Endoscope imaging system used with an electronic scope and an optical endoscope

• US 4,870,488 A
• Filed: 02/09/1988
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Hibino, Hiroki, Ikuno, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/153,893
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/160, 358/21 R, 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 348/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/15 for colour aspects of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof

Abstract

A system provided with an electronic scope containing a solid state imaging device on the tip side of the insertable part and a television camera containing an solid state imaging device and fitted to the eyepiece part of an optical endoscope provided with an optical image transmitting device within the insertable part. The number of pixels of the solid state imaging device of the television camera is made larger than the solid state imaging device of the electronic scope.

Claims

1. An endoscope imaging system comprising:

an electronic endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an imaging means for imaging an object, said imaging means consisting of a first objective optical system fitted to said insertable part and a solid state imaging device arranged in a focal plane of said objective optical system, and

a light emitting means, arranged on said insertable part, for illuminating said object;

an optical endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an observing optical system having a second objective optical system fitted to the insertable part of the optical endoscope,

an optical image guide transmitting an optical image formed by said second objective optical system to an eyepiece part side on which an exit end surface side arranged,

a light emitting means arranged on the insertable part of the optical endoscope, and

a television camera fittable to said eyepiece part side of said optical endoscope and containing an imaging means consisting of a solid state imaging device with a number of pixels larger than that of said solid state imaging device of said electronic endoscope;

a signal processing means for processing signals corresponding to the respective imaging means of said electronic endoscope and said television camera; and

a monitor means for displaying predetermined video signals output from said signal processing means.

2. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 1 wherein said light emitting means is formed of a light guide, said light guide has an exit end surface and an entrance end, said light guide emitting an illuminating light, input to the entrance end, from said exit end surface.

3. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 2 further has a light source means for feeding the illuminating light to said light guide.

4. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 3 wherein said light source generates a white light.

5. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 3 wherein said light source means sequentially outputs light of three wavelength ranges which are different from one another.

6. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 3 wherein said light source means outputs a white light and a frame sequential light of three wavelength ranges which are different from one another in a time series as switched by a switching means.

7. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said optical endoscope is formed of a fiber scope and wherein said optical image guide is formed of a fiber bundle.

8. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 5 or 6 wherein said optical endoscope is formed of a rigid endoscope wherein said optical image guide is formed of a relay optical system.

9. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 5 or 6 wherein said electronic endoscope is provided with a color-separating color filter in front of an imaging surface of said solid state imaging device.

10. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said electronic endoscope is a frame sequential color imaging type having no color separating color filter on an imaging surface of said solid state imaging device.

11. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said solid state imaging device contained in said television camera is fitted with a color-separating color filter in front of an imaging surface.

12. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said solid state imaging device contained in said television camera is of a frame sequential color imaging type having no color-separating color filter in front of an imaging surface.

13. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 9 wherein said signal processing means processes signals corresponding to said solid state imaging device provided with said color-separating color filter.

14. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 10 wherein said signal processing means processes signals corresponding to said frame sequential color imaging electronic endoscope.

15. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1 or 4 wherein said electronic endoscope and said television camera have an output signal different from one another.

16. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 15 wherein said signal processing means has a signal discriminating means.

17. An endoscope imaging system according to any one of claims 1 or 3 wherein said signal processing means has in common a signal processing system outputting a predetermined video signal.

18. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 17 wherein said signal processing system is controlled in switching by a discriminating means.

19. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 11 wherein said signal processing means is to process signals corresponding to said solid state imaging device provided with said color-separating color filter.

20. An endoscope imaging system according to claim 12 wherein said signal processing means is to process signals corresponding to said frame sequential color imaging type.

21. An endoscope imaging system comprising:

an electronic endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an imaging means for imaging an object, said imaging means consisting of a first objective optical system fitted to said insertable part and a solid state imaging device arranged in a focal plane of said objective optical system, and

a light emitting means, arranged on said insertable part, for illuminating said object;

an optical endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an observing optical system having a second objective optical system fitted to the insertable part of the optical endoscope,

an optical image guide transmitting an optical image formed by said second objective optical system to an eyepiece part side on which an exit end surface side is arranged,

a light emitting means arranged on the insertable part of the optical endoscope, and

a television camera fittable to said eyepiece part side of said optical endoscope and containing an imaging device consisting of a solid state imaging device with a number of pixels larger than that of said solid state imaging device of said electronic endoscope; and

a signal processing means for processing signals corresponding to the respective imaging means of said electronic endoscope and said television camera.

23. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 21 or 22 wherein said optical endoscope fitted with said television camera is a fiber scope transmitting an optical image by an image guide fiber bundle.

24. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claim 21 or 22 wherein said optical endoscope fitted with said television camera is a rigid endoscope transmitting an optical image by a relay optical system.

25. The endoscope imaging apparatus according to claims 21 or 22 wherein said television camera has a mounting means fittable to said eyepiece part of said optical endoscope.

22. An endoscope imaging system comprising:

an electronic endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an imaging means for imaging an object, said imaging means consisting of a first objective optical system fitted to said insertable part and a solid state imaging device arranged in a focal plane of said objective optical system, and

a light emitting means, arranged on said insertable part, for illuminating said object;

an optical endoscope having,

an elongate insertable part,

an observing optical system having a second objective optical system fitted to the insertable part of the optical endoscope,

an optical image guide transmitting an optical image formed by said second objective optical system to an eyepiece part side on which an exit end surface side is arranged,

a light emitting means arranged on the insertable part of the optical endoscope, and

a television camera fittable to said eyepiece part side of said optical endoscope and containing an imaging means consisting of a solid state imaging device with a number of pixels larger than that of said solid state imaging device of said electronic endoscope; and

a light source providing illuminating light to an incident plane of said light emitting means of said electronic endoscope or optical endoscope.