Television – Special applications – With endoscope
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-09
2001-04-10
Le, Vu (Department: 2713)
Television
Special applications
With endoscope
C348S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215517
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope provided with an endoscope unit having a solid-state imaging element, and a signal processing unit for processing an image signal output by the solid-state imaging element.
An electronic endoscope system is generally provided with an endoscope unit which has a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) at a distal end of an insertion portion thereof for capturing image of an object to be observed. The electronic endoscope system is further provided with an image signal processing unit which processes an image signal output by the CCD to generate a video signal. The video signal is transmitted to a displaying device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or the like, and/or to auxiliary devices (peripheral devices). Conventionally, electronic endoscope systems output analog video signals such as an analog RGB signal, analog composite signal, analog S-video signal and the like.
Recently, the peripheral devices (including displaying devices) provided with digital video signal input terminals have become developed and used. Using such devices is advantageous since the digital video signal has less deterioration due to attenuation of transmitted signal and is free from noise.
Image formed by the video signal output by the electronic endoscope system may be observed not only by an operator of the endoscope but also by an assistance, and/or many other people. For example, the image may be displayed on a displaying device located at a place or room remote from the electronic endoscope system. For this purpose, there has been desired that the peripheral devices utilizing digital video signal, which is not easily deteriorated.
It may be possible to convert the analog video signal once output by the conventional electronic endoscope into the digital video signal using an Analog to Digital (A/D) converter, and transmit the same to a peripheral device using the digital video signal. In such a method, however, the analog signal is once output, and then it is converted into the digital signal. Therefore, deterioration of the signal is unavoidable.
Further, a converting device for converting the analog signal to the digital signal should be additionally used together with the conventional electronic endoscope system, the number of cables for transmitting signals increased. Furthermore, the configuration of the endoscope system, operation thereof are complicated since the number of devices to be operated increases. Still further, a room for accommodating such a converting device should also become necessary. Therefore, using the A/D conversion together with the conventional electronic endoscope outputting the analog image signals is not practical.
Further to the above, various formats of digital video signals have been known. If there are plurality of peripheral devices which use digital video signals having different formats, a plurality of converting devices respectively corresponding to the formats of the video signals used by the plurality of peripheral devices should be employed in the electronic endoscope system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provided an improved electronic endoscope system in which a video signal can be transmitted to a plurality of peripheral devices without deteriorating the video signal.
For the object, according to the invention, there is provided an electronic endoscope system which includes an endoscope unit having a solid-state imaging element which captures an image of an object and outputs an image signal, and signal processing unit, which receives the image signal from the imaging element and generates a plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats.
Since a plurality of digital video signals having different formats are generated, various types of peripheral devices utilizing digital video signals can be connected to the endoscope system, and the video signal can be transmitted without being deteriorated.
Optionally, the signal processing unit may be provided with a plurality of signal output ports for outputting the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats, respectively.
With this configuration, a plurality of digital video signals having different formats can be output simultaneously. Accordingly, various types of peripheral devices using different signal formats can be connected to the endoscope system simultaneously.
Further optionally, the plurality of signal output ports may include at least one serial port for outputting one of the plurality of digital video signals.
Alternatively or optionally, the plurality of signal output ports may include at least one parallel port for outputting at least one of the plurality of digital video signals.
Still optionally or alternatively, the plurality of signal output ports may include at least one pair of serial and parallel ports for outputting at least one of the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats as serial and parallel digital signals, respectively.
In particular case, the plurality of signal output ports may include a plurality of pairs of serial and parallel ports for outputting all of the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats as serial and parallel digital signals, respectively. In this case, it is preferable that each pair of a parallel port and a serial port corresponding to the same signal format are arranged closely adjacent to each other to enable an operator to recognize a port to be used easily.
Alternatively, the signal processing unit may be provided with at least one signal selector, which selects one of the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats; and at least one output port through which the one of the plurality of digital video signal selected by the signal selector is output.
Optionally, at least one output port may include a serial port for outputting a serial digital signal.
Alternatively or optionally, at least one output port may include a parallel port for outputting a parallel digital signal.
In particular case, the signal processing unit may include a first signal selector, which selects a first signal from among the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats; a second signal selector, which selects a second signal from among the plurality of digital video signals having different signal formats; a parallel output port through which the first signal is output as a parallel digital signal; and a serial output port through which the second signal is output as a serial digital signal.
Preferably, the plurality of digital video signal may include a signal having a D1 format.
Alternatively or optionally, the plurality of digital video signal may include a signal having a D2 format.
Optionally, the plurality of digital video signal may include a digital brightness signal.
Further optionally, the plurality of digital video signal may include digital color difference signals.
Still optionally, the plurality of digital video signal may include a multiplexed signal which is generated by multiplexing color difference signals.
Yet optionally, the plurality of digital video signal may include a multiplexed signal which is generated by multiplexing brightness and color difference signals.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the signal processing device may output a field indication signal indicating whether a currently output signal corresponds to an odd or even frame.
Further optionally, the signal processing device may output a plurality of analog video signals.
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“Outline o
Iketani Kohei
Takahashi Akihiro
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Le Vu
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