Abstract: A light source device of an endoscope system comprises a light source and a light-source controller. The light source emits in a flash-emitting mode that the light source flashes in a flash interval longer than a field period of an imaging sensor for the endoscope system and for a flash period shorter than the field period. The light-source controller controls the light source so that the light source emits in the flash-emitting mode within an imaging period that is a period excluding a reading period within the field period. The flash interval is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the next flash of the light source commences. The flash period is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the flash of the light source is completed.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises a scope and a processor. The scope has an imaging sensor, a first image-processing unit that performs primary image processing, a first memory, and a second memory. The first and second memories are non-volatile. The processor has a second image-processing unit that performs secondary image processing, and a processor memory that is non-volatile. The first memory stores an system data that includes parameters for the primary and secondary image processing. The processor memory stores the system data. The second memory is used for storing the system data stored in the processor memory when it is determined that the system data stored in the first memory is older than the system data stored in the processor memory. The system data stored in the second memory is overwritten onto the first scope memory after the system data is stored in the second memory.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope is provided with a CCD control system which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by detecting a Vsub output error and a Vsub supply error without placing any device near the CCD. The endoscope system has a scope including a CCD placed at the scope's distal end, a driving section that supplies a drive signal to a CCD and drives the CCD and a bias voltage generation that generates a substrate bias voltage, a processor, a voltage monitoring section that monitors the voltage value of the substrate bias voltage, a current consumption monitoring section that monitors the current consumption corresponding to the substrate bias voltage, a drive stopping section that stops supplying the drive signal to the CCD when the voltage monitoring section or the current consumption section determines an error occurs.

Abstract: A CCD control system is provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by having a function to detect two kinds of errors, Vsub error and power voltage error to prevent a latchup, etc. with placing the switching circuit in the CCD section, and the Vout signal monitoring circuit, without laying additional wiring to the CCD or making the diameter of the insertion tube larger. An electronic endoscope adopting the CCD control system is also provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc.

Abstract: The scope has an imaging sensor, a memory, an image signal-processing unit, and a scope controller having a timer. The image signal-processing unit performs a primary image-processing operation on an image signal output from the imaging sensor. The timer counts an elapsed time. The processor has a video signal-processing unit and a time-hold unit. The video signal-processing unit performs a secondary image-processing operation on the image signal on which the primary image signal processing operation is made. The time-hold unit keeps date data and outputting the date data to the scope controller. The scope controller measures a command-received time when a setting for the primary image-processing operation in the image signal-processing unit is changed on the basis of the elapsed time that is counted by the timer and the date data, and stories a record indicating that the setting has changed and the command-received time to the memory.

Abstract: An endoscope system comprises a scope, a first processor, and a first measuring device. The scope has an imaging sensor, a memory, and a reference signal output unit that outputs a reference signal instead of an image signal from the imaging sensor in a first operation for generating an analysis data. The first processor performs an image-processing operation of the image signal in a normal use, and performs the image-processing operation of the reference signal in the first operation. The first measuring device is connected to the first processor and measures a first characteristic of an image encoded by the reference signal on which the image-processing operation is carried out, in the first operation. The first processor transmits a measurement result by the first measuring device to the scope as the analysis data. The memory stores the analysis data when the measurement result is input to the first processor.

Abstract: A CCD control system includes a driving section supplying a drive signal and a power voltage to a CCD, a bias voltage generation section, a monitor signal output section that outputs monitor signals corresponding to the power voltage which is applied to the CCD. The CCD control system further includes a signal switching section that selects a first state where the monitor signals are input/output through the signal switching based on the substrate bias voltage or a second state where the predetermined signal is output. A monitor signal monitoring section is provided to monitor the output from the signal switching section. The monitor signal monitoring section sends a directive signal to the driving section to stop supplying the drive signal when the signal switching section outputs the predetermined signal or when the monitor signal output from the signal switching section in the first state is abnormal.

Abstract: A light source device of an endoscope system comprises a light-source unit, a light-sensitive element, and a driving unit. The light-source unit emits light and supplies light to the photographic subject through an electronic scope. The light-sensitive element receives light emitted from the light-source unit. The driving unit adjusts the driving intensity of the light-source unit on the basis of a first information regarding an emitting-light intensity of the light-source unit output from the light-sensitive element.

Abstract: A light source device of an endoscope system comprises a light source and a light-source controller. The light source emits in a flash-emitting mode that the light source flashes in a flash interval longer than a field period of an imaging sensor for the endoscope system and for a flash period shorter than the field period. The light-source controller controls the light source so that the light source emits in the flash-emitting mode within an imaging period that is a period excluding a reading period within the field period. The flash interval is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the next flash of the light source commences. The flash period is defined as a period from when the flash of the light source commences to when the flash of the light source is completed.

Abstract: A laser scanning device includes a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam, a laser power detector that detects laser beam power of the semiconductor laser, a reference voltage generator that generates reference voltage for controlling the laser beam power of the semiconductor laser in accordance with a laser power control signal provided from an external device, and a laser driver that compares the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator and the laser beam power detected by the laser power detector to control a driving current supplied to the semiconductor laser for emitting the laser beam. The laser scanning device further includes an abnormal condition detector that detects the laser power control signal received by the reference voltage generator.

Abstract: An endoscope to obtain an image inside a body cavity is provided. The endoscope includes an image capturing element, a power source, which supplies electric power to the image capturing element, a power shutdown unit, which shuts down the electric power to the image capturing element so that the image capturing element can be prevented from overcurrent, a drive control unit, which outputs control signals to the image capturing element in order to control driving of the image capturing element based on driving signals provided from an external unit connected with the endoscope, and a control restricting unit, which restricts the drive control unit to cease outputting the control signals to the image capturing element in response to activation of the power shutdown unit.

Abstract: There is provided a sampling timing monitoring system, which includes at least one abnormal state detection circuit. The at least one abnormal state detection circuit includes a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse having a pulse width corresponding to a relationship between timing of a driving signal for driving an image pickup device and timing of a sampling signal to be supplied to a sampling circuit carrying out correlated double sampling for an analog output signal outputted by the image pickup device, and a detection circuit that detects an abnormal state of the timing of the sampling signal with respect to the timing of the driving signal in accordance with the pulse width of the pulse generated by the pulse generation circuit.

Abstract: A laser scanning apparatus is provided with a laser diode that is driven to emit a laser beam, a scanning optical system that scans the laser beam emitted by the laser diode on a surface to be scanned, and a controller that drives the laser diode by supplying electrical current to the laser diode. The controller supplies an extra electrical current to the laser diode only at an initial stage of driving of the laser diode so as to cancel an effect of a rising delay of its output intensity.

Abstract: A CCD control system includes a driving section supplying a drive signal and a power voltage to a CCD, a bias voltage generation section, a monitor signal output section that outputs monitor signals corresponding to the power voltage which is applied to the CCD. The CCD control system further includes a signal switching section that selects a first state where the monitor signals are input/output through the signal switching based on the substrate bias voltage or a second state where the predetermined signal is output. A monitor signal monitoring section is provided to monitor the output from the signal switching section. The monitor signal monitoring section sends a directive signal to the driving section to stop supplying the drive signal when the signal switching section outputs the predetermined signal or when the monitor signal output from the signal switching section in the first state is abnormal.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope is provided with a CCD control system which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by detecting a Vsub output error and a Vsub supply error without placing any device near the CCD. The endoscope system has a scope including a CCD placed at the scope's distal end, a driving section that supplies a drive signal to a CCD and drives the CCD and a bias voltage generation that generates a substrate bias voltage, a processor, a voltage monitoring sections that monitors the voltage value of the substrate bias voltage, a current consumption monitoring section that monitors the current consumption corresponding to the substrate bias voltage, a drive stopping section that that stops supplying the drive signal to the CCD when the voltage monitoring section or the current consumption section determines an error occurs.

Abstract: A CCD control system is provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by having a function to detect two kinds of errors, Vsub error and power voltage error to prevent a latchup, etc. with placing the switching circuit in the CCD section, and the Vout signal monitoring circuit, without laying additional wiring to the CCD or making the diameter of the insertion tube larger. An electronic endoscope adopting the CCD control system is also provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning apparatus has a scanning unit that has a plurality of semiconductor lasers and scans laser beams emitted from the plurality of semiconductor lasers; and a controller that transmits a standard signal associated with a control of the plurality of semiconductor lasers to the scanning unit. The controller has a standard signal generator that generates and outputs a sequence of pulse signals as the standard signal. The scanning unit has a plurality of laser drivers, a standard voltage generator, and a standard voltage setter. The standard voltage setter detects each of a plurality of common pulse signal sections of the standard signal in accordance with its signal-wave characteristic, and transmits each value of the plurality of standard voltage sections to a corresponding laser driver in accordance with a detected common pulse signal section.

Abstract: A laser scanning device is provided with a laser source which emits a laser beam, a deflector which dynamically deflects the laser beam emitted by the laser source, the laser beam scanning in a main scanning direction within a predetermined angular area, a photodetector which receives light and output electronic signal corresponding to the received light, and a sensor lens arranged to receive the laser beam scanning at a predetermined scanning range, the sensor lens having power at least in the main scanning direction, the sensor lens converging the incident laser beam on the photodetector, the sensor lens having width in the main scanning direction varying in the auxiliary scanning direction.

Abstract: A laser scanning device includes a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam, a laser power detector that detects laser beam power of the semiconductor laser, a reference voltage generator that generates reference voltage for controlling the laser beam power of the semiconductor laser in accordance with a laser power control signal provided from an external device, and a laser driver that compares the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator and the laser beam power detected by the laser power detector to control a driving current supplied to the semiconductor laser for emitting the laser beam. The laser scanning device further includes an abnormal condition detector that detects the laser power control signal received by the reference voltage generator.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving apparatus has a laser diode that emits a laser beam, a laser driving circuit that drives the laser diode by feeding a driving current in pulses to the laser diode, a conductor that conducts the driving current from the laser driving circuit to the laser diode, and an inductance adjuster that has a conductor-pattern for conducting the driving current and adjusting the magnitude of inductance in the conductor. A part of the conductor-pattern that makes the magnitude of the inductance a proper magnitude for emitting the laser beam in generally rectangular pulses, is selectively defined and conducts the driving current as a part of the conductor.