Electronic endoscope apparatus adaptable to endoscopes equipped with imaging device with different pixel density

• US 6,992,694 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujinon Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Abe, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/032,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 348/59, 348 42- 58, 348/60, 348 78- 79, 348/72, 600/152, 600/476, 359/814
• US Class Current: 348/72
• 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 23/663 for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56

Abstract

An electronic endoscope apparatus including: a first endoscope having a first imaging device; and a second endoscope having a second imaging device with a different pixel density and a second drive pulse generation circuit, wherein a processor unit, which connects the two endoscopes, comprises: a first drive pulse generation circuit for driving the first imaging device, a synchronization circuit for generating a synchronizing signal synchronous with the signal of the second drive pulse generation circuit, a switching circuit for activating the synchronization circuit when the second endoscope is connected, and a signal processing circuit for processing the signals obtained by the first imaging device and for processing the signals obtained by the second imaging device based on the synchronizing signal. By this configuration, a single processor unit will suffice even when employing an imaging device with a different pixel density.

Claims

1. An electronic endoscope apparatus, including:

a first electronic endoscope having a first imaging device;

a second electronic endoscope having a second imaging device of which pixel density is different from that of said first image device, and having a second drive pulse generation circuit for generating drive pulses to drive the second imaging device; and

a processor unit for connecting said first or (10A) second electronic endoscope,

wherein the processor unit comprises;

a first drive pulse generation circuit for generating drive pulses to drive said first imaging device;

a selection circuit for activating the second drive pulse generation circuit when said second electronic endoscope (10B) is connected;

a synchronization circuit for forming synchronizing signals which are synchronous with the drive pulse of said second drive pulse generation circuit;

a signal processing circuit for performing image processing on the output signal from said first imaging device when said first electronic endoscope is connected, and for performing image processing on the output signal from the second imaging device by inputting the synchronizing signals from said synchronization circuit when the second electronic endoscope is connected; and

wherein a determination circuit for automatically determining the type of the electronic endoscope which is connected to said processor unit is provided, and said selection circuit and synchronization circuit are operated based on the determination of the determination circuit.