Abstract: A movement amount detected by a movement detection circuit on the basis of an image signal corresponding to an object image is input to a minimum value detection circuit. This detection circuit sets an operation time for the detection of the minimum value by using fuzzy inference on the basis of the movement amount and the gradient amount of the movement. An image signal corresponding to the smallest movement amount in this operation time is retained in a freeze memory. In this case, the operation time is set by fuzzy inference by using the movement amount and the gradient amount as factors for fuzzy inference so that the operation time can be set automatically to a time suitable for obtaining static images possessing a small amount of movement.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image freezing signal-processing apparatus capable of eliminating a necessity of using a large number of memories, reducing a time lag and preventing an image deviation. Sequence signals for R, G and B are stored in a first memory via an A/D converter and as well as the same are supplied to a movement detection/control circuit so that an image which displays the minimum about of movement in a predetermined time passed from the freeze signal is read from the first memory so as to be written to a still picture memory. The movement detection/control circuit stops the movement detection operation in a case where the image which displays a small amount of movement is stored in the still picture memory so as to transmit the image stored in the still picture memory as a still picture in a state in which updating is inhibited.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus is disclosed in which the horizontal transfer of the charge of a solid imaging device such as a CCD and the resetting for the detection of the charge are conducted by a common drive signal. The signal transmitted from the solid imaging device is caused to contain a feed-through period by making the drive signal to be served by a multi-valued level horizontal transfer signal exceeding a trinary value. Therefore, reset noise or the like can be eliminated by processing the output signal by using a correlated double sampling circuit or the like so that a video signal exhibiting a good S/N ratio can be obtained.

Abstract: A charge detection circuit is capable of converting electrostatic charge quantities on a solid-state imaging chip into voltage signals of negative polarity. The voltage signals of the negative polarity are suppled to a DC-coupled polarity inversion circuit which inverts the polarity of the signals and amplifies the signals. In consequence, the generation of heat in the transistor of the outpout stage is reduced so as to suppress undesirable temperature rise of the solid-state imaging chip.

Abstract: An endoscope automatic light control apparatus comprises an automatic light control apparatus for controlling the quantity of light incident to an imaging apparatus for imaging an endoscopic image so as to maintain a signal from the imaging apparatus substantially at a constant level. An automatic gaim control apparatus inputs a signal from the imaging apparatus and controls its output level so as to maintain the signal substantially at a constant level. The automatic light control apparatus and the automatic gain control apparatus respectively having a plurality of brightness information generating apparatuses generating brightness information based on the signal from the imaging apparatus. The plurality of brightness information generating apparatuses are different from each other in a method of generating brightness information and one of the plurality of brightness information generating apparatuses able to be selected.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus whereby the position of the tip part of an insertable part inserted into a body cavity is confirmed from outside the body with the transmission out of the body from within the body cavity of a light emitted from an illuminating window provided in the tip part.

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: 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.