored based on the detection result. Specifically, the operation corresponding to the buttons B1 to B3 in FIG. 2 in which the operation that started the interrupt routine is registered in advance (for example, a specific button of the operation unit 105 of the electronic endoscope 100 is pressed). Is transmitted, a specific key of the keyboard 400 is input, or the like). If the operation is already registered (S21: YES), the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if the operation is not already registered (S21: NO), this routine is terminated.

  In step S22, it is determined whether BL_COUNTER is 0. If BL_COUNTER is 0, it means that the backlight has been adjusted. Therefore, in this case (S22: YES), the process proceeds to step S23.

  In step S <b> 23, the system control 210 controls the backlight control 246 to return the illuminance of all white LEDs constituting the backlight panel 243 to the initial value. As a result, the liquid crystal panel 241 is uniformly illuminated by the backlight panel 243. Next, the process proceeds to step S24.

  On the other hand, if BL_COUNTER is other than 0 in step S22, it means that the backlight is not adjusted, that is, all white LEDs constituting the backlight panel 243 are uniformly lit. Therefore, in this case (S22: NO), the process proceeds to step S24 without executing step S23.

  In step S24, N is substituted for the variable BL_COUNTER. Next, this routine ends.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the diagnosis / treatment by the endoscope is interrupted and the electronic endoscope apparatus 200 is adjusted, a predetermined operation is performed to recover the light amount of the backlight panel 243. . In addition, the recovery process is performed and the value of the variable BL_COUNTER is reset. As a result, when the diagnosis / treatment by the electronic endoscope 100 is resumed, the light amount of the backlight panel 243 is adjusted after N seconds have elapsed since the predetermined operation was performed.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit of the electronic endoscope apparatus is a liquid crystal panel with a backlight, but the present embodiment is not limited to this configuration. For example, the display means may be a self-luminous panel such as a plasma display panel or an organic EL display panel. In this case, instead of adjusting the illuminance of the backlight, the system control causes the display means to display an image having a low luminance at least partially. This process is performed by executing the interrupt routine shown in FIG. This interrupt routine is executed when the operator operates the operation unit 105 of the electronic endoscope 100, the operator touches the liquid crystal touch panel 240, or when a key input event using the keyboard 400 occurs.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic endoscope system of embodiment of this invention. An example of the display content of the liquid crystal touch panel of the embodiment of the present invention is shown. 1 shows an outline of the structure of a liquid crystal touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a flowchart of a routine that is periodically executed for automatic adjustment of the amount of light of a backlight according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the routine performed in order to recover the light quantity of a backlight in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic endoscope system 100 Electronic endoscope 105 Operation part 200 Electronic endoscope apparatus 210 System control 240 Liquid crystal touch panel 241 Liquid crystal panel 242 Touch sensor panel 243 Backlight panel 244 2nd signal processing circuit 245 Touch sensor drive circuit 246 Back Light control 300 Monitor 400 Keyboard

Claims (7)

An electronic endoscope that is connected to an electronic endoscope that outputs an endoscopic image as a video signal and a monitor, and that processes the video signal and generates a video signal for displaying the endoscopic image on the monitor A mirror device,
Display means for displaying a state display image indicating the state of the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope device;
Brightness control means for controlling the brightness of the state display image displayed on the display means;
A luminance changing unit that controls the luminance control unit to reduce the luminance of the state display image when an input operation to the input unit included in the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope apparatus is not performed for a predetermined time;
I have a,
The brightness changing means reduces the brightness of the state display image so that the brightness of a part of the state display image displayed on the display means is significantly lower than the brightness of the other part, An electronic endoscope apparatus characterized by not changing luminance of other portions .   The brightness changing means increases the reduced brightness when an input operation is performed on the input means of the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope device when the brightness of the state display image is reduced. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1.   The brightness changing means reduces the brightness of the state display image when an input operation is performed on the input means of the electronic endoscope or the electronic endoscope device when the brightness of the state display image is reduced. 3. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the brightness is returned to the previous luminance. The display means includes a liquid crystal monitor panel for displaying the state display image, and a plurality of light source means for supplying light to the liquid crystal monitor panel from the rear.
The luminance changing means, by significantly reducing than the illuminance of the other portion of the illumination of a portion of the plurality of light source means, the luminance of the part of the image of the state display image displayed on the LCD monitor panel There lowering the luminance of the state display image so as to reduce larger than the luminance of the other part,
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The electronic endoscope apparatus has a touch sensor panel provided on a surface of the liquid crystal monitor panel,
The state display image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor panel includes an operation image for suggesting that predetermined information can be input by touching a part of the touch sensor panel,
The partial image does not include the operation image.
The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 4 . The luminance changing means, by turning off a part of the plurality of light source means, than the luminance of said other portion of said part of the image of the state display image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor panel reducing the brightness of the state display image so as to reduce significantly, it electronic endoscope according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in. The luminance changing means, by not changing the illumination of said another portion of said plurality of light source means does not change the brightness of said another portion of the state display image, it claims 4, wherein the 6 The electronic endoscope apparatus according to any one of the above.

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