Connection system for electronic endoscope

• US 6,348,035 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Takami, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/391,348
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• Field of Search: 600/109, 600/110, 600/117, 600/118, 600/132, 348/65, 348/75, 200/18, 200/51.R, 200/51.09, 200/51.1, 439/188, 439/315, 439/924.1
• US Class Current: 600/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00124 electrical, e.g. electrical plug-and-socket connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70

Abstract

A connection system for an electronic endoscope, including a flexible scope and a video-signal processing unit, is utilized to establish a detachable connection between the scope and the unit. The scope has a solid image sensor to produce image-pixel signals, and the unit has a processor for processing the image-pixel signals to produce a video signal. The scope includes a first power line, a first group of signal lines and a first ground line which are utilized to feed said image-pixel signals to the unit, and the unit include a second power line, a second group of signal lines and a second ground line which are utilized to receive the image-pixel signals from the scope. A transistor is provided in one of the first and second power lines, and is usually in an OFF-state. The OFF-state of the transistor is changed to an ON-state after the respective connections are completely established between the first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and the second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line.

Claims

1. A connection system for establishing a detachable connection between a scope and a video-signal processing unit which form an electronic endoscope, said scope having a solid-state image sensor to produce image-pixel signals, said video-signal processing unit having a processor for processing said image-pixel signals to produce a video signal, said scope including a first power line, a first group of signal lines and a first ground line which are utilized to feed said image-pixel signals to said unit, said unit including a second power line, a second group of signal lines and a second ground line which are utilized to receive said image-pixel signals from said scope, said connection system comprising:

a connector that includes a first connector half provided on said scope, and a second connector half provided on said unit, said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line being connected to said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line, respectively, by establishing a connection between said first and second connector halves;

a power switch element provided in one of said first and second power lines; and

a power controller that changes an OFF-state of said power switch element to an ON-state after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line.

2. A connection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power controller comprises a first power control line included in said scope, and a second power control line included in said unit;

a connection between said first and second power control lines is established after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line; and

the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller when the connection is established between said first and second power control lines.

3. A connection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power switch element comprises a transistor which is arranged so as to be turned ON by the establishment of the connection between said first and second power control lines.

4. A connection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said power switch element is provided in said second power line.

5. A connection system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a switch circuit that controls an output of said video signal from said unit, an OFF-state of said switch circuit being changed to an ON-state when the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller, whereby the output of said video signal from said unit is enabled.

6. A connection system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a monitor that reproduces an image on the basis of said output of said video signal from said unit; and

a character-display-controller that displays a message on said monitor announcing the establishment of the complete connections between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line when the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller.

7. A connection system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said power controller comprises a first power control line included in said scope, and a second power control line included in said unit;

a connection between said first and second power control lines being established after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line; and

the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state and the change of the OFF-state of said switch circuit to the ON-state are performed by said power controller when the connection is established between said first and second power control lines.

8. A connection system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said power switch element comprises a transistor which is arranged so as to be turned ON by the establishment of the connection between said first and second power control lines.

9. A connection system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising an indicator that indicates the establishment of the complete connections between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line when the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller.

10. A connection system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said indicator comprises a light-emitting diode which is arranged so as to be lit when the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller.

11. A connection system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said power controller comprises a first power control line included in said scope, and a second power control line included in said unit;

a connection between said first and second power control lines is established after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line; and

the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller when the connection is established between said first and second power control lines.

12. A connection system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said power switch element comprises a transistor which is arranged so as to be turned ON by the establishment of the connection between said first and second power control lines.

13. A connection system for establishing a detachable connection between a scope and a video-signal processing unit which form an electronic endoscope, said scope having a solid-state image sensor to produce image-pixel signals, said unit having a processor for processing said image-pixel signals to produce a video signal, said scope including a first power line, a first group of signal lines and a first ground line which are utilized to feed said image-pixel signals to said unit, said unit including a second power line, a second group of signal lines and a second ground line which are utilized to receive said image-pixel signals from said scope, said connection system comprising:

a connector that includes a first connector half provided on said scope, and a second connector half provided on said unit, said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line being connected to said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line, respectively, by establishing a connection between said first and second connector halves;

a power switch element provided in said second power lines;

a power controller that changes an OFF-state of said power switch element to an ON-state after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line; and

a transistor provided in each of the signal lines included in said second group, said transistor usually being in an ON-state such that the corresponding signal line is grounded, whereby said transistor serves as a static-electricity-protector for the corresponding signal line, the ON-state of said transistor being changed to an OFF-state when the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state is performed by said power controller.

14. A connection system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said power controller comprises a first power control line included in said scope, and a second power control line included in said unit;

a connection between said first and second power control lines is established after the respective connections are completely established between said first power line, first group of signal lines and first ground line and said second power line, second group of signal lines and second ground line; and

the change of the OFF-state of said power switch element to the ON-state and the change of the ON-state of said transistor to the OFF-state are performed by said power controller when the connection is established between said first and second power control lines.

15. A connection system as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a by-pass diode, which serves as a static-electricity-protector, provided in said second power control line.

16. A connection system as set forth in claim 13, wherein said power switch element comprises a transistor which is arranged so as to be turned ON by the establishment of the connection between said first and second power control lines.