Electronic endoscope apparatus using micromirror device
First Claim
1. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
- a light guide used to guide light from a light source to a leading end of an endoscope;
a micromirror device having micromirrors each of which changes a polarization angle, to reflect said light source light so as to allow the light to enter said light guide;
a micromirror device driving circuit which drives micromirrors to a light guide non-incident angle to set a light blocking period used to read signals for all pixels stored in an image pickup device;
an image pickup element which picks up an image of a subject on the basis of light emitted from said leading end; and
an image pickup element driving circuit which utilizes the light blocking period to read signals for all pixels for one frame stored in said image pickup element by the same exposure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention, a micromirror device reflects light from a light source to allow it to enter a light guide. A light blocking period is set by driving the polarization angles of micromirrors of the micromirror device to a light guide non-incident angle θs. This light blocking period is utilized to read signals for all pixels for one frame stored in a CCD by the same exposure. Thus, the light blocking period can be promptly set to obtain a stably bright motion picture not affected by any motions, or the like. Further, the quantity of light can be controlled by controlling the polarization angles in the micromirror device. Furthermore, desired white light is obtained.
32 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
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a light guide used to guide light from a light source to a leading end of an endoscope;
a micromirror device having micromirrors each of which changes a polarization angle, to reflect said light source light so as to allow the light to enter said light guide;
a micromirror device driving circuit which drives micromirrors to a light guide non-incident angle to set a light blocking period used to read signals for all pixels stored in an image pickup device;
an image pickup element which picks up an image of a subject on the basis of light emitted from said leading end; and
an image pickup element driving circuit which utilizes the light blocking period to read signals for all pixels for one frame stored in said image pickup element by the same exposure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
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a light guide used to guide light from a light source to a leading end of an endoscope;
a micromirror device having micromirrors each of which changes a polarization angle, to reflect said light source light so as to allow the light to enter said light guide;
a micromirror device driving circuit which drives the micromirror device to control the quantity of light source light by arranging the respective polarization angles of said micromirrors in a predetermined manner so that desired white light is emitted from said leading end, evenly choosing from the micromirrors with the different polarization angles arranged in the predetermined manner, and driving the polarization angles of the chosen micromirrors to a light guide non-incident angle; and
an image pickup element which picks up an image of a subject on the basis of light emitted from said leading end.
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Specification