Electronic endoscope apparatus

• US 6,597,390 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• 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: Higuchi, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): An, Shawn S.
• Application Number:
  US09/479,601
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 348/65, 348/68, 348/71, 348/61, 348/69, 348/220, 348/257, 348/231, 348/70, 382/103, 382/128, 382/255, 600/101, 600/109, 600/160
• 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 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/136 using complementary colours

Abstract

The present electronic endoscope apparatus makes it possible to select either of a conventional pixel mixing and reading system and a new all-pixel reading system. For example, an electronic endoscope apparatus having a pixel mixing and reading system circuit section is configured so that an all pixel reading system circuit board for reading all pixel signals out of a CCD while using an opaque period can be selectively set to the electronic endoscope apparatus, it is judged by a microcomputer whether the all pixel reading system circuit board is present, and when the circuit board is present, an all-pixel reading system operation is executed. Moreover, it is permitted to use the pixel mixing and reading system and all-pixel reading system circuit sections as standard sections, normally execute all-pixel reading system operations, and when, for example, a freeze switch is pressed at power-on, pixel mixing and reading system operations may be executed. Furthermore, it is displayed on a monitor by a character or icon whether the pixel mixing and reading system or all-pixel reading system is currently operated.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

a pixel mixing and reading system circuit section for mixing pixel signals between upper and lower horizontal lines and reading said pixel signals from an image pickup device;

an all-pixel reading system circuit section for reading all pixel signals formed by the image pickup device through the same exposure while using a predetermined opaque period; and

a control circuit for controlling the circuit sections;

wherein

one of the pixel mixing and reading system and the all-pixel reading system is set as a standard system and the other is configured so as to be selectively settable, and

the control circuit judges whether the circuit section which can be selectively set is present and when the presence of the circuit section is detected, performs control so as to execute the circuit-section-type operation is performed.

2. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the control circuit detects that output states of a predetermined terminal of a connector for connecting the circuit sections are changed to judge whether the terminal is present.

3. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a memory for temporarily storing odd-line data and even-line data generated by an image pickup device and adjusting phases of these data values is used as the all-pixel reading system circuit section and a through-line for not passing the memory is used, and

an optical black pulse for clamping a black level of a video signal is supplied to a signal processing section at the rear stage through the through-line.

4. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

an indication showing whether the pixel mixing and reading system or the all-pixel reading system is currently operated is set onto a monitor screen.

5. An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

an electronic endoscope provided with an image pickup device;

a processor unit to which the electronic endoscope is connected;

switches for various operations;

a pixel mixing and reading system circuit for mixing pixel signals between upper and lower lines and reading them from an image pickup device;

an all-pixel reading system circuit for reading all pixel signals generated by the image pickup device through the same exposure while using a predetermined opaque period; and

a control circuit for performing the control for selectively operating either of the pixel mixing and reading system and the all-pixel reading system, judging whether a predetermined switch other than a power-supply switch among the switches is pressed at power-on, and executing the other of the two systems when detecting that the predetermined switch is pressed.

6. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the predetermined switch uses an operation switch of an electronic endoscope.

7. The electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

an indication showing whether the pixel mixing and reading system or the all-pixel reading system is currently operated is set onto a monitor screen.