Video-signal processing device connectable to an electronic endoscope

Claim 2

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of video signal, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal output from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal output from the electronic endoscope; and an output device from which the video signal carrying the character-information signal is fed from said apparatus.

Claim 3

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: a manual input device for inputting variable character-code data to said character-information signal producing a device, whereby a variable optional character-information signal is produced by said character-information signal producing device.

Claim 4

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said manual input device comprises a keyboard.

Claim 5

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising respective isolation couplers for inputting the video signal and the control signal from the electronic endoscope to said apparatus and for electrically isolating the electronic endoscope from said apparatus.

Claim 6

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said isolation couplers is a photo-coupler.

Claim 7

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said isolation couplers is a transformer coupler.

Claim 8

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of electric analog video signal, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electric analog video signal carrying the character-information signal into a parallel electric digital video signal; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel electric digital video signal into a serial electric digital video signal; and an output device from which the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope and carrying the character-information signal is fed outside from said apparatus as the serial electric digital video signal.

Claim 9

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of electric analog video signal, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electric analog video signal carrying the character-information signal into a parallel electric digital video signal; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel electric digital video signal into a serial electric digital video signal; and an output device from which the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope and carrying the character-information signal is fed outside from said apparatus as the serial electric digital video signal.

Claim 10

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: a manual input device for inputting character-code data to said character-information signal producing device, whereby a variable optional character-information signal is produced by said character-information signal producing device.

Claim 11

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said manual input device comprises a keyboard.

Claim 12

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an isolation coupler for inputting the video signal from the electronic endoscope to said apparatus, and for electrically isolating the electronic endoscope from said apparatus.

Claim 13

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said isolation coupler is a photo-coupler.

Claim 14

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said isolation coupler is a transformer coupler.

Claim 15

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising an electrical-optical converter for converting the serial electric digital video signal into a serial optical digital video signal.

Claim 16

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a manual switch for forcibly stopping the feeding of the serial electric digital video signal from said apparatus.

Claim 17

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of electric analog video signal, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch thereof, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal output from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the electric analog video signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electric analog video signal carrying the character-information signal into a parallel electric digital video signal; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel electric digital video signal into a serial electric digital video signal; and an output device from which the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope and carrying the character-information signal is fed from said device as the serial electric digital video signal.

Claim 18

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least one kind of electric analog video signal, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch thereof, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal output from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the electric analog video signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the electric analog video signal carrying the character-information signal into a parallel electric digital video signal; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel electric digital video signal into a serial electric digital video signal; and an output device from which the electric analog video signal output from the electronic endoscope and carrying the character-information signal is fed from said device as the serial electric digital video signal.

Claim 19

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising: a manual input device for inputting variable character-code data to said character-information signal producing device, whereby a variable character-information signal is produced by said character-information signal producing device.

Claim 20

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said manual input device comprises a keyboard.

Claim 21

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising respective isolation couplers for inputting the video signal and the control signal from the electronic endoscope to said apparatus and for electrically isolating the electronic endoscope from said device.

Claim 22

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said isolation couplers is a photo-coupler.

Claim 23

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein each of said isolation couplers is a transformer coupler.

Claim 24

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising an electrical-optical converter for converting the serial electric digital video signal into a serial optical digital video signal.

Claim 25

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a manual switch for forcibly stopping the feeding of the serial electric digital video signal from said apparatus.

Claim 26

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component and at least three kinds of video signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective video signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 27

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component and at least three kinds of video signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective video signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 28

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising: a manual input device for inputting character-code data to said character-information signal producer, whereby a variable optional character-information signal is produced by said character-information signal producer.

Claim 29

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said manual input device comprises a keyboard.

Claim 30

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising an isolation coupler for inputting the video signal from the electronic endoscope to said apparatus and for electrically isolating the electronic endoscope from said apparatus.

Claim 31

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising an electrical-optical converter for converting the serial electric digital video signal into a serial optical digital video signal.

Claim 32

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising a manual switch for forcibly stopping the feeding of the serial electric digital video signal from said apparatus.

Claim 33

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 23, further comprising: a phase-lock detector for detecting the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses and the phase of the composite synchronizing signal; and a signal-output stopping device that stops the output of the serial digital video-signal-components from said apparatus until said phase-lock detector detects the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal.

Claim 34

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 29, further comprising a display for displaying a message announcing that the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal of the component-type electric analog color video signal is detected by said phase-lock detector.

Claim 35

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component and at least three kinds of video signal-components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal output from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective video signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 36

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component and at least three kinds of video signal-components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal output from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to the video signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective video signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 37

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising: a manual input device for inputting variable character-code data to said character-information signal producer, whereby a variable character-information signal is produced by said character-information signal producing device.

Claim 38

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 32, wherein said manual input device comprises a keyboard.

Claim 39

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising respective isolation couplers for inputting the video signal and the control signal from the electronic endoscope to said device and for electrically isolating the electronic endoscope from said apparatus.

Claim 40

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising an electrical-optical converter for converting the serial electric digital video signal into a serial optical digital video signal.

Claim 41

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising a manual switch for forcibly stopping the feeding of the serial electric digital video signal from said apparatus.

Claim 42

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising: a phase-lock detector for detecting the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal; and a signal-output stopping device that stops the output of the serial digital video-signal-components from said apparatus until said phase-lock detector detects the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal.

Claim 43

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 31, further comprising a display for displaying a message announcing that the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal of the component-type electric analog color video signal is detected by said phase-lock detector.

Claim 44

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accodance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 45

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accodance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 46

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 47

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 48

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components into a parallel electric digital color video signal components; a color-conversion digital matrix circuit for producing a parallel digital luminance signal-component, and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components on the basis of the parallel electric digital color video-signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel digital luminance signal-component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components; an parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital luminance signal component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 49

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components into a parallel electric digital color video signal components; a color-conversion digital matrix circuit for producing a parallel digital luminance signal-component, and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components on the basis of the parallel electric digital color video-signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel digital luminance signal-component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components; an parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital luminance signal component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 50

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components into a parallel electric digital color video signal components; a color-conversion digital matrix circuit for producing a parallel digital luminance signal-component, and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components on the basis of the parallel electric digital color video-signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel digital luminance signal-component and the two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital luminance signal component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 51

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components into a parallel electric digital color video signal components; a color-conversion digital matrix circuit for producing a parallel digital luminance signal-component, and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components on the basis of the parallel electric digital color video-signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel digital luminance signal-component and the two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital luminance signal component and two kinds of parallel digital color-difference signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 52

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel electric digital video signal-components carrying the digital character-information signals into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 53

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel electric digital video signal-components carrying the digital character-information signals into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 54

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; a digital adder for adding the fixed digital character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components carrying the fixed digital character-information signal into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 55

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a red video-signal-component, a green video-signal-component, and a blue video-signal-component, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a color-conversion analog matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal-components on the basis of the red, green, and blue video-signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; a digital adder for adding the fixed digital character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components carrying the fixed digital character-information signal into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 56

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 57

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, said apparatus comprising: a character-information signal producing device that produces a character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 58

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 59

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; an adder for adding the character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components carrying the character-information signals into parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 60

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel electric digital video signal-components carrying the digital character-information signals into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 61

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a character-information signal producing device that produces a digital character-information signal on the basis of character-code data; a digital adder for adding the digital character-information signal to each of the parallel electric digital video signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel electric digital video signal-components carrying the digital character-information signals into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 62

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; a digital adder for adding the fixed digital character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components carrying the fixed digital character-information signal into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 63

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, a luminance signal-component, and two kinds of color-difference signal components, the electronic endoscope further outputting a control signal in response to a turning-ON of a function switch, said apparatus comprising: an analog-to-digital converter for converting each of the respective luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components into a parallel electric digital video signal-components; a memory for storing fixed character-code data; a memory-reading device that reads the fixed character-code data from said memory in response to the control signal outputted from the electronic endoscope; a character-information signal producing device that produces a fixed digital character-information signal on the basis of the fixed character-code data read from said memory; a digital adder for adding the fixed digital character-information signal to each of the luminance signal-component and two kinds of color-difference signal-components; a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the respective parallel digital video signal-components carrying the fixed digital character-information signal into serial electric digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial electric digital video-signal-components in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; and an output device from which the serial electric digital video signal-components are output at proper timing from said apparatus.

Claim 64

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a synchronizing-signal detector for detecting an input composite synchronizing signal to said apparatus; and a signal-output stopping device that stops an output of the three kinds of video-signal-components from said device until said synchronizing-signal detector detects the input of the composite synchronizing signal to said apparatus.

Claim 65

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a synchronizing-signal detector for detecting an input composite synchronizing signal to said apparatus; and a signal-output stopping device that stops an output of the three kinds of video-signal-components from said device until said synchronizing-signal detector detects the input of the composite synchronizing signal to said apparatus.

Claim 66

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 49, further comprising: a display for displaying a message announcing that said synchronizing-signal detector detects the input of the composite synchronizing signal to said apparatus.

Claim 67

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a converter/outputter for converting the three kinds of video-signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components outside from said apparatus in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; a phase-lock detector for detecting the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal; and a signal-output stopping device that stops the output of the serial digital video-signal-components from said apparatus until said phase-lock detector detects the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal.

Claim 68

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output a component-type electric analog color video signal as at least one kind of video signal, the component-type electric analog color video signal comprising a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components, said apparatus comprising: a converter/outputter for converting the three kinds of video-signal-components into serial digital video-signal-components and for outputting the serial digital video-signal-components outside from said apparatus in accordance with a series of clock pulses; a phase-locked loop circuit for making a phase of said series of clock pulses coincide with a phase of the composite synchronizing signal component of the component-type electric analog color video signal; a phase-lock detector for detecting the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal; and a signal-output stopping device that stops the output of the serial digital video-signal-components from said apparatus until said phase-lock detector detects the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal.

Claim 69

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 51, further comprising a display for displaying a message announcing that the coincidence of the phase of the series of clock pulses with the phase of the composite synchronizing signal of the component-type electric analog color video signal is detected by said phase-lock detector.

Claim 70

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least two kinds of video signals, said apparatus comprising: a switch circuit provided in output-signal lines for the two kinds of video signals; a first manual switch for forcibly stopping the output of one of the two kinds of video signals from said apparatus via said switch circuit when turning ON the first manual switch; a first indicator associated with said first manual switch for indicating a turned-ON status of said first manual switch; a second manual switch for forcibly stopping the output of a remaining one of the two kinds of video signals from said apparatus via said switch circuit when turning ON the second manual switch; and a second indicator associated with said second manual switch for indicating a turned-ON status of said second manual switch.

Claim 71

A video-signal processing apparatus connectable to an electronic endoscope designed to output at least two kinds of video signals, said apparatus comprising: a switch circuit provided in output-signal lines for the two kinds of video signals; a first manual switch for forcibly stopping the output of one of the two kinds of video signals from said apparatus via said switch circuit when turning ON the first manual switch; a first indicator associated with said first manual switch for indicating a turned-ON status of said first manual switch; a second manual switch for forcibly stopping the output of a remaining one of the two kinds of video signals from said apparatus via said switch circuit when turning ON the second manual switch; and a second indicator associated with said second manual switch for indicating a turned-ON status of said second manual switch.

Claim 72

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 53, wherein said one of the two kinds of video signals is a component-type analog color video signal composed of a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components; and said remaining one of said two kinds of video signal is an analog color S-video signal composed of a luminance signal-component and an amplitude-modulated color-difference signal-component.

Claim 73

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 53, wherein said one of the two kinds of video signals is a component-type analog color video signal composed of a composite synchronizing signal-component, and three kinds of video-signal-components; and said remaining one of said two kinds of video signal is an analog color composite video signal combined with a luminance signal-component and an amplitude-modulated color-difference signal-component.

Claim 74

A video-signal processing apparatus as set forth in claim 53, wherein said one of the two kinds of video signals is an analog color S-video signal composed of a luminance signal-component and an amplitude-modulated color-difference signal-component; and said remaining one of said two kinds of video signal is an analog color composite video signal combined with a luminance signal-component and an amplitude-modulated color-difference signal-component.