Abstract: In an electronic endoscope system for detecting an image of an object using a CCD, a brightness signal is generated based on the output of the CCD, and a histogram processing is applied to the brightness signal. An aperture size for regulating the amount of light emitted to an object to be viewed is controlled in accordance with the calculation based on the histogram data.

Abstract: This all pixels read type electronic endoscope system is to read out all the pixels obtained by one exposure in an image pickup device, thereby to improve the picture quality. In this system, a CCD and a CCD driver circuit are provided, and with respect to the video signals obtained by one exposure within a 1/60 sec period, the signals of odd lines are read out in the next period and then the signals of even lines are read out in the period subsequent to the next period, and the signal data of odd line is stored in a first memory, while the signal data of even lines is stored in a second memory. The reading of the even line data is enabled by a light interception by a light chopper. And, in a mixing circuit, the pixel data of odd and even lines are mixed together, and an image for one frame is formed based on the pixel mix signal.

Abstract: A signal processor circuit which stabilizes a clamp processing of black levels even in an endoscope system of an all-pixels readout type and prevents image qualities from being degraded at a stage to shift from a still image to a moving image in particular. In this signal processor circuit, video signals of all picture elements obtained with a single exposure are read out of a CCD, odd line data is stored into a first memory, even line data is stored into a second memory, and mixed picture element signals are generated by a mixer circuit, whereafter a predetermined image processing is performed by a first DVP. A clamp circuit and an A/D converter are disposed at stages preceding the first and second memories, a through video signal output from the A/D converter is input into the first DVP by way of a selector circuit on the basis of an optical black pulse and a black level clamp signal generated on the basis of the through video signal is fed back to the clamp circuit.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises a plurality of endoscope components including at least one endoscope light source apparatus for supplying illumination light to an endoscope and at least one video signal processing unit for processing video signals provided by the endoscope, a main control unit for controlling the plurality of endoscope system components, and a main operational instruction unit connected to the main control unit and used to operate the plurality of endoscope system components. The main operational instruction unit includes a display capable of selectively displaying operational instruction input screens associated with functions possessed by the plurality of endoscope system components.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus is of a field-sequential imaging type, comprising an illuminating unit for illuminating an object by sequentially emitting color illumination rays with a plurality of different wavelengths and an imaging device for photoelectrically transforming the object image formed with the color illumination rays emanating from the illuminating unit. The electronic endoscope includes a drive circuit for driving the imaging device so as to read the locations in the imaging device associated with only one of two fields, image memories for storing video signals representing the object image formed with the color illumination rays and having been read from the imaging device, and memory control units for reading color video signals from the image memories in synchronization with a vertical-synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by the optical system; an illuminating device for irradiating the object with illuminating light; a light control device for changing the brightness of the illuminating light; a stop device whose aperture is variable, disposed in the optical system; a detecting device for detecting the brightness of the image of the object; and a control device for controlling the stop device and the light control device so that the intensity of a signal output from the solid-state image sensor is kept nearly constant in accordance with brightness information derived from the detecting device. In this way, the endoscope apparatus always maintains the optimum brightness of the image and ensures a practical pan-focus state in which a user's operation load is reduced.

Abstract: An output video signal is derived from an input video signal generated by an image sensor in response to an image formed on only part of the image sensor. The output video signal is derived in response to only the portion of the input video signal generated by the part of the image sensor on which the image is formed. The input video signal additionally includes a portion generated by the part of the image sensor on which the image is not formed. An image signal generating apparatus is provided in which the image sensor is mounted, and which includes a detachably-attached image-forming device. When attached to the image signal generating apparatus, the image-forming device forms the image on the part of the image sensor. A frame of the input video signal is received from the image sensor.

Abstract: An endoscope in which moving and still picture image pickup operations are alternatively carried out, and a light source emits either a continuous light or a pulsed light in the moving or still picture image pickup operations, a detector detects illuminances of moving and still picture images in the moving and still picture image pickup operations to obtain an illuminance ratio between the moving and still picture images, and the illuminance ratio is adjusted to a certain value by an adjuster on the basis of the illuminance ratio detected by the detector.