Endoscope apparatus which time-sequentially transmits sensor signals with image signals during a blanking period
First Claim
1. An electronic endoscope apparatus of the type which includes an inserting section extending from an operating section, said electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
- detecting means for detecting physical and chemical changes provided at a tip of the inserting section;
notifying means for notifying the detection results of said detection means;
image-sensing means provided at the tip of said inserting section for forming an image signal having a blanking period;
a signal line connected to means and said detecting means for transmitting signals from said detecting means as well as signals from said image-sensing means; and
a time-sequential signal transmission means for time-sequentially transmitting the signals from said detecting means with respect to the signals from said image-sensing means,wherein the signals from said detecting means are transmitted over said signal line during said blanking period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope having at the tip of its inserting section a detecting device for detecting physical or chemical changes allows transmission of signals from the detecting device without requiring a dedicated signal line for this detecting device. For example, an electronic endoscope apparatus of the type which has an inserting section extending from an operating section, includes: a detecting device for detecting physical and chemical changes, such as a humidity sensor or a gas sensor, provided at a tip of the inserting section; a notifying device for notifying of the detection results of the detecting device by, for example, displaying them through a monitor; an image-sensing device, such as a CCD, for forming an image signal having a blanking period; and a signal line. A switching device transmits the signals from the detecting means time-sequentially with and during the blanking period of the signals from the image sensing means. With this construction, an increase in the diameter of the endoscope inserting section can be avoided in spite of the provision of the detecting device.
117 Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electronic endoscope apparatus of the type which includes an inserting section extending from an operating section, said electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
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detecting means for detecting physical and chemical changes provided at a tip of the inserting section; notifying means for notifying the detection results of said detection means; image-sensing means provided at the tip of said inserting section for forming an image signal having a blanking period; a signal line connected to means and said detecting means for transmitting signals from said detecting means as well as signals from said image-sensing means; and a time-sequential signal transmission means for time-sequentially transmitting the signals from said detecting means with respect to the signals from said image-sensing means, wherein the signals from said detecting means are transmitted over said signal line during said blanking period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification