Video signal transmission device

• US 6,459,447 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Fujio, Negishi, Keiichi, Nakagawa, Mitsuhisa
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, RICHARD J
• Application Number:
  US09/409,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: A62/B.104, H04/W.718, 348/65, 348/68-72, 348/75, 348/76, 600/101, 600/109, 600/132, 600/134, 128/908, 250/551
• US Class Current: 348/65
• 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 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/18 by means of "clamp" circuit operated by switching circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/908 Patient protection from electric shock

Abstract

With an electronic endoscope, a wide band video signal is output to connected instruments without giving electric shocks to a body even when the connected instruments are not insulated. The video signal V is converted to differential signals V1, V2 by a differential amp 31 and input to buffers 42, 43 via capacitors 32, 33. The clamp signal CP generated by the clamp signal output means 44 is input to the end terminals of the switches SW1, SW2 via the photocoupler 46. The differential signals V1, V2 undergo pulse clamping in the buffers 42, 43 and the DC components are restored. The video signal restoring portion 49 restores the video signal V on the basis of the differential signals V1, V2 having undergone DC restoration and outputs the video signals to the connected instruments.

Claims

1. A video signal transmission device, having primary and secondary circuits insulated from each other and which transmits video signals between said primary and secondary circuits, comprising:

differential output means, connected to one of said primary and secondary circuits, for converting a video signal to two differential signals and outputting the two differential signals;

two capacitors, connected between said primary and secondary circuits, for respectively transmitting said two differential signals;

clamping means for performing restoration of direct current components of said two differential signals; and

means for restoring the video signal, connected to the one of said primary and secondary circuits not connected to said differential output means, which restores the video signal based on said two differential signals, for which said direct current components have been restored.

2. The video signal transmission device, according to claim 1, wherein said secondary circuit is a scope portion of an electronic endoscope having imaging means provided on an end portion thereof, and said primary circuit is a video signal input/output of said electronic endoscope.

3. The video signal transmission device, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said clamping means comprises:

means for outputting a clamp signal, connected to one of said primary and secondary circuits, for restoring said direct current components;

means for insulating and transmitting said clamp signal to the one of said primary and secondary circuits not connected to said means for outputting a clamp signal; and

two buffers, connected to the one of the primary and secondary circuits not connected to said means for outputting a clamp signal, to which said two differential signals are input;

wherein the clamping means effects said restoration of the direct current components in the input portions of said two buffers.

4. The video signal transmission device, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said two capacitors comprise a circuit substrate and patterns formed on the circuit substrate.