Patent US4191676A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5159446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5159446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic endoscope system provided with a separate camera controlling unit and motor controlling unit
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1991-06-21
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Granted: 1992-10-27
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Expires: 2011-06-21
Abstract
Abstract At least one controlling unit of a controlling unit for controlling a bending driving motor bending driving a bendable portion, a controlling unit for controlling an advancing and retreating driving motor advancing and retreating moving an insert section and a controlling unit for controlling a rotating driving motor rotating driving the insert section and a camera controlling unit for processing a signal for an imaging device are made separate from each other so that such existing scope as an electronic scope or fiber scope fitted with a TV camera may be used.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroki Hibino
- 👤 Yoshikatsu Nagayama
- 👤 Mutsumi Yoshikawa
- 👤 Toshiyuki Takara
- 👤 Masahito Goto
- 👤 Akira Suzuki
- 👤 Sakae Takehana
- 👤 Yoshinao Oaki
- 👤 Koichi Yoshimitsu
- 👤 Yoshisada Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0052; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00039; A61B1/00042; A61B1/00147; A61B1/0016; A61B1/04; A61B1/045; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/555; H04N23/58; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/183; H04N7/185
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope provided with an elongate and flexible insert section, an illuminating light emitting means for transmitting an illuminating light fed from outside and emitting it from an illuminating window of a distal end component of said insert section, an objective optical system provided in the distal and component of said insert section, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system and a first connector connected to a cable connected with said imaging means; an electric operating means for electrically performing at least one of an operation of bending a bendable portion provided in said insert section, an operation of advancing and retreating movement of said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and an operation of rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section; a second connector connected to a cable connected with said electric operating means; a video signal processing unit provided with a first connector receptacle making said first connector connectable and processing a signal for said imaging means to produce a video signal; an electric driving means for at least one of a bending driving means for bending and driving said bendable portion, an advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating moving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and a rotating driving means for rotating driving said insert section in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a controlling unit formed separately from said video signal processing unit, provided with a second connector receptacle making said second connector connectable and controlling said electric driving means in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a light source apparatus provided with a connector receptable making the connector of said illuminating light emitting means connectable and feeding said illuminating light; and a monitor means for displaying said video signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope provided with an elongate and flexible insert section, an illuminating light emitting means for transmitting an illuminating light fed from outside and emitting it from an illuminating window of a distal end component of said insert section, an objective optical system provided in the distal and component of said insert section, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system and a first connector connected to a cable connected with said imaging means; an electric operating means for electrically performing at least one of an operation of bending a bendable portion provided in said insert section, an operation of advancing and retreating movement of said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and an operation of rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section; a second connector connected to a cable connected with said electric operating means; a video signal processing unit provided with a first connector receptacle making said first connector connectable and processing a signal for said imaging means to produce a video signal; an electric driving means for at least one of a bending driving means for bending and driving said bendable portion, an advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating moving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and a rotating driving means for rotating driving said insert section in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a controlling unit formed separately from said video signal processing unit, provided with a second connector receptacle making said second connector connectable and controlling said electric driving means in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a light source apparatus provided with a connector receptable making the connector of said illuminating light emitting means connectable and feeding said illuminating light; and a monitor means for displaying said video signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic endoscope is an electronic scope in which a photoelectric converting surface of said imaging means is arranged in the focal plane of said objective optical system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic endoscope is a TV camera externally fitted scope formed of a fiber scope having an image guide in which one end surface is arranged in the focal plane of said objective optical system and an optical image is transmitted to the other end surface on the eyepiece portion side and a TV camera which can be fitted to said eyepiece portion and has said imaging means built-in for photoelectrically converting the optical image transmitted to said other end surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means is provided in said electronic endoscope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means has an electric bending operating means for electrically controlling the bending of said bendable portion, said electric driving means has said bending driving means for bending driving said bendable portion in response to the operation of said electric bending operating means and said controlling unit has a bending controlling unit controlling the bending drive of said bending driving means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means has an electric advancing and retreating operating means for electrically advancing and retreating said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section, said electric driving means has said advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating driving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section in response to the operation of said electric advancing and retreating operating means and said controlling unit has an advancing and retreating controlling unit for controlling the advancing and retreating drive of said advancing and retreating driving means in response to the operation of said electric advancing and retreating operating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means has an electric rotating operating means for rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section, said electric driving means has said rotating driving means for rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section in response to the operation of said electric rotating operating means and said controlling unit has a rotation controlling unit for controlling the rotating drive of said rotating driving means in response to the operation of said electric rotating operating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electronic endoscope has an air feeding/water feeding tube for feeding air and feeding water and a sucking tube for suction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 8 having an electric air feeding/water feeding & sucking operating means for making an air feeding/water feeding operation and sucking operation and an electric air feeding/water feeding & sucking means for feeding air/feeding water & sucking through said air feeding/water feeding tube and said sucking tube in response to the operation of said electric air feeding/water feeding & sucking operating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 9 wherein said electric air feeding/water feeding & sucking operating means is provided in said electronic endoscope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 9 having an air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit for controlling feeding air/feeding water and controlling sucking respectively through said air feeding/water feeding tube and said sucking tube in response to the operation of said electric air feeding/water feeding & sucking operating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 11 wherein said air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit and said light source appartus are housed within a common housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 12 wherein said air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit and said controlling unit are housed within a common housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 9 wherein said air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit, said light source appartus and said controlling circuit unit are housed within a common housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said controlling unit and said light source apparatus are housed within a common housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said video signal processing unit and said light source apparatus are housed within a common housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 9 wherein said video signal processing unit and said air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit are housed within a common housing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 9 wherein said video signal processing unit, said light source apparatus and said air feeding/water feeding & sucking controlling unit are housed within a common housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means is an on/off operating switch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 5 wherein said electric bending operating means is a joystick.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric driving means is formed of a motor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 5 wherein said bending driving means is provided within said electronic endoscope.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said electric operating means has an electric bending operating means for electrically controlling the bending of said bendable portion, an electric advancing and retreating operating means for electrically advancing and retreating said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and an electric rotating operating means for rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 23 wherein said electric driving means has said bending driving means for bending and driving said bendable portion in response to the operation of said electric bending operating means, said advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section in response to the operation of said electric advancing and retreating operating means and said rotating driving means for rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 24 wherein said controlling unit has a bending controlling unit for controlling the bending drive of said bending driving means, an advance and retreat controlling unit for controlling the advancing and retreating drive of said advancing and retreating driving means and a rotation controlling unit for controlling the rotating drive of said rotating driving means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 6 wherein said advancing and retreating driving means has a ring-like member contacting the outer peripheral surface on the base end side of said insert section and a motor advancing and retreating said insert section by rotating and driving said ring-like member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 7 wherein said rotating driving means has a ring-like member contacting the outer peripheral surface on the base end side of said insert section and a motor rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section by rotating and driving said ring-like member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 5 wherein said bending controlling unit has a bending vibration controlling function of feeding a vibrating driving signal to said bending driving means and vibrating said bendable portion and said electric bending operating means has a bending vibrating operating means for selecting said bending vibration control.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
73 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 6 wherein said advance and retreat controlling unit has an advancing and retreating vibration controlling function of feeding a vibrating driving signal to said advancing and retreating driving means and vibrating said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and said electric advancing and retreating operation means has an advancing and retreating vibrating operating means for selecting said advancing and retreating vibration control.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 7 wherein said rotation controlling unit has a rotating vibration controlling function of feeding a vibrating driving signal to said rotating driving means and vibrating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section and said electric rotating operating means has a rotating vibrating operating means for selecting said rotating vibration control.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said first connector cable and said second connector cable are inserted through one coating member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said first connector and said second connector are integrated to form an integrated connector.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 31 wherein one of said first connector cable and said second connector cable is further extended out of the other cable connector.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 32 wherein said video signal processing unit and said controlling unit will form a connector receptacle which can connect said integrated connector when combined with each other.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said first connector and said second connector are formed as separated.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
274 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope provided with an elongated and flexible insert section, an illuminating light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from a distal end component of said insert section, an objective system provided in the distal end component of said insert section, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system and a first connector connected to a cable connected with said imaging means; an electric operating means for electrically performing at least one of an operation of bending a bendable portion provided in said insert section, an operation of advancing and retreating driving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and an operation of rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section; a second connector connected to a cable connected with said electric operating means; a video signal processing unit provided with a first connector receptable making said first connector connectable and processing a signal for said imaging means to produce a video signal; an electric driving means of at least one of a bending driving means for bending and driving said bendable portion, an advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating moving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a controlling unit formed separately from said video signal processing unit, provided with a second connector receptable making said second connector connectable and controlling said electric driving means in response to the operation of said electric operating means; and a monitor means for displaying said video signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
274 words
An electronic endoscope system comprising: an electronic endoscope provided with an elongated and flexible insert section, an illuminating light emitting means for emitting an illuminating light from a distal end component of said insert section, an objective system provided in the distal end component of said insert section, an imaging means for photoelectrically converting an optical image based on said objective optical system and a first connector connected to a cable connected with said imaging means; an electric operating means for electrically performing at least one of an operation of bending a bendable portion provided in said insert section, an operation of advancing and retreating driving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section and an operation of rotating said insert section around the axial direction of said insert section; a second connector connected to a cable connected with said electric operating means; a video signal processing unit provided with a first connector receptable making said first connector connectable and processing a signal for said imaging means to produce a video signal; an electric driving means of at least one of a bending driving means for bending and driving said bendable portion, an advancing and retreating driving means for advancing and retreating moving said insert section in the axial direction of said insert section in response to the operation of said electric operating means; a controlling unit formed separately from said video signal processing unit, provided with a second connector receptable making said second connector connectable and controlling said electric driving means in response to the operation of said electric operating means; and a monitor means for displaying said video signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 36 wherein said first connector cable and said second connector cable are inserted through one coating member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 wherein said first connector and said second connector are integrated to form an integrated connector.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 37 wherein one of said first connector cable and said second connector cable is further extended out of the other cable connector.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 38 wherein said video signal processing unit and said controlling unit will form a connector receptacle which can connect said integrated connector when combined with each other.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 36 wherein said first connector and said second connector are formed as separated.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic endoscope system according to claim 36 having a light emitting body provided in the distal end component of said insert section and a driving means for driving said light emitting body.
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) | 1995-10-27 | 1996-04-27 | 1996-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-27 | 2000-04-27 | 2000-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-27 | 2004-04-27 | 2004-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |