Endoscope system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295141-A1
Application number	US-201615182833-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An endoscope system includes an image pickup section provided with an image sensor and configured to obtain an examination image; a cable that transmits the examination image; and a processor that receives the examination image, performs image processing, and displays the processed image. The processor includes: a cable driver that applies a voltage higher than an input voltage standard of the image pickup section so as to compensate for attenuation of a high-frequency signal caused by the cable and outputs a clock signal for driving the image pickup section; a peaking circuit that performs waveform correction of the clock signal; and a DC level limiting circuit configured to limit, when a clock signal inputted from the first peaking circuit is switched to a DC voltage, an amplitude level of the DC voltage so as not to exceed a level of the input voltage standard of the image pickup section.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An endoscope system comprising: an image pickup section provided with a solid-state image pickup device and configured to obtain an examination image; a cable that transmits the examination image; and a processor that receives the examination image, performs image processing, and displays the processed image,
the processor comprising:
a cable driver that applies a voltage higher than an input voltage standard of the image pickup section so as to compensate for attenuation of a high-frequency signal caused by the cable and outputs a clock signal for driving the image pickup section;
a first peaking circuit that performs waveform correction of the clock signal; and
a first level limiting circuit configured to limit, when the clock signal inputted from the first peaking circuit is switched to a DC voltage, an amplitude level of the DC voltage so as not to exceed a level of the input voltage standard of the image pickup section.

2 . The endoscope system according to claim 1 , wherein
the first peaking circuit is configured by a first resistor and a first capacitor that are connected in parallel, and the first level limiting circuit is configured by the first resistor and a second resistor connected in series with the first resistor, and when the clock signal is switched to the DC voltage, outputs a resistor divided voltage obtained through the first resistor and the second resistor to the image pickup section.

3 . The endoscope system according to claim 1 , further comprising, on a transmission path of a horizontal synchronization signal other than a transmission path of the clock signal, a second peaking circuit that performs waveform correction of the horizontal synchronization signal and a second level limiting circuit that limits an amplitude level of the horizontal synchronization signal so as not to exceed the level of the input voltage standard of the image pickup section.

4 . The endoscope system according to claim 3 , wherein
a superimposed signal obtained by superimposing the horizontal synchronization signal on the clock signal is inputted to the cable driver, and the endoscope system further includes a switching section that performs switching to select an output of the first level limiting circuit in a period while the clock signal is inputted and select an output of the second level limiting circuit in a period while the horizontal synchronization signal is inputted, based on a switch signal.

5 . The endoscope system according to claim 3 , wherein
the second peaking circuit is configured by a third resistor and a second capacitor that are connected in parallel, and the second level limiting circuit is configured by the third resistor and a fourth resistor connected in series with the third resistor, and outputs a resistor divided voltage obtained by dividing a voltage of the horizontal synchronization signal through the third resistor and the fourth resistor to the image pickup section.

6 . An endoscope system comprising: an image pickup section provided with a solid-state image pickup device and configured to obtain an examination image; a cable that transmits the examination image; and a processor that receives the examination image, performs image processing, and displays the processed image,
the processor comprising:
a level limiting circuit that detects a clock signal for driving the image pickup section, the level limiting circuit being configured to output the clock signal when the clock signal is detected and output a signal whose output level is limited so as not to exceed a level of an input voltage standard of the image pickup section when the clock signal is not detected; and
a peaking circuit that performs waveform correction of the clock signal outputted from the level limiting circuit.

Assignees

• Olympus Corp

Inventors

• SONE Shingo

Classifications

• H04N25/71

  Charge-coupled device [CCD] sensors; Charge-transfer registers specially adapted for CCD sensors · CPC title

• H04N25/709 Primary

  Circuitry for control of the power supply · CPC title

• H04N23/555

  for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes · CPC title

• H04N25/745

  Circuitry for generating timing or clock signals · CPC title

• G02B23/2484 Primary

  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