JP2013208187A - Electronic endoscope system, electronic endoscope, and processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To wash an electronic endoscope without using a waterproof cap, and transmit/receive image signals between the electronic endoscope and a processor at high transmission efficiency and low power consumption.SOLUTION: An electronic endoscope system includes: an electronic endoscope including an image pickup section that captures an image of an observation object and acquires an image signal, and a connector unit the surface of which is constituted of a waterproof section for preventing intrusion of water into the interior and that has an output section for outputting the image signal; and a processor including an input section in which the image signal output by the output part is input, an image processing section for performing image processing of the image signal input in the input section, and a connector support section for detachably supporting the connector unit. The output section is a short-range wireless transmission section that is provided inside the connector unit and performs near field communication to transmit the image signal to the processor. The input section is a short-range wireless reception section that performs near field communication to receive the image signal that has been transmitted by the short-range wireless transmission section via the near field communication.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system, an electronic endoscope, and a processor.

  An electronic endoscope system generally includes an operation unit, an insertion unit extending from the operation unit, a universal tube extending from the operation unit to the opposite side of the insertion unit, and a connector unit provided at the distal end of the universal tube. And a processor (image processing apparatus / light source apparatus) to which the connector portion can be attached and detached. An objective lens is provided on the distal end surface of the insertion portion, and an imaging element for imaging a subject image transmitted through the objective lens is provided in the distal end portion of the insertion portion. The connector part of the electronic endoscope is provided with a pin terminal, and the processor is provided with a pin receiving part into which the pin terminal is inserted and removed. When the pin terminal is inserted into the pin receiving part, the electronic endoscope and The processor connects. When the imaging device captures a subject image in a state where the electronic endoscope and the processor are connected, an image signal generated by the imaging device is provided with a data transmission cable, a pin terminal, and a pin receiving unit provided inside the electronic endoscope. Is transmitted to the processor. Then, the processor processes the image signal, and displays an image based on the processed data on a monitor connected to the processor.

However, in this conventional type electronic endoscope system, the pin terminal is exposed at the connector portion of the electronic endoscope, so that when the electronic endoscope is washed, the waterproof cap for covering the pin portion on the connector portion Must be put on.
Further, if the pin terminal is repeatedly inserted into and removed from the pin receiving portion, the pin terminal may be worn (failed).

On the other hand, a so-called portable electronic endoscope system is known that wirelessly communicates image signals between an electronic endoscope and a processor which are separated from each other by omitting the universal tube and the connector from the electronic endoscope. It has been.
Since the electronic endoscope of the portable electronic endoscope system does not have a pin terminal, the electronic endoscope can be cleaned without using a waterproof cap.

  However, in a portable electronic endoscope system, there is a possibility that the wireless transmission efficiency of an image signal may be reduced due to factors such as the positional relationship between the electronic endoscope and the processor and the influence of noise. Special measures such as increasing the gain (gain) are essential. In addition, power consumption by wireless communication tends to increase.

JP 2008-283789 A JP 2008-283790 A JP 2001-45472 A Japanese Patent No. 3717715

  The present invention has been completed on the basis of the above awareness of the problems, and can clean the electronic endoscope without using a waterproof cap, and can transmit image signals between the electronic endoscope and the processor at a high transmission rate. An object of the present invention is to obtain an electronic endoscope system, an electronic endoscope, and a processor that can be performed with efficiency and low power consumption.

  In the present invention, the pin terminal is omitted from the connector portion of the electronic endoscope, and the surface of the connector portion is configured by a waterproof portion that prevents water from entering the interior. By providing a short-distance wireless transmission unit for short-distance wireless transmission, and providing a short-distance wireless reception unit for short-distance wireless reception of image signals in the processor, the electronic endoscope can be cleaned without using a waterproof cap, and The present invention has been completed on the basis that image signals can be exchanged between the endoscope and the processor with high transmission efficiency and low power consumption.

  The electronic endoscope system of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of an observation target and obtains an image signal, and a waterproof unit that prevents water from entering the interior, and includes an output unit for the image signal. An electronic endoscope having a connector section; an input section for inputting the image signal output from the output section; an image processing section for performing image processing on the image signal input to the input section; An electronic endoscope system including a connector support section that supports the connector, and the output section provided in the connector section is a near-field wireless transmission of the image signal toward the processor. A short-range wireless transmission unit, wherein the input unit is a short-range wireless reception unit that short-range wirelessly receives the image signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmission unit.

  In the electronic endoscope system according to the present invention, the lock mechanism that switches between the locked state in which the connector supporting portion is supported by the connector supporting portion and the unlocked state in which the holding is released, and the lock mechanism are in the locked state. Sometimes, the short-range wireless transmission unit and the short-range wireless reception unit enable short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless transmission unit and the short-range wireless reception unit when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state. It is preferable to further include a short-range wireless communication control unit that disables short-range wireless communication between the receiving units.

  An LED light source that supplies illumination light to an illumination lens provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope, and a short-distance non-contact power that receives driving power of the LED light source are provided inside the connector portion. The processor may include a short-range non-contact power transmission unit that transmits driving power to the short-range non-contact power reception unit.

  In this case, a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state in which the connector support portion is supported by the connector support portion and an unlocked state in which the connector portion is released, and when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, A short-distance non-contact power transmission between the contact power transmission unit and the short-distance non-contact power reception unit is enabled, and when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the short-distance non-contact power transmission unit and the near-distance power transmission unit A short-distance non-contact power transmission control unit that disables short-distance non-contact power transmission between the distance non-contact power reception units.

  Alternatively, in the electronic endoscope system of the present invention, the endoscope includes an illumination lens provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope, and one end connected to the illumination lens and the other end outside the connector portion. And a light guide sleeve covering the peripheral surface of the other end of the illumination light guide, which is provided integrally with the connector portion, and the processor includes: An insertion connection portion into which the light guide sleeve is inserted, and a light source portion that supplies illumination light to the other end of the illumination light guide when the light guide sleeve is inserted into the insertion connection portion. You can also.

  The connector part includes a flat part that constitutes a part of the waterproof part, and the connector support part includes a flat contact part that comes into surface contact with the flat part when the connector part is supported. Can do.

  The connector part can be composed of a conductive metal layer and an electrically insulating resin layer that covers the surface of the conductive metal layer and constitutes the planar part.

  The flat contact portion can be formed of a waterproof electrically insulating resin layer.

  An electronic endoscope according to the present invention is a processor having a short-range wireless receiving unit that receives an image signal by short-range wireless reception and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image signal input to the short-range wireless receiving unit. A detachable electronic endoscope that can be attached to and detached from the processor, the surface of which is configured by an imaging unit that captures an image of an observation object and obtains an image signal, and a waterproof unit that prevents water from entering the interior. And a short-range wireless transmission unit provided in the connector unit for short-range wireless transmission of the image signal toward the processor.

  The processor of the present invention provides the connector unit of an electronic endoscope having an imaging unit that captures an image of an observation object and obtains an image signal, and a connector unit that includes a short-range wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal. Is a detachable processor, a short-range wireless receiving unit for short-range wireless reception of the image signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmission unit, and the image signal input to the short-range wireless receiving unit An image processing unit for image processing, and a connector support unit for detachably supporting the connector unit.

According to the present invention, since the electronic endoscope is not provided with a pin terminal that is exposed to the outside, the electronic endoscope can be cleaned without being covered with a waterproof cap.
Furthermore, when the connector part of the electronic endoscope is connected to the connector support part of the processor, wireless communication is performed with the short-distance wireless transmission part of the electronic endoscope and the short-distance wireless reception part of the processor maintained at a constant distance. The image signal can be exchanged between the electronic endoscope and the processor with high transmission efficiency and low power consumption.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the separation state of the universal tube and connector part of the electronic endoscope system which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a processor. It is a figure which shows the locking mechanism of the connector part and processor of an electronic endoscope which concern on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control content by the system controller in the electronic endoscope system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the electronic endoscope system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure similar to FIG. 2 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure similar to FIG. 3 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the same flowchart as FIG. 4 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 4, the electronic endoscope system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic endoscope system of the present embodiment includes an electronic endoscope 100 and a processor 200.

  First, the configuration of the electronic endoscope 100 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an electronic endoscope 100 includes a grip operation unit 101 gripped by an operator, a flexible insertion unit 102 extending from the grip operation unit 101, and a grip operation unit. A universal tube (flexible tube) 105 extending from 101 to the opposite side of the insertion portion 102 and a connector portion 106 provided at the tip of the universal tube 105 are included. The distal end portion of the insertion portion 102 is constituted by a distal end rigid portion 102a, and immediately after that is a tubular curved portion 102b. The bending portion 102b is bent by a bending operation lever (not shown) provided in the grip operation portion 101. An objective lens 103 and an illumination lens 104 that emits illumination light are provided on the distal end surface of the distal rigid portion 102a, and an observation object image that has passed through the objective lens 103 is captured in the distal rigid portion 102a. An imaging element (imaging unit) 103a is provided.

  The outer shape of the connector portion 106 provided at the tip of the universal tube 105 is configured by a waterproof portion (waterproof cover) 107 that prevents water from entering the inside (the internal space is completely sealed by the waterproof portion 107). . More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the waterproof portion 107 includes a main body portion 107a, a conductive metal layer 107b connected to the main body portion 107a, and an electrically insulating resin that covers the surface of the conductive metal layer 107b. Layer (planar portion) 107c.

  Inside the connector part 106 (waterproof part 107), a short-distance wireless transmission part (output part) 109 connected to the image sensor 103a via a signal cable 108 is provided. The short-range wireless transmission unit 109 includes an RF output unit, a wireless antenna, and the like. The short-range wireless transmission unit 109 performs predetermined signal processing on the image signal transmitted from the imaging element 103a via the signal cable 108 and then directs the image signal to the processor 200. Send short-range wireless transmission.

  Inside the connector portion 106 (waterproof portion 107), a short-distance non-contact power receiving unit 110, an LED light source 111 that emits illumination light by driving power from the short-distance non-contact power receiving unit 110, and the LED light source 111 And a mirror 112 that reflects the illumination light emitted by the.

  The mirror 112 is not an essential component, and a mode in which the mirror 112 is omitted and the illumination light emitted from the LED light source 111 is directly guided to the illumination light guide 113 is also possible.

  In the electronic endoscope 100 according to the present embodiment, the short-range wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range non-contact power reception unit 110 are located inside the connector unit 106 (waterproof unit 107) (exposed outside the connector unit 106). Does not have a pin terminal). For this reason, when cleaning the electronic endoscope 100, the electronic endoscope 100 can be washed in a circle without covering the connector portion 106 with a dedicated waterproof cap.

  Next, the configuration of the processor 200 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the processor 200 includes a connector insertion recess (connector support portion) 201 that detachably supports the connector portion 106 of the electronic endoscope 100. The bottom portion of the connector fitting recess 201 is a waterproof electrically insulating resin layer (planar contact portion) 202. When the connector part 106 is fitted into the connector fitting recess 201, the electrically insulating resin layer (planar part) 107c of the connector part 106 and the electrically insulating resin layer (planar contact part) 202 of the connector fitting recess 201 are in surface contact. To do. In FIG. 2, in order to make the electrical insulating resin layer 107 c and the electrical insulating resin layer 202 easier to see, the state where the connector portion 106 is not fitted into the connector fitting recess 201 is depicted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the processor 200 is located immediately after the connector insertion recess 201 (electrically insulating resin layer 202), and includes an RF input unit, a wireless antenna, and the like. A short-distance wireless receiving unit (input unit) 203 that receives an image signal transmitted from the transmitting unit 109 via a short-distance wireless connection is provided. The short-range wireless communication distance between the short-range wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 when the electrical insulating resin layer 107c and the electrical insulating resin layer 202 are in surface contact is, for example, about several centimeters. The extremely short distance. Therefore, it is possible to transmit an image signal from the electronic endoscope 100 to the processor 200 with high transmission efficiency and low power consumption without special measures such as increasing the gain of the antenna.

  The processor 200 includes an image processing unit 204 that performs image processing on an image signal received by the short-range wireless reception unit 203 via short-range wireless reception. More specifically, the image processing unit 204 includes an A / D conversion unit 204a that performs A / D conversion on the image signal, a signal processing unit 204b that performs signal processing such as color correction on the image signal after A / D conversion, And a D / A converter 204c that D / A converts the processed image signal. The image data processed by the image processing unit 204 is output and displayed on a monitor (not shown) connected to the processor 200.

  The processor 200 is positioned immediately after the connector insertion recess 201 (electrically insulating resin layer 202), and transmits short-range non-contact power transmission to the short-range non-contact power reception unit 110 of the electronic endoscope 100. The unit 205 is provided. The short-distance non-contact power transmission distance between the short-distance non-contact power transmission unit 205 and the short-distance non-contact power reception unit 110 when the electrical insulating resin layer 107c and the electrical insulating resin layer 202 are in surface contact is For example, an extremely short distance of about several centimeters. For this reason, the driving power can be supplied from the processor 200 to the electronic endoscope 100 with high transmission efficiency and low power consumption. In addition, since the electronic endoscope 100 does not have a battery for causing the LED light source 111 to emit light, the configuration of the electronic endoscope 100 can be simplified, and malfunction of the electronic endoscope 100 due to battery exhaustion does not occur. .

  The processor 200 is stabilized by a commercial power source 206 for supplying the driving power of the processor 200, a stabilized power source device 207 for stabilizing the driving power supplied from the commercial power source 206, and the stabilized power source device 207. And a power transmission amplification circuit unit 208 that amplifies the drive power. In addition, the processor 200 includes a power switch 209 that switches on and off of the power source of the processor 200 and a control switch 210 that adjusts the brightness, white balance, and the like of the image data.

  The processor 200 is connected to the short-range wireless reception unit 203, the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205, the stabilized power supply device 207, the power transmission amplification circuit unit 208, the power switch 209, and the control switch 210, and performs the overall operation of the processor 200. A system controller (a short-range wireless communication control unit, a short-range non-contact power transmission control unit) 211 to be controlled is provided. The system controller 211 amplifies the drive power supplied from the commercial power supply 206 and stabilized by the stabilized power supply device 207 by the power transmission amplification circuit unit 208, and the electronic endoscope 100 (short-range non-contact power reception unit 110). Is converted to drive power for supply to the power and sent to the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205.

  As described above, the short-distance non-contact between the short-distance non-contact power transmission unit 205 and the short-distance non-contact power reception unit 110 when the electric insulating resin layer 107c and the electric insulating resin layer 202 are in surface contact. Since the power transmission is an extremely short distance, the driving power is supplied from the processor 200 (short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205) to the electronic endoscope 100 (short-range non-contact power reception unit 110) with high transmission efficiency and little. It can be done with power consumption. When the LED light source 111 emits illumination light when the short-distance non-contact power transmission unit 205 transmits driving power to the short-distance non-contact power reception unit 110, the illumination light is reflected by the mirror 112 and is electronic. The light is supplied to an illumination light guide 113 provided in the endoscope 100 and is emitted outward from the illumination lens 104.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connector insertion recess 201 of the processor 200 has a protruding position (position in FIG. 3) protruding toward the connector insertion recess 201, and the internal space side of the processor 200 from the connector insertion recess 201 side. Two lock claws 201a are provided that can move between the retracted positions (not shown). The lock claw 201a is urged to move toward the protruding position by urging means (not shown). As shown by a broken line in FIG. 3, when the connector portion 106 is fitted into the connector fitting recess 201, the lock claw 201a is pressed by the end face of the waterproof portion 107 and resists the moving biasing force of the biasing means. It temporarily moves to the retracted position, and when the electrically insulating resin layer 107c and the conductive metal layer 107b of the waterproof portion 107 get over the lock claw 201a, it returns to the protruding position by the urging force of the urging means. Then, since the lock claw 201a engages with the surface of the conductive metal layer 107b on the universal tube 105 side, the connector portion 106 is prevented from coming off from the connector fitting recess 201. In this retaining state, the electrically insulating resin layer 107c of the connector portion 106 and the electrically insulating resin layer 202 of the connector fitting recess 201 are in surface contact. Thus, the waterproof part 107 and the lock claw 201a constitute a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state in which the connector part 106 is supported by the connector fitting recess (connector support part) 201 and an unlocked state in which the holding state is released. ing. The state of the locking mechanism (locked state, unlocked state) is always detected by a lock state detecting means (not shown) and is input to the system controller 211 of the processor 200. For example, the lock state detection means can be configured by a surface contact sensor that detects surface contact between the electrically insulating resin layer 107 c and the electrically insulating resin layer 202.

  The system controller 211 performs short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 and a short-range non-contact power transmission unit according to the state of the lock mechanism (locked state, unlocked state). The short-range non-contact power transmission between 205 and the short-range non-contact power receiving unit 110 is controlled. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents.

  When the power of the processor 200 is turned on by the power switch 209 (step S1), the system controller 211 enters a standby state for short-range wireless communication and short-range non-contact power transmission (step S2). In this standby state, the system controller 211 starts supplying driving power to the short-range wireless reception unit 203 and the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205 only when the lock mechanism is in the locked state. Short-range wireless communication between 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 and short-range non-contact power transmission between the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205 and the short-range non-contact power reception unit 110 are enabled (step S3). : YES, step S4). On the other hand, when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, the system controller 211 stops the supply of drive power to the short-range wireless reception unit 203 and the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205, so that the short-range wireless transmission unit Short-range wireless communication between 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 and short-range non-contact power transmission between the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205 and the short-range non-contact power reception unit 110 are disabled (step S3). : NO). Thereby, it is possible to prevent the driving power from flowing down in the short-range non-contact power transmission unit 205 when the electronic endoscope 100 and the processor 200 are not connected.

(Second Embodiment)
An electronic endoscope system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same components as those in the electronic endoscope system according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electronic endoscope 100 according to the present embodiment does not include the short-range non-contact power receiving unit 110, the LED light source 111, and the mirror 112, and one end of the illumination light guide 113 is the illumination lens 104. And the other end protrudes outside the waterproof part 107 of the connector part 106. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connector portion 106 is integrally provided with a light guide sleeve 114 that covers the peripheral surface of the other end of the illumination light guide 113. Since the front end opening of the light guide sleeve 114 (opening opposite to the conductive metal layer 107b) is closed by a cover glass (not shown), the waterproofness of the illumination light guide 113 is guaranteed. For this reason, the electronic endoscope 100 can be washed in a circular manner without covering the connector portion 106 with a dedicated waterproof cap at the time of cleaning. Further, since the electronic endoscope 100 does not have an LED light source and a battery for causing it to emit light, the configuration of the electronic endoscope 100 can be simplified, and malfunction of the electronic endoscope 100 due to running out of the battery does not occur. .

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the processor 200 according to the present embodiment is connected to the bottom surface of the electrically insulating resin layer 202 of the connector insertion recess 201 so that the connector insertion recess 201 communicates with the internal space of the processor 200. A plug connection portion 202b is formed, and the light guide sleeve 114 of the electronic endoscope 100 can be inserted into the plug connection portion 202b.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the processor 200 includes a main light source lamp (light source unit) 212 made of, for example, a xenon lamp, and a main light source power source 213 that supplies lighting power to the main light source lamp 212.

  The processor 200 includes a rotating substrate 215 to which an auxiliary light source lamp (light source unit) 214 made of, for example, a white LED is fixed, a drive circuit 216 that rotates the rotating substrate 215, and auxiliary light control that controls lighting of the auxiliary light source lamp 214. Circuit 217. The rotating substrate 215 can be rotated between the auxiliary light non-use position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5 and the auxiliary light use position indicated by a broken line in FIG. The auxiliary light source lamp 214 is normally turned off at the auxiliary light non-use position (when the main light source lamp 212 is turned on). When the main light source lamp 212 is turned off due to a failure, the auxiliary light control circuit 217 turns on the auxiliary light source lamp 214, and the drive circuit 216 rotates the rotating substrate 215 to the auxiliary light use position.

  The processor 200 also includes an optical block 218 that collects the illumination light emitted from the main light source lamp 212 or the auxiliary light source lamp 214. Thereby, when the light guide sleeve 114 of the electronic endoscope 100 is inserted into the insertion connection portion 202b of the processor 200, the illumination light emitted from the main light source lamp 212 or the auxiliary light source lamp 214 is collected by the optical block 218. Then, the light is supplied to the end face of the illumination light guide 113 through the cover glass or the like.

  The system controller 211 controls short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 according to the lock mechanism state (locked state, unlocked state) similar to the first embodiment. To do. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the control contents.

  When the power of the processor 200 is turned on by the power switch 209 (step S1), the system controller 211 enters a short-range wireless communication standby state (step S2). In this standby state, the system controller 211 supplies driving power to the short-range wireless reception unit 203 only when the lock mechanism is in the locked state, and the near-field wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 Distance wireless communication is enabled (step S3: YES, step S4). On the other hand, when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked state, the system controller 211 stops the supply of drive power to the short-range wireless reception unit 203, so that the short-range wireless transmission unit 109 and the short-range wireless reception unit 203 Short-distance wireless communication between them is disabled (step S3: NO).

  In the electronic endoscope system according to the second embodiment, for example, instead of omitting the auxiliary light source lamp 214 from the processor 200, a modification in which an LED light source as an auxiliary light source is provided in the electronic endoscope 100 is possible. is there.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Electronic endoscope 101 Grasping operation part 102 Insertion part 102a Hard tip part 102b Bending part 103 Objective lens 103a Image pick-up element (imaging part)
104 Illumination lens 105 Universal tube (flexible tube)
106 Connector 107 Waterproof part (Waterproof cover, lock mechanism)
107a body portion 107b conductive metal layer 107c electrically insulating resin layer (planar portion)
108 Signal cable 109 Short-range wireless transmission unit (output unit)
110 Short-distance non-contact power receiver 111 LED light source 112 Mirror 113 Light guide for illumination 114 Light guide sleeve 200 Processor 201 Insertion recess (connector support)
201a Lock claw (lock mechanism)
202b Plug connection part 202 Electrical insulating resin layer (plane contact part)
203 Short-range wireless receiver (input unit)
204 Image processing unit 204a A / D conversion unit 204b Signal processing unit 204c D / A conversion unit 205 Short range non-contact power transmission unit 206 Commercial power source 207 Stabilized power supply device 208 Power transmission amplification circuit unit 209 Power switch 210 Control switch 211 System Controller (Short range wireless communication control unit, Near range non-contact power transmission control unit)
212 Main light source lamp (light source part)
213 Main light source 214 Auxiliary light source lamp (light source unit)
215 Rotating board 216 Drive circuit 217 Auxiliary light control circuit

Claims (10)

An electronic endoscope having an imaging unit that captures an image of an observation object and obtains an image signal; and a connector unit that includes a waterproof unit that prevents intrusion of water into the interior and includes the output unit of the image signal; And an input unit that receives the image signal output from the output unit, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image signal input to the input unit, and a connector support unit that removably supports the connector unit. Processor;
In an electronic endoscope system comprising:
The output unit is a short-range wireless transmission unit that is provided in the connector unit and transmits the image signal to the processor in a short-range wireless manner.
The input unit is a short-distance wireless receiving unit that short-range wirelessly receives the image signal that has been short-range wirelessly transmitted from the short-range wireless transmission unit.
An electronic endoscope system characterized by that. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein
A lock mechanism that switches between a locked state that holds the support state of the connector part by the connector support part and an unlocked state that releases the hold;
When the lock mechanism is in the locked state, short-range wireless communication between the short-range wireless transmitter and the short-range wireless receiver is enabled, and when the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state, An electronic endoscope system further comprising: a short-range wireless communication control unit that disables short-range wireless communication between a short-range wireless transmission unit and the short-range wireless reception unit. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 or 2,
An LED light source that supplies illumination light to an illumination lens provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope, and a short-distance non-contact power that receives driving power of the LED light source are provided inside the connector portion. And a receiver.
The processor is an electronic endoscope system including a short-distance non-contact power transmission unit that transmits driving power to the short-distance non-contact power reception unit. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 3, wherein
A lock mechanism that switches between a locked state that holds the support state of the connector part by the connector support part and an unlocked state that releases the hold;
When the lock mechanism is in the locked state, it is possible to perform short-range non-contact power transmission between the short-range non-contact power transmitter and the short-range non-contact power receiver, and the lock mechanism is in the unlocked state. A short-distance non-contact power transmission control unit that disables short-distance non-contact power transmission between the short-distance non-contact power transmission unit and the short-distance non-contact power reception unit. Electronic endoscope system. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 1 or 2,
The electronic endoscope includes an illumination lens provided at a distal end portion of the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope, an illumination light guide having one end connected to the illumination lens and the other end protruding outside the connector portion, A light guide sleeve covering the peripheral surface of the other end of the light guide for illumination, which is provided integrally with the connector portion; and
The processor includes an insertion connection portion into which the light guide sleeve is inserted, and a light source portion that supplies illumination light to the other end of the illumination light guide when the light guide sleeve is inserted into the insertion connection portion. , Equipped with electronic endoscope system. The electronic endoscope system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The connector part includes a flat part constituting a part of the waterproof part,
The connector support portion is an electronic endoscope system including a flat contact portion that comes into surface contact with the flat portion when the connector portion is supported. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 6, wherein
The connector part is an electronic endoscope system having a conductive metal layer and an electrically insulating resin layer that covers the surface of the conductive metal layer and forms the flat part. The electronic endoscope system according to claim 6 or 7,
The planar contact portion is an electronic endoscope system comprising a waterproof electrically insulating resin layer. This is an electronic endoscope that can be attached to and detached from a processor that includes a short-range wireless receiving unit that receives a short-distance wireless image signal and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image signal input to the short-range wireless receiving unit. And
An imaging unit that images an observation object and obtains an image signal;
A connector part detachable from the processor, the surface of which is configured by a waterproof part that prevents water from entering the interior;
A short-range wireless transmission unit configured to transmit the image signal to the processor in a short-range wireless manner provided in the connector unit;
An electronic endoscope comprising: A processor in which the connector part of the electronic endoscope has an image pickup unit that picks up an image of an observation object and obtains an image signal, and a connector unit that includes a short-range wireless transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal. There,
A short-range wireless receiving unit for short-range wireless reception of the image signal transmitted from the short-range wireless transmission unit;
An image processing unit that performs image processing on the image signal input to the short-range wireless reception unit;
A connector support portion for removably supporting the connector portion;
A processor comprising:

Images