Video-scope in electronic endoscope apparatus

• US 20030142205A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tadashi, Iida, Mitsuru, Takizawa, Tsutomu
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A video-scope according to the present invention has an image sensor and is selectively connectable to plural types of video-processors. The video-scope has a memory, a signal processor, a video-processor detector, and a data setter. The memory stores a series of register setting data, which is associated with signal processes for image signals, read from the image sensor, and which corresponds to the plural types video-processors. The signal processor is provided in the video-scope and processes the image signals. The video-processor detector detects the type information of the connected video-processor. Then, the data setter reads the register setting data corresponding to the detected type information from the memory, and writes the register setting data in a register provided in the signal processor. The signal processor processes the image signals in accordance with the register setting data in the register.

Claims

1. A video-scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus, which has an image sensor and which is selectively connectable to plural types of video-processors, comprising:

a memory that stores a series of register setting data, said series of register setting data being associated with signal processes for processing image signals read from said image sensor, and corresponding to the plural types of video-processors;

a signal processor that is provided in said video-scope and processes the image signals;

a video-processor detector that detects type information of a connected video-processor; and

a data setter that reads register setting data corresponding to the detected type information from said memory, and that writes the register setting data in a register provided in said signal processor,

wherein said signal processor processes the image signals in accordance with the register setting data in said register.

2. The video-scope of claim 1, wherein the register setting data is defined in accordance with at least one of a characteristic of a latter signal processing circuit that is provided in each of the plural types of video-processors, a characteristic of a light source unit that has a light source and a collecting mirror, and a characteristic of a collecting optical system that collects light from the light source so that the light enters into a fiber-optic bundle provided in said video-scope.

3. The video-scope of claim 1, wherein said memory is an erasable memory.

4. The video-scope of claim 1, wherein the series of register setting data corresponds to primary types of video-processors and improved video-processors, said video-processor detector detects a primary type number and a version number assigned to said improved video-processors, said data setter reads register setting data corresponding to the primary type number and the version number of said connected video-processor from said memory, and writes the read register setting data in said register.

5. An apparatus for setting data associated with signal processes performed in a video-scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising:

a memory that stores a series of register setting data, which is associated with the signal processes, and which corresponds to plural types of video-processors;

a video-processor detector that detects type information of a connected video-processor; and

a data setter that reads register setting data corresponding to the detected type information from said memory, and writes the register setting data in a register in a signal processor that processes image signals read from an image sensor provided in said video-scope,

wherein said signal processor processing the image signals in accordance with the register setting data in said register.

6. A computer program product for setting data associated with signal processes performed in a video-scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising:

a video-processor detector that detects type information of a connected video-processor; and

a data setter that reads register setting data corresponding to the detected type information from a memory that stores a series of register setting data, which is associated with the signal processes and which corresponds to plural types of video-processors, said data setter writing the register setting data in a register in a signal processor that processes image signals read from an image sensor provided in said video-scope,

wherein said signal processor processes the image signals in accordance with the register setting data in said register.

7. A method for setting data associated with signal processes performed in a video-scope of an electronic endoscope apparatus, comprising:

detecting type information of a connected video-processor;

reading register setting data corresponding to the type of said connected video-processor from a memory that stores a series of register setting data, which is associated with the signal processes, and which corresponds to plural types of video-processors; and

writing the register setting data in a register in a signal processor that processes image signals read from an image sensor provided in said video-scope, said signal processor processing the image signals in accordance with the register setting data in said register.