Electronic endoscopy system

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit observation images by different rays of illumination light to be simultaneously observed even by using a CMOS type image sensor. SOLUTION: The electronic endoscope 10 has a CMOS type image sensor (CMOS sensor) 23. The vertical scanning circuit 51 of the CMOS sensor 23 is structured so as to enable it to read an imaging signal every other horizontal line and to discharge the signal electric charge of all pixels 56 of the CMOS sensor 23 to a drain (collective resetting of all pixels) through a resetting transistor M3. When a simultaneous photographing mode to obtain each observation image is chosen by irradiating ordinary light (white light) and special light of a narrow wavelength zone, the system turns off the illumination light while it reads the imaging signal every other horizontal line by the vertical scanning circuit 51. The system adjusts the starting timing of electric charge accumulation of the CMOS sensor 23 by carrying out collective resetting of all pixels by the vertical scanning circuit 51 and changes the illumination light by the accumulation period of the CMOS sensor 23. COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system having a CMOS image sensor, and more specifically, to an electronic endoscope system for imaging an observation site while switching illumination light. Background technique [0002] Conventionally, in the medical field, examinations using electronic endoscopes have been widely used. The electronic endoscope includes an insertion unit for insertion into a body cavity of a subject (patient) and an operation unit for operating the insertion unit. An illumination window for illuminating the observation site in the body cavity and an imaging window for imaging the observation site with the solid-state imaging device are provided at the front end of the insertion part. The electronic endoscope is connected to the processor device and the light source device through flexible wires or connectors. The processor device performs various processes on the imaging signal output from the solid-state i...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0012] In this way, if a CMOS image sensor is used for simultaneous shooting, a blank frame will be generated between two frames with different illumination lights, so only switching the illumination light cannot ensure the synchronization between multiple images like a CCD image sensor. sex

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