Electronic endoscope system having variable power function

• US 6,685,631 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• 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: Minami, Itsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Leubecker, John P.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20020133059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 600/160, 600/109, 600/118, 600/168, 600/117, 348/65, 348/71, 348/74, 348/76, 348/347, 348/240.1
• US Class Current: 600/168
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features

Abstract

To provide an electronic endoscope system provided with an objective optical system for optically magnifying an image to be observed by using a variable power lens and an electronic zoom IC circuit for electronically magnifying an image obtained by a CCD. A depth of field at the time of switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power is set at an arbitrary value by key operation etc. of a control panel of a processor. When the depth of field becomes a setting value, for example, 16 mm (lens position before Near end), during the operation of optical variable power based on the operation of a variable power switch, electronic variable power is executed by the electronic zoom IC circuit. Thereby, an enlarged image in which the depth of a subject to be observed with irregularities is properly in focus can be obtained.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope system having a variable power function, comprising:

an objective optical system for optically magnifying an image to be observed by using a variable power lens;

an electronic variable power circuit for electronically magnifying an image obtained via an image pick-up element by signal processing;

common variable power operating means for operating optical variable power and electronic variable power;

switching point setting means for setting a depth of field at the switching time between optical variable power and electronic variable power at an arbitrary value;

a control circuit which continuously operates optical variable power and electronic variable power based on the operation of said variable power operating means, and controls the switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power with said arbitrary value of a depth of field being a switching point; and

wherein said switching point setting means sets the depth of field at the arbitrary value by an operating member on an operating section.

2. The electronic endoscope system having a variable power function according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit sets said depth of field by changing the depth of field corresponding to the position of said variable power lens.

3. The electronic endoscope system having a variable power function according to claim 1, wherein the present value of said depth of field is displayed on a monitor.

4. The electronic endoscope system having a variable power function comprising:

an objective optical system for optically magnifying an image to be observed by using a variable power lens;

an electronic variable power circuit for electronically magnifying an image obtained via an image pick-up element by signal processing;

common variable power operating means for operating optical variable power and electronic variable power;

switching point setting means for setting a depth of field at the switching time between optical variable power and electronic variable power at an arbitrary value;

a control circuit which continuously operates optical variable power and electronic variable power based on the operation of said variable power operating means, and controls the switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power with said arbitrary value of a depth of field being a switching point; and

wherein the control for switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power is carried out in a depth field preference mode by the arbitrary value of depth of field, and said field depth preference mode can be set separately from an ordinary mode in which after said variable power lens is moved to a Near end, electronic variable power is executed.

5. An electronic endoscope system having a variable power function, comprising:

an objective optical system for optically magnifying an image to be observed by using a variable power lens;

an electronic variable power circuit for electronically magnifying an image obtained via an image pick-up element by signal processing;

common variable power operating means for operating optical variable power and electronic variable power;

switching point setting means for setting a depth of field of view at an arbitrary value by setting an enlargement ratio at the switching time between optical variable power and electronic variable power at an arbitrary value;

a control circuit which continuously operates optical variable power and electronic variable power based on the operation of said variable power operating means, and controls the switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power with said arbitrary value of enlargement ratio being a switching point; and

wherein said switching point setting means sets the depth of field at an arbitrary value by an operating member on an operating section.

6. The electronic endoscope system having a variable power function according to claim 5, wherein the present value of an enlargement ratio is displayed on a monitor.

7. The electronic endoscope system having a variable power function comprising:

an objective optical system for optically magnifying an image to be observed by using a variable power lens;

an electronic variable power circuit for electronically magnifying an image obtained via an image pick-up element by signal processing;

common variable power operating means for operating optical variable power and electronic variable power;

switching point setting means for setting an enlargement ratio at the switching time between optical variable power and electronic variable power at an arbitrary value;

a control circuit which continuously operates optical variable power and electronic variable power based on the operation of said variable power operating means, and controls the switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power with said arbitrary setting value of enlargement ratio being a switching point; and

wherein the control for switching between optical variable power and electronic variable power is carried out in a depth field preference mode by the arbitrary value of enlargement ratio, and said field depth preference mode can be set separately from an ordinary mode in which after said variable power lens is moved to the Near end, electronic variable power is executed.