Electronic endoscope selector

• US 20020047897A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Sugimoto, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 6,714,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

An electronic endoscope selector that is used in an electronic endoscope system which shares peripheral devices, such as a TV monitor, VCR etc., among a plurality of electronic endoscopes. The electronic endoscope selector comprises switching circuits for switching and selecting video signals and synchronizing signals fed from one of the plurality of electronic endoscopes in the system. The selector also comprises ON/OFF switches and a timer. The ON/OFF switch controls output of the selected video signals. When the switching circuits switch between the plurality of electronic endoscope and switch video signals and synchronizing signals to that of a newly selected electronic endoscope, the output of video signals are suspended during a predetermined period, by the timer. On the other hand, the synchronizing signals are output simultaneously with the above switching.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope selector comprising:

a video signal switching processor that switches video signals, which are output to at least one peripheral device, from first video signals fed from a first electronic endoscope to second video signals fed from a second electronic endoscope;

a synchronizing signal switching processor that switches synchronizing signals, which are output to said peripheral device, from synchronizing signals fed from said first electronic endoscope to synchronizing signals fed from said second electronic endoscope; and

a switching control processor that drives said video signal switching processor and said synchronizing signal switching processor, and suspends output of said video signals for a predetermined period after driving said synchronizing signal switching processor.

2. A selector according to claim 1, comprising an operating processor that is used for operating the driving of said switching control processor.

3. A selector according to claim 1, where in said switching control processor drives said video signal switching processor and said synchronizing signal switching processor simultaneously.

4. A selector according to claim 3, wherein said switching control processor comprises:

an output switching processor that switches output of said video signals between ON and OFF states, wherein said ON state permits output of said video signals and said OFF state forbids output of said video signals;

a timer for timing said predetermined period; and

wherein said output switching processor is set to said OFF state and said timer and said synchronizing signal switching processor are started simultaneously, and after said predetermined period, said output switching processor is switched to said ON state.

5. A selector according to claim 4, wherein said output switching processor switches said ON and OFF states for outputting video signals from said video signal switching processor.

6. A selector according to claim 1, wherein said switching control processor drives said video signal switching processor for a predetermined period after driving said synchronizing signal switching processor, and suspends output of said video signals during said predetermined period.

7. A selector according to claim 6, wherein said video signal switching processor comprises:

a first buffer circuit that receives said first video signals_and controls ON and OFF states for outputting said first video signals, wherein said ON state permits output of said first video signals and said OFF state forbids output of said first video signals;

a second buffer circuit that receives said second video signals and controls ON and OFF states for output of said second video signals, wherein said ON state permits output of said second video signals and said OFF state forbids output of said second video signals; and

said switching control processor comprising;

a first timer that sets said state of said first buffer circuit to said OFF state, which forbids the output of said first video signals, immediately after input of a control signal for setting the output of said first and second buffer circuit to said OFF state;

a second timer that sets said state of said second buffer circuit to said OFF state immediately after input of said control signal and sets said state of said second buffer circuit to said ON state after said predetermined period from completion of said input of said control signal; and

wherein a switching of said video signals is controlled by said control signal, which is alternately input to said first and second timer.

8. A selector according to claim 1, wherein said synchronizing signal switching processor comprises:

a third buffer circuit that receives synchronizing signals from said first electronic endoscope and controls ON and OFF states for outputting said synchronizing signals, wherein said ON state permits output of said synchronizing signals and said OFF state forbids output of said synchronizing signals; and

a fourth buffer circuit that receives synchronizing signals from said second electronic endoscope and controls ON and OFF states for output of said synchronizing signals, wherein said ON state permits output of said synchronizing signals and said OFF state forbids output of said synchronizing signals; and

wherein a switching of said synchronizing signals is controlled by alternate switching of said ON and OFF states of said third and fourth buffer circuits.