US5016975A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic endoscope provided with a sample-hold circuit
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1989-06-08
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Granted: 1991-05-21
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Expires: 2009-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An electronic endoscope having a light emitting unit for emitting illuminating light from the tip of the insertable part, a solid state imaging device at the tip for receiving an illuminated light image, a sample-holding circuit for sample-holding an output signal from the solid state imaging device, a light source for such light emitting unit and an iris device in such light source, the iris device comprising a diaphragm device for preventing the spectral characteristics of the endoscope from being changed due to the amount of light reduction which consists of a diaphragm assembly consisting of two dimensionally diaphragm units which consists of light passing openings with small sectional area and light shading parts formed by tubular surfaces surrounding the side surfaces of the openings, positioned in the beam emitted from illuminating lamp, and provided with means for turning diaphragm assembly from a position where the tubular surfaces are in parallel with the axis of the illumination beam to a position where the axes are at an angle.
Inventors
- 👤 Masahiko Sasaki
- 👤 Tadashi Kato
- 👤 Hiroyoshi Fujimori
- 👤 Tatsuo Nagasaki
- 👤 Fumiyuki Onoda
- 👤 Toshiaki Nishikori
- 👤 Hideo Tomabechi
- 👤 Kazutake Sugawara
- 👤 Kazuo Nakamura
- 👤 Ootaro Ando
- 👤 Koichi Karaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/06; A61B1/0646; A61B1/0661; A61B1/0669; F; F21; F21V; F21V11/00; F21V11/06; F21V11/08; F21V11/14; F21V9/00; F21V9/40; A61B1/07; F21V14/00; F21V14/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
An electronic endoscope comprising: an elongated insertable part; a light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from the tip side of said insertable part; an objective lens, provided on the tip side of said insertable part, for forming an image from the area illuminated by said emitted light; a solid state imaging device, whose light receiving plane is on an image forming position of said objective lens, for forming an output signal from said formed image; and a sample-holding circuit, provided within said electronic endoscope, for sample-holding an output signal from said solid state image device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
An electronic endoscope comprising: an elongated insertable part; a light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from the tip side of said insertable part; an objective lens, provided on the tip side of said insertable part, for forming an image from the area illuminated by said emitted light; a solid state imaging device, whose light receiving plane is on an image forming position of said objective lens, for forming an output signal from said formed image; and a sample-holding circuit, provided within said electronic endoscope, for sample-holding an output signal from said solid state image device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope according to claim 1, wherein said sample-holding circuit is on the tip side of said insertable part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an electronic endoscope comprising an elongated insertable part, a light guide extended through said insertable part for emitting an illuminating light supplied to one end from the other end, an objective lens on the tip side of said insertable part for forming an image, a solid state image device having a light receiving plane in an image forming position of said objective lens and a sample-holding circuit for sample-holding an output signal from said solid state imaging; a light source unit for emitting an illuminating light beam toward one end of said light guide; an iris device, provided within said light source unit, for variably controlling the amount of illuminating light supplied to one end of said light guide based on an output of said sample-hold circuit; a video signal processing means for generating a standard video signal from an output signal of said sample-holding circuit; and a color monitor for displaying an output signal of said video signal processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising: an electronic endoscope comprising an elongated insertable part, a light guide extended through said insertable part for emitting an illuminating light supplied to one end from the other end, an objective lens on the tip side of said insertable part for forming an image, a solid state image device having a light receiving plane in an image forming position of said objective lens and a sample-holding circuit for sample-holding an output signal from said solid state imaging; a light source unit for emitting an illuminating light beam toward one end of said light guide; an iris device, provided within said light source unit, for variably controlling the amount of illuminating light supplied to one end of said light guide based on an output of said sample-hold circuit; a video signal processing means for generating a standard video signal from an output signal of said sample-holding circuit; and a color monitor for displaying an output signal of said video signal processing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
220 words
An electronic endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said iris device is a diaphragm device in said light beam emitted from said light source, said diaphragm device consisting of a diaphragm assembly made up of a plurality of diaphragm units each having light transmitting area and a shaded part surrounding said light transmitting area, said diaphragm assembly having a cross-sectional area exceeding the cross-sectional area of said light beam emitted from said light source, means for supporting said diaphragm assembly for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of said light beam from a point where the light transmitting axis of said diaphragm units and the axis of said light beam are parallel to a point where said light transmitting axis of said diaphragm units and the axis of said light beam are oblique and said light beam from said light source is at least partially intercepted by the shaded parts surrounding the light transmitting parts and means for rotating said diaphragm assembly on said perpendicular axis for adjusting said light transmitting axis of said diaphragm units relative to said axis of said light beam for regulating the light from said light source transmitted through said diaphragm assembly, and condenser means for receiving the light transmitted through said diaphragm assembly and for condensing and transmitting condensed light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm assembly consists of a light shading plate with a proper thickness provided with many through holes with small sectional area perpendicularly to the plate surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 5, in which said through holes are closely formed in two directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm assembly is in square grid frame form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm assembly is in regular hexagon grid frame form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm units are pillar-like transparent bodies provided with light shading films on the side surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm assembly consists of a pair of plate-like members each having regularly arranged light transmitting areas surrounded by shaded parts and whose light transmitting areas are faced, one with the other, on said plate-like members and means for supporting said plate-like members for rotating in the light beam of said light source for regulating the light transmittal therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, in which said diaphragm assembly consists of a light transmitting transparent plate having light transmitting portions and shading parts arranged in checker pattern on both sides and means for supporting said plate for rotation about an axis parallel with the plate surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A diaphragm device, as claimed in claim 4, which includes a driving means for rotating said diaphragm assembly, an imaging optical system and said endoscope, said imaging optical system having a focal plane, a solid state image pick-up device at said focal plane of said imaging optical system and means for controlling said driving means in response to the brightness level at said sample-holding circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-20 | 1994-11-19 | 1995-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-20 | 1998-11-19 | 1999-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-20 | 2002-11-19 | 2003-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |