Endoscope system with irradiated light switching feature
First Claim
1. An endoscope system comprising:
- an endoscope having one or more solid-state imaging devices, each solid-state imaging device comprising a charge multiplication mechanism for varying a sensitivity by varying a charge multiplication rate in accordance with the number of pulses or amplitude of the pulses provided to the one or more solid-state imaging devices;
a signal processing unit for processing an output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices;
a light source unit for selectively irradiating first light to perform ordinary light observation and second light to perform special light observation to an object;
an observation mode switching device for switching between the ordinary light observation by the first light and the special light observation by the second light; and
a sensitivity control device for controlling the charge multiplication rate by varying the number of pulses or the amplitude of the pulses provided to the one or more solid-state imaging devices so that a level of the output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices may be a predetermined level; and
,an automatic gain control circuit for amplifying an output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices so that the level of the output signal becomes said predetermined level when the level of the output signal is less than said predetermined level,wherein the sensitivity control device varies the charge multiplication rate of the one or more solid-state imaging devices depending upon whether the first light is irradiated to the object or the second light is irradiated to the object.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope 2 has a CCD 9 incorporated in the distal part of an insertion unit 6 thereof. The sensitivity of the CCD 9 can be varied by applying a plurality of pulsating driving signals so as to change an electron multiplication rate. The endoscope 2 is connected to a processor 3 so that it can be disconnected freely. Information representing a type of endoscope stored in advance in a ROM 48 is transmitted to a controller 21 incorporated in the processor 3. The control means 21 uses a CCD sensitivity control means 12 to control the sensitivity of the CCD 9 according to the type of connected endoscope 2. Consequently, a view image of proper brightness can be produced irrespective of the type of endoscope 2.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An endoscope system comprising:
-
an endoscope having one or more solid-state imaging devices, each solid-state imaging device comprising a charge multiplication mechanism for varying a sensitivity by varying a charge multiplication rate in accordance with the number of pulses or amplitude of the pulses provided to the one or more solid-state imaging devices; a signal processing unit for processing an output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices; a light source unit for selectively irradiating first light to perform ordinary light observation and second light to perform special light observation to an object; an observation mode switching device for switching between the ordinary light observation by the first light and the special light observation by the second light; and a sensitivity control device for controlling the charge multiplication rate by varying the number of pulses or the amplitude of the pulses provided to the one or more solid-state imaging devices so that a level of the output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices may be a predetermined level; and
,an automatic gain control circuit for amplifying an output signal from the one or more solid-state imaging devices so that the level of the output signal becomes said predetermined level when the level of the output signal is less than said predetermined level, wherein the sensitivity control device varies the charge multiplication rate of the one or more solid-state imaging devices depending upon whether the first light is irradiated to the object or the second light is irradiated to the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification