Abstract: An endoscope system has a signal processing circuit for converting an image signal output of a solid state imaging device into a standard image signal, a monitor for providing a display of the standard image signal, an automatic gain control circuit for outputting an image signal whose level is automatically adjusted in accordance with the level of the image signal; and a gain variation region setting circuit for outputting a control signal to set the gain variation region of the automatic gain control circuit. With this arrangement, it is possible to properly set the AGC variation region of the AGC of the signal processing apparatus in accordance with such factors as the number of pixels of the solid state imaging device which constitutes a part of an electronic endoscope connected.

Abstract: There is disclosed an endoscope apparatus wherein it is judged whether a still picture is to be displayed or not for the movement quantity from a movement detecting circuit wherein difference signals are produced between pixels approaching a plurality of image signals of the same object imaged at different times and further the correlation between the corresponding difference signals is detected and is then quantified in a period of one field/frame.

Abstract: The movement detecting circuit of this invention has a band detecting circuit for detecting the signal components of a plurality of image signals. The output signal of this band detecting circuit is input into a band varying circuit for varying the band characteristics of the image signals. The plural image signals having had the band characteristics varied in the band varying circuit are input into a difference signal producing circuit which produces a difference signal of pixel signals approaching respective plural image signals representing the images of an object imaged at different times. A correlation amount between the corresponding plural difference signals produced by the difference signal producing circuit is detected in a correlation detecting circuit. The signal output detected in the correlation detecting circuit is quantified in a quantifying circuit.

Abstract: The signal processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a video signal producing circuit for producing a standard video signal by processing an image signal representing an image of an object, a movement detecting circuit for detecting the movement quantity of the object from the video signal and an outline enhancing circuit provided after the movement detecting circuit for enhancing the outline of the image.

Abstract: An endoscope using a solid state imaging device characterized by comprising a solid state imaging device capable of imaging an object image, a light emitting means giving an illuminating light to said object, a first level detecting means fed with a video signal from said solid state imaging device and detecting the level of this signal, a first level comparing means comparing the detected level of this detecting means and a preset first reference level with each other and outputting a first control signal corresponding to the level difference, a light adjusting means fed with this first control signal and adjusting the illuminating light from said light emitting means on the basis of this signal, a gain variable amplifying means taking in the video signal from the detecting end in said first level detecting means and amplifying it, a second level detecting means detecting the level of the signal from this amplifying means and a circuit means comparing the detected level of this detecting means and a preset s

Abstract: An apparatus has a simple configuration using a drive circuit for outputting horizontal transfer clocks with a given frequency regardless of the number of picture elements of a solid state imaging device which constitutes an imaging means of an endoscope and the reading structure thereof so that it can be used for an endoscope having a different number of picture elements.

Abstract: There is provided a frozen picture memorizing memory holding as a frozen picture image a picture image signal imaged by an electronic endoscope. By the operation of a frozen picture directing switch, whether the frozen picture is adapted to the memorizing condition or not is judged through a picture image movement detecting circuit. In case it is judged to be adapted to the memorizing condition, the picture image signal is memorized actually as a frozen picture image to obtain a clear frozen picture having little color smear and fogging.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus whereby a picture image can be displayed at any desired displaying view angle irrespective of the pixel formation of a solid state imaging device, the picture image magnification rate and contraction rate of an observed object and the television broadcasting system comprises an imaging apparatus having a solid state imaging device outputting an object image as an electric signal and a video signal processing circuit driving the solid state imaging device and processing the read out electric signal to produce a video signal. The object image imaged by the solid state imaging device will be magnified or contracted by a picture image displaying magnification rate varying apparatus which can either magnify or contract the object image in at least one of the vertical direction and horizontal direction. The object image either magnified or contracted by the picture image displaying magnification rate varying apparatus will be displayed by a monitor.

Abstract: The electronic endoscope apparatus of this invention is provided with a first endoscope apparatus having a solid state imaging device whereby an object image obtained from an observing window provided in the tip part of an insertable part inserted into a body cavity is formed and is converted to an electric signal to be output and a second endoscope apparatus having a solid state imaging device different from the solid state imaging device provided in the first endoscope apparatus in shape or number of pixels but the same in at least one pixel forming element. The first and second endoscope apparatus are connected to a video processing circuit and the electric signal output from the solid state imaging device is processed to be a video signal. The signal procesed by the video processing circuit is output to a displaying apparatus to display the object image.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope apparatus of the type which uses a solid state imaging device to effect photoelectric conversion of an optical image, the image signal read from the solid state imaging device is subjected to signal processing for changing image size so as to effect enlargement/reduction of an image to be displayed on a monitor, and then the outline of the image signal is enhanced by an outline enhancement circuit. With this arrangement, it is possible to achieve natural outline enhancement.

Abstract: The bandwidth of a signal read out from a solid-state image element is standardized by the application of a drive signal including a horizontal transfer clock of a fixed frequency to the solid-state image elements each with a different number of pixels. In consequence, part of circuitry capable of processing a signal without changing the circuit constant is increased.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided with an isolation circuit which electrically isolates the ground of the input side and of the output side from each other. The isolation circuit is provided in a signal processing circuit which processes the electrical signal obtained by conversion of the optical image obtained by an objective optical system provided at the end of a long thin insertion portion to be inserted into a body cavity in a solid-state image pickup device. A differential drive device drives the isolation circuit by the differential output thereof, whereby any noise is suppressed and isolation is sufficiently performed.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which includes a first and a second optical guides inserted in an elongated insertion portion thereof, and which can transmit an optical image, and an optical system with a function of imaging at the end surface of the optical guide. By transmitting an illuminating light from the other end surface to the portion to be observed through one of the optical guides, the portion to be observed is illuminated. While, the optical image transmitted through the other optical guide is introduced into an ocular system or an imaging system. By changing the functions performed by these optical guides, the stereoscopic observation and stereoscopic imaging can be realized.

Abstract: An endoscope contains or is externally fitted with a color imaging device using a solid state imaging device and a signal processing device processing a signal for the endoscope. The color imaging device and solid state imaging device are provided so that the number of pixels and the kind of spectral characteristic of the color imaging device of the endoscope to be connected may be discriminated to process the signal even for the endoscopes having number of pixels and the spectral characteristic.

Abstract: A rotary compressor comprises a rotary shaft for compression action, a bearing which supports the rotary shaft and includes a discharge valve to discharge compressed gas and a sound suppression cover which covers the discharge valve, so that an annular discharge chamber is formed between the sound suppression cover and the bearing. At least one tubular cavity section with a bottom is provided to open into the discharge chamber at a location adjacent the discharge valve. The tubular cavity section has a length approximately one-fourth of the average circumference length of the discharge chamber.

Abstract: An electronic scope including a solid-state image pickup device arranged at a distal end of an endoscope and having an image pickup area whose aspect ratio is 1:1, an image processing circuit for masking the image signal output from the image pickup device, and a display device having a screen whose aspect ratio is 3:4. The image processing circuit has frame memories for storing one-frame image signals, a mask signal generator for generating a mask pattern signal, and a gate for permitting/inhibiting supply of the image signal from the frame memories to the display device in response to the mask pattern signal from the mask signal generator.

Abstract: An endoscope video apparatus has an endoscope including a solid-state image sensor, for outputting an endoscopic image signal, a video processor for processing the image signal supplied from the solid-state image sensor and outputting a video signal, an image file unit for recording the video signal, and an input section for inputting retrieval data corresponding to the video signal recorded in the image file unit. A control section discriminates the presence/absence of retrieval data input from the input section. A control circuit operates an alarm unit by discrimination data representing the absence of retrieval data.

Abstract: An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprises a first frame memory for successively storing the image signals, generated from a solid-state image sensor with every scanning line, in synchronism with drive signals, and a second frame memory for successively storing the image signals, read successively from the first frame memory, by the interlacing method, and delivering the stored image signals to a monitor, in synchronism with television synchronizing signals, for display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a control circuit which is connected to a video endoscope, having a CCD in the distal end thereof. The control circuit supplies driving clock pulses to the CCD, and converts a picture element signal pulses from the CCD into a continuous image signal, by clamping, or sampling and holding, the signal pulses. The converted signals are further subjected to video processing. A scope discrimination resistor is contained in the endoscope, in the vicinity of a connector thereof, which connects the endoscope and the control circuit. The resistance value of the resistor depends on the length of the endoscope. When the endoscope is connected to the control circuit, the resistor is connected in series with a constantcurrent source in a scope discrimination circuit. The discrimination circuit discriminates the scope length by detecting the resistance value of the resistor as a terminal voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for automatically applying lubricant in a lifting device which raises and lowers a platform by intermeshing of pinions of a jack-up device mounted on the platform and racks provided in the longitudinal direction of legs for supporting the platform, rockable arms supported by a frame of the jack-up device being provided above the pinion meshing with the rack, a roller brush being rotatably provided on the rockable arms so as to come into sliding contact with the pinion, and a lubricant supplying device being connected to the roller brush.