JPH0513284B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an endoscope, and particularly to a small, lightweight endoscope that can improve operability.

"Prior Art and its Problems" Conventionally, TV photography of observation images of endoscopes is carried out by attaching a TV camera to the eyepiece. However, TV cameras are heavy and large, making them very difficult to operate when shooting TV. Also eyepiece TV
The camera connection part must be strong enough to withstand the weight of the TV camera, and the strength of the endoscope operation part must also be designed with the connection of the TV camera in mind. For this reason, when a TV camera is not connected, the operation section and the entire eyepiece device have excessive strength, which is disadvantageous in terms of both size and weight.

On the other hand, when looking at the optical system for TV shooting, the eyepiece
Conventional devices that connect a TV camera transmit the observation image of the body cavity formed by the eyepiece back to the TV.
Since you are shooting with a camera lens, there is no reason why you need to optically go through multiple lens systems before shooting on TV.

``Object of the Invention'' An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of such conventional devices and to provide an endoscope that is lightweight, compact, and has good operability.

``Summary of the Invention'' The present invention provides that, when taking TV pictures with an endoscope, it is optically wasteful to take the image formed by the eyepiece again with the taking lens of the TV camera as in the past.
This was done based on the recognition that this waste was ultimately the cause of poor operability during TV shooting and an increase in the size of the endoscope operating section and eyepiece device.

Therefore, the present invention provides the following features:
A single attachment/detachment section for selectively attaching and detaching the eyepiece unit and TV shooting unit, and a rear end exit surface of the image guide, which is provided in the operation section and has its tip entrance end surface facing the objective lens at the tip of the body insertion section. an imaging lens system provided in the operation section to form an image of the rear exit surface; and an eyepiece system provided in the eyepiece unit to observe the image formed by this imaging lens system. , is characterized by having a solid-state imaging device provided in the TV photographing unit, which converts an image formed by an imaging lens system into an electrical signal.

"Embodiments of the Invention" The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention. An image guide 12 and a light guide 13 made of an optical fiber bundle are inserted into the body insertion part 11 of the endoscope, and the light guide 13 extends from the body insertion part 11 into the light guide cable 15. . A connector 16 at the tip of the light guide cable 15 is connected to a light source device (not shown). Image guide 12
The front end entrance surface faces the objective lens 17 at the front end of the intracorporeal insertion section 11, and the rear end exit surface faces the imaging lens system 18 provided within the operating section 14. 19 represents the rear end exit surface of the image guide 12 and the imaging lens system 1.
This is a moiré prevention filter disposed between 8 and 8.

The present invention enables both observation of the image of the rear exit surface of the image guide 12 formed by the imaging lens system 18 by the eyepiece unit 20 and photography by the TV photography unit 30. The operation section 14 is provided with a single detachable mount 21 for selectively attaching and detaching the eyepiece unit 20 and the TV photographing unit 30. On the other hand, the eyepiece unit 20 and the TV photographing unit 30 are provided with detachable mounts 22 and 31, respectively, which are attached to and detached from the detachable mount 21.

Assuming that the focal plane of the imaging lens system 18 is F, the eyepiece system 23 supported by the eyepiece unit 20 is for observing the image of the rear exit surface of the image guide 12 formed on this focal plane F. . In contrast to this
The TV shooting unit 30 has its removable mount 3.
1 is connected to the removable mount 21 of the operating section 14, a solid-state imaging device 33 is provided, which has a solid-state imaging device 32 whose imaging plane coincides with the focal plane F.

Image signals obtained by the solid-state imaging device 33 are transmitted through the lead wire 34, the detachable mount 31, and the detachable mount 21.
electrical contacts 35 and 24 provided respectively, a lead wire 25, a TV cable flexible tube 26 through which this lead wire 25 is passed, and this TV cable flexible tube 2.
The data is input to the camera control unit 28 via a connector 27 provided at the tip of the camera.

The image signal input to the camera control unit 28 is subjected to appropriate signal processing and displayed on a monitor television 29. Electrical contacts 35 and 24
are electrically connected when the detachable mounts 31 and 21 are connected. Although only one lead wire is shown in the figure, a plurality of lead wires 34, electrical contacts 35, electrical contacts 24, and lead wires 25 necessary for transmitting image signals are provided.

2 to 5 show more specific embodiments of the present invention. A support plate 40 for the imaging lens system 18 is fixed to the rear end of the operation unit 14, and a mount ring 4 is further provided on the outside of the support plate 40.
1 is fixed. The mount ring 41 has a plurality of notches 43 formed in its inner flange surface 42 as shown in FIG.

A lens barrel 44 that supports the imaging lens system 18 is fixed to the center of the support plate 40, and an annular terminal plate 46 made of an insulating material is fixed to the peripheral surface of the support plate 40 by fixing screws 45. has been done. The annular terminal plate 46 is provided with electrical contacts 24 made up of a plurality of female terminals on the same circumference. A radial positioning pin 47 is screwed and fixed to the lens barrel 44 .

On the other hand, of the eyepiece unit 20 and the TV photographing unit 30 that are attached to and removed from the mount ring 41, the eyepiece unit 20 has a mount portion 51 corresponding to the mount ring 41 at the front end of its cylindrical casing 50.
is provided. This mount part 51 is the fifth
As shown in the figure, a radial convex portion 52 corresponding to the notch 43 of the mount ring 41 and an inner peripheral flange surface 42
It has a groove 53 corresponding to the convex portion 52.
is inserted into the notch 43 of the mount ring 41, and when the mount portion 51, that is, the entire eyepiece unit 20, is rotated relative to the mount ring 41, the inner flange surface 42 fits into the groove 53, and the eyepiece unit 20 is rotated relative to the mount ring 41.
is fixed to the operating section 14.

Further, the eyepiece system 23 supported by the eyepiece unit 20 is positioned so that the image of the rear exit surface of the image guide 12 formed on the focal plane F by the imaging lens system 18 can be clearly observed. It is determined. This eyepiece lens system 23 can be moved and adjusted in the optical axis direction by a diopter adjustment mechanism (not shown).

As described above, the eyepiece unit 20 is connected to the operation section 14.
It can be attached and detached by rotating it relative to the
The TV photographing unit 30 is attached to and detached from the operating section 14 without relative rotation of the entire unit. A rotary mount 56 is rotatably supported at the front of a bottomed cylindrical casing 55 of the TV photographing unit 30. Reference numeral 57 denotes a rotation operation knob of this rotation mount 56.

This rotary mount 56 includes an eyepiece unit 20.
A convex portion 58 and a groove 59 similar to those of the front end of the casing 50 are formed, and when the convex portion 58 is inserted into the notch 43 of the mount ring 41 and the rotation mount 56 is then rotated, the groove is formed. The inner peripheral flange surface 42 is fitted into the inside of the TV shooting unit 30.
is fixed to the operating section 14.

This is mounted inside the casing 55 with a mounting ring 41.
A solid-state imaging device 33 having a solid-state imaging device 32 that makes the imaging plane coincide with the focal plane F and an amplifier 60 that amplifies the image signal from this solid-state imaging device 32 is fixed. A protection filter 61 and a light shielding tube 62 are provided at the front end.

This light-shielding tube 62 has a positioning groove 63 in the optical axis direction that fits into the positioning pin 47 of the lens tube 44 . An annular terminal plate 65 made of an insulating material is fixed to the front end of the casing 55 by a fixing screw 64, and the operating section 1 is attached to the annular terminal plate 65.
An electrical contact 35 consisting of a male terminal is fixed, corresponding to the electrical contact 24 on the fourth side. The electrical contact 35 and the amplifier 60 of the solid-state imaging device 33 are connected by a lead wire 34.

Therefore, the TV shooting unit 30 with the above configuration
are the positions of the electrical contacts 24 and 35, and the light shielding tube 6.
With the positioning groove 65 of No. 2 aligned with the positioning pin 47 of the lens barrel 44, insert the convex portion 58 of the rotary mount 56 into the notch 43 of the mount ring 41, and then rotate the rotary mount 56. When moved, the inner peripheral flange surface 42 fits into the groove 59, the TV photographing unit 30 is fixed to the operating section 14, and the electrical contacts 24 and 35 are electrically connected.

When the solid-state image sensor 32 is driven in this state,
The image guide 1 is imaged by the imaging lens system 18 on the focal plane F, that is, the imaging plane of the solid-state image sensor.
2 is converted into an image signal by the solid-state image sensor 32, which is amplified by the amplifier 60, then enters the TV control unit 28 via the electrical path described above, and is displayed as a TV image on the monitor TV 29. It is observed as

In the above embodiment, the TV cable flexible tube 26
is provided on the operating section 14 side, which has the advantage that the flexible body extending from the endoscope can be integrated into the operating section 14 together with the light guide cable 15. However, even if the TV cable flexible tube 26 is provided on the TV shooting unit 30 side, the advantage that the TV shooting unit can be made smaller is not lost.

Further, in the embodiments described above, the electrical contacts 24 and 35 are arranged in a ring shape centered on the optical axis of the imaging lens system 18.
If these are of the type that can be connected without rotating relative to the operation unit 14, these will be connected to the imaging lens system 1.
They can be arranged in any arrangement around 8. For example, they may be arranged in a grid pattern.

``Effects of the Invention'' As described above, according to the present invention, the eyepiece unit and the TV photography unit can be selectively attached to the attachment/detachment section of the endoscope operation section, and the image guide is mounted on the operation section side. An imaging lens system is provided to form an image of the rear end exit surface, an eyepiece lens system is provided to the eyepiece unit, and a solid-state imaging device is provided to the TV camera unit to convert the image of the imaging lens system into an electrical signal. Compared to conventional equipment that connects a TV camera to the eyepiece and shoots TV, it is extremely lightweight and compact.
You can get a TV endoscope. Since either the eyepiece unit or the TV camera unit only needs to be attached, there is only a single attachment/detachment section, which simplifies the structure compared to endoscopes that have two attachment/detachment sections. can be made into In addition, the strength required for the endoscope's operating section and eyepiece can be set without considering the connection of the TV camera, so the endoscope itself can be made lighter and smaller, improving operability. It is possible to provide an endoscope with

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual connection diagram showing an embodiment of the TV endoscope of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which an eyepiece unit is connected to the operating section of the TV endoscope of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the TV photographing unit connected, FIG. 4 is a front view of the mount ring, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the mount section that is attached to and detached from the mount ring of FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11...Body insertion part, 12...Image guide, 14...Operation unit, 18...Imaging lens system, 2
0...Eyepiece unit, 21...Removable mount, 2
3... Eyepiece system, 24, 35... Electrical contacts,
25, 34... Lead wire, 26... TV cable flexible tube, 28... Camera control unit, 29... Monitor TV, 30... TV photographing unit, 31... Detachable mount, 32... Solid-state imaging device, 33... Solid-state imaging device, 40... Support plate, 41... Mount ring, 42... Inner flange surface, 43... Notch, 46, 65... Annular terminal plate, 51, 58... Convex portion, 52 ,59...groove.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An eyepiece unit provided in the operation section of the endoscope;
a single attachment/detachment section for selectively attaching and detaching the TV camera unit; a rear end exit surface of the image guide provided in the operation section and having its front end entrance end surface facing the objective lens at the end of the body insertion section; an imaging lens system provided in the operating section for forming an image of the rear exit surface; an eyepiece system provided in the eyepiece unit for observing the image formed by the imaging lens system; A TV endoscope comprising: a solid-state imaging device provided in the TV photographing unit and converting an image formed by the imaging lens system into an electrical signal. 2. In claim 1, the attachment/detachment section of the operating section and the connection section of the TV photographing unit that is attached/detached to the attachment/detachment section are connected to each other from the solid-state imaging device, which are connected to each other when the two are connected. The TV endoscope is equipped with electrical contacts that transmit the TV image signals to the operating section, and the operating section is equipped with a TV cable flexible tube with built-in lead wires that conduct to these electrical contacts. 3. In claim 1 or 2, a solid-state imaging device of a TV camera unit includes a solid-state imaging device whose imaging surface is located at the focal plane of an imaging lens system, and an image from this solid-state imaging device. A TV endoscope comprising an amplifier for amplifying a signal, and the image signal amplified by the amplifier is connected to a camera control unit via the electrical contact and a lead wire in the flexible tube of the TV cable.