Abstract: An endoscope system includes a radiation source which emits a modulated radiation and is applied in a manner such that an object to be examined by an endoscope may be illuminated with the radiation. A sensor is provided for detecting the radiation reflected by the object,at at least one picture point. An evaluation device obtains readings of the detected radiation from the sensor, determines phase differences on the basis of these readings, and computes the distance of the object to the sensor device on the basis of these phase differences. A corresponding supplementary module for an endoscope and endoscope optics with these features are also provided.

Abstract: The endoscopic instrument has at least one component that heats up during the operation of the instrument and is equipped with means for automatically registering the use or non-use state of the instrument. The instrument has a control, which actuates the at least one component in a power-reduced fashion or switches off the at least one component during the non-use of the instrument, and which actuates the component with the power provided for the use or switches on the component during the use of the instrument.

Abstract: A more effective larynx or vocal fold examination is facilitated when an image recording device, preferably a color image recording device comprising three modes is made available, a face-recording recording mode with a low recording frequency or image repetition frequency, respectively, but with a high resolution, a further face-recording recording mode with a higher image repetition frequency but with a lower resolution, and a one-dimensional, for example, row-recording mode also having a higher image repetition frequency. By the switchability of the image recording device between those modes the examining doctor is capable of first getting an overview by means of the slower image recording mode, wherein this may also be done in color, as due to the slower recording frequency this mode is not subject to the illumination problems like the high-speed camera.