Endoscopes and Endoscopic Systems

Abstract

To suppress the occurrence of an image noise by suppressing an influence, on an imaging signal, of a signal indicating that an input reception part receives an operation input, when the signal is transmitted.SOLUTION: An endoscope according to an embodiment comprises: a cable for transmission of an imaging signal; an input reception unit; a cable for transmission of an operated signal; and a timing control unit. The input reception unit is provided on the same side as an image pickup device with respect to the cable for transmission of an imaging signal and when receiving an operation input, outputs an input signal. The cable for transmission of an operated signal transmits an operated signal indicating that the input reception unit has received the operation input, and forms a composite cable obtained by integration with the cable for transmission of an imaging signal. The timing control unit is provided on the same side of the image pickup device with respect to the cable for transmission of an imaging signal and receives a synchronization signal and the input signal, the timing control unit outputting the operated signal in response to timing of the reception of the synchronization signal, as a result of the reception of the input signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope and an endoscope system that transmit signals using a cable.

Background Art

[0002] An electronic endoscope includes an imaging element that captures a subject and outputs an imaging signal. The imaging element is driven to perform imaging at a predetermined frame rate by a drive signal output from a driver signal processing circuit provided in a connector of the electronic endoscope connected to a processor, and sequentially outputs the imaging signal toward the driver signal processing circuit. The imaging signal processed by the driver signal processing circuit is transmitted to the processor and further to the monitor.

[0003] An electronic endoscope generally includes a remote button that is operated to display one of the images displayed on the monitor as a still image or to instruct to capture it as an image file in the processor. When the remote button is pressed, it outputs a pulse signal, and the output pulse signal is transmitted to the processor.

[0004] Such an electronic endoscope includes a plurality of cables for transmitting each of the drive signal output from the driver signal processing circuit, the imaging signal output from the imaging element, and the pulse signal output from the remote button (Patent Document 1). Conventionally, there is an electronic endoscope in which these plurality of cables are integrated into one multi-core cable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The pulse signal from the remote button changes in signal level when the user presses the button, and the electronic endoscope processor that receives this signal detects that the button has been pressed. On the other hand, the pulse signal from the remote button is transmitted independently of the timing of the imaging signal transmission. Therefore, if multiple cables are integrated, depending on the timing of the button press, the change in signal level may be added to the imaging signal, and when displayed on the monitor, it may be perceived as image noise. Such image noise appears in the image, for example, as a difference in grayscale levels between some areas of the displayed image and other areas.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an endoscope and an endoscope system that can suppress the influence of a signal indicating that an operation input has been received on the imaging signal when the input receiving unit is transmitted, thereby suppressing the generation of image noise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This disclosure includes the following aspects: Appearance 1 An image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject and output an imaging signal, A signal processing unit configured to output a synchronization signal to cause the image sensor to repeatedly take images at predetermined timings, and to process the imaging signals output sequentially from the image sensor, A signal transmission cable configured to transmit the image signal output from the image sensor toward the signal processing unit, An input receiving unit is provided on the same side as the image sensor with respect to the image signal transmission cable and is configured to output an input signal upon receiving an external operation input, The input receiving unit is configured to transmit an operated signal indicating that it has received the operation input, and the operated signal transmission cable is a composite cable integrated with the imaging signal transmission cable, An endoscope comprising: a timing control unit provided on the same side as the image sensor with respect to the imaging signal transmission cable, configured to receive the synchronization signal output from the signal processing unit and the input signal output from the input receiving unit, and configured to output the operated signal in accordance with the timing at which the synchronization signal is input when the input signal is received.

[0009] Appearance 2 The endoscope according to embodiment 1, wherein the timing control unit outputs the operated signal during the period in which the synchronization signal is input to the timing control unit.

[0010] Appearance 3 The endoscope according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the timing control unit stops outputting the signal to be operated in accordance with the timing when the input of the signal to be input to the timing control unit ceases.

[0011] Pattern 4 An operating unit connected to the composite cable, which is provided with the image sensor, the input receiving unit, and the timing control unit, The endoscope according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3, further comprising a rigid tube connected to the operating section, the rigid tube configured to transmit an image of a subject from its tip toward the image sensor.

[0012] Appearance 5 When the input receiving unit is referred to as the first input receiving unit, the input signal as the first input signal, the operated signal as the first operated signal, the cable for transmitting the operated signal as the first operated signal transmission cable, and the timing control unit as the first timing control unit, A second input receiving unit configured to output a second input signal upon receiving an external operation input, The second input receiving unit is configured to transmit a second operated signal indicating that it has received the operation input, and at least one second operated signal transmission cable forms the composite cable together with the imaging signal transmission cable and the first operated signal transmission cable, At least one second timing control unit provided on the same side as the imaging element with respect to the imaging signal transmission cable, configured to receive the synchronization signal output from the signal processing unit and the second input signal output from the second input receiving unit, and configured to output the second operation signal according to the timing when the synchronization signal is input in response to the input of the second input signal; An endoscope according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, further comprising.

[0013] Aspect 6 An endoscope according to any one of Aspects 1 to 5, and An endoscope processor connected to the endoscope, characterized by comprising an endoscope system.

[0014] Aspect 7 Further comprising a display device connected to the endoscope processor, The endoscope processor is configured to process an imaging signal output from the endoscope and generate a display image, One of the input receiving parts of the endoscope is configured to receive an operation input for instructing to display one of the display images displayed on the display device as a still image on the display device or to capture it into the endoscope processor. The endoscope system according to Aspect 6.

Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the above-described endoscope and endoscope system, when a signal indicating that the input receiving unit has received an operation input is transmitted, the influence on the imaging signal from the signal can be suppressed, and the occurrence of image noise can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] [Figure 1] It is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an endoscope system of an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope focusing on the camera head. [Figure 3]It is a diagram showing the configuration of the timing control unit. [Figure 4] It is a timing chart explaining an example of the operation of the endoscope. [Figure 5] It is a diagram schematically showing a still image in which image noise appears. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of the flow of the operation of the endoscope system.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an endoscope system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the endoscope system 1 includes an endoscope 100, an endoscope processor (hereinafter simply referred to as a processor) 200, and a monitor 300.

[0018] The processor 200 includes a system controller 202 and a timing controller 206. The system controller 202 executes various programs stored in the memory 204 and comprehensively controls the entire endoscope system 1. Further, the system controller 202 changes various settings of the endoscope system 1 according to instructions input by an operator (surgeon or assistant) to the operation panel 208. The system controller 202 receives an input signal (capture command) output from the endoscope 100 in accordance with the operation of a remote button described later, and controls the operations of an image processing unit 220 and the like described later so as to display or file a captured image. The captured image is preferably an image obtained by capturing one frame or a plurality of consecutive frames of the display image displayed as a moving image on the monitor 300. The timing controller 206 outputs a clock pulse for adjusting the operation timing of each unit to each circuit in the endoscope system 1.

[0019] The processor 200 includes a light source unit 230 that supplies illumination light to the endoscope 100. The light source unit 230, although not shown, includes a high-intensity lamp that emits white illumination light by receiving drive power from a lamp power supply, such as a xenon lamp, metal halide lamp, mercury lamp, or halogen lamp. The illumination light emitted from the high-intensity lamp is focused by a focusing lens (not shown) and then incident on the input end of the LCB (Light Carrying Bundle) 102 of the endoscope 100 via a dimming device (not shown). Alternatively, the light source unit 230 includes multiple light-emitting diodes that emit light in a predetermined color wavelength band. The light emitted from the light-emitting diodes is combined using an optical element such as a dichroic mirror, and the combined light is focused as illumination light by a focusing lens (not shown) and then incident on the input end of the LCB (Light Carrying Bundle) 102 of the endoscope 100. Laser diodes can also be used instead of light-emitting diodes. In the example shown in Figure 1, the exit end of the LCB102 is positioned at the tip 110a of the rigid tube 110 of the endoscope 100 (described later), and the illumination light incident at the entrance end propagates to the tip 110a of the rigid tube 110. In the example shown in Figure 1, the light source unit 230 is built into the processor 200, but it may also be provided as a separate device in the endoscope system 1. Alternatively, the light source unit 230 may be provided at the tip of the endoscope 100 (described later). In this case, the LCB102 that guides the illumination light is not required.

[0020] The endoscope 100 in the example shown in Figure 1 is a rigid endoscope (rigid endoscope) equipped with a rigid tube 110. The endoscope 100 further includes a camera head (operating unit) 140, a composite cable 130, and a connector 120.

[0021] The rigid tube 110 is connected to the camera head 140. The rigid tube 110 is made of a hard material such as stainless steel or aluminum alloy and extends linearly between a tip 110a that is inserted into the body cavity and an end 110b opposite to the tip 110a that is connected to the camera head 140. In the example rigid tube 102 shown in Figure 1, the portion containing the output end of the LCB 102 is located, and the output end of the LCB 102 is located within the tip 110a of the rigid tube 110. Illumination light that enters the LCB 102 from the input end located in the processor 200 propagates through the LCB 102 and is emitted from the output end of the LCB 102 located within the tip 110a, and is irradiated onto the biological tissue inside the organ that is the subject via the light distribution lens 104. The reflected light from the biological tissue passes through an objective lens (not shown) and the rigid tube 110 to form an optical image on the light-receiving surface of the image sensor 108. In this way, the rigid tube 110 transmits the image of the subject from its tip 110a to the image sensor 108.

[0022] The camera head 140 is connected to the composite cable 130. The camera head 140 includes an image sensor 108, remote buttons (input receiving units) 142a and 142b, and timing control units 160a and 160b (see Figure 2). The remote buttons 142a and 142b and the timing control units 160a and 160b are positioned on the same side as the image sensor 108 with respect to the composite cable 130. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope 100, focusing on the camera head 140. In Figure 2, for the sake of simplicity, one of the remote buttons 142a and 142b and one of the timing control units 160a and 160b are shown. Also in Figure 2, one of the cables 132 and 133 for transmitting the operated signal, which will be described later, is shown.

[0023] The image sensor 108 is a single-chip color CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor in which various filters, such as an IR (Infrared) cut filter 108a and a Bayer array color filter 108b, are arranged on the light-receiving surface. It generates primary color signals of R (Red), G (Green), and B (Blue) corresponding to the optical image formed on the light-receiving surface. A single-chip color CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor can also be used instead of the single-chip color CCD image sensor.

[0024] Remote buttons 142a and 142b are buttons that remotely activate their respective assigned functions when pressed. For example, when remote button 142a is pressed, it outputs a pulse signal (input signal) that instructs the system to display one of the images displayed as a video on the monitor 300 as a still image. When remote button 142b is pressed, it outputs a pulse signal (input signal) that instructs the system to capture one of the images displayed as a video on the monitor 300 as an image file in the processor 200. The captured image file is recorded and stored in a memory (not shown) within the processor 200, or in an external storage device (not shown) connected to the processor 200. Furthermore, when the remote buttons 142a and 142b are released from the pressed state, they stop outputting pulse signals (input signals). The pulse signals (input signals) output from remote buttons 142a and 142b are output to timing control units 160a and 160b.

[0025] The timing control units 160a and 160b correspond to the remote buttons 142a and 142b, respectively, and in the illustrated example, two units are provided. The timing control units 160a and 160b will be described later.

[0026] The composite cable 130 is a multi-core cable in which multiple cables are integrated. The multiple cables include a drive signal transmission cable 134, an imaging signal transmission cable 131, and operated signal transmission cables 132 and 133. The drive signal transmission cable 134 is a cable for transmitting drive signals from the driver signal processing circuit 112 (described later) to the image sensor 108. The drive signals include horizontal synchronization signals and vertical synchronization signals, of which the vertical synchronization signals are also transmitted to the timing control units 160a and 160b. The imaging signal transmission cable 131 is a cable for transmitting imaging signals output from the image sensor 108 to the driver signal processing circuit 112. The operated signal transmission cable 132 is a cable for transmitting remote pulse signals (operated signals), output from the timing control unit 160a (described later), to the driver board 112A (described later) inside the connector 120. The cable 133 for transmitting the controlled signal is used to transmit the remote pulse signal (controlled signal) output from the timing control unit 160b to the driver board 112A. The imaging signal transmission cable 131 and the controlled signal transmission cables 132 and 133 are preferably integrated into a composite cable 130 for ease of use.

[0027] Connector 120 is the part of the endoscope 100 that connects to the processor 200. Inside connector 120 is a driver board 112A (see Figure 2), which is equipped with a driver signal processing circuit (signal processing unit) 112, a memory 114, and a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcontroller") 116 consisting of an MPU. The driver signal processing circuit 112 performs predetermined signal processing such as color interpolation and matrix calculation on the primary color signal input from the image sensor 108 to generate an image signal (luminance signal Y, chrominance signals Cb, Cr), and sequentially outputs the generated image signal to the image processing unit 220 of the processor 200 via the microcontroller 116. While the microcontroller 116 transmits the image signal (video signal) of the moving image output from the driver signal processing circuit 112 to the processor 200, if it receives a remote pulse signal (operated signal) from the timing control units 160a and 160b, and the microcontroller 116 is in a state where it can accept interrupt requests, the interrupt request is accepted (interrupt processing is initiated). When interrupt processing is initiated, the microcontroller 116 performs the processing that has been set in advance for when the remote buttons 142a and 142b are pressed. Specifically, it sends the remote pulse signal (operated signal) to the system controller 202 as a capture command. If a predetermined period of time passes without receiving a remote pulse signal (operated signal) while interrupt processing is in progress, the interrupt processing is canceled. The microcontroller 116 also accesses the memory 114 to read out the unique information of the endoscope 100. The unique information of the endoscope 100 recorded in the memory 114 includes, for example, the type of endoscope 100, the number of pixels and sensitivity of the image sensor 108, the operable frame rate, and the model number. The microcontroller 116 outputs the unique information read from the memory 114 to the system controller 202.

[0028] The system controller 202 performs various calculations based on the unique information of the endoscope 100 and generates control signals. Using the generated control signals, the system controller 202 controls the operation and timing of each circuit in the processor 200 so that processing appropriate for the endoscope 100 connected to the processor 200 is performed. When the system controller 202 receives a remote pulse signal (operated signal), as processing when remote buttons 142a and 142b are pressed, it controls the image processing unit 220 to output the video signal of the frame following the frame in which the remote pulse signal (operated signal) was received to the monitor 300, switching to video and displaying a still image. The signal of the frame in which the remote pulse signal (operated signal) was received may have noise added to it and is therefore not used for still images.

[0029] The timing controller 206 supplies clock pulses to the driver signal processing circuit 112, the image processing unit 220, and the light source unit 230 according to the timing control by the system controller 202. The driver signal processing circuit 112 generates and outputs a drive signal including a synchronization signal according to the clock pulse supplied from the timing controller 206 via the microcontroller 116, thereby controlling the drive of the image sensor 108 at a timing synchronized with the frame rate of the video processed on the processor 200 side. As a result, the image sensor 108 performs repeated imaging.

[0030] The image processing unit 220 is the part that can process the image captured by the image sensor 108 according to the operator's instructions or according to pre-set processing content, and the actual calculations of the image processing are performed by the system controller 202. The image processing is image processing other than that performed by the driver signal processing circuit 112, and includes, for example, color correction, matrix calculation, gradation processing, white balance correction, etc. Furthermore, as part of the image processing, the image processing unit 220 processes the image of the captured biological tissue, generates a video signal for display on the monitor 300, and displays the video on the monitor 300. In other words, the monitor 300 is configured to display the processed image obtained by image processing the captured image (video signal) in the image processing unit 220 as a video.

[0031] In this embodiment, the timing control units 160a and 160b are configured to receive the vertical synchronization signal output from the driver signal processing circuit 112 and the pulse signals (input signals) output from the remote buttons 142a and 142b, and to output a remote pulse signal (operated signal) in accordance with the timing of the input of the vertical synchronization signal. Figure 3 shows the configuration of the timing control unit 160a as a representative example, but the timing control unit 160b is configured similarly to the timing control unit 160a. The configuration of the timing control unit 160b, which differs from the timing control unit 160a, is shown in parentheses in Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 3, the timing control unit 160a has an OR gate 161. The OR gate 161 is connected to the cable 132 for transmitting the operated signal, the cable 134 for transmitting the drive signal, and the signal line 135 of the remote button 142a. Signal line 135 is the wiring through which the pulse signal (input signal) input to the OR gate 161 is transmitted when the remote button 142a is pressed. Signal line 135 is connected to a pull-up resistor 163, which is connected to a power supply 165 that receives power from the driver board 112A. The other signal line 136 of the remote button 142a is connected to the frame ground 167 of the camera head 140. Therefore, when the remote button 142a is not pressed, a high signal voltage H is input to the OR gate 161, and when the remote button 142a is pressed, a low signal voltage L (0V) is input to the OR gate 161.

[0032] Figure 4 shows a timing chart illustrating an example of the operation of the endoscope 100. Figure 4 shows the changes in the signal levels of the vertical synchronization signal, video signal, remote pulse signal (operated signal), and pulse signal (input signal) input to the OR gate 161. As shown in Figure 4, it is preferable that the timing control unit 160a outputs the remote pulse signal (operated signal) during the period when the vertical synchronization signal is input to the timing control unit 160a. The OR gate 161 does not output the remote pulse signal (operated signal) (outputs signal voltage H) when either the vertical synchronization signal or the pulse signal (input signal) is not input (signal voltage H is input). In other words, the OR gate 161 outputs the remote pulse signal (operated signal) (outputs signal voltage L) only when both the vertical synchronization signal and the pulse signal (input signal) are input (signal voltage L is input). In this way, the remote pulse signal (operated signal) is output only when the imaging signal (video signal) from the image sensor 108 is not being transmitted, and at all other times, the signal level does not change even when the remote buttons 142a and 142b are pressed (even when they change from Off to On in Figure 4), thus avoiding the addition of changes in the signal level of the remote pulse signal (operated signal) to the transmitted video signal. As a result, even if the imaging signal transmission cable 131 and the operated signal transmission cables 132 and 133 are integrated and placed close to each other, the influence of the remote pulse signal (operated signal) on the video signal is almost negligible, making it less likely to be recognized as image noise in the image displayed on the monitor 300, thus eliminating practical problems. In this embodiment, the remote pulse signal (operated signal), which was conventionally transmitted independently of the timing of video signal transmission, is transmitted in synchronization with the video signal.

[0033] In contrast, in an endoscope that does not have timing control units 160a and 160b and in which the remote button is directly connected to the microcontroller, the remote button is pressed independently of the timing at which the video signal output from the imaging signal is transmitted. Therefore, if multiple cables are integrated and arranged close to each other, depending on the timing of the remote button being pressed, a change in the level of the remote pulse signal (operated signal) output by pressing the remote button may be added to the imaging signal and may be perceived as image noise when displayed on the monitor. Because the voltage level of the output signal from the image sensor 108 is minute, even a minute voltage change due to the addition of the remote pulse signal (operated signal) may be perceived as noise on the image by the human eye. Here, Figure 5 schematically shows an example of a monitor display image in which image noise appears. In Figure 5, the left-right direction is the direction synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal, and the up-down direction is the direction synchronized with the vertical synchronization signal. Image noise appears in the image, for example, as a difference in the level of contrast between some areas of the displayed image and other areas. In the example shown in Figure 5, the image area of ​​the video signal transmitted after the remote button was pressed (the darker area in Figure 5) appears darker than the image area of ​​the video signal transmitted before the remote button was pressed (the lighter area in Figure 5), which can be perceived as a boundary between still images. While video is displayed on the monitor, the displayed image is updated continuously, making such image noise difficult to perceive. However, when a capture command is received and the image is displayed as a still image, such image noise becomes easily recognizable.

[0034] In this embodiment, as described above, the remote buttons 142a and 142b are connected to the timing control units 160a and 160b within the same camera head 140. Therefore, the signal line 136 on the side of the remote buttons 142a and 142b that is different from the signal line 135 can be connected to the frame ground 167 of the camera head 140. As a result, there is no need to use coaxial cables for the signal lines of the remote buttons 142a and 142b, which contributes to cost reduction. In addition, there is no need to pair the core wires of the cables 132 and 133 for transmitting the operated signal, and the cables can be made thinner, which increases the design flexibility of the composite cable 130 and the camera head 140 and connector 120 connected to the composite cable 130. These effects are particularly significant in the endoscope 100 described above, which has multiple remote buttons. On the other hand, in an endoscope that does not have timing control units 160a and 160b and in which the remote button is directly connected to the microcontroller, the signal line of the remote button is connected to the microcontroller and the signal ground of the driver board, so it needs to be a coaxial cable. Also, because the signal lines need to be paired, the cable cannot be made thin.

[0035] It is preferable that the timing control units 160a and 160b stop outputting the remote pulse signal (operated signal) in accordance with the timing at which the vertical synchronization signal is input when the pulse signal (input signal) input to the timing control units 160a and 160b ceases. In this case, it is preferable that the timing control units 160a and 160b stop outputting the remote pulse signal (operated signal) during the period when the vertical synchronization signal is input to the timing control units 160a and 160b. As described above, the OR gate 161 outputs the remote pulse signal (operated signal) (outputs the signal voltage L) only when both the vertical synchronization signal and the pulse signal (input signal) are input (signal voltage L is input), so while the remote buttons 142a and 142b are pressed, the OR gate 161 outputs the remote pulse signal (operated signal) only during the period when the vertical synchronization signal is input. Upon receiving the remote pulse signal (operated signal), the microcontroller 116 recognizes that the remote buttons 142a and 142b are pressed and continues the operations described above during interrupt processing. When the remote buttons 142a and 142b are released, the remote pulse signal (operated signal) will no longer be output even if a vertical synchronization signal is input to the OR gate 161. In other words, the OR gate 161 stops outputting the remote pulse signal (operated signal). If no remote pulse signal (operated signal) is input for a predetermined period, the microcontroller 116 recognizes that the remote buttons 142a and 142b have been released, and the interrupt processing is canceled.

[0036] Figure 6 shows an example of the operation flow of the endoscope system 1, which displays video in conjunction with imaging (observation) of the subject. Here, we will explain using the case where a capture command is sent by pressing the remote button 142a as an example. When the microcontroller 116 receives a signal output from the system controller 202 instructing the generation of a moving image, it outputs a signal to the driver signal processing circuit 112 based on the information of various parameters read from the memory 114, and initial settings are performed (step S1). Subsequently, under normal operation, the image sensor 108 repeatedly captures images, and the image signal (video signal) processed by the driver signal processing circuit 112 is transmitted to the processor 200 via the microcontroller 116, where it is processed and the video is displayed on the monitor 300 (step S2).

[0037] When the remote button 142a is pressed while the video is being displayed, a remote pulse signal (operated signal) is output to the timing control unit 160a in accordance with the timing of the input of the vertical synchronization signal. Upon receiving this, the microcontroller 116 is interrupted (Yes in step S3), and the processing for when the remote button 142a is pressed is performed (step S4). Specifically, a capture command is sent from the microcontroller 166 to the system controller 202, and the image of the video signal of the frame following the frame at the time the capture command was received is displayed on the monitor 300 as a still image instead of a video. After that, when the remote button 142a is released and the output of the remote pulse signal (operated signal) from the timing control unit 160a stops, the interrupt processing in the microcontroller 116 is canceled (step S5). The operations from step S2 to step S5 are repeated until the end of observation (Yes in step S6).

[0038] Although the endoscope and endoscope system of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0039] The number of remote buttons on the endoscope 100 is not limited to two, but may be one, three, four or more. Similarly, the number of cables for transmitting operated signals and timing control units on the endoscope 100 is not limited to two, but may be one, three, four or more, depending on the number of remote buttons on the endoscope 100. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1 Endoscopy System 100 Endoscopes 102 LCB 104 Alignment Lens 108 image sensors 108a cut filter 108b Bayer array color filter 110 Rigid tube 110a Tip 110b end 112 Driver signal processing circuit 112A Driver Board 114 memory 116 Microcontrollers 120 connectors 130 Composite Cable 131 Cable for transmitting imaging signals 132, 133 Cables for transmitting manipulated signals 134 Drive signal transmission cable 135, 136 signal lines 140 Camera head (control unit) 142a, 142b Remote button (input receiving section) 160a, 160b Timing control unit 161 OR Gate 163 Pull-up resistors 165 Power supply 167 Frame Ground 200 processors 202 System Controller 204 memory 206 Timing Controller 208 Control Panel 220 Image Processing Unit 230 Light source device 300 monitors

Claims

1. An image sensor configured to capture an image of a subject and output an imaging signal, A signal processing unit configured to output a synchronization signal to the image sensor to repeatedly perform imaging at predetermined timings, and to process the imaging signals output sequentially from the image sensor, A signal transmission cable configured to transmit the image signal output from the image sensor toward the signal processing unit, An input receiving unit configured to output an input signal upon receiving an external operation input, The input receiving unit is configured to transmit an operated signal indicating that it has received the operation input, and the operated signal transmission cable is a composite cable integrated with the imaging signal transmission cable, The system comprises a timing control unit configured to receive the synchronization signal output from the signal processing unit and the input signal output from the input receiving unit, and configured to output the operated signal in accordance with the timing at which the synchronization signal is input when the input signal is received, The endoscope is characterized in that the input receiving unit and the timing control unit are provided on the same side as the image sensor with respect to the composite cable.

2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the timing control unit outputs the operated signal during the period in which the synchronization signal is input to the timing control unit.

3. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the timing control unit stops outputting the signal to be operated in accordance with the timing when the input of the signal to be input to the timing control unit ceases.

4. An operating unit connected to the composite cable, which is provided with the image sensor, the input receiving unit, and the timing control unit, The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a rigid tube connected to the operating section, the rigid tube configured to transmit an image of a subject from its tip toward the image sensor.

5. When the input receiving unit is referred to as the first input receiving unit, the input signal as the first input signal, the operated signal as the first operated signal, the cable for transmitting the operated signal as the first operated signal transmission cable, and the timing control unit as the first timing control unit, A second input receiving unit configured to output a second input signal upon receiving an external operation input, The second input receiving unit is configured to transmit a second operated signal indicating that it has received the operation input, and at least one second operated signal transmission cable that forms the composite cable together with the imaging signal transmission cable and the first operated signal transmission cable, The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: at least one second timing control unit provided on the same side as the image sensor with respect to the composite cable, configured to receive the synchronization signal output from the signal processing unit and the second input signal output from the second input receiving unit, and configured to output the second operation signal in accordance with the timing at which the synchronization signal is input when the second input signal is input.

6. The endoscope according to claim 1 or 2, An endoscope system characterized by comprising an endoscope processor connected to the endoscope.

7. The endoscope processor is further connected to a display device, The endoscope processor is configured to process the imaging signal output from the endoscope and generate a display image. The endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein one of the input receiving units of the endoscope is configured to receive an operation input instructing to display one of the display images, which has been displayed as a video on the display device, as a still image on the display device, or to take it into the endoscope processor.

Images