US4461558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic photographing apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1982-08-13
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2002-08-13
Abstract
Abstract An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprises an endoscope, an endoscopic camera and a light supply unit. A CPU is incorporated into at least one of the endoscopic camera and light supply unit to discriminate the kind of the other. The CPU achieves its kind discrimination depending upon whether a response is present or not after a certain time period since the generation of a flag signal. Further, the CPU achieves its kind discrimination depending upon whether it receives the flag signal or not within a certain time period since the start of its operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kowji Tanikawa
- 👤 Koichi Matsui
- 👤 Tetsuya Kimura
- 👤 Takeshi Takamatsu, deceased
- 👤 legal representative by Tokuyuki Takamatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: an endoscope having an eyepiece section and connector; an endoscopic camera unit attached to the eyepiece section of said endoscope; a light supply unit connected to the connector of said endoscope and emitting light to be guided into the endoscope; a control section having means arranged in at least one of said endoscopic camera unit and said light supply unit for discriminating the type of endoscopic camera unit or light supply unit, depending upon the presence and absence of a response signal, when one of said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit receives the response signal, said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit executing a first photographing mode, and when one of said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit receives no response signal, said unit having the control section executing a second photographing mode corresponding to an operation sequency of the other unit being without control section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus comprising: an endoscope having an eyepiece section and connector; an endoscopic camera unit attached to the eyepiece section of said endoscope; a light supply unit connected to the connector of said endoscope and emitting light to be guided into the endoscope; a control section having means arranged in at least one of said endoscopic camera unit and said light supply unit for discriminating the type of endoscopic camera unit or light supply unit, depending upon the presence and absence of a response signal, when one of said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit receives the response signal, said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit executing a first photographing mode, and when one of said endoscopic camera unit and light supply unit receives no response signal, said unit having the control section executing a second photographing mode corresponding to an operation sequency of the other unit being without control section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light supply unit is provided with discrimination means for generating a flag signal and for discriminating the type of the endoscopic camera depending upon the presence and absence of response in response to the flag signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said endoscopic camera includes discrimination means for discriminating, in response to the flag signal, the type of said light supply unit and applying a response signal to said light supply unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said endoscopic camera has the control section, which is connected to auto-exposure control means, and said auto-exposure control means carries out EE calculation in response to a sync signal applied from said control section so as to output an EE signal under optimum exposure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said endoscopic camera has display means for displaying various data and said control section is connected through a decoder to said display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said decoder is a 3-to-8 decoder having an NC terminal floated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
An endoscopic photographing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light supply unit includes a lamp for emitting observation light, a lamp turn-on circuit for turning on said lamp, a strobo tube for emitting photographing flash light, a flash control circuit for controlling the light emission of said strobo tube, means for effecting the changeover of observation and flash lights, and a light shutter for shutting observation and flash lights, and said flash control circuit, turn-on circuit, light changeover means and shutter are driven by said control section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4343300A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |