Endoscope device, endoscope system, convergence angle changing method, and computer-readable medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12517322-B2
Application number	US-202318197896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2023
Priority date	Jun 23, 2022
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

An endoscope device includes an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element, an optical action member configured to change a convergence angle, and a processor configured to control a state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system. The processor changes the convergence angle by controlling the state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An endoscope device comprising:
an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element; an optical action member configured to change a convergence angle; and a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to control a state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system, wherein the processor is further configured to:
measure a distance to a subject, and
change, based on a measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling the state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system,
wherein the optical action member is a parallel flat plate disposed on one of the two incident light paths, the parallel flat plate includes two prisms, and one of the two prisms is insertable into and removable from the other of the two incident light paths, and the processor changes, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the one prism in the parallel flat plate.

2 . The endoscope device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical action member is a prism insertable into and removable from one or each of the two incident light paths, and wherein the processor changes, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the prism.

3 . The endoscope device according to claim 2 , wherein the optical action member is a prism insertable into and removable from one of the two incident light paths.

4 . The endoscope device according to claim 2 , wherein the prism inserted into each of the two incident light paths has opposite optical actions.

5 . The endoscope device according to claim 1 , wherein the processor controls, when the measured distance is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the state of the optical action member so that the convergence angle decreases, and controls, when the measured distance is less than the threshold value, the state of the optical action member so that the convergence angle increases.

6 . An endoscope system comprising:
an endoscope device; and a controller comprising hardware, wherein the endoscope device includes:
an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element; and
an optical action member configured to change a convergence angle, and
wherein the controller is configured to:
measure a distance to a subject, and
change, based on a measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling a state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system,
the optical action member is a parallel flat plate disposed on one of the two incident light paths, the parallel flat plate includes two prisms, and one of the two prisms is insertable into and removable from the other of the two incident light paths, and the controller changes, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the one prism in the parallel flat plate.

7 . The endoscope system according to claim 6 , wherein the endoscope device includes an optical adapter.

8 . A convergence angle changing method comprising:
measuring a distance to a subject; and changing a convergence angle by controlling, based on the distance, a state of an optical action member in an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element, wherein the optical action member is a parallel flat plate disposed on one of the two incident light paths, the parallel flat plate includes two prisms, and one of the two prisms is insertable into and removable from the other of the two incident light paths, and the convergence angle changing method further comprising changing, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the one prism in the parallel flat plate.

9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a program stored therein and configured to cause a processor to at least execute processing of:
measuring a distance to a subject; and changing a convergence angle by controlling, based on the distance, a state of an optical action member in an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element, wherein the optical action member is a parallel flat plate disposed on one of the two incident light paths, wherein the parallel flat plate includes two prisms, and one of the two prisms is insertable into and removable from the other of the two incident light paths, and wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium having the program stored therein and configured to cause the processor to execute processing of changing, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the one prism in the parallel flat plate.

10 . An endoscope device comprising:
an imaging optical system including two incident light paths formed by two optical systems respectively having optical axes eccentric with respect to an imaging center of an imaging element; at least one optical action member configured to change a convergence angle, the optical action member being insertable into and removable from one or each of the two incident light paths; and a processor comprising hardware, the processor being configured to:
control an insertion/removal state of the optical action member in the imaging optical system, and
change the convergence angle by changing the insertion/removal state of the optical action member,
wherein the optical action member is a parallel flat plate disposed on one of the two incident light paths, wherein the parallel flat plate includes two prisms, and one of the two prisms is insertable into and removable from the other of the two incident light paths, and wherein the processor changes, based on the measurement result, the convergence angle by controlling an insertion/removal state of the one prism in the parallel flat plate.

11 . The endoscope device according to claim 10 , further comprising an optical adapter.

Assignees

• Evident Corp

Inventors

• Notoya Mizuki

Classifications

• A61B1/00183

  for variable viewing angles · CPC title

• A61B1/00193

  adapted for stereoscopic vision · CPC title

• G02B23/2484

  Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device (processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70) · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• G02B7/28 Primary

  Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals · CPC title