Endoscope system which changes over switches in interlocking relation to each other within video processor and image display apparatus to perform display of endoscope image

• US 5,412,478 A
• Filed: 09/23/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishihara, Hideaki, Miyashita, Akihiro, Tsuji, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US08/125,162
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 348/72, 348/74
• US Class Current: 348/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/046 Colour interpolation to calculate the missing colour values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

A video processor which forms an endoscope apparatus is capable of selecting an image signal of a plurality of modes outputted from a signal processing circuit which performs signal processing with respect to an image pickup element of an endoscope, and image signals of a plurality of modes outputted from peripheral devices such as a VTR and the like, by a changing-over switch to output the image signals of the plurality of modes from a plurality of signal output ends. The plurality of output ends are connected to a plurality of input ends of an image display apparatus for performing image display. The image display apparatus is provided with a plurality of signal processing systems corresponding to the image signal of the mode inputted from the respective input ends, and is capable of selecting a single signal processing system by a changing-over switch to output the single signal processing system to a CRT. By operation of a changing-over operating switch on the side of the video processor, switching of the changing-over switch within the video processor is performed, and switching of the changing-over switch within the image display apparatus is also performed in interlocking relation thereto.

Claims

1. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope apparatus including;

an endoscope having an elongated inserting section, illuminating-light outgoing means for outgoing illuminating light from the side of a forward end of said inserting section, and an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an optical image on the basis of an objective lens which is arranged on the forward end of said inserting section; and

a video processor having a signal processing device connected to said endoscope for performing signal processing with respect to said image pickup element to output a signal corresponding to an endoscope image image-picked-up by said image pickup element, and a plurality of output terminals for outputting a plurality of signals including said signal;

an image display apparatus including;

image display means for displaying an endoscope image corresponding to an inputted input signal;

a plurality of input terminals connected to said plurality of output terminals;

image-signal processing means for performing a plurality of signal processings different in function/characteristic from each other, with respect to said plurality of signals inputted to said plurality of input terminals, to output said input signal to said image display means; and

selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of signal processings which are different in function/characteristic from each other;

switching means provided on said endoscope apparatus for generating a switching signal for changing at least one signal outputted from said plurality of output terminals; and

control means provided on said image display apparatus for controlling selection of said selecting means correspondingly to said switching signal.

2. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of output terminals output a plurality of signals different in at least one of a mode and a kind from each other.

3. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of output terminals output an image signal of at least one mode and a modification signal for modifying image display function of said image display means.

4. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said image-signal processing system has a plurality of signal processing circuits for performing signal processing corresponding to a mode of the image signal inputted from said plurality of input terminals, and wherein said control means selects a single signal processing circuit correspondingly to said switching signal.

5. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said video processor outputs a plurality of image signals different in mode from each other from said plurality of output terminals and a modification signal corresponding to said switching signal for performing setting of said input signal.

6. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope apparatus further has a plurality of endoscope peripheral devices provided with function to output respective image signals thereof corresponding to said endoscope image.

7. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said switching means is provided on said video processor.

8. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said switching means is any one of a keyboard, a foot switch and a remote control unit.

9. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said signal processing device outputs an image signal of a plurality of modes corresponding to said endoscope image.

10. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said endoscope is an electronic endoscope in which said image pickup element is arranged on a focal surface of said objective lens.

11. An endoscope system according to claim 10, wherein said switching means is provided on said electronic endoscope.

15. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said video processor has a plurality of image-signal output terminals which output a plurality of image signals which are different in mode from each other, from said plurality of output terminals, and wherein only the image signal of a single mode is outputted from a single set of image-signal output terminals, correspondingly to said switching signal.

16. An endoscope system according to claim 15, wherein said control means has mode detecting means for detecting a mode of the image signal which is practically inputted from said plurality of input terminals.

17. An endoscope system according to claim 16, wherein said control means so controls as to perform signal processing corresponding to an image signal of the mode detected in accordance with the output signal from said mode detecting means.

18. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said switching means generates a display-size setting signal for variably setting a display size of said endoscope image which is displayed by said image display means, as said switching signal.

19. An endoscope system according to claim 18, wherein said plurality of output terminals output the image signal corresponding to said endoscope image and said display-size setting signal.

20. An endoscope system according to claim 18, wherein said image display means is formed by a CRT and modifies amplitude of a serration-like drive signal generated by a deflection circuit which drives said CRT in accordance with said display-size setting signal.

21. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of output terminals have an image-signal output terminal for outputting an image signal of at least one mode, and a modification-signal output terminal for outputting a modification signal different in kind from said image signal, for modifying display function of said endoscope image due to said image display means.

22. An endoscope system according to claim 21, wherein said switching means has modification-signal generating means for generating said modification signal corresponding to said switching signal.

23. An endoscope system according to claim 21, wherein said control means modifies display size of said endoscope image which is displayed by said image display means correspondingly to said modification signal.

24. An endoscope system according to claim 21, wherein said control means correct image distortion of said endoscope image which is displayed by said image display means correspondingly to said modification signal.

25. An endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of output terminals output a plurality of image signals different in mode from each other.

26. An endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of image signals different in mode from each other are different from each other in the number of transmitting lines which transmit the image signals every modes.

27. An endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of image signals different in mode from each other are different from each other in the number of scanning lines of said image signals every modes.

28. An endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of output terminals output an image signal of at least two modes of NTSC, Y/C and RGB.

29. An endoscope system according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of output terminals output an image signal of a mode of NTSC or PAL.

12. An endoscope system according to claim wherein said video processor is connected to at least one image-signal output device for outputting image signals different in mode from each other, and has a selecting switch having a plurality of contacts connected respectively to an output end of an image-signal output device and an output end of said signal processing device, wherein selection of said selecting switch is controlled by said switching signal, and wherein a mode of at least one image signal outputted from said plurality of output terminals is selected.

13. An endoscope system according to claim 12, wherein said selecting switch selects a single device from said signal processing device and said at least one image-signal output device, by said switching signal, and wherein said plurality of output terminals output an image signal of at least one mode outputted from said single device.

14. An endoscope system according to claim 13, wherein said control means controls selection of said selecting means such that signal processing is performed which corresponds to an image signal of a single mode from an image signal of said at least one mode in accordance with said switching signal.

30. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope apparatus including;

an endoscope having an elongated inserting section, illuminating-light outgoing means for outgoing illuminating light from the side of a forward end of said inserting section, and an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an optical image on the basis of an objective lens which is arranged on the side of the forward end of said inserting section; and

a video processor having signal processing means connected to said endoscope for performing signal processing with respect to said image pickup element to output an image signal corresponding to an endoscope image image-picked-up by said image pickup element;

an image display apparatus including;

image display means connected to said video processor for displaying said inputted image signal on a display surface of a CRT; and

a deflection drive circuit for generating a deflection drive signal which two-dimensionally scans an electron beam of said CRT in order to display an image on said display surface;

operation means provided on said endoscope apparatus for performing operation to modify display function of the image displayed on said display surface, and operational-signal generating means for generating an operational signal corresponding to said operation; and

display modifying means provided on said image display apparatus for modifying at least one of amplitude and waveform of said deflection drive signal correspondingly to said operational signal.

31. An endoscope system comprising:

an endoscope apparatus including;

an endoscope having an elongated inserting section, illuminating-light outgoing means for outgoing illuminating light from the side of a forward end of said inserting section, and an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an optical image on the basis of an objective lens which is arranged on the side of the forward end of said inserting section;

a first image-signal output device for outputting an image signal of at least one mode corresponding to an endoscope image; and

a video processor having a second image-signal output device connected to said endoscope for performing signal processing with respect to said image pickup element to output an image signal of at least one mode corresponding to an endoscope image which is image-picked-up by said image pickup element, switching means connected to output ends of the respective first and second image-signal output devices for selectively outputting an image signal which is outputted from said first and second image-signal output devices, and a plurality of output terminals connected to said switching means, for outputting an image signal of a plurality of modes,

an image display apparatus including;

image display means for displaying an endoscope image corresponding to an input signal inputted;

a plurality of input terminals connected to said plurality of output terminals;

image-signal processing means provided with a plurality of signal processing circuits for performing a plurality of signal processings corresponding respectively to said image signal of a plurality of modes which are inputted to said plurality of input terminals; and

selecting means for selecting a single signal processing circuit from said plurality of signal processing circuits to output a signal outputted from said single signal processing circuit to said image display means, as said input signal;

switching operational means provided on said endoscope apparatus for performing operation to control selection of said switching means and for generating a switching signal for modifying an image signal which is outputted from said plurality of output terminals; and

control means provided on said image display apparatus for controlling selection of said selecting means correspondingly to said switching signal.