Abstract: When a first-stage operation or first operation of a freeze switch is performed, a still image is stored in image memory and is displayed on a monitor. When an electronic variable power switch is operated in this state, a still image electronically enlarged is formed on the basis of a signal of the above-described image memory. Then, when a second-stage operation or second operation of the freeze switch is performed, the above-described enlarged still image is recorded in a recording device. Owing to this, it is possible to display and record an arbitrary still image that is enlarged and is positioned on optimum conditions. Moreover, by single operation of an electronic variable power switch, an enlarged still image can be formed and can be also recorded simultaneously. Furthermore, even if continuous recording operation is prohibited, the next recording operation can be performed by operating the electronic variable power switch.

Abstract: The present invention is a unit for eliminating the fluctuation of luminous energy reduction by keeping the response time of a shading mechanism constant even if a diaphragm opening degree differs when reading every pixel by setting a shading period. This unit is provided with a shading mask having a quadrangular or V-shaped opening and moves a shading shutter in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertically moving direction of a diaphragm plate. Therefore, a shading period is set in accordance with the constant response time of the shading shutter and the rate of luminous energy reduction becomes constant. Moreover, a high-quality static image having a stable brightness can be obtained by reading the signal of every pixel obtained by a CCD through one-time exposure while using the shading period and then pixel-mixing signals. Furthermore, it is possible to use the Archimedean spiral for the outer periphery of the diaphragm plate or the shading shutter.

Abstract: The present invention is a unit for eliminating the fluctuation of luminous energy reduction by keeping the response time of a shading mechanism constant even if a diaphragm opening degree differs when reading every pixel by setting a shading period. This unit is provided with a shading mask having a quadrangular or V-shaped opening and moves a shading shutter in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertically moving direction of a diaphragm plate. Therefore, a shading period is set in accordance with the constant response time of the shading shutter and the rate of luminous energy reduction becomes constant. Moreover, a high-quality static image having a stable brightness can be obtained by reading the signal of every pixel obtained by a CCD through one-time exposure while using the shading period and then pixel-mixing signals. Furthermore, it is possible to use the Archimedean spiral for the outer periphery of the diaphragm plate or the shading shutter.

Abstract: The present invention is a unit for eliminating the fluctuation of luminous energy reduction by keeping the response time of a shading mechanism constant even if a diaphragm opening degree differs when reading every pixel by setting a shading period. This unit is provided with a shading mask having a quadrangular or V-shaped opening and moves a shading shutter in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertically moving direction of a diaphragm plate. Therefore, a shading period is set in accordance with the constant response time of the shading shutter and the rate of luminous energy reduction becomes constant. Moreover, a high-quality static image having a stable brightness can be obtained by reading the signal of every pixel obtained by a CCD through one-time exposure while using the shading period and then pixel-mixing signals. Furthermore, it is possible to use the Archimedean spiral for the outer periphery of the diaphragm plate or the shading shutter.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope apparatus which generates interlaced scanning signals, that is, odd and even field signals, from a video signal obtained by a CCD for display of an image on a TV monitor, there is provided a resolution conversion circuit. For example, the resolution conversion circuit reads twice the same field signal stored in memory at a double speed of a clock signal, writes the signal as a frame signal for non-interlaced scanning, and then twice reads data of the same horizontal line at a quadruple speed of a clock signal. Thereby, a greater resolution image of the same field data can be obtained with 970 horizontal lines arranged with high density in one vertical scanning period. The obtained image is used on a display unit other than a TV monitor.

Abstract: A movable lens is provided at the tip of an electroscope, and an optically enlarged image can be observed by moving the movable lens by a motor. A microcomputer measures the entire moving time from a far end to a near end of the movable lens, and the moving time is used as the variable power position information about the movable lens. The variable power position information is displayed by a meter display, etc. on a monitor. Thus, and encoder, etc. is not required.

Abstract: When a variable power switch of an electroscope is operated, a motor is driven to move a movable lens, and an optically enlarged image can be obtained. Furthermore, the optical image is electrically enlarged by an electronically variable power circuit. When the optically variable power is switched into the electronically variable power and vice versa, the operation of the variable power switch can be temporarily nullified to stop the variable power operation, and the switch is operated again to resume the operation. Thus, an operator can recognize the switch between the optically variable power and the electronically variable power. Furthermore, a time lag for a predetermined time can be set to switch between the optically variable power and the electronically variable power.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic endoscope apparatus that can appropriately compensate for the lack of light quantity caused by a delayed response from a shielding mechanism in using the all-pixel reading system to form a high-quality image. In this apparatus, for a moving image, a pixel mix signal is read out from a CCD to reproduce motions faithfully. For a still image, to improve the image quality, a shielding period set by the shielding plate is used to read out all the pixels obtained by the CCD during a single exposure in order to form a pixel mix signal using a mixing circuit. A lamp characteristic memory stores table data indicating the characteristic between the lamp voltage of the current lamp and the quantity of outgoing light so that based on this data, a lamp voltage higher than in moving images is supplied to the lamp during the exposure for still-image formation.

Abstract: The present invention is an electronic-endoscope light quantity controlling apparatus that can reduce costs by simplifying a configuration for setting a shielding period in executing an all-pixel reading system. This apparatus uses diaphragm controlling circuit to control a diaphragm so as to maintain the brightness of an image at a predetermined value. It completely closes the diaphragm to set the shielding period and uses this period to form a still image based on the all-pixel reading method. For a moving image, it forms an image signal using a pixel mix reading system at the output of an image pickup device. That is, for a still image, during the shielding period set by the diaphragm, odd-line signals are read out from all pixels obtained by a CCD during a single exposure within a {fraction (1/60)}-second period, and during the next period, even-line signals are read out from these pixels. Subsequently, a mixing circuit pixel-mixes these line signals into a field signal to form a high-quality still image.

Abstract: An all-pixels reading type electronic endoscope apparatus enables the function of controlling the quantity of light which becomes impossible of follow-up when a still picture having a good picture quality is displayed to be quickly restored by reading all the pixels. The data on all the pixels obtained by a CCD at one exposure are read while using a light chopper, and the data on the odd lines are stored in a first memory and the data on the even lines are stored in a second memory. These memories are inhibited from being written into at the point of time when they store the picture data obtained at the same exposure, and the field signals formed from the video signals are stored in third and fourth memories. When a still picture is displayed, the third and fourth memories are inhibited from being written into, while the first and second memories are released from the write-inhibit state.

Abstract: An all-pixels reading type electronic endoscope apparatus enables the function of controlling the quantity of light which becomes impossible of follow-up when a still picture having a good picture quality is displayed to be quickly restored by reading all the pixels. The data on all the pixels obtained by a CCD at one exposure are read while using a light chopper, and the data on the odd lines are stored in a first memory and the data on the even lines are stored in a second memory. These memories are inhibited from being written into at the point of time when they store the picture data obtained at the same exposure, and the field signals formed from the video signals are stored in third and fourth memories. When a still picture is displayed, the third and fourth memories are inhibited from being written into, while the first and second memories are released from the write-inhibit state.

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: Variable focus camera includes primary and secondary lens systems, in which only the primary lens system is used for wide angle shots while the combination of the primary with the secondary lens system is used for telephoto shots.The variable focus camera can exactly and positively control the focus change region, the automatic focusing region and other regions.