The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 16, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1999
Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd., Saitama, JP;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a light control system for electronic endoscopes which provides sufficiently bright images during observation of distant objects, allows stable light control during observation of close objects, and prolongs lamp life. The light control system comprises a CCD drive circuit for controlling a CCD, a microcomputer, a diaphragm drive circuit for driving a diaphragm, a lamp voltage control circuit for variably controlling lamp voltage, and a DVP for generating a luminance signal, wherein the diaphragm drive circuit controls the opening of the diaphragm based on the luminance signal received from the DVP and a constant voltage V is normally supplied to the lamp, but a larger voltage up to V may be supplied on instructions from the microcomputer if the luminance of an image is insufficient even with the diaphragm fully open. In an embodiment with an electronic shutter circuit, a control is performed so that the lamp voltage will be raised similarly up to V only when the amount of light is insufficient even with the electronic shutter set at the lowest speed. Thus, the lamp normally lights at low voltage and glows at high voltage only when the long range observation or the like, constantly providing the optimum amount of light.