Electronic endoscope device using separated area photometry

• US 6,475,141 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• 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: Abe, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/891,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 600/180, 600/181, 346/68-70, 346/72, 346/221, 346/229, 346/362, 362/4, 362/574
• US Class Current: 600/180
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera

Abstract

In an electronic endoscope, and a memory which contains image pickup area information including size and light distribution characteristics are provided, and in a processor device to which this electronic endoscope is connected, a photometric part for measuring the light receiving state by using separated photometric areas, and a microcomputer are provided, and this microcomputer reads the above described image pickup area information on the electronic endoscope side, and sets a photometric areas (E_A to E_C) whose size is approximately the same corresponding to the size of the image pickup area in the above described photometric part, and in the meantime, gives weightings A to C to each separated area of these photometric areas (E_A to E_C). Consequently, even in the case where the sizes and the light distribution characteristics of the actual image pickup areas (F_A to F_C) determined by the objective optical system are changed, it is possible to realize fine photometry and brightness control.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope device, comprising;

various kinds of electronic endosoopes to which an objective optical system and an image pickup device are provided;

a main unit which is arranged so that the electronic endoscopes can freely be connected, and which controls brightness of an image based on a light receiving state of said image pickup device;

a photometric circuit which is provided on the main unit side, and which measures the light receiving state of said image pickup device by a photometric area having a plurality of separated areas set In an image pickup surface of said image pickup device; and

a determination circuit which gives a different weighting to a measured value of the separated area in said photometric area according to light distribution characteristics of an image pickup area of said Image pickup device, and which determines brightness of an image.

2. The electronic endoscope device according to said claim 1, wherein weighting of said determination circuit is given considering the area ratio of each separated area of said photometric area.

3. The electronic endoscope device according to said claim 1, wherein image pickup area information including said light distribution characteristics is given to said electronic endoscope side, and the image pickup area information is read on said main unit side, and said weighting corresponding thereto is set.

4. An electronic endoscope device comprising:

various kinds of electronic endoscopes to which an objective optical system and an image pickup device are provided; and

a main body which is arranged such that the electronic endoscopes are freely connected thereto, and which controls brightness of an image on the basis of a light receiving state of said image pickup device,

wherein said main body further comprises;

a photometric circuit in which various kinds of photometric areas having a plurality of separated areas and a different total size are arranged to be able to be set in an image pickup surface of said image pickup device, and which measures the light receiving state of said image pickup device by said selected and set photometric area; and

a control circuit which selects a photometric area in said photometric circuit according to the size of an image pickup area of said image pickup device determined by the objective optical system of said electronic endoscope.

5. The electronic endoscope device according to claim 4, wherein information of said image pickup area is given to said electronic endoscope side, and the information of the image pickup area is read on said main body side, and a photometric area corresponding thereto is set.