JPS6154309B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an endoscope, and particularly to an endoscope using a solid-state image sensor.

Recently, endoscopes using solid-state image sensors have been developed. In such endoscopes, image signals obtained from the solid-state image sensor are guided to a reproduction device including a cathode ray tube and reproduced as an image, and the image of the subject is reproduced. Observations are made. Further, as necessary, the image signal is led to and stored in a storage device such as a video tape recorder or a memory of a minicomputer. However, in any case, a long electrical transmission path is used to lead the image signal to the reproduction device and storage device, and the image signal is affected by the resistance of the conductor of this electrical transmission path, noise, etc., and the image quality of the reproduced image is affected. It will drop.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an endoscope using a recording device that can perform recording and reproduction without reducing image quality.

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

In FIG. 1, an objective lens 12 and a solid-state image sensor 13 for converting a subject image formed by the objective lens 12 into a video signal are provided at the distal end of an endoscope body 11. The endoscope body 11 is provided with a light guide (for example, an optical fiber) 15 that guides object illumination light from a light source device 14 . A control unit 18 is provided at the rear end of the endoscope body 11 and is connected to the solid-state imaging device 13 via conductive wires 16 and 17 to process image signals. The control unit 18 is connected via a universal cord 21 to operating members, such as an operating switch 19 and a monitoring playback device 20. Furthermore,
A removable recording device 22 is provided at the rear end of the endoscope body 11. This recording device is configured to be electrically connected to a control unit 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 18 includes an A/D converter 23 connected to the output terminal of the solid-state image sensor 13 and a register 24 for storing the output signal of the A/D converter 23.

The control unit 18 also includes a solid-state image sensor 13.
A scanner 25 is provided for scanning. A recording device 22 is detachably connected to a register 24 and an address counter 26 of the control unit 18.
The converter 23, register 24, scanner 2
5 and address counter 26 are pulse generator 27
, and is synchronously controlled by pulse signals from this pulse generator 27.

In the above-described endoscope, when the distal end of the endoscope body 11 is inserted into a body cavity and the light source device 14 is activated, illumination light passes through the light guide 15 and illuminates a subject (not shown). An image is formed on the solid-state image sensor via the objective lens 12. When the operating switch 19 is operated in this state, the control unit 18 is operated. As a result, the solid-state image sensor 1
3 is scanned by the scanner 25 and the solid-state image sensor 1
3 outputs a video signal corresponding to the subject image. This video signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 23 shown in FIG. 2 and stored in a register 24. The digital image signal stored in this register 24 is transferred to a removable recording device 2 according to an address signal from an address counter 26.
recorded in 2. Further, the video signal of the solid-state image sensor 13 is supplied to a monitor playback device 20 and played back.

After the necessary object image information is recorded in the recording device 22, the recording device 22 is removed from the endoscope body 11, and the object image information is reproduced by a reproduction device including, for example, a cathode ray tube. This reproduced image from the recording device does not use a long electric transmission path during recording, so the recorded signal is not affected by the resistance of the electric path or noise, so it has good image quality and allows accurate observation of minute lesions. be able to.

As described above, according to the present invention, reproduced images with good image quality can be obtained. In addition, since the recording device is installed in the operating section of the endoscope body, replacement work can be easily performed, and the replacement can be performed without bothering the paramedic's hands and without interfering with the operation of the endoscope.

Note that the recording device used in the above embodiments may be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magnetic bubble, a magnetic card, or the like. It is also possible to connect a microphone to the control unit and record audio at the same time. Further, as a reproduction device, an image reproduction device using electroluminescence or the like may be built into the endoscope body. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied when observing and recording abnormalities in details of mechanical parts within a machine cavity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an endoscope according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a control unit used in the endoscope of FIG. 11... Endoscope main body, 13... Solid-state image sensor, 14
...Light source device, 15...Light guide, 16, 17...
Conductive wire, 18...control unit, 19...operation switch, 20...monitor playback device, 22...recording device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light guide that guides illumination light, a tip section that includes a solid-state image sensor that converts a subject image into a video signal, a rear end section that is provided with an operating member, and a solid-state image sensor that is removably attached to this rear end section. An endoscope comprising: a storage device for storing video signals from the endoscope;