Abstract: To accurately recognize the position and direction of an insertion member, there is provided an insertion system which detects operation support information such as an insertion amount and a rotation amount of the insertion member, and the position and shape of the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A tubular insertion device includes a tubular insertion portion including a flexible portion in a predetermined part, bending sensors distributed and arranged in the flexible portion, and an operation support information calculating unit. The operation support information calculating unit extracts operation support information including at least first external force information regarding an external force applied to the tubular insertion portion by a combinational calculation based on detection information from the bending sensors.

Abstract: An encoder signal processing circuit is connected to encoder heads outputting an encoder signal in accordance with a relative displacement with respect to a corresponding scale in such a way that signals can be transmitted to and received from the encoder heads, and processes encoder signals from the encoder heads. The circuit includes a processing unit and a processing decision unit. The processing unit generates displacement information from the encoder signal. The processing decision unit decides at least one of content of processing for the encoder heads and content of processing on encoder signals read from the encoder heads after starting to read an encoder signal from one of the encoder heads.

Abstract: An insertion portion detection device provided with a light source unit which emits measuring beam to an outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical shape of an insertion portion to be inserted into an insertion target and to be a detection target, an optical pattern detection unit which receives reflected light from the outer circumferential surface and which sequentially acquires image data in a predetermined range of the outer circumferential surface including given optical patterns so that at least some of the optical patterns correspond to the image data, and a displacement amount calculation unit which detects a corresponding optical pattern from the image data and calculates at least one of an insertion amount of the insertion portion and an amount of rotation around the central axis of the cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A tubular insertion device includes a tubular insertion portion including a flexible portion in a predetermined part, bending sensors distributed and arranged in the flexible portion, and an operation support information calculating unit. The operation support information calculating unit extracts operation support information including at least first external force information regarding an external force applied to the tubular insertion portion by a combinational calculation based on detection information from the bending sensors.

Abstract: A bending operation system includes an elongated tubular portion including a bending portion, a first linear member and a second linear member which cause the bending portion to bend, and a drive portion which displaces the first linear member and the second linear member. The bending operation system further includes a first displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the first linear member as a first displacement, a second displacement detector which acquires a displacement of the second linear member as a second displacement, and a calculator which calculates operation assist information by use of one or both of the first displacement and the second displacement.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light projecting portion, a light receiving portion, and a scale arranged between the light projecting portion and the light receiving portion. The scale includes a light guiding portion which allows light to transmit therethrough and has a light guiding function of guiding at least a part of the light projected by the light projecting portion in a direction vertical to thickness direction thereof through the light guiding portion. The light receiving portion receives the light guided by the scale and relatively moves with respect to the scale.

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes an excitation-light source, a first light guiding member and a second light guiding member which guide excitation light emitted from the excitation-light source, a wavelength converting member which is installed near an emitting end of excitation light from the excitation-light source of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, and which receives excitation light which has been guided by one of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, and emits a wavelength-converted light of a wavelength different from a wavelength of the excitation light, a first light receiving element which is installed near the wavelength converting member, and which directly or indirectly receives the wavelength-converted light of which, the wavelength is converted by the wavelength converting member, and an optical path switching section which guides the excitation light to one of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member ac

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes an excitation-light source, a first light guiding member and a second light guiding member which guide excitation light emitted from the excitation-light source, a wavelength converting member which is installed near an emitting end of excitation light from the excitation-light source of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, and which receives excitation light which has been guided by one of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member, and emits a wavelength-converted light of a wavelength different from a wavelength of the excitation light, a first light receiving element which is installed near the wavelength converting member, and which directly or indirectly receives the wavelength-converted light of which, the wavelength is converted by the wavelength converting member, and an optical path switching section which guides the excitation light to one of the first light guiding member and the second light guiding member ac