Abstract: In an endoscope apparatus in which a scope is connected to a processor unit in a freely attachable and detachable way, the endoscope apparatus wherein matrix calculation is conducted for RGB signals formed by using CCD, a color space conversion processing circuit is provided for forming spectral images of the arbitrarily selected wavelength range. CCD characteristics identification information including types of color filters of the CCD and spectral characteristics or scope characteristics information is stored in the ROM of the scope, a plurality of matrix data corresponding to characteristics identification information is stored in the memory of the processor unit, and matrix data corresponding to the obtained characteristics information is read from the memory, thereby forming an excellent spectral image by using data suitable for characteristics of the CCD or the scope.

Abstract: An endoscopic system that processes a color image data of a subject from an imager mounted on an endoscope and records the processed image data in an image recorder/display unit, the endoscopic system comprising: a storage that stores matrix data for forming a spectral image; and a spectral-image forming circuit that is capable of forming (i) a spectral image in an arbitrarily-selected wavelength band according to a matrix operation of the matrix data in the storage and the color image data and (ii) a standard image according to a matrix operation of standard-image matrix data and the color image data, the standard-image matrix data being for forming a standard image.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope comprising an imaging device that forms a color image signal of a body to be observed; a storage portion that stores matrix data for forming a spectral image based on the color image signal; a spectral image-forming circuit that conducts matrix calculation based on the color image signal by using the matrix data of the storage portion and forms at least one spectral image signal each of which corresponds to an arbitrarily selected wavelength range; and an amplifier circuit that amplifies said at least one spectral image signal formed by the spectral image-forming circuit.

Abstract: An image obtained by an electronic endoscope apparatus is changed to an image that is appropriate for observation with suppressed halation and fewer dark areas. Halation detection means detects halation of a predetermined level or higher in an image represented by a signal obtained by an imaging device, based on the signal. Light amount adjustment means decreases an amount of light emitted from illumination means to cause the halation to become a predetermined level or lower. Luminance conversion means processes the signal so as to generate a luminance conversion image wherein only a dark area having a predetermined luminance or lower in the image due to the decrease in the amount of the light is changed to have a higher luminance.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes a scope unit in which a color filter is provided. The scope unit further includes a filter information storage means for storing filter information showing the kind of the color filter provided in the scope unit. Further, a plurality of kinds of scope units, each of which has filter information showing a different kind of color filter from each other, can be selectively connected. The filter information stored in the filter storage means of the connected scope unit is obtained. Then, color space correction processing is performed, based on the filter information, on color image signals output from the plurality of kinds of scope units so that each of signals for display, produced from the color image signals, represents the same point in color space.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element and a signal processing unit. The imaging element obtains an image of an observation object, and outputs an image signal of the observation object. The signal processing unit alternately repeats obtainment of a partial image signal using a part of a light receiving area of the imaging element and obtainment of a partial image signal using the remaining part of the light receiving area. The signal processing unit also obtains a whole image signal corresponding to an image of the observation object using a partial image signal obtained in the n-th (n is a natural number) obtainment and a partial image signal obtained in the (n+1)th obtainment. Further, a partial component of the n-th partial image signal is extracted by an extraction unit, and the extracted partial component is added to the (n+1)th partial image signal.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope comprising an imaging device that forms a color image signal of a body to be observed; a storage portion that stores matrix data regarding a wavelength range in which a spectral image is constituted; a spectral image forming circuit that conducts matrix calculation based on the color image signals by using the matrix data of the storage portion and forms a spectral image of a selected wavelength range; and a wavelength selecting section that selects the wavelength range of the spectral image formed by the spectral image forming circuit through a continuous changeover or a step-wise changeover.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus comprises: an endoscope comprising an imaging device that forms color image signals of a body to be observed; a Y/C signal processing circuit that forms brightness/color difference signals from a color image signal obtained by the imaging device; a storage portion that stores Y/C matrix data for forming a spectral image based on the brightness/color difference signals; and a Y/C spectral image forming circuit that conducts matrix calculation by the Y/C matrix data of the storage portion and the brightness/color difference signals output from the Y/C signal processing circuit and forms a spectral image of an arbitrarily selected wavelength range.

Abstract: An adjustment amount of a brightness level is determined for each pixel of an image based on the value of each pixel of a luminance distribution image which represents the distribution of luminance of the image. A portion contributing to adjustment of brightness and a portion contributing to adjustment of saturation are determined for each pixel of the image so that the sum thereof is equal to the adjustment amount of the brightness level. Then, an adjustment value of saturation, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel in the image based on the portion contributing to saturation, and an adjustment value of brightness, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel in the luminance distribution image, which corresponds to each pixel of the image, based on the portion contributing to brightness are added to the value of each pixel of the image.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus comprises: a processor unit; and an electronic endoscope having a solid-state pickup element, the electronic endoscopes being capable of connecting to the processor unit, so as to generate digital picture signals, wherein the processor unit comprises a differential signal outputting portion that generates digital picture signals corresponding to a pixel number of the solid-state pickup element and corresponding to a display standard for an external computer, parallel-serially converts the digital picture signals, and outputs the converted signals as differential signals, and wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus further comprises a high-definition television system converter that detects the pixel number of the digital picture signals based on the differential signals, converts the digital picture signals to high-definition television signals based on the detected number of pixels and outputs the high-definition television signals, the high-definition television system c

Abstract: In a diagnostic system, a diagnostic unit for an operator of an electronic endoscope and a diagnostic unit for an instructor are in half-duplex radio communication. An inquiry that is input as a voice signal through a microphone into the electronic endoscope is superimposed on a modulated picture signal while shifting the phase of the voice signal, to produce an RF signal, which is sent as an electric wave to an operator's processor and an instructor's processor. The processors demodulate the RF signal, to display an endoscopic image based on the picture signal and output the inquiry through speakers based on the voice signal. An instruction that is input as a voice signal through a microphone into the instructor's processor is superimposed on a dummy signal, to produce an RF signal, which is sent as an electric wave to the operator's processor, to output the instruction through the speaker.

Abstract: A video signal selector has a selector switch for selectively outputting one of an endoscopic video signal and an ultrasonic video signal, and a selector control circuit for controlling the selector switch. The selector switch selects the endoscopic video signal by default. The selector control circuit switches the selector switch to the ultrasonic video signal in response to input of an ultrasonic image capture command for commanding to save an ultrasonic image.

Abstract: The sharpness of an image obtained by an endoscope is adjusted. A sharpness enhancement amount is determined for each pixel based on the value of each pixel which forms a luminance distribution image. Further, a portion contributing to adjustment of brightness and a portion contributing to adjustment of saturation in the sharpness enhancement amount are determined for each pixel of the image so that the sum thereof is equal to the sharpness enhancement amount. Then, an adjustment value of saturation, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel of the image based on the portion contributing to saturation, and an adjustment value of brightness, which is obtained by weighting the value of each pixel of the luminance distribution image, which corresponds to each pixel of the image, based on the portion contributing to brightness, are added to the value of each pixel of the image.

Abstract: An endoscope system has an electronic endoscope with a solid-state image sensor, a processor device, and an option circuit board detachably connected to the processor device. The electronic endoscope drives the solid-state image sensor based on a clock signal correspondingly to the number of pixels of the solid-state image sensor, and captures images. The processor device generates a first video signal from an image signal. The option circuit board has a measurement pulse generator for generating measurement pulses, a gate pulse generator for generating a gate pulse, a pulse counter for counting the number of the measurement pulses during outputting the gate pulse, and a judgment circuit for obtaining the number of pixels from a count value of the pulse counter. The option circuit board converts the first video signal into a second video signal in consideration of the number of pixels to display the images on a PC monitor.

Abstract: A battery section of an electronic endoscope is provided with an EEPROM. The EEPROM stores charging time and the number of charging of batteries, necessary for calculating remaining power of the batteries, and customized information for assigning functions to first, second and third switches of an operation section. A remaining-power calculator calculates the remaining power of the batteries based on a relation between discharge voltage and discharge time of the batteries as well as on the charging time and the number of charging of the batteries read out from the EEPROM. A function assignment circuit assigns the functions to the first, second and third switches in accordance with the customized information read out from the EEPROM.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system, including a scope that outputs a plurality of types of color signals obtained by an imaging device and a processor for processing the signals outputted from the scope. A color conversion matrix in which each element data value is defined such that only a color involved in diagnosis is converted to desired color is stored in a memory of the scope or in a memory of the processor. The processor includes at least one multiplier that multiplies the plurality of types of color signals outputted from the scope by coefficients, each provided for each color signal, a coefficient setting means (microcomputers) for setting each element data of the color conversion matrix read out from the memory in the multiplier as the coefficients, and at least one adder that adds up signals outputted from the multiplier.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus having a scope and a processor. The processor includes a plurality of image processing means and a first setting means. Each of the image processing means performs different image processing. ON/OFF of functions and/or parameters used for the processing are set individually with respect to each of the image processing means. The scope includes a memory having at least one area configured to store ON/OFF setting of the function of each of the image processing means and/or a value of the processing parameter used for each processing. The first setting means of the processor reads information stored in the area of the memory of the scope to set the function of each of the image processing means to ON or OFF and supply a predetermined parameter to each of the image processing means based on the information.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a light guide for leading a light and a solid-state image sensor for capturing an image of a human body cavity during illumination. In inspecting the number of broken optical fibers in the light guide, a cap is attached to a distal portion of the electronic endoscope. The cap has a test chart. The solid-state image sensor captures an image of the test chart which is illuminated with the light transmitted through the light guide. A photometric circuit calculates an average luminance value “Y” of the test chart from a chart image signal. A broken fiber number calculator calculates the number “N” of broken optical fibers that satisfies N=M×(1?Y/I). “Y” represents an average luminance value of the test chart. “I” represents an ideal average luminance value when all optical fibers are conducting, and “M” represents the total number of the optical fibers.

Abstract: An endoscope system is constituted of an electronic endoscope with a CCD, a processor device and a light source device. A CPU of the processor device detects which of a progressive scan CCD and an interlace scan CCD that the electronic endoscope is equipped with. In the case of the progressive scan CCD, an outputted progressive signal is directly inputted to an image processing circuit. In the case of the interlace scan CCD, an outputted interlace signal is converted into a progressive signal by an I/P converter, and then inputted to the image processing circuit.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system which is largely composed of a scope and a processor. The processor includes a primary or patient's circuit and a secondary circuit which are so connected as to be able to communicate with each other for data transmission in an electrically insulated state. The secondary circuit on the side of the processor includes first MPU and first rewritable ROM which is connected with the first MPU through a first bus, a PC card slot connected to said first bus. In addition to data of picture images captured by an image sensor device mounted on a fore distal end portion of an insertion tube of a scope, a PC card stores a firmware version-up program to be executed for updating a firmware in the first ROM as soon as PC card is booted, starting from an address described in MBR of PC card. An update program of the firmware version-up program is transferred to and written into the first ROM at a high speed depending upon a clock speed of the first bus.