Abstract: An object is imaged continuously during a first exposure time and a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. Weights, one of which decreases monotonously and the other of which increases monotonously, are applied to first and second resultant image signals under the condition that the sum of the weights is 1. The first and second image signals that have been weighted are added up, thus producing a synthetic picture signal. When a luminance level is low, the ratio of the first image signal, which has been produced during the longer exposure time, to the second image signal is increased. This results in an image demonstrating a high signal-to-noise ratio. When the luminance level is high, the ratio of the second image signal, which has been produced during the shorter exposure time, to the first image signal is increased.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imagining system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: One expansion substrate or a plurality of expansion substrates that realize different facilities can be connected to a main substrate that realizes basic processing to be performed by a CCU. Based on an ID number produced by an ID generation unit mounted on a connected expansion substrate, a CPU incorporated in the CCU identifies the facility realized with the expansion substrate. A menu screen image presents item BOD Control under which the facilities are presented. When item BOD Control is designated, a BOD Control screen image that lists control items indicating the facilities realized with all the expansion substrates that are connected to the main substrate is displayed. When a concrete facility such as a P-in-P facility realized with an expansion substrate is selected or designated in the BOD Control screen image, a screen image concerning the designated P-in-P facility is displayed. Thus, the details of a facility that is realized with a connected expansion substrate can be set easily.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: In an endoscopic apparatus, when the dynamic range expansion on/off switch is turned on, a CPU changes a switch from one contact over to another. Red, green, and blue digital signals sent from a knee and gamma circuit are output to respective dynamic range expanding circuits. Thus, the dynamic ranges for the digital signals are expanded. On the other hand, when the CPU changes another switch from one contact over to the other, a light adjustment signal output from an operational amplifier is then driven to a level causing a diaphragm in a light source unit to open further. Consequently, an increased amount of illumination light is supplied to the incident end of a light guide running through an endoscope. Thus, when a dynamic range is expanded, a halation effect will not occur in imaging of an object located at a point near the distal end of the endoscope. Moreover, insufficiency of illumination light will not occur in the imaging of an object located at a point far from the endoscope distal end.

Abstract: In an endoscopic imaging system, a signal representing an object image produced by a scope and projected by a camera head is processed by a CCU and displayed as an endoscopic image on a TV monitor. The object image is stored as digital image data on a memory in the CCU, read as image data of a still image, and recorded on a PC card mounted in a PC card slot. The PC card slot is formed in the front panel or the like of the CCU. A lid member or the like functioning as an anti-liquid invasion member and shield can be located at an opening of the slot.

Abstract: A camera control unit for processing a signal output from an imaging device incorporated in an endoscope is provided with an analog video signal output terminal through which a video signal is output to a monitor, and a digital video signal output terminal to which a still image-specific or motion picture-specific expansion unit is coupled in a freely detachable manner. By handling a release switch, a still image or motion picture can be recorded digitally. Even when the recorded image data is edited or subjected to any other processing, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. An imaging system having these advantages can be realized on a small scale.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an imaging unit for converting an image of an object into an image signal, and an automatic amount-of-light setting circuit for setting an amount of light output from a light source apparatus on the basis of the image signal provided by the imaging unit. According to a setting signal sent from the automatic amount-of-light setting circuit, the amount of light output from the light source apparatus is adjusted. Aside from the automatic amount-of-light setting circuit, a device used to set an amount of light manually is included. The automatic amount-of-light setting circuit and manual amount-of-light setting device can be switched selectively by means of a switch. Consequently, a drawback of the automatic amount-of-light setting circuit occurring when the endoscope is removed from a human body, that is, the drawback that when control is given for lowering the level of the image signal, the amount of light is increased will not take place.

Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope including an objective lens system for forming an image of an object which objective lens system is arranged at the front end of an inserting section and has a single optical axis; an image transmission device coaxially arranged with the objective lens system and adapted to transmit the image formed by the objective lens system; a pupil dividing device for dividing the image transmitted through the objective lens system and the image transmission device so as to obtain left and right images of the object; an image sensing device for picking up the left and right images obtained by the pupil dividing device; a first support structure containing at least the objective lens system; and a second support structure containing at least the pupil dividing device and the image sensing device, wherein the first and second support structures are rotatable relative to each other around an axis extending along the longitudinal dimension of the endoscope.

Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope including an objective lens system for forming an image of an object which objective lens system is arranged at the front end of an inserting section and has a single optical axis; an image transmission device coaxially arranged with the objective lens system and adapted to transmit the image formed by the objective lens system; a pupil dividing device for dividing the image transmitted through the objective lens system and the image transmission device so as to obtain left and right images of the object; an image sensing device for picking up the left and right images obtained by the pupil dividing device; a first support structure containing-at least the objective lens system; and a second support structure containing at least the pupil dividing device and the image sensing device, wherein the first and second support structures are rotatable relative to each other around an axis extending along the longitudinal dimension of the endoscope.

Abstract: A three-dimensional vision endoscopic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pair of optical systems for transmitting an image of a subject as two subject images having a parallax between them, a pair of imaging devices for picking up subject images transmitted by the optical systems, at least one visual field mask, a display unit for displaying the two subject images alternately or concurrently, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of one or both of the imaging devices so that the display images will become consistent on the screen of the display unit, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the relative position of the visual field mask.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a fast driving means that drives a solid-state imaging device at a high speed for the preservation time for one screen in a solid-state imaging device; that is, for one of time intervals corresponding to a plurality of divisions of a one-field period in a television signal mode, a fast transfer circuit for transferring pixel outputs of the solid-state imaging device at a high speed, field memories in which image signals sent from the fast transfer circuit are stored screen by screen, a selection output control circuit that reads the image signals stored screen by screen in the field memories by converting the time bases into the one for the one-field period in the television signal mode, and selectively outputs the plurality of read image signals depending on the state of a subject, and an adder for adding up the image signals selected by the selection output control circuit and providing an output image signal.