Imaging apparatus and endoscope apparatus with selectable wavelength ranges

• US 5,105,269 A
• Filed: 09/17/1990
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazunari, Takano, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Application Number:
  US07/583,277
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 358/98, 358/42, 358/113, 358/110, 128/4, 128/6
• US Class Current: 348/162
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/046 for infrared imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/12 with one sensor only
• 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 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

The imaging apparatus and endoscope apparatus comprise an image forming optical system forming the image of an object to be imaged. An imaging device has a sensitivity to a wavelength range ranging from a visible range to a range other than the visible range and converts the image formed by the image forming optical system to an electric signal. A wavelength range divides device dividing the wavelength range ranging from the visible range to the range other than the visible range into a plurality of wavelength ranges. A selects device selecting at least one wavelength range from among the wavelength ranges divided by the wavelength range dividing device. A signal processing device processes the output signals of the imaging device in response to the selected wavelength ranges so as to be video signals.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus for observing an object image of ordinary light and an object image of particular light comprising:

an illuminating means for emitting an illuminating light of a wavelength range ranging from a visible range to a range other than the visible range;

an image forming optical system for forming the object image to be imaged;

an imaging means having a sensitivity to a wavelength range ranging from the visible range to the range other than the visible range and using a solid state imaging device converting an image formed by said image forming optical system to an electric signal;

a color filter provided between said image forming optical system and said imaging means, said color filter separating said object image into images of a plurality of wavelength ranges, said color filter having a plurality of types of component filters, respective component filters having a transmitting characteristic of respectively transmitting the light of specific wavelength ranges within the visible band and the band other than the visible band;

a band dividing means for dividing the illuminating light into said visible band and said band other than the visible band, said band dividing means for selecting either band to select the wavelength range imaged by said imaging means and to obtain said object image of ordinary light or particular light; and

a signal processing means for processing output signals of said imaging means in response to the wavelength ranges within a band selected by said band dividing means so as to be video signals.

2. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said specific wavelength ranges within said visible band transmitted by the respective component filters of said color filter are respectively different in said respective component filters, said specific wavelength ranges within said band other than the visible band transmitted by said respective component filters are the same specific wavelength ranges within the infrared band, said band dividing means include a filter selectively transmitting the visible band and infrared band.

3. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said band dividing means includes a filter transmitting a narrow band insertable provided in the optical path from said illuminating means to said imaging means.

4. An imaging apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an illuminating means for emitting a light of a narrow band interchangeably provided with said illuminating means for emitting the illuminating light of the wavelength range ranging from the visible range to the range other than the visible range.