Endoscope apparatus

• US 7,734,160 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Sudo, Masaru, Kuroda, Hiroyuki, Saito, Katsuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US11/570,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 396/17, 348/45, 348/65, 348/76
• US Class Current: 396/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00188 with focusing or zooming features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/045 Control thereof
• 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 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus including: an endoscope unit having: a lens units; a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit; and a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function; and a control unit having: an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit, and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor, wherein: at least one of the endoscope unit and the control unit comprises: a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch.

Claims

1. An endoscope apparatus including:

an endoscope unit having;

a lens unit;

a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit; and

a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function; and

a control unit having;

an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit, and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor, wherein;

at least one of the endoscope unit and the control unit comprises;

a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and

a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch

the endoscope unit farther comprises;

a determination information notification unit for notifying determination information used for the determination of whether or not the endoscope unit has a zoom function and a focus function; and

the control unit farther comprises;

a control unit for controlling the operation of the motor driving circuit and the motor control circuit on the basis of the determination information notified by the determination information notification unit.

2. An endoscope apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope unit having;

a lens unit;

a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit; and

a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function; and

a control unit having;

an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor;

a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and

a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch,

the endoscope unit further comprises;

a determination information notification unit for notifying determination information used for the determination of whether or not the endoscope unit has a zoom function and a focus function; and

the control unit further comprises;

a control unit for controlling the operation of the motor driving circuit and the motor control circuit on the basis of the determination information notified by the determination information notification unit.

3. An endoscope apparatus, comprising:

an endoscope unit having;

a lens unit;

a photographing unit for photographing an optical image picked up through the lens unit;

a lens unit driving motor for driving the lens unit for realizing at least one of a zoom function and a focus function;

a motor driving circuit for controlling the lens unit driving motor; and

a motor control circuit for outputting a control signal that controls the motor driving circuit by detecting a switch signal generated by operation of a zoom switch or a focus switch; and

a control unit having;

an image processing circuit for processing an image signal output from the photographing unit and for outputting the processed image signal to a monitor,

the endoscope unit further comprises;

a determination information notification unit for notifying determination information used for the determination of whether or not the endoscope unit has a zoom function and a focus function; and

the control unit further comprises;

a control unit for controlling the operation of the motor driving circuit and the motor control circuit on the basis of the determination information notified by the determination information notification unit.

4. The endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the control unit further comprises;

an operation unit; and

a control circuit for providing, to the motor control circuit, a control signal for controlling the motor driving circuit on the basis of a switch signal generated by operation of the operation unit and a switch signal generated by operation of the zoom switch or the focus switch.