Olympus Optical Company, Ltd.

Olympus Corporation

Kanichi Matsumoto

Shinji Yamashita

Katsuyuki Saito

Kotaro Ogasawara

Kuniaki Kami

Akihiko Mochida

Hideki Tashiro

Makoto Tsunakawa

Wataru Ohno

Noboru Kusamura

Kazutaka Nakatsuchi

Masahiro Hagihara

Masaru Sudo

Manabu Yajima

A camera control unit for processing a signal output from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope is provided with an analog video signal output terminal through which a video signal is output to a monitor, and a digital video signal output terminal to which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit is coupled in a freely detachable manner. By handling a release switch, a still image or motion picture can be recorded digitally. Even when the recorded image data is edited or subjected to any other processing, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. An imaging system having these advantages can be realized on a small scale.

Endoscopic imaging system in which still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit can be coupled to digital video output terminal in freely uncoupled manner

This invention relates to an endoscope image sensing apparatus which can switch suitable color matrixes in accordance with the type of observation region, the type of light source used, or the like, and obtain good color reproduction corresponding to the type of observation region or the type of light source used. This apparatus uses a one-chip color CCD as an image sensing means. A CPU reads out corresponding color matrix coefficients from a ROM, and outputs the coefficients to a color separation circuit. The color separation circuit executes a matrix computation based on the color matrix to convert luminance and color difference signals into primary color signals.

Endoscope image sensing method and apparatus

In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Endoscopic imaging system making it possible to detachably attach expansion unit having external expansion facility and add expansion facility for improving capability of system

An object is imaged continuously during a first exposure time and a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. Weights, one of which decreases monotonously and the other of which increases monotonously, are applied to first and second resultant image signals under the condition that the sum of the weights is 1. The first and second image signals that have been weighted are added up, thus producing a synthetic picture signal. When a luminance level is low, the ratio of the first image signal, which has been produced during the longer exposure time, to the second image signal is increased. This results in an image demonstrating a high signal-to-noise ratio. When the luminance level is high, the ratio of the second image signal, which has been produced during the shorter exposure time, to the first image signal is increased. This results in a synthetic image that proves a wide dynamic range, depicts a smoothly varying brightness level, and exhibits a characteristic of being seen as almost natural. Moreover, the first and second image signals are produced to resemble those produced during mutually different exposure times by controlling an amount of light incident on an imaging device or by varying an amount of illumination light.

Imaging apparatus offering dynamic range that is expandable by weighting two image signals produced during different exposure times with two coefficients whose sum is 1 and adding them up

In an endoscopic imagining system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

In an endoscopic apparatus, when the dynamic range expansion on/off switch is turned on, a CPU changes a switch from one contact over to another. Red, green, and blue digital signals sent from a knee and gamma circuit are output to respective dynamic range expanding circuits. Thus, the dynamic ranges for the digital signals are expanded. On the other hand, when the CPU changes another switch from one contact over to the other, a light adjustment signal output from an operational amplifier is then driven to a level causing a diaphragm in a light source unit to open further. Consequently, an increased amount of illumination light is supplied to the incident end of a light guide running through an endoscope. Thus, when a dynamic range is expanded, a halation effect will not occur in imaging of an object located at a point near the distal end of the endoscope. Moreover, insufficiency of illumination light will not occur in the imaging of an object located at a point far from the endoscope distal end. The dynamic range can therefore be expanded efficiently. An endoscopic image of the interior of a body cavity can be viewed with the body cavity set to a desired brightness level all points ranging from a near point to a far point within the body cavity.

Endoscopic apparatus

An endoscopic image pickup apparatus includes a camera head incorporating image pickup apparatus, a scope to which the camera head is connected detachably, and a light source apparatus supplying illumination light to the scope. A camera control unit (CCU) is provided as a processor body performing signal processing for the image pickup means provided in the camera head. A monitor displays a standard picture signal processed by the CCU. A detection circuit in the CCU detects the luminance of an image from an RGB digital signal outputted by a color separation circuit, and a detection output of the detection circuit is outputted to a CPU. The CPU judges whether the luminance of an image is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and controls a peripheral interface (I/F) on the basis of the luminance value of the image. The peripheral I/F outputs set signals and a control signal to an exposure control circuit and a CCD driver.

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Hino, Japan

Kanichi Matsumoto