US5608451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscope apparatus
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1995-02-27
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Granted: 1997-03-04
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Expires: 2015-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An endoscope apparatus includes an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by the optical system; an illuminating device for irradiating the object with illuminating light; a light control device for changing the brightness of the illuminating light; a stop device whose aperture is variable, disposed in the optical system; a detecting device for detecting the brightness of the image of the object; and a control device for controlling the stop device and the light control device so that the intensity of a signal output from the solid-state image sensor is kept nearly constant in accordance with brightness information derived from the detecting device. In this way, the endoscope apparatus always maintains the optimum brightness of the image and ensures a practical pan-focus state in which a user's operation load is reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitsujiro Konno
- 👤 Akira Hasegawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/555; H04N23/70; H04N23/74; H04N23/75
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; light control means for changing brightness of the illuminating light; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and control means for controlling said stop means and said light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; light control means for changing brightness of the illuminating light; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and control means for controlling said stop means and said light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; electric light control means for controlling an amount of electric charges stored in said solid-state image sensor; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; and control means for controlling said stop means and said electric light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; electric light control means for controlling an amount of electric charges stored in said solid-state image sensor; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; and control means for controlling said stop means and said electric light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and driving means for changing an optical path length between said optical system and said solid-state image sensor in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and driving means for changing an optical path length between said optical system and said solid-state image sensor in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means has an operation mode for controlling only said stop means in a state in which an amount of light irradiated from said illuminating means is kept constant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means has an operation mode for controlling only said light control means in a state in which the aperture of said stop means is kept constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; light control means for changing brightness of the illuminating light; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and control means for controlling said stop means and said light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means, said control means having a first operation mode for controlling only said stop means in a state in which an amount of light irradiated from said illuminating means is kept constant and a second operation mode for controlling only said light control means in a state in which the aperture of said stop means is kept constant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said optical system; illuminating means for irradiating the object with illuminating light; light control means for changing brightness of the illuminating light; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said optical system; detecting means for detecting brightness of the image of the object; and control means for controlling said stop means and said light control means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant in accordance with brightness information derived from said detecting means, said control means having a first operation mode for controlling only said stop means in a state in which an amount of light irradiated from said illuminating means is kept constant and a second operation mode for controlling only said light control means in a state in which the aperture of said stop means is kept constant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 6, wherein when brightness of said brightness information is less than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means so that the brightness of the illuminating light increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 6, wherein when brightness of said brightness information is greater than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means so that the brightness of the illuminating light decreases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 5 or 6, wherein when brightness of said brightness information is less than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means increases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 5 or 6, wherein when brightness of said brightness information is greater than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means diminishes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
102 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4 or 6, wherein when brightness of said brightness information is less than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means so that the brightness of the illuminating light increases and controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means increases, and when the brightness of said brightness information is greater than the predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means so that the brightness of the illuminating light decreases and controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means diminishes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an imaging optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said imaging optical system; a light source device for supplying illuminating light with which the object is illuminated, having light control means for adjusting an amount of light; an illuminating optical system for irradiating the object with light from said light source device; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said imaging optical system; and control means for controlling said light control means and said stop means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
An endoscope apparatus comprising: an imaging optical system for forming an image of an object; a solid-state image sensor for receiving the image formed by said imaging optical system; a light source device for supplying illuminating light with which the object is illuminated, having light control means for adjusting an amount of light; an illuminating optical system for irradiating the object with light from said light source device; stop means whose aperture is variable, disposed in said imaging optical system; and control means for controlling said light control means and said stop means so that an intensity of a signal output from said solid-state image sensor is kept substantially constant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the intensity of the signal output from said solid-state image sensor is less than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means in a state in which the aperture of said stop means is minimized, to increase the amount of light supplied by said light source device, and controls said stop means after the amount of light has been maximized.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the intensity of the signal output from said solid-state image sensor is greater than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means diminishes in a state in which the amount of light of said light source device is maximized by said light control means and controls said light control means after the aperture has been minimized.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when the intensity of the signal output from said solid-state image sensor is less than a predetermined brightness, said control means controls said light control means in a state in which the aperture of said stop means is minimized, to increase the amount of light supplied by said light source device, and controls said stop means after the amount of light has been maximized, and when the intensity of the signal output from said solid-state image sensor is greater than the predetermined brightness, said control means controls said stop means so that the aperture of said stop means diminishes in a state in which the amount of light of said light source device is maximized by said light control means and controls said light control means after the aperture has been minimized.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said optical system includes stop means whose aperture is variable and control mean for controlling said stop means in accordance with said brightness information, and said driving means is driven in accordance with a signal for controlling said stop means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claims 3 or 16, wherein brightness of said brightness information is greater than a predetermined brightness, said driving means drives said optical system and/or said solid-state image sensor so that the optical path length increases.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claims 3 or 16, wherein brightness of said brightness information is less than a predetermined brightness, said driving means drives said optical system and/or said solid-state image sensor so that the optical path length diminishes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 5, 6, 13 or 14, wherein said stop means satisfies a condition: φ2≧2.15×10.sup.-4 F/Px where φ2 is a minimum aperture of said stop means, F is a focal length of said optical system, and Px is a pixel pitch in a horizontal scanning direction of said solid-state image sensor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 4, 6 or 13, further comprising electric amplifying means having a function for amplifying a video signal produced based on the signal output from said solid-state image sensor, wherein said control means operates said electric amplifying means after the aperture of said stop means has been maximized and an amount of light supplied by a light source has been maximized by said light control means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
An endoscope apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, 12-16, wherein said control means is a central processing unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claims 3 or 16, wherein when the aperture of said stop means is maximum, a brightness adjustment for correcting brightness to be constant is executed by said light control means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 20, wherein when an operation of said light control means has been completed, said light control means is controlled to return to an initial mode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when an intensity of illuminating light is a predetermined value, said control means controls said stop means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the aperture of said stop means is a predetermined value, said control means controls said light control means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising electric light control means for controlling an amount of electric charges stored in said solid-state image sensor, said electric light control means being controlled by said control means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said control means controls said electric light control means after the aperture of said stop means has been minimized and an amount of light with which the object is irradiated by said illuminating means has been minimized.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said control means is a central processing unit.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
An endoscope apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said control means is a central processing unit.
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) | 2000-03-03 | 2000-09-02 | 2001-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-03 | 2004-09-02 | 2005-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-03 | 2008-09-02 | 2009-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |