Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope including at least one switch, each of which can be assigned two functions, and a controller. The controller sets a plurality of function pairs, each of which is composed of a combination of any one of a plurality of first functions and any one of a plurality of second functions, and assigns one function pair selected from the plurality of function pairs to the switch, measures a switch pressing time period after the switch is pressed, and executes the first function when the switch pressing is released before a predetermined first time period elapses after the switch is pressed and executes the second function when the switch pressing time period passes the first time period.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a memory configured to be able to store a parameter set which is a combination of parameters associated with various processes during an endoscope inspection and set for each user, the memory being able to store a number of parameter sets corresponding to a plurality of user accounts, a touch panel configured to selectively display a display screen made up of a plurality of layers and a control section configured to cause the touch panel to display a user setting selection list for calling the parameter set for each user stored in the memory for part of a display region of a main screen that classifies and displays functions with high use frequency during the endoscope inspection.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including an image pickup device; an EEPROM provided in the endoscope, and configured to hold data according to a kind of the image pickup device; a video processor to which the endoscope is attachably and detachably connected; a control portion provided in the video processor, and configured to acquire the data from the EEPROM when the endoscope is connected to the video processor and set processing content of noise reduction processing, based on the acquired data; and an NR processing circuit provided in the video processor, and configured to execute the noise reduction processing on a video signal outputted from the image pickup device, based on setting of the control portion. The control portion sets execution/non-execution of the noise reduction processing to the NR processing circuit, based on the acquired data.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes: an endoscope including an image pickup device; an EEPROM provided in the endoscope, and configured to hold data according to a kind of the image pickup device; a video processor to which the endoscope is attachably and detachably connected; a control portion provided in the video processor, and configured to acquire the data from the EEPROM when the endoscope is connected to the video processor and set processing content of noise reduction processing, based on the acquired data; and an NR processing circuit provided in the video processor, and configured to execute the noise reduction processing on a video signal outputted from the image pickup device, based on setting of the control portion. The control portion sets execution/non-execution of the noise reduction processing to the NR processing circuit, based on the acquired data.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes processors, and settings in the processors are at least partially in common. And a setting content in a processor determined to have a higher priority is transmitted to a processor determined to have a lower priority, based on a predetermined operation, and the processor changes a setting content that is in common with a setting content in the processor among the received setting contents.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes processors, and settings in the processors are at least partially in common And a setting content in a processor determined to have a higher priority is transmitted to a processor determined to have a lower priority, based on a predetermined operation, and the processor changes a setting content that is in common with a setting content in the processor among the received setting contents.

Abstract: A light source unit, which is connected to a control unit and an endoscope, radiates a pre-determined light quantity of white light based on a signal from the control unit. The light source unit includes a lamp as a white light source, an infrared cut filter, a light quantity limiting filter, being inserted/removed on an optical path, for limiting light quantity in a pre-determined wavelength region of white light, a filter insertion/removal driving unit for inserting/removing the light quantity limiting filter on an optical path, and a condensing lens for outputting white light. For example, when a transmission rate of a blue band is 100%, the light quantity limiting filter limits transmission rates of other bands to 50%. This improves S/N in discrete spectral image generation with illumination light in a visible light region.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing apparatus, an endoscope apparatus, and a color balance adjusting method capable of obtaining a good observation image. An image processing apparatus of the invention includes: an image signal input unit for inputting an image signal of a subject image picked up by an image pickup unit, the subject image including at least an image of a color balance adjustment tool; a control unit for calculating a value of coefficient to change brightness value of the image signal, based on a correction value to correct characteristic variation of the color balance adjustment tool, the correction value being shown in a correction value display portion included by the color balance adjustment tool, and a brightness value of the image of the color balance adjustment tool; and a color balance process unit for performing color balance adjustment by changing the brightness value of the image signal based on the coefficient value.

Abstract: An image recording and reproducing system that records and reproduces a combined image of images input from plural input sources outputs a combined image data group including component images forming the combined image, information related to the combined image, and image layout information of the combined image, records the output combined image data group, changes reproduction image designation information including information for designating component images forming a reproduction image, information related to the reproduction image, and image layout information of the reproduction image, forms a reproduction image from the recorded combined image data group on the basis of the changed reproduction image designation information, outputs the formed reproduction image, and receives the output reproduction image and reproduces the reproduction image.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope, a signal processing unit, and a communication unit. The endoscope includes an information storage section including an endoscope information memory and a first controller controlling readout of the information in the endoscope information memory. The endoscope is detachably connected to the signal processing unit, which includes a second controller issuing at least an instruction for a readout operation of the information to the information storage section. Data is transmitted and received between the first controller and the second controller through the communication unit. The endoscope apparatus includes a communication speed setting unit setting the communication speed of the communication unit to a higher communication speed allowable in the first controller and a switching unit switching the communication speed.

Abstract: There are provided an image processing apparatus, an endoscope apparatus, and a color balance adjusting method capable of obtaining a good observation image. An image processing apparatus of the invention includes: an image signal input unit for inputting an image signal of a subject image picked up by an image pickup unit, the subject image including at least an image of a color balance adjustment tool; a control unit for calculating a value of coefficient to change brightness value of the image signal, based on a correction value to correct characteristic variation of the color balance adjustment tool, the correction value being shown in a correction value display portion included by the color balance adjustment tool, and a brightness value of the image of the color balance adjustment tool; and a color balance process unit for performing color balance adjustment by changing the brightness value of the image signal based on the coefficient value.

Abstract: A light source unit, which is connected to a control unit and an endoscope, radiates a pre-determined light quantity of white light based on a signal from the control unit. The light source unit includes a lamp as a white light source, an infrared cut filter, a light quantity limiting filter, being inserted/removed on an optical path, for limiting light quantity in a pre-determined wavelength region of white light, a filter insertion/removal driving unit for inserting/removing the light quantity limiting filter on an optical path, and a condensing lens for outputting white light. For example, when a transmission rate of a blue band is 100%, the light quantity limiting filter limits transmission rates of other bands to 50%. This improves S/N in discrete spectral image generation with illumination light in a visible light region.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope, a signal processing unit, and a communication unit. The endoscope includes an information storage section including an endoscope information memory and a first controller controlling readout of the information in the endoscope information memory. The endoscope is detachably connected to the signal processing unit, which includes a second controller issuing at least an instruction for a readout operation of the information to the information storage section. Data is transmitted and received between the first controller and the second controller through the communication unit. The endoscope apparatus includes a communication speed setting unit setting the communication speed of the communication unit to a higher communication speed allowable in the first controller and a switching unit switching the communication speed.