Endoscopic photographing apparatus

• US 4,719,508 A
• Filed: 10/01/1986
• Issued: 01/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kato, Shinichi, Takahashi, Yutaka, Saito, Katsuyuki, Kato, Tadashi, Sasaki, Masahiko, Kanno, Masahide
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US06/914,183
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/140, 358/11, 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 348/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229

Abstract

An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprises a first frame memory for successively storing the image signals, generated from a solid-state image sensor with every scanning line, in synchronism with drive signals, and a second frame memory for successively storing the image signals, read successively from the first frame memory, by the interlacing method, and delivering the stored image signals to a monitor, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals, for display.

Claims

1. An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising:

image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line;

first memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor;

first readout means for successively reading the image signals from the first memory means by the interlacing method;

second memory means for successively storing the image signals, read by the readout means, by the interlacing method; and

an output section including second readout means for reading the image signals from the second memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.

2. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image signal circuit means includes said image sensor for successively delivering R, G and B color image signals, and pre-processor means for processing the color image signals from said image sensor, and delivering output signals to said first memory means, connected to the second memory means.

3. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first memory means includes a plurality of first frame memories for individually storing the R, G and B color image signals from said image signal circuit means, and delivering the color image signals to the second memory means.

4. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second memory means includes a plurality of second frame memories for individually storing the R, G and B color image signals from the first frame memories.

5. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pre-processor means includes means for wave-shaping the image signals from the image sensor and delivering pulse signals, delay means for delaying the pulse signals from the wave-shaping means, in accordance with the length of the endoscope, and delivering delayed pulse signals, and means for sampling the image signals in synchronism with the delayed pulse signals from the delay means.

6. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output section includes character information output means for delivering character information on the image signals, character information mixing means for mixing the image signals read by said second readout means with the character information from said character information output means, and delivering character-mixed image signals, and monitor means for displaying the character-mixed image slgnals from the mixing means, as an image.

7. The endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said character information output means includes output means for delivering guidance information for the required character information, and means for erasing the guidance information, in response to the input of the character information corresponding to the guidance information.

8. An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising:

image signal circuit means provided in an endoscope and including an image sensor for successively generating image signals, with every scanning line;

light source means including light source means, supplied with electric power from a power source, and adapted to emit an illumination light to be supplied to the endoscope, and turning-on circuit means for lighting the light source means;

character information means supplied and stored with character information;

CPU means for controlling the character information means and said light source means;

means for resetting the CPU means in response to the start of said power supply and the actuation of said turning-on circuit means;

means for storing turning-on start information in response to the actuation of the turning-on circuit means;

means for holding the character information in response to the turning-on start information;

memory means for successively storing the image signals, in synchronism with drive signals for driving said image sensor; and

an output section for reading the image signals from said memory means, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals.