JP7130011B2 - Endoscope light source device and endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope light source device and an endoscope system having a plurality of semiconductor light sources that emit light of a plurality of colors.

In recent medical care, diagnosis and the like are performed using an endoscope system including a light source device for an endoscope (hereinafter referred to as a light source device), an electronic endoscope (hereinafter referred to as an endoscope), and a processor device. . The light source device emits illumination light for illuminating the observation site. The endoscope has an image sensor, takes an image of an observation site illuminated by illumination light, and outputs an image signal. A processor unit generates an image from the image signal and causes the image to be displayed on the monitor.

As a light source device, conventionally, a lamp light source such as a xenon lamp that emits white light and three color filters that can transmit the respective wavelength ranges of blue (B), green (G), and red (R) are arranged around the light source. A device with rotating filters arranged along a direction is known (US Pat. By rotating the rotary filter and sequentially inserting the color filters of the respective colors into the optical path of the white light, blue light, green light, and red light are sequentially emitted as illumination light. An endoscope having a monochrome image sensor is used to capture an image of a site to be observed that is sequentially illuminated with illumination light of each color. Each time the site to be observed is illuminated with illumination light of each color, an image is captured by the monochrome image sensor. .

Further, in Patent Document 2, in a light source device having a lamp light source and a rotating filter, light in a wavelength range narrower than that of white light (hereinafter referred to as narrow It is described that narrow-band light observation using a narrow-band light is possible. The rotating filter is provided with two narrow-band color filters capable of transmitting part of the wavelength range of blue light and part of the wavelength range of green light, respectively, in order to perform narrow-band light observation. Furthermore, in order to increase the amount of narrow-band light, in addition to the lamp light source, a semiconductor light source that emits narrow-band light, such as a laser diode (LD) or light emitting diode (LED), is provided. there is

In order not to impair the accuracy of diagnosis, the light source device is required to have stability such as the color of the illumination light. Therefore, the light source must be replaced when the color of the illumination light changes. In the case of the lamp light sources used in conventional devices such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there arises a problem that frequent replacement every 100 hours is required. On the other hand, in recent years, instead of the lamp light source and rotary filter, a light source device equipped with a long-life semiconductor light source has become popular (Patent Document 3). Since the semiconductor light source has a longer life than the lamp light source, the frequency of replacement can be reduced. A semiconductor light source emits light of multiple colors, such as blue light, green light, and red light, respectively. These multi-color lights are combined by a combining member, such as a dichroic mirror (also called a dichroic filter), and emitted as illumination light. An endoscope having a color image sensor provided with a BGR color filter is used to capture an image of an observation site illuminated by illumination light obtained by combining multiple colors of light.

JP 2003-126031 A JP 2012-55391 A WO2015/159676

A light source device equipped with a semiconductor light source has the advantage that the color of the illumination light is less likely to change due to its long life, that is, the color of the image is less likely to change. Useful for construction. However, a light source device equipped with a semiconductor light source may emit illumination light in a wavelength range different from that of a conventional light source device equipped with a lamp light source and a rotating filter. There is a need to ensure compatibility and continuity with diagnostics that have been constructed based on images obtained in .

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope light source device and an endoscope system that can ensure compatibility and continuity with diagnostics that have been constructed based on images.

The endoscope light source device of the present invention has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light. It has a light source unit, a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of a plurality of colors, a normal filter and a first blood vessel enhancement filter, and the normal filter or the first blood vessel enhancement filter is provided. a filter unit that is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit and that sequentially emits light with different wavelength ranges; a mode switching unit that is used to switch between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode; By sequentially inserting the B1 filter, the G1 filter, and the R1 filter of the filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are sequentially emitted, and the first blood vessel enhancement mode is established. In the case of , the rotating filter control unit sequentially emits the blue narrow-band light and the first green narrow-band light by sequentially inserting the B2 filter and the G2 filter of the first blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit. and the light source control unit inserts the G1 filter in the optical path during the B1 filter period in which the B1 filter is inserted in the optical path when the light amount ratio of the light of a plurality of colors is changed for each mode by the switching operation by the mode switching unit. is inserted in the G1 filter period, or the R1 filter period in which the R1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the light amount ratio is changed, or the B2 filter period in which the B2 filter is inserted in the optical path, or , the light amount ratio is changed for each filter period of the G2 filter period in which the G2 filter is inserted in the optical path, at least the blue light source and the violet light source are caused to emit light during the B1 filter period, and the blue light source is emitted during the B1 filter period of the normal mode. , the violet light source and the green light source are emitted and the red light source is extinguished, the blue light source, the green light source and the red light source are emitted and the violet light source is extinguished during the normal mode G1 filter period, and the violet light source is extinguished during the normal mode R1 filter period, The green light source and the red light source are emitted, the blue light source and the violet light source are extinguished, and the blue light source and the violet light source are emitted, the green light source and the red light source are extinguished, and the first blood vessel is extinguished during the B2 filter period of the first blood vessel enhancement mode. During the G2 filter period in the enhancement mode, the green light source is turned on, the blue light source, the violet light source, and the red light source are turned off. Partially overlapping, the B1 filter filters the entire wavelength range of blue light and short wavelengths of the wavelength range of green light. The G1 filter transmits light including part of the long wavelength region and the entire wavelength region of violet light, and the G1 filter transmits the entire wavelength region of green light, part of the wavelength region of blue light on the long wavelength side, and red light. The R1 filter transmits light including the entire wavelength range of red light and part of the wavelength range of green light on the long wavelength side. , the B2 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength range of blue light and part of the wavelength range of violet light, and the G2 filter transmits part of the wavelength range of green light.

It is preferable that the light source controller increases the light intensity of the blue light emitted from the blue light source in the first blood vessel enhancement mode as compared to the light intensity of the blue light emitted from the blue light source in the normal mode. The light source controller emits blue light, green light, and violet light simultaneously during the B1 filter period, simultaneously emits blue light, green light, and red light during the G1 filter period, and simultaneously emits green light and red light during the R1 filter period. The blue, green, and violet lights that are emitted and have passed through the B1 filter during the B1 filter period are emitted as normal blue light, and the blue, green, and red lights that have passed through the G1 filter during the G1 filter period are emitted as normal light. It is preferable that the green light and red light emitted as the normal green light and transmitted through the R1 filter during the R1 filter period be emitted as the normal red light. The light source control unit emits blue light and violet light simultaneously or sequentially during the B2 filter period, emits green light during the G2 filter period, and emits blue light or violet light transmitted through the B2 filter during the B2 filter period. The green light emitted as band light and transmitted through the G2 filter during the G2 filter period is preferably emitted as the first green narrow band light.

The light source controller sequentially emits blue light, green light, and violet light during the B1 filter period, sequentially emits blue light, green light, and red light during the G1 filter period, and emits green light and red light during the R1 filter period. are sequentially emitted, and the blue light, green light, and violet light that have passed through the B1 filter during the B1 filter period are emitted as normal blue light, and the blue light, green light, and red light that have passed through the G1 filter during the G1 filter period. is emitted as normal green light, and the green light and red light transmitted through the R1 filter during the R1 filter period are preferably emitted as normal red light. It is preferable that the filter section is a rotary filter having a disk shape and having a plurality of filters provided along the circumferential direction.

The endoscope system of the present invention has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light, and a semiconductor light source section that emits light of multiple colors. a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of a plurality of colors; a normal filter and a first blood vessel enhancement filter; a filter unit that is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the other parts and sequentially emits light with different wavelength ranges; a mode switching unit that is used for switching operation between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode; By sequentially inserting the B1 filter, the G1 filter, and the R1 filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, the normal blue light, the normal green light, and the normal red light are sequentially emitted, and in the case of the first blood vessel enhancement mode a rotating filter control unit that sequentially emits blue narrowband light and first green narrowband light by sequentially inserting the B2 filter and the G2 filter of the first blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit; An endoscope having a monochrome image sensor that captures an image each time an observation site is illuminated with light sequentially emitted from a filter unit, and an image is generated based on a plurality of image signals output by the monochrome image sensor each time an image is captured. and a processor device, wherein the light source control unit changes the light amount ratio of light of a plurality of colors for each mode by a switching operation by the mode switching unit, and the B1 filter is inserted into the optical path during the B1 filter period. The light amount ratio is changed for each filter period of the G1 filter period in which the G1 filter is inserted and the R1 filter period in which the R1 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the B2 filter period and the optical path in which the B2 filter is inserted in the optical path The light amount ratio of a plurality of colors of light is changed for each filter period of the G2 filter period in which the G2 filter is inserted in the normal mode. is extinguished, the blue light source, the green light source, and the red light source are emitted during the G1 filter period in the normal mode, and the violet light source is extinguished, and the green light source and the red light source are emitted, and the blue light source is emitted during the R1 filter period in the normal mode. The violet light source is turned off, the blue light source and the violet light source are turned off during the B2 filter period of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the green light source and the red light source are turned off, and the green light source is turned off during the G2 filter period of the first blood vessel enhancement mode. to turn off the blue light source, purple light source, and red light source. , the wavelength bands of violet light and blue light, blue light and green light, and green light and red light partially overlap, and the B1 filter filters the entire wavelength band of blue light and the wavelength band of green light. The G1 filter transmits light including part of the short wavelength side and the entire wavelength range of violet light, and the G1 filter transmits the entire wavelength range of green light, part of the wavelength range of blue light on the long wavelength side, and red light. The R1 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength band of light on the short wavelength side, and the R1 filter transmits light including the entire wavelength band of red light and part of the wavelength band of green light on the long wavelength side. The B2 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength range of blue light and part of the wavelength range of violet light, and the G2 filter transmits part of the wavelength range of green light. Further , the endoscope system of the present invention has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light, and a semiconductor device that emits light of a plurality of colors. Endoscope having a light source unit, a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of a plurality of colors, and a monochrome image sensor that captures an image each time an observation site is illuminated with light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit. a mirror, a processor device for generating an image based on a plurality of image signals output by the monochrome image sensor each time an image is captured, a normal filter and a second blood vessel enhancement filter, and the normal filter or the second blood vessel enhancement filter is provided. A filter section for sequentially inserting blood vessel enhancement filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source section and sequentially emitting light with different wavelength ranges, a mode switching section used for switching between the normal mode and the second blood vessel enhancement mode, and the case of the normal mode. Then, by sequentially inserting the B1 filter, G1 filter, and R1 filter of the normal filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are sequentially emitted, In the case of the two-vessel enhancement mode, the second green narrowband light and the first red narrowband light are obtained by sequentially inserting the λ1 filter, the λ2 filter and the λ3 filter of the second blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit. and a second red narrowband light, and a rotating filter control unit for sequentially emitting the B1 filter in the optical path, the G1 filter period in which the G1 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the R1 filter in the optical path is inserted in the R1 filter period, or the λ1 filter period in which the λ1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the λ2 filter period in which the λ2 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the optical path The light amount ratio is changed for each filter period of the λ3 filter period in which the λ3 filter is inserted in the normal mode. During the G1 filter period of the mode, the blue, green, and red light sources emit light and the violet light source is extinguished, and during the R1 filter period of the normal mode, the green light source and the red light source are caused to emit light, and the blue and violet light sources are extinguished. , the green light source emits light and the blue light source and the red light source are extinguished during the λ1 filter period of the second blood vessel enhancement mode, and the green light source and the red light source emit light and the blue light source is extinguished during the λ2 filter period of the second blood vessel enhancement mode. , the λ3 filter of the second vessel enhancement mode The red light source emits light during the period, and the blue light source and the green light source are extinguished. , the entire wavelength range of blue light, a portion of the wavelength range of green light on the short wavelength side, and the entire wavelength range of violet light, and the G1 filter transmits the entire wavelength range of green light and , a portion of the wavelength region of blue light on the long wavelength side and a portion of the wavelength region of red light on the short wavelength side. The λ1 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength band of green light, and the λ2 filter is a λ1 filter in the wavelength band of green light. and part of the wavelength range of red light on the short wavelength side, and the λ3 filter transmits the λ2 filter in the wavelength range of red light. It transmits light including part of the longer wavelength side than the transmitted wavelength range . The second blood vessel enhancement filter is preferably a rotary filter having a λ1 filter, a λ2 filter, and a λ3 filter sequentially inserted in the optical path of the light emitted from the semiconductor light source section along the circumferential direction. The light source controller causes the optical path to emit a green light source during the λ1 filter period, causes the optical path to emit green light source, red light source, and red light simultaneously during the λ2 filter period, causes the optical path to emit the red light source during the λ3 filter period, and causes the optical path to emit light from the red light source during the λ3 filter period. The green light transmitted through the λ1 filter during the period is emitted as the second green narrow-band light, the green light and red light transmitted through the λ2 filter during the λ2 filter period are emitted as the first red narrow-band light, and the λ3 filter period is emitted as the second green narrow-band light. It is preferable that the red light transmitted through the λ3 filter is emitted as the second red narrow-band light. The light source controller causes the optical path to emit green light source during the λ1 filter period, causes the optical path to emit green light source and red light source sequentially during the λ2 filter period, causes the optical path to emit red light source during the λ3 filter period, and causes the optical path to emit light during the λ1 filter period. The green light transmitted through the λ1 filter is emitted as the second green narrow-band light, the green light and red light transmitted through the λ2 filter during the λ2 filter period are emitted as the first red narrow-band light, and the λ3 filter is emitted during the λ3 filter period. The red light that has passed through the filter is preferably emitted as the second red narrowband light. Preferably, the λ1 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 520 nm to 560 nm, the λ2 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm, and the λ3 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 610 nm to 650 nm.

According to the endoscope light source device, its operating method, and the endoscope system of the present invention, compatibility and continuity with diagnostics constructed based on images can be ensured.

1 is an external view of an endoscope system; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an endoscope system; FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a semiconductor light source part. FIG. 3 shows light intensity spectra of blue, green, and red light; It is a figure which shows the structure of a rotary filter. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transmission characteristics of a normal filter; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing transmission characteristics of a first blood vessel enhancement filter; 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the endoscope system; It is a figure explaining control of the light quantity ratio at the time of normal mode. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining control of the light amount ratio in the first blood vessel enhancement mode; FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating control for increasing the light intensity of blue light in the first blood vessel enhancement mode; It is a figure explaining the control which turns on several LED light sources one by one. It is a figure which shows the structure of the semiconductor light source part of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 3 shows light intensity spectra of violet light, blue light, green light, and red light; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the wavelength range of violet light and the transmission characteristics of a normal filter; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the wavelength range of violet light and the transmission characteristics of the first blood vessel enhancement filter; It is a figure explaining lighting control at the time of the normal mode of 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining lighting control in the first blood vessel enhancement mode of the third embodiment; FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating control for sequentially turning on the blue LED light source and the violet LED light source in the first blood vessel enhancement mode of the third embodiment; FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating control for simultaneously turning on a blue LED light source and a violet LED light source in the first blood vessel enhancement mode of the third embodiment; It is a figure explaining the control which makes each LED light source turn on one by one at the time of the normal mode of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining lighting control of the 1st blood-vessel emphasis mode using the normal filter. It is a figure which shows the structure of the rotation filter of 4th Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing transmission characteristics of a second blood vessel enhancement filter; FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining lighting control in a second blood vessel enhancement mode according to the fourth embodiment; FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating control for sequentially turning on a green LED light source and a red LED light source in a second blood vessel enhancement mode according to the fourth embodiment; It is a figure which shows the semiconductor light source part of 5th Embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a multi-chip LED light source; It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of the front-end|tip part of an endoscope.

[First embodiment]
In FIG. 1, an endoscope system 10 includes an electronic endoscope (hereinafter simply referred to as an endoscope) 11 that captures an image of an observation site in a living body as a subject, and an image of the observation site based on an image signal obtained by imaging. , an endoscope light source device (hereinafter simply referred to as a light source device) 13 that supplies the endoscope 11 with illumination light for illuminating the observation site, and a monitor 14 as a display unit that displays an image. and An operation input unit 15 such as a keyboard and a mouse is connected to the processor device 12 .

The endoscope 11 includes an insertion section 16 for insertion into a living body, an operation section 17 provided at the proximal end portion of the insertion section 16, and a connector for connecting the endoscope 11 to the processor device 12 and the light source device 13. A universal code 18 is provided. The insertion portion 16 is composed of a distal end portion 19, a bending portion 20, and a flexible tube portion 21, which are connected in this order from the distal end side.

The bending portion 20 has a structure in which a plurality of bending pieces are connected, and bends in the vertical and horizontal directions according to the operation of the angle knob 17 a of the operation portion 17 . By bending the bending portion 20, the tip portion 19 is oriented in a desired direction. The flexible tube portion 21 is flexible and can be inserted into tortuous ducts such as the esophagus and intestines. In the insertion portion 16, a drive signal for driving the imaging device 35, a signal cable 112 (see FIG. 29) for transmitting an image signal output by the imaging device 35, and an illumination light emitted from the light source device 13 are connected to the distal end portion 19. A light guide 32 (see FIG. 2) is inserted to guide light to.

In addition to the angle knob 17a, the operation unit 17 is provided with a mode switching unit 17b used for switching operation of the observation mode. This embodiment has a normal mode and a first blood vessel enhancement mode as observation modes. The normal mode is an observation mode for displaying on the monitor 14 a normal image obtained by imaging a region to be observed illuminated by broadband illumination light with high color rendering properties. In the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the monitor 14 displays a first blood vessel enhanced image obtained by imaging an observation site illuminated with narrow-band light containing many light components in a specific wavelength range with high absorbance for blood hemoglobin. Observation mode.

A signal cable 112 (see FIG. 29) extending from the insertion portion 16 and a light guide 32 (see FIG. 2) are inserted through the universal cord 18, and one end on the processor device 12 and light source device 13 side has a A connector 29 is attached. The connector 29 is a composite type connector consisting of a communication connector 29a and a light source connector 29b. The communication connector 29 a is detachably connected to the processor unit 12 . One end of a signal cable 112 is arranged in the communication connector 29a. The light source connector 29 b is detachably connected to the light source device 13 . An incident end 32a (see FIG. 2) of the light guide 32 is arranged at the light source connector 29b.

2, the endoscope 11 includes a light guide 32, an illumination optical system 33, an objective optical system 34, an imaging device 35, an imaging drive unit 36, and a CDS/AGC (Correlated Double Sampling/Automatic Gain Control). It has a circuit 37 and an A/D (Analog to Digital) conversion circuit 38 .

The light guide 32 is a fiber bundle in which a plurality of optical fibers are bundled. The incident end 32 a of the light guide 32 faces the exit end of the semiconductor light source section 50 when the light source connector 29 b is connected to the light source device 13 . The exit end of the light guide 32 guides the illumination light to the tip portion 19 .

The illumination optical system 33 is arranged at the distal end portion 19 and has an incident surface facing the exit end of the light guide 32 . Illumination light guided through the light guide 32 is emitted from the distal end portion 19 via the illumination optical system 33 to illuminate the observation site. The illumination optical system 33 is a concave lens, and makes it possible to illuminate a wide range of observation sites.

The objective optical system 34 is arranged at the distal end portion 19 . The exit surface of the objective optical system 34 faces the imaging surface of the imaging element 35 . Return light (optical image) from the observation site enters the imaging surface of the imaging device 35 via the objective optical system 34 . Objective optical system 34 includes, for example, an objective lens and a zoom lens.

The imaging device 35 is a monochrome image sensor that does not have a color filter on the imaging surface side, and images an observation site and outputs an image signal. As the imaging element 35, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor can be used. A plurality of pixels that generate image signals by photoelectric conversion are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix on the imaging surface of the imaging element 35 . The imaging device 35 is driven by the imaging drive unit 36, receives light returned from the observation site by a plurality of pixels, and outputs an image signal.

The imaging device 35 is a monochrome image sensor in this embodiment, but may be a color image sensor provided with a color filter array. The color filter array has blue (B) filters, green (G) filters, and red (R) filters. A B filter has a high light transmittance in the wavelength range of, for example, 380 nm to 560 nm. A G filter has a high light transmittance in the wavelength range of, for example, 450 nm to 630 nm. The R filter has a high light transmittance in the wavelength range of 580 nm to 760 nm, for example. One of these filters is placed on each pixel. The color arrangement of the color filter array is, for example, a Bayer arrangement, in which G filters are arranged in a checkered pattern every other pixel, and B filters and R filters are arranged in a square grid on the remaining pixels. It is A complementary color filter array may be provided instead of the primary color filter array as described above.

The CDS/AGC circuit 37 performs correlated double sampling and automatic gain control on analog image signals received from the imaging device 35 . The A/D conversion circuit 38 converts the analog image signal that has passed through the CDS/AGC circuit 37 into a digital image signal. The A/D conversion circuit 38 inputs the digital image signal after A/D conversion to the processor device 12 .

The processor device 12 has a controller 40 , a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 41 , a frame memory 42 , an image processing section 43 and a display control section 44 .

The controller 40 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing control programs and setting data necessary for control, a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a working memory for loading the control program, and the like. The controller 40 controls each part of the processor device 12 by the CPU executing a control program.

The controller 40 performs control for synchronizing the operation of the light source control section 55 and the operation of the imaging drive section 36 . Specifically, the controller 40 drives the imaging element 35 periodically (every one frame period) in accordance with the rotation of the rotary filter 53 described later, thereby causing the imaging element 35 to sequentially output image signals.

The DSP 41 performs signal processing such as pixel interpolation processing, gamma correction, white balance correction, and synchronization processing on image signals sequentially output by the imaging element 35 for each frame via the communication connector 29a. The DSP 41 stores each image signal subjected to signal processing in the frame memory 42 as image data.

The image processing unit 43 reads image data from the frame memory 42 and generates an image by performing predetermined image processing on the image data. The display control unit 44 converts the image generated by the image processing unit 43 into a video signal such as a composite signal or a component signal, and outputs the video signal to the monitor 14 .

The light source device 13 has a semiconductor light source section 50 , an aperture 51 , an aperture control section 52 , a rotary filter 53 , a rotary filter control section 54 , a light source control section 55 and a condenser lens 56 . The semiconductor light source section 50 emits light under the control of the light source control section 55 . Light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50 passes through the diaphragm 51 , the rotary filter 53 and the condenser lens 56 in order, and enters the incident end 32 a of the light guide 32 . Note that the rotating filter corresponds to the "filter section" described in the claims.

3, the semiconductor light source section 50 has a blue LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source 60, a green LED light source 61, a red LED light source 62, an LED driving section 63, and a condensing optical system 64. .

The blue LED light source 60 is a single-chip LED light source in which one blue LED 60b is mounted on one substrate 60a. The green LED light source 61 is a single-chip LED light source in which one green LED 61b is mounted on one substrate 61a. The red LED light source 62 is a single-chip LED light source in which one red LED 62b is mounted on one substrate 62a. A blue LED light source 60 emits blue light LB. The green LED light source 61 emits green light LG. The red LED light source 62 emits red light LR. Therefore, the semiconductor light source unit 50 is capable of emitting lights of multiple colors.

As shown in FIG. 4, the blue light LB has, for example, a wavelength range of 420 nm to 500 nm and a central wavelength of 460 nm. The green light LG has a wavelength range of 480 nm to 600 nm, for example. The red light LR has, for example, a wavelength range of 600 nm to 650 nm and a central wavelength of 620 nm to 630 nm. The center wavelength of the blue light LB is on the shorter wavelength side than the wavelength range of the green light LG. The center wavelength of the red light LR is on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength range of the green light LG. In addition, the light of each color may have the same center wavelength and peak wavelength, or may have different peak wavelengths.

The green LED light source 61 is composed of, for example, an excitation blue LED (not shown) as an excitation light emitting element and a green phosphor (not shown). The excitation blue LED emits excitation blue light with a wavelength range of, for example, 450 nm to 460 nm. The green phosphor emits broadband green fluorescence when excited with blue light for excitation.

Under the control of the light source control unit 55, the LED driving unit 63 applies driving currents independently to the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62 to light each of the LED light sources 60 to 62. . The set value and application time of the driving current are set for each of the LED light sources 60 to 62 by the light source control section 55 . Therefore, the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62 emit light with light intensity corresponding to the set value of the drive current, and emit light during the light emission period corresponding to the application time of the drive current.

The condensing optical system 64 has first to third collimator lenses 65 to 67 , a first wave combining member 68 and a second wave combining member 69 .

The first collimator lens 65 collects the blue light LB emitted by the blue LED light source 60 and emits it as parallel light. The second collimator lens 66 collects the green light LG emitted by the green LED light source 61 and emits it as parallel light. The third collimator lens 67 collects the red light LR emitted by the red LED light source 62 and emits it as parallel light. Note that the light collimated by the first to third collimator lenses 65 to 67 may not be completely parallel light, and may be regarded as substantially parallel light.

The optical path of the blue light LB emitted from the first collimator lens 65 and the optical path of the green light LG emitted from the second collimator lens 66 are perpendicular to each other, and a first combining member 68 is provided at the intersection. . The first light combining member 68 is, for example, a dichroic mirror, and the blue light LB is incident on one surface at an angle of 45°, and the green light LG is incident on the other surface at an angle of 45°. The first combining member 68 transmits the blue light LB and reflects the green light LG, thereby integrating the optical path of the blue light LB and the optical path of the green light LG.

The optical path integrated by the first multiplexing member 68 and the optical path of the red light LR emitted from the third collimator lens 67 are orthogonal to each other, and the second multiplexing member 69 is arranged at the intersection. The second light combining member 69 is, for example, a dichroic mirror, on one surface of which the blue light LB and the green light LG are incident at an angle of 45°, and on the other surface of which the red light LR is incident at an angle of 45°. do. The second multiplexing member 69 transmits the blue light LB and the green light LG and reflects the red light LR, thereby integrating the optical path integrated by the first multiplexing member 68 and the optical path of the red light LR. do. As a result, the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR are multiplexed by the second multiplexing member 69 . The light multiplexed by the second multiplexing member 69 is emitted from the semiconductor light source section 50 .

The diaphragm 51 is controlled by the diaphragm control section 52 and adjusts the light emitted from the semiconductor light source section 50 to a predetermined light amount. The aperture control unit 52 drives the aperture motor (not shown) of the aperture 51 under the control of the light source control unit 55 , and adjusts the aperture of the aperture 51 so that a predetermined amount of light is incident on the rotary filter 53 . Control.

In FIG. 5, the rotating filter 53 has a disk shape, and includes a normal filter 70 on the outside and a first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 on the inside. The normal filter 70 and the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 have different transmittable wavelength ranges. The normal filter 70 has a B1 filter 70a, a G1 filter 70b, and an R1 filter 70c along the circumferential direction. The first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 has two B2 filters 72a and one G2 filter 72b along the circumferential direction.

The B1 filter 70a corresponds to the "broadband blue filter" described in claims. The G1 filter 70b corresponds to the "wideband green filter" described in claims. The R1 filter 70c corresponds to the "broadband red filter" described in claims. The B2 filter 72a corresponds to a "narrow-band blue filter" described in claims. The G2 filter 72b corresponds to the "narrow-band first green filter" described in claims.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the normal filter 70, the B1 filter 70a includes the entire wavelength range of the blue light LB and the short wavelength side of the wavelength range of the green light LG in the light emitted from the semiconductor light source section 50. Transmits light including some. Of the light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50, the G1 filter 70b filters the entire wavelength range of the green light LG, part of the wavelength range of the blue light LB on the long wavelength side, and short wavelengths of the wavelength range of the red light LR. transmit light, including part of the side. The R1 filter 70c transmits light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50 that includes the entire wavelength range of the red light LR and part of the wavelength range of the green light LG on the longer wavelength side. Hereinafter, the light transmitted through the B1 filter 70a is referred to as "normal blue light", the light transmitted through the G1 filter 70b is referred to as "normal green light", and the light transmitted through the R1 filter 70c is referred to as "normal red light". These are collectively referred to as "normal illumination light".

As shown in FIG. 7 , in the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 , the B2 filter 72 a transmits part of the wavelength band of the blue light LB among the light emitted from the semiconductor light source section 50 . Specifically, the short wavelength component of the blue light LB is transmitted. More specifically, the B2 filter 72a transmits light with a wavelength range of 390 nm to 460 nm. The G2 filter 72b transmits part of the wavelength band of the green light LG among the light emitted from the semiconductor light source section 50 . Specifically, the G2 filter 72b transmits light with a wavelength range of 530 nm to 550 nm. Hereinafter, the light transmitted through the B2 filter 72a will be referred to as "blue narrowband light", and the light transmitted through the G2 filter 72b will be referred to as "first green narrowband light". called "light".

Blue narrow-band light is light in a wavelength range that is optimal for observing superficial blood vessels that are shallow from the mucosal surface. On the other hand, the first green narrow-band light is light in the optimum wavelength range for observing middle-layer blood vessels that are deeper than surface-layer blood vessels. Although the long wavelength component of the blue light LB reduces the contrast between the mucous membrane and the blood vessel, it is prevented from entering the light guide 32 because it does not pass through the B2 filter 72a.

The rotary filter 53 is attached at its center to the rotary shaft of a rotary motor (not shown) and can be driven to rotate. An encoder (not shown) is attached to the rotating shaft of the rotating motor and the like, and this encoder can detect the rotation of the rotating motor, that is, the rotation of the rotating filter 53 . The encoder detects, for example, a reference point, which is the rotation start position of the rotary filter 53 , and inputs a detection signal to the light source controller 55 via the rotary filter controller 54 . The light source control unit 55 obtains the rotation speed and rotation position of the rotary filter 53 based on the detection signal, and inputs them to the controller 40 . As a result, the filters inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 can be detected, and image signals are sequentially output from the imaging device 35 each time each filter is sequentially inserted.

The rotary filter control unit 54 radially moves the rotary filter 53 according to the switching operation of the mode switching unit 17b. Specifically, when the mode switching unit 17 b switches to the normal mode, the rotary filter control unit 54 inserts the normal filter 70 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 . On the other hand, when the mode switching unit 17 b switches to the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the rotation filter control unit 54 inserts the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 .

In addition, the rotary filter control section 54 drives the rotation motor to rotate the rotary filter 53 at a constant rotational speed under the control of the light source control section 55 . Therefore, in the normal mode, the B1 filter 70a, the G1 filter 70b, and the R1 filter 70c of the normal filter 70 are sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, and the normal blue light, normal green light, and normal Red light is emitted sequentially. On the other hand, in the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the B2 filter 72a and the G2 filter 72b of the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 are sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, and the blue narrowband light and the first green narrowband light are sequentially emitted. injected. That is, the rotary filter 53 sequentially emits illumination light with different wavelength ranges.

The light source control unit 55 controls the LED driving unit 63 to control turning on and off of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62. In this embodiment, the light source control unit 55 keeps the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62 all lit at all times in both the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. That is, the light source control section 55 controls the semiconductor light source section 50 to emit light of multiple colors. As a result, wide-band light including blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR is emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50, so that the white light emitted by a conventional light source device equipped with a lamp light source such as a xenon lamp and a rotating filter is emitted. Color rendition with light is maintained.

In addition, the light source control unit 55 independently controls the light intensity, the light emission period, and the light emission timing of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62, so that the light amount and Controls the light intensity ratio. In this embodiment, the light source control unit 55 controls the light intensity of the blue LED light source 60, the light intensity of the green LED light source 61, and the light intensity of the red LED light source 62 to be the same between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. and Thereby, the light source control unit 55 maintains the respective LED light sources 60 to 62 at a specific light amount ratio between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. At least, the light amounts of the LED light sources 60 to 62 are controlled so that the light amount ratio does not change during the normal mode or the first blood vessel enhancement mode. It should be noted that the "same amount of light" does not have to be exactly the same, and may have a certain width. For example, it means that the difference in light intensity of a specific LED light source is 10% or less between two observation modes.

The light source control unit 55 stores, in a memory (not shown), a lookup table showing the relationship between, for example, the set value of the drive current applied to each of the LED light sources 60 to 62, the application time of the drive current, and the amount of light. By driving the LED driving unit 63 with the setting value and application time of the drive current read from the lookup table, the light amount of each of the LED light sources 60 to 62 is controlled. Instead of the lookup table, a light amount sensor for measuring the light amount of each of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62 is provided. ˜62 may be controlled.

In this embodiment, the light source control unit 55 adjusts the setting value of the drive current in order to control the light intensity of each of the LED light sources 60-62. As a result, the light intensity of the blue light LB, the light intensity of the green light LG, and the light intensity of the red light LR are set to be the same between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. It should be noted that the "same light intensity" does not have to be completely the same, and may have a certain width. For example, it means that the difference in light intensity of light emitted by a specific LED light source between two observation modes is 10% or less.

In order to maintain the color rendering property with broadband white light emitted by a lamp light source such as a xenon lamp and a conventional light source device equipped with a rotary filter, the light source control unit 55 adjusts the light amount ratio of the light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50. , is preferably substantially the same as that of white light emitted by a conventional light source device. Note that the "same" light amount ratio does not have to be completely the same, and even if it is slightly different, it is regarded as the same as long as the color rendering properties with the white light emitted by the conventional light source device can be maintained to some extent. As a result, the color and brightness of the white light emitted by the conventional light source device can be maintained.

The condenser lens 56 is arranged near the incident end 32 a of the light guide 32 , condenses the illumination light emitted from the rotary filter 53 , and makes it enter the incident end 32 a of the light guide 32 .

Next, the action of the endoscope system 10 will be described along the flowchart shown in FIG. When the endoscope system 10 is activated for a user such as a doctor to perform endoscopic diagnosis, in the light source device 13, the light source control unit 55 controls the semiconductor light source unit 50 to turn on the blue LED light source 60, Both the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 are turned on (S11). As a result, the semiconductor light source unit 50 emits light obtained by combining the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR.

When the normal mode is set (YES at S12), the rotary filter control section 54 moves the rotary filter 53 to insert the normal filter 70 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source section 50 (S13). Further, the rotating filter control unit 54 rotates the rotating filter 53 to sequentially insert the B1 filter 70a, the G1 filter 70b, and the R1 filter 70c of the normal filter 70 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. FIG. As a result, light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50 (that is, light obtained by combining the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR) sequentially enters the B1 filter 70a, the G1 filter 70b, and the R1 filter 70c. As a result, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are sequentially emitted from the rotary filter 53 and enter the light guide 32 .

In the endoscope 11, the imaging element 35 captures an image of the observation site each time the observation site is sequentially illuminated with the normal blue light, the normal green light, and the normal red light (normal illumination light) (S14). ). As a result, the B1 image signal, the G1 image signal, and the R1 image signal are output from the imaging element 35 in different frames. Each image signal is subjected to various signal processing by the DSP 41 and stored in the frame memory 42 as image data.

In the processor unit 12, the image processing unit 43 performs predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the frame memory 42 to generate an image, and the display control unit 44 outputs the image to the monitor 14 to generate an image. is displayed (S15). As image processing in the normal mode, the image processing unit 43 sequentially performs, for example, color conversion processing, color enhancement processing, and structure enhancement processing. In the color conversion processing, 3×3 matrix processing, gradation conversion processing, three-dimensional LUT (lookup table) processing, and the like are performed on the image signal. Color enhancement processing is performed on image signals that have undergone color conversion processing. The structure enhancement process is a process for enhancing the structure of the observation site such as blood vessels and pit patterns (ducts), and is performed on the image signal after the color enhancement process. A normal image is generated using the image signal subjected to various image processing as described above and displayed on the monitor 14 . During the normal mode, steps S14 and S15 are repeated.

On the other hand, when the first blood vessel enhancement mode is set (NO in S12), the rotary filter control unit 54 moves the rotary filter 53 to insert the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 (S16). ). The rotating filter control unit 54 rotates the rotating filter 53 to sequentially insert the B2 filter 72 a and the G2 filter 72 b of the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 . As a result, light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 50 (that is, light obtained by combining the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR) sequentially enters the B2 filter 72a and the G2 filter 72b. As a result, the blue narrow-band light and the first green narrow-band light are sequentially emitted from the rotary filter 53 and enter the light guide 32 . Since the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 is provided with two B2 filters 72a, blue narrowband light is sequentially emitted each time each B2 filter 72a is inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. . That is, in the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the rotation filter 53 sequentially emits blue narrowband light, blue narrowband light, and first green narrowband light.

In the endoscope 11, the imaging device 35 is moved to the observed region every time the observed region is sequentially illuminated with the blue narrow-band light, the blue narrow-band light, and the first green narrow-band light (first blood vessel enhancement illumination light). Imaging is performed (S17). As a result, the B2 image signal, the B2 image signal, and the G2 image signal are output from the imaging device 35 in different frames. Each image signal is subjected to various signal processing by the DSP 41 and stored in the frame memory 42 as image data.

In the processor unit 12, the image processing unit 43 performs predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the frame memory 42 to generate an image, and the display control unit 44 outputs the image to the monitor 14 to generate an image. is displayed (S15). As image processing in the case of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the image processing unit 43 generates an addition B2 image signal by, for example, performing an addition process of aligning and adding the B2 image signals output in different frames. . Then, the image processing unit 43 sequentially performs color conversion processing, color enhancement processing, and structure enhancement processing on the added B2 image signal and the G2 image signal, as in the normal mode. A first blood vessel-enhanced image is generated using an image signal subjected to various image processing as described above, and displayed on the monitor 14 . During the first blood vessel enhancement mode, steps S17 and S15 are repeated.

As described above, the light source device 13 of the present invention causes the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR emitted by the semiconductor light source unit 50 to enter the rotary filter 53. Therefore, a lamp light source such as a xenon lamp and the rotary filter It is said that the wavelength range of the illumination light is substantially the same as that of the conventional light source device provided with. Therefore, the light source device 13 ensures compatibility and continuity with diagnostics that have been constructed based on images obtained using conventional light source devices.

In addition, since the endoscope 11 having a monochrome image sensor as an imaging element 35 can be connected to the light source device 13 and used, the endoscope 11 having a monochrome image sensor corresponding to the conventional light source device can be used. A scope can be connected and used. That is, the light source device 13 is compatible with conventional endoscopes.

[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the light source control unit 55 maintains the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62 at a specific light amount ratio between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. However, in the second embodiment, the light amount ratio is changed when the observation mode is switched. That is, the light amount ratio of each of the LED light sources 60 to 62 is changed for each normal filter 70 or first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 . In addition, from the second embodiment onwards, explanations of members and controls similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The light source control unit 55, for example, among the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62, turns on the LED light source that emits light that can pass through the filter being inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, An LED light source that emits light that does not pass through the filter inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 is extinguished.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the light source control unit 55 controls the red LED light source 62 during the B1 filter period T1a in which the B1 filter 70a of the normal filter 70 is inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. is turned off (OFF), and the blue LED light source 60 and the green LED light source 61 are turned on (ON) at the same time. In addition, during the R1 filter period T1c in which the R1 filter 70c is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, the light source control unit 55 turns off the blue LED light source 60, and turns off the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 at the same time. light up. In the G1 filter period T1b in which the G1 filter 70b is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, the light source control unit 55 turns on all of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62. When the R1 filter period T1c ends, the B1 filter period T1a is started again, and the periods T1a to T1c are repeated until the normal mode ends.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the light source control unit 55 is configured such that one of the two B2 filters 72 a of the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 is inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 . During the period T2a, the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 are turned off, and the blue LED light source 60 is turned on. The same applies to the second B2 filter period T2b in which the other B2 filter 72a is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source section 50. FIG. Further, during the G2 filter period T2c in which the G2 filter 72b is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, the light source control unit 55 turns off the blue LED light source 60 and the red LED light source 62, and turns on the green LED light source 61. Let When the G2 filter period T2c ends, the first B2 filter period T2a starts again, and thereafter, the periods T2a to T2c are repeated until the normal mode ends.

As described above, the generation of Joule heat can be suppressed by turning off the LED light source that emits light that does not pass through the filter inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 . Furthermore, in the normal mode, since at least two colors of light out of blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR are simultaneously emitted, color rendering with white light emitted by the conventional light source device is maintained. .

When the B2 filter 72a of the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 is inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source section 50, the light source control section 55 brightens the first blood vessel enhancement image obtained in the first blood vessel enhancement mode. Alternatively, the light amount of the blue LED light source 60 may be increased.

Specifically, the light source control unit 55 changes the set value of the drive current applied to the blue LED light source 60 in the first blood vessel enhancement mode to the set value of the drive current applied to the blue LED light source 60 in the normal mode. make it larger than As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the light source control unit 55 controls the light intensity of the blue light LBa emitted by the blue LED light source 60 in the first blood vessel enhancement mode to be higher than the light intensity of the blue light LBa emitted by the blue LED light source 60 in the normal mode. Increase the light intensity of the blue light LBb.

Further, the light source control unit 55 controls the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source during the period in which the normal filter 70 or the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. The light amount ratio of each of the LED light sources 60 to 62 may be changed by sequentially turning on the LEDs 62 .

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, in the normal mode, the light source controller 55 turns on the blue LED light source 60 at time T1 in the _B1 filter period T1a. Next, the light source control unit 55 turns off the blue LED light source 60 and turns on the green LED light source 61 at _time T2 later _than time T1. Then _, the light source control unit 55 turns off the green LED light source 61 at time T3 later _than time T2. _In this embodiment, time T1 is the start timing of the _B1 filter period T1a, and time T3 is the end timing of the B1 filter period T1a.

In the G1 filter period T1b, the light source controller 55 turns on the blue LED light source ₆₀ at time T3. The light source control unit 55 turns off the blue LED light source 60 and turns _on the green LED light source 61 at time _T4 later than time T3. Next, the light source control unit ₅₅ turns off the green LED light source 61 and turns on the red LED light source 62 at time _T5 later than time T4. Then, the light source control unit 55 turns off the red LED light source 62 at time _T6 , which is later than time _T5 . In this embodiment, the time T3, which is the end timing of the B1 filter period T1a, is set as the start timing of the G1 filter period _{T1b ,} and the time T6 is set as the end timing of the G1 filter period T1b.

In the R1 filter period T1c, the light source controller 55 turns on the green LED light source ₆₁ at time T6. The light source control unit 55 turns off the green LED light source 61 and turns _on the red LED light source 62 at time _T7 later than time T6. The light source control unit 55 turns off the red LED light source 62 at time _T8 later than time _T7 . _In this embodiment, time T6, which is the end timing of the G1 filter period T1b, is set as the start timing of the R1 filter period _T1c , and time T8 is set as the end timing of the R1 filter period T1c.

As described above, the generation of Joule heat can be suppressed by sequentially lighting the plurality of LED light sources in each of the periods T1a to T1c instead of lighting them simultaneously. Also in this case, since at least two colors of light out of blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR enter each filter, the color rendering property of the conventional light source device is maintained.

[Third embodiment]
In the first and second embodiments, the semiconductor light source unit 50 is provided with the three-color LED light sources of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, and the red LED light source 62. Instead of the light source section 50, a semiconductor light source section 80 provided with LED light sources of four colors is used (see FIG. 13).

As shown in FIG. 13, the semiconductor light source unit 80 includes a blue LED light source 60, a green LED light source 61, a red LED light source 62, and a violet LED light source 82 that emits violet light LV. The violet LED light source 82 is a single-chip LED light source in which one violet LED 82b is mounted on one substrate 82a.

As shown in FIG. 14, the violet light LV has, for example, a wavelength range of 395 nm to 415 nm and a central wavelength of 405 nm. The violet light LV is light in the optimum wavelength range for observation of the superficial blood vessels that are shallower than the superficial blood vessels.

Further, the semiconductor light source unit 80 includes a condensing optical system 84 instead of the condensing optical system 64 of the first and second embodiments. The condensing optical system 84 has a fourth collimator lens 86 and a third combining member 88 in addition to the members of the condensing optical system 64 .

The fourth collimator lens 86 collects the violet light LV emitted by the violet LED light source 82 and emits it as parallel light. Note that the light collimated by the fourth collimator lens 86 may not be completely parallel light, and may be regarded as substantially parallel light.

The optical path of the violet light LV emitted from the fourth collimator lens 86 is orthogonal to the optical path integrated by the second multiplexing member 69, and the third multiplexing member 88 is arranged at this intersection. The third multiplexing member 88 is, for example, a dichroic mirror, and the blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR multiplexed by the second multiplexing member 69 are incident on one surface at an angle of 45°. , and the violet light LV is incident on the other surface at an angle of 45°. The third combining member 88 transmits the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR and reflects the violet light LV, thereby integrating the optical path of the violet light LV with the second combining member 69. Integrate with the optical path. Thereby, the violet light LV, the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR are combined by the third combining member 88 , and the combined light is emitted from the semiconductor light source section 80 .

The violet light LV, blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 80 enter the rotation filter 53 via the diaphragm 51 . As shown in FIG. 15, the B1 filter 70a of the normal filter 70 transmits the entire wavelength range of the violet light LV. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the B2 filter 72a of the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72 transmits part of the wavelength range of the violet light LV.

The light source control unit 55 controls the LED driving unit 63 to turn on or off the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, the red LED light source 62, and the violet LED light source 82 independently. For example, the light source control unit 55 turns off LED light sources that emit light that does not pass through the filter inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50, as in the second embodiment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, in the normal mode, the light source control unit 55 turns off the violet LED light source 82 during the G1 filter period T1b and the R1 filter period T1c, while turning off the blue LED light source during the B1 filter period T1a. In addition to the LED light source 60 and the green LED light source 61, the purple LED light source 82 is turned on at the same time. As a result, blue light LB, green light LG, and violet light LV are simultaneously emitted during the B1 filter period T1a. In the third embodiment, the normal blue light, which is the light transmitted through the B1 filter 70a, includes the entire wavelength range of the violet light LV, the entire wavelength range of the blue light LB, and the wavelength range of the green light LG. part of the short wavelength side.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18, in the case of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the light source control unit 55 turns on only the violet LED light source 82, the blue LED light source 60, and the green LED light source during the first B2 filter period T2a. 61 and the red LED light source 62 are turned off. Further, the light source control unit 55 turns on only the blue LED light source 60 during the second B2 filter period T2b, and turns on only the green LED light source 61 during the G2 filter period T2c.

By controlling the lighting of the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, the red LED light source 62, and the violet LED light source 82 in this manner, the blood vessel contrast of the normal image can be enhanced in the normal mode. In addition, in the first blood vessel enhancement mode, a first blood vessel enhanced image in which not only superficial blood vessels but also superficial blood vessels are highlighted is obtained.

In the first blood vessel enhancement mode, the light source control unit 55 may sequentially turn on the blue LED light source 60 and the violet LED light source 82 in the first B2 filter period T2a and the second B2 filter period T2b. good.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, in the _first B2 filter period T2a, the light source controller 55 turns on the violet LED light source 82 from time T1 to _time T2, and turns on the blue LED light source 60 from time T2 to _time T2. Light up to _T3 . Next, in the second B2 filter period T2b, the violet LED light source 82 is lit from time T3 to time _{T4 ,} and the blue LED light source ₆₀ is lit from time _T4 to time T5. _In this case, time T1 is the start timing of the _first B2 filter period T2a, time T3 is the end timing of the first B2 filter period T2a and the start timing of the second B2 filter period T2b, and time _T5 . is the end timing of the second B2 filter period T2b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the light source control section 55 may simultaneously turn on the blue LED light source 60 and the violet LED light source 82 during the first B2 filter period T2a and the second B2 filter period T2b. In this case, a brighter first blood vessel-enhanced image is obtained.

Further, the light source control unit 55 sequentially switches the blue LED light source 60, the green LED light source 61, the red LED light source 62, and the violet LED light source 82 during the period when the normal filter 70 is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. It is also possible to turn on the

For example, as shown in FIG. 21, in the _B1 filter period T1a, the light source controller 55 turns on the violet LED light source 82 from time T1 to _time T2, and turns on the blue LED light source ₆₀ from time T2 to _time T3. The green LED light source 61 is lit from time _T3 to time _T4 . _In this case, time T1 is the start timing of the _B1 filter period T1a, and time T4 is the end timing of the B1 filter period T1a.

In the G1 filter period T1b, the light source control unit 55 turns on the blue LED light source ₆₀ from time _T4 to time T5, turns on the green LED light source ₆₁ from time _T5 to time T6, and turns on the red LED light source 62 from time T5 to time T6. Lights up from _T6 to time _T7 . Further, in the R1 filter period T1c, the light source control unit 55 turns _on the green LED light source 61 from time T7 to time T8, and turns _on the red LED light source 62 from time _T8 to time _T9 . _In this case, time T4, which is the end timing of the B1 filter period _T1a , is set as the start timing of the G1 filter period T1b, time T7 is set as the end timing of the G1 filter period T1b and the start timing of the R1 filter period _T1c , and time T9. is the end timing of the R1 filter period T1c.

In the case of the semiconductor light source unit 80 capable of emitting not only the blue light LB, the green light LG, and the red light LR, but also the violet light LV, the lighting control of the light source control unit 55 causes the normal filter 70 to be used for the first blood vessel. It is possible to acquire an enhanced image.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, in the _B1 filter period T1a, the light source controller 55 turns on the violet LED light source 82 from time T1 to _time T2. Next, the light source controller 55 turns on the blue LED light source ₆₀ from time T2 to _time T3. _In this case, time T1 is the start timing of the _B1 filter period T1a, and time T3 is the end timing of the B1 filter period T1a. In the B1 filter period T1a, instead of sequentially lighting the violet LED light source 82 and the blue LED light source 60 as described above, the light source control unit 55 simultaneously lights the violet LED light source 82 and the blue LED light source 60. It is also good to let

Further, the light source control unit 55 turns on only the green LED light source 61 during the G1 filter period T1b. The light source control unit 55 turns off all the LED light sources 60 to 62 and 82 during the R1 filter period T1c.

As a result, the B1 image signal and the G1 image signal are sequentially output from the imaging element 35 as in the above-described embodiments, so that these image signals can be used to generate the first blood vessel-enhanced image. For this reason, in the case of the semiconductor light source unit 80, when used in combination with a rotation filter provided with only the normal filter 70 without providing the first blood vessel enhancement filter 72, not only the normal mode but also the first blood vessel enhancement mode can also be executed.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the observation mode includes the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode. In the fourth embodiment, instead of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, , has a second blood vessel enhancement mode suitable for observing deep-layer blood vessels located deeper than middle-layer blood vessels. The second blood vessel enhancement mode can be switched by a switching operation of the mode switching section 17b, as in each of the above-described embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the fourth embodiment, a rotary filter 90 is used instead of the rotary filter 53 of each of the above embodiments. The rotation filter 90 has a second blood vessel enhancement filter 92 inside. The second blood vessel enhancement filter 92 has a λ1 filter 92a, a λ2 filter 92b, and a λ3 filter 92c along the circumferential direction. A normal filter 70 similar to that in each of the above-described embodiments is provided outside the rotating filter 90 . The λ1 filter 92a corresponds to the "second narrow band green filter" described in the claims, the λ2 filter 92b corresponds to the "narrow band first red filter" described in the claims, The λ3 filter 92c corresponds to the “narrow-band second red filter” described in claims.

As shown in FIG. 24, the λ1 filter 92a transmits part of the wavelength band of the green light LG. For example, the λ1 filter 92a transmits light with a wavelength range of 520 nm to 560 nm. The λ2 filter 92b transmits part of the wavelength range of the green light LG on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength range transmitted by the λ1 filter 92a and part of the wavelength range of the red light LR on the shorter wavelength side. For example, the λ2 filter 92b transmits light with a wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm. The λ3 filter 92c transmits part of the wavelength range of the red light LR that is on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength range transmitted by the λ2 filter 92b. For example, the λ3 filter 92c transmits light with a wavelength range of 610 nm to 650 nm. Hereinafter, light transmitted through the λ1 filter 92a will be referred to as “second green narrow-band light”, light transmitted through the λ2 filter 92b will be referred to as “first red narrow-band light”, and light transmitted through the λ3 filter 92c will be referred to as “second narrow-band light”. 2 red narrow-band light”, and they are collectively referred to as “second blood vessel enhancement illumination light”.

The second green narrow-band light is light suitable for observing middle-layer blood vessels. The first red narrow-band light is light that reaches the vicinity of deep blood vessels. The second red narrow-band light is light that reaches a position slightly deeper than the deep blood vessels. By using the first red narrow-band light and the third illumination light, it is possible to highlight deep-layer blood vessels. It should be noted that the middle-layer blood vessels can also be displayed with the second green narrow-band light.

The rotary filter control section 54 inserts the second blood vessel enhancement filter 92 into the optical path of the semiconductor light source section 50 when the second blood vessel enhancement mode is set.

The light source control unit 55 turns on the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 in the second blood vessel enhancement mode.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, the light source control unit 55 turns on the green LED light source 61 and the blue LED light source during the λ1 filter period T3a in which the λ1 filter 92a is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. 60 and the red LED light source 62 are extinguished. The light source control unit 55 simultaneously turns on the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 and turns off the blue LED light source 60 during the λ2 filter period T3b in which the λ2 filter 92b is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. The light source control unit 55 turns on the red LED light source 62 and turns off the blue LED light source 60 and the green LED light source 61 during the λ3 filter period T3c in which the λ3 filter 92c is inserted in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50 .

In the endoscope 11, each time the observation region is sequentially illuminated with the second green narrow-band light, the first red narrow-band light, and the second red narrow-band light (second blood vessel-enhancement illumination light), the imaging device 35 performs imaging of the observation site. As a result, the λ1 image signal, the λ2 image signal, and the λ3 image signal are output from the imaging element 35 in different frames.

In the processor device 12, the image processing unit 43 performs predetermined image processing to generate an image. For example, the image processing unit 43 generates a second blood vessel-enhanced image having multiple output channels. Specifically, the image processing unit 43 assigns the λ1 image signal to the luminance channel Y, obtains the difference between the λ2 image signal and the λ3 image signal as a difference signal, and applies this difference signal to the two color difference channels Cr and Cb. assign. When assigning the difference signals to the color difference channels Cr and Cb, each may be multiplied by a specific factor. Then, the image processing unit 43 converts, for example, ITU-R. According to the inverse transformation of 601, a second RGB vessel-enhanced image is generated. The second blood vessel-enhanced image is displayed on the monitor 14 by the display control unit 44 . In this second blood vessel-enhanced image, deep-layer blood vessels are highlighted. In addition, middle-layer blood vessels are also displayed in the second blood vessel-enhanced image.

Note that the method for generating and displaying the second blood vessel-enhanced image is not limited to the above method. For example, the image processing unit 43 corrects the λ2 image signal by multiplying the λ2 image signal by the ratio or difference between the λ2 image signal and the λ3 image signal, and assigns the corrected λ2 image signal to the G channel of the monitor 14. , the λ1 image signal may be assigned to the B channel of the monitor 14 and the λ3 image signal may be assigned to the R channel of the monitor 14 .

Note that, as shown in FIG. 26, the light source control section 55 may sequentially turn on the green LED light source 61 and the red LED light source 62 during the λ2 filter period T3b. For example, the light source controller 55 turns _on the green LED light source 61 from time T1 to _time T2 and turns _on the red LED light source 62 from time T2 to _time T3 in the λ2 filter period T3b. _In this case _, time T1 is the start timing of the λ2 filter period T3b, and time T3 is the end timing of the λ2 filter period T3b.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, deep blood vessels can be observed by causing the green light LG and the red light LR emitted by the semiconductor light source unit 50 to enter the second blood vessel enhancement filter 92 .

Although the fourth embodiment has the second blood vessel enhancement mode instead of the first blood vessel enhancement mode of the first to third embodiments, the normal mode, the first blood vessel enhancement mode, and the second blood vessel enhancement mode You may have an emphasis mode. In this case, for example, a rotation filter provided with a second blood vessel enhancement filter 92, a first blood vessel enhancement filter 72, and a normal filter 70 in order from the inside is used, and each observation mode is configured to be switchable.

[Fifth embodiment]
In each of the embodiments described above, a plurality of single-chip LED light sources are used, but in the fifth embodiment, a multi-chip LED light source having a multi-chip configuration in which a plurality of LEDs are mounted on one substrate is used.

As shown in FIG. 27, the semiconductor light source section 100 of the fifth embodiment has a multi-chip LED light source 102 and a collimator lens 104 in addition to the LED driving section 63 .

As shown in FIG. 28, the multichip LED light source 102 has a blue LED 60b, a green LED 61b, a red LED 62b, and a purple LED 82b mounted on one substrate 102a. The board 102a has, for example, a rectangular shape and holds the respective LEDs 60b, 61b, 62b, 82b. A blue LED 60b, a green LED 61b, a red LED 62b, and a purple LED 82b are arranged in a square on the substrate 102a, with a blue LED 60b and a green LED 61b arranged on one diagonal, and a red LED 62b and a purple LED 62b on the other diagonal. LEDs 82b are arranged respectively. The green LED 61b, the red LED 62b, and the purple LED 82b are independently controlled by the light source controller 55 via the LED driver 63. FIG.

The collimator lens 104 collects the blue light LB, green light LG, red light LR, and violet light LV emitted from the blue LED 60b, green LED 61b, red LED 62b, and purple LED 82b, and emits them as parallel light. Note that the light collimated by the collimator lens 104 does not have to be completely parallel light, and it is sufficient if it can be regarded as substantially parallel light. As a result, blue light LB, green light LG, red light LR, and violet light LV are emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 100 .

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, light of multiple colors can be emitted from the semiconductor light source unit 100 without using a combining member such as a dichroic mirror. Therefore, the semiconductor light source unit 100 can be made compact.

In addition, in the fifth embodiment, the four LEDs of the blue LED 60b, the green LED 61b, the red LED 62b, and the purple LED 82b are used as the LEDs mounted on the multi-chip LED light source 102, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two multi-chip LED light sources each mounting two different LEDs out of the four LEDs may be configured. In this case, the light paths of the multi-chip LED light sources are combined by the combining member.

Also, the LEDs mounted in the multi-chip LED light source may be blue LEDs for excitation (the blue LEDs 60b or the purple LEDs 82b). In this case, phosphors that emit green and red fluorescence when excited by the blue excitation light emitted by the blue excitation LED are used. As a result, broadband light obtained by combining the excitation blue light, the green fluorescence, and the red fluorescence is emitted from the multi-chip LED light source.

In addition, for example, a multi-chip LED light source mounted with an excitation blue LED, a phosphor that emits green fluorescence excited by the excitation blue light, and a red LED that emits red light. and green fluorescence may be combined with red light using a combining member. The red LED in this case preferably emits narrowband red light.

In each of the above embodiments, the light source control unit 55, in the normal mode, puts one of the B1 filter 70a, the G1 filter 70b, and the R1 filter 70c of the normal filter 70 in the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit 50. is inserted, at least two colors of light are emitted, but instead of this, only one color of light may be emitted. For example, the light source control unit 55 turns on only the blue LED light source 60 during the B1 filter period T1a, turns on only the green LED light source 61 during the G1 filter period T1b, and turns on only the red LED light source 62 during the R1 filter period T1c. Such lighting control is effective when an endoscope having a color image sensor is connected to the light source device 13 and used. In other words, in the case of a color image sensor, so-called color mixture occurs when light of a plurality of colors is received. , a high-quality image with good color reproducibility can be displayed on the monitor.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the light emitted from the objective optical system 34 is directly incident on the imaging surface of the imaging element 35 at the distal end portion 19 of the endoscope 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The light emitted from the light may be incident on the imaging surface of the imaging device 35 by reflection. A configuration example thereof will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 29, in the distal end portion 19, in addition to the objective optical system 34 and the imaging element 35, a lens barrel 110 having the objective optical system 34, a signal cable 112 electrically connected to the imaging element 35, A prism 114, a cover glass 116, and a holding frame 118 are provided. Note that the light guide 32, the illumination optical system 33, and the like are omitted in FIG.

The lens barrel 110 , the prism 114 , the cover glass 116 and the imaging device 35 are integrally held by a holding frame 118 . The signal cable 112 is soldered to the imaging device 35 and transmits signals between the imaging device 35 , the CDS/AGC circuit 37 and the imaging driver 36 . A signal cable 112 electrically connects the endoscope 11 and the processor device 12 .

The prism 114 is arranged on the base end side of the lens barrel 110 and is fixed to the imaging device 35 with an optical adhesive via a cover glass 116 . The incident surface of the prism 114 faces the exit surface of the objective optical system 34 , and the exit surface of the prism 114 faces the imaging surface of the imaging element 35 . The prism 114 has, for example, an incident surface and an exit surface orthogonal to each other, and has reflecting surfaces facing each surface. Therefore, the light emitted from the objective optical system 34 enters the prism 114 , is reflected by the reflecting surface inside the prism 114 , and enters the imaging element 35 . Note that the prism 114, the cover glass 116, and the imaging element 35 may not be in close contact with each other, and a space may be provided by, for example, a spacer.

In each of the above embodiments, the semiconductor light source unit emits at least blue light LB, green light LG, and red light LR. light of a plurality of colors including at least the light of . Also in this case, the light source control unit 55 enables the light of each color to be emitted independently. Of course, in addition to the above two colors of light, a plurality of colors of light, such as purple light LV, may be emitted. Moreover, the LED light sources provided in the semiconductor light source section are not limited to blue, green, red, and purple LEDs. For example, an orange LED or the like that emits narrow-band orange light having a wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm and a center wavelength of 600 nm may be used.

In each of the above embodiments, the light source control unit 55 adjusts the setting value of the drive current in order to control the light intensity of each LED light source. may be adjusted. Since the light emission period of each LED light source is controlled by adjusting the application time of the drive current, the light amount of each LED light source can be adjusted.

The light source control unit 55 may control the light emission of each LED light source independently, or may control the light emission depending on a certain light source. For example, the light source control unit 55 may turn on each LED light source at the same time to emit light with a prescribed maximum light quantity while maintaining a specific light quantity ratio. Light amount control in this case is performed by the diaphragm 51 . It should be noted that an ND (Neutral Density) filter may be provided in place of the diaphragm 51 to adjust the amount of light reduction to control the amount of light.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, a dichroic mirror is used as a wave combining member for combining light of each color emitted from each LED light source, but a half mirror may be used instead. When a half mirror is used, unlike a dichroic mirror, part of the wavelength band is not cut off, so light in a highly continuous wavelength band can be emitted from the semiconductor light source unit.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 endoscope system 11 endoscope 12 processor device 13 light source device 14 monitor 15 operation input section 16 insertion section 17 operation section 17a angle knob 17b mode switching section 18 universal cord 19 tip section 20 bending section 21 flexible tube section 29 connector 29a communication connector 29b light source connector 32 light guide 32a incident end 33 illumination optical system 34 objective optical system 35 image sensor 36 image pickup drive unit 37 CDS/AGC circuit 38 A/D conversion circuit 40 controller 41 DSP
42 frame memory 43 image processing unit 44 display control unit 50 semiconductor light source unit 51 diaphragm 52 diaphragm control unit 53 rotation filter 54 rotation filter control unit 55 light source control unit 56 condenser lens 60 blue LED source 61 green LED light source 62 red LED light source 63 LED driving unit 64 condensing optical system 60a substrate 60b blue LED
61a substrate 61b green LED
62a substrate 62b red LED
65 first collimator lens 66 second collimator lens 67 third collimator lens 68 first combining member 69 second combining member 70 normal filter 70a B1 filter 70b G1 filter 70c R1 filter 72 first blood vessel enhancement filter 72a B2 filter 72b G2 filter 80 Semiconductor light source unit 82 Violet LED light source 82a Substrate 82b Violet LED
84 condensing optical system 86 fourth collimator lens 88 third combining member 90 rotation filter 92 second blood vessel enhancement filter 92a λ1 filter 92b λ2 filter 92c λ3 filter 100 semiconductor light source section 102 multi-chip LED light source 102a substrate 104 collimator lens 110 lens barrel 112 signal cable 114 prism 116 cover glass 118 holding frame LB blue light LG green light LR red light LV purple light

Claims (12)

a semiconductor light source unit that has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light, and emits light of a plurality of colors;
a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of the plurality of colors;
A filter unit having a normal filter and a first blood vessel enhancement filter, wherein the normal filter or the first blood vessel enhancement filter is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, and sequentially emits light with different wavelength ranges. When,
a mode switching unit for switching operation between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
In the case of the normal mode, by sequentially inserting the B1 filter, G1 filter, and R1 filter of the normal filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are generated. Eject light sequentially,
In the case of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, by sequentially inserting the B2 filter and the G2 filter of the first blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, blue narrow-band light and first green narrow-band light are obtained. and a rotating filter control unit that sequentially injects
When the light source control unit changes the light amount ratio of the light of the plurality of colors for each mode by the switching operation by the mode switching unit,
Each filter period of the B1 filter period in which the B1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the G1 filter period in which the G1 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the R1 filter period in which the R1 filter is inserted in the optical path , changing the light amount ratio, or
changing the light amount ratio for each filter period of a B2 filter period in which the B2 filter is inserted in the optical path or a G2 filter period in which the G2 filter is inserted in the optical path;
during the B1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the violet light source, and the green light source to emit light, and extinguishing the red light source;
during the G1 filter period of the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the green light source, and the red light source to emit light, and extinguishing the violet light source;
during the R1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source and the violet light source;
causing the blue light source and the violet light source to emit light and extinguishing the green light source and the red light source during the B2 filter period in the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
making the green light source emit light and extinguishing the blue light source, the purple light source, and the red light source during the G2 filter period in the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
wavelength bands of the violet light and the blue light, the blue light and the green light, and the green light and the red light partially overlap;
The B1 filter transmits light including the entire wavelength range of the blue light, a portion of the wavelength range of the green light on the short wavelength side, and the entire wavelength range of the violet light,
The G1 filter is light containing all of the wavelength band of the green light, part of the wavelength band of the blue light on the long wavelength side, and part of the wavelength band of the red light on the short wavelength side. through the
the R1 filter transmits light including all of the wavelength range of the red light and part of the wavelength range of the green light on the long wavelength side;
The B2 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength range of the blue light and part of the wavelength range of the violet light,
The G2 filter is a light source device for an endoscope that transmits part of the wavelength band of the green light . The light source control unit increases the light intensity of the blue light emitted from the blue light source in the first blood vessel enhancement mode as compared to the light intensity of the blue light emitted from the blue light source in the normal mode. Item 2. The endoscope light source device according to item 1. The light source control unit
simultaneously emitting the blue light, the green light, and the violet light during the B1 filter period;
simultaneously emitting the blue light, the green light, and the red light during the G1 filter period;
simultaneously emitting the green light and the red light during the R1 filter period;
The blue light, the green light, and the violet light transmitted through the B1 filter during the B1 filter period are emitted as the normal blue light,
The blue light, the green light, and the red light transmitted through the G1 filter during the G1 filter period are emitted as the normal green light,
3. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the green light and the red light transmitted through the R1 filter during the R1 filter period are emitted as the normal red light. The light source control unit
emitting the blue light and the violet light simultaneously or sequentially during the B2 filter period;
emitting the green light during the G2 filter period;
The blue light or the violet light transmitted through the B2 filter during the B2 filter period is emitted as the blue narrowband light,
3. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the green light transmitted through the G2 filter during the G2 filter period is emitted as the first green narrow-band light. The light source control unit
sequentially emitting the blue light, the green light, and the violet light during the B1 filter period;
sequentially emitting the blue light, the green light, and the red light during the G1 filter period;
sequentially emitting the green light and the red light during the R1 filter period;
The blue light, the green light, and the violet light transmitted through the B1 filter during the B1 filter period are emitted as the normal blue light,
The blue light, the green light, and the red light transmitted through the G1 filter during the G1 filter period are emitted as the normal green light,
3. The endoscope light source device according to claim 1, wherein the green light and the red light transmitted through the R1 filter during the R1 filter period are emitted as the normal red light. The light source device for an endoscope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter section has a disc shape and is a rotating filter in which the plurality of filters are provided along the circumferential direction. a semiconductor light source unit that has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light, and emits light of a plurality of colors;
a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of the plurality of colors;
A filter unit having a normal filter and a first blood vessel enhancement filter, wherein the normal filter or the first blood vessel enhancement filter is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, and sequentially emits light with different wavelength ranges. When,
a mode switching unit for switching operation between the normal mode and the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
In the case of the normal mode, by sequentially inserting the B1 filter, G1 filter, and R1 filter of the normal filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are generated. Eject light sequentially,
In the case of the first blood vessel enhancement mode, by sequentially inserting the B2 filter and the G2 filter of the first blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, blue narrow-band light and first green narrow-band light are obtained. a rotating filter control unit that sequentially injects
an endoscope having a monochrome image sensor that captures an image each time an observation site is illuminated with light sequentially emitted from the filter;
A processor device that generates an image based on a plurality of image signals output each time the monochrome image sensor performs the imaging,
When the light amount ratio of the light of the plurality of colors is changed for each mode by the switching operation by the mode switching unit, the light source control unit controls the B1 filter period in which the B1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the changing the light amount ratio for each of the G1 filter period in which the G1 filter is inserted in the optical path and the R1 filter period in which the R1 filter is inserted in the optical path, or
changing the light amount ratio of the light of the plurality of colors for each filter period of a B2 filter period in which the B2 filter is inserted in the optical path and a G2 filter period in which the G2 filter is inserted in the optical path;
during the B1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the violet light source, and the green light source to emit light, and extinguishing the red light source;
during the G1 filter period of the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the green light source, and the red light source to emit light, and extinguishing the violet light source;
during the R1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source and the violet light source;
causing the blue light source and the violet light source to emit light and extinguishing the green light source and the red light source during the B2 filter period in the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
making the green light source emit light and extinguishing the blue light source, the purple light source, and the red light source during the G2 filter period in the first blood vessel enhancement mode;
wavelength bands of the violet light and the blue light, the blue light and the green light, and the green light and the red light partially overlap;
The B1 filter transmits light including the entire wavelength range of the blue light, a portion of the wavelength range of the green light on the short wavelength side, and the entire wavelength range of the violet light,
The G1 filter is light containing all of the wavelength band of the green light, part of the wavelength band of the blue light on the long wavelength side, and part of the wavelength band of the red light on the short wavelength side. through the
the R1 filter transmits light including all of the wavelength range of the red light and part of the wavelength range of the green light on the long wavelength side;
The B2 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength range of the blue light and part of the wavelength range of the violet light,
The endoscope system, wherein the G2 filter transmits part of the wavelength band of the green light . a semiconductor light source unit that has a blue light source that emits blue light, a green light source that emits green light, a red light source that emits red light, and a violet light source that emits violet light, and emits light of a plurality of colors;
a light source control unit that controls the semiconductor light source unit to emit light of the plurality of colors;
an endoscope having a monochrome image sensor that captures an image each time an observation site is illuminated with light emitted from the semiconductor light source;
a processor device that generates an image based on a plurality of image signals output each time the monochrome image sensor performs the imaging;
The filter has a normal filter and a second blood vessel enhancement filter, wherein the normal filter or the second blood vessel enhancement filter is sequentially inserted into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit to sequentially emit light with different wavelength ranges. Department and
a mode switching unit used for switching between the normal mode and the second blood vessel enhancement mode;
In the case of the normal mode, by sequentially inserting the B1 filter, G1 filter, and R1 filter of the normal filters into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, normal blue light, normal green light, and normal red light are generated. Eject light sequentially,
In the case of the second blood vessel enhancement mode, by sequentially inserting the λ1 filter, the λ2 filter and the λ3 filter of the second blood vessel enhancement filter into the optical path of the semiconductor light source unit, A rotary filter control unit that sequentially emits the red narrowband light and the second red narrowband light,
Each filter period of the B1 filter period in which the B1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the G1 filter period in which the G1 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the R1 filter period in which the R1 filter is inserted in the optical path , changing the light intensity ratio, or
For each filter period of the λ1 filter period in which the λ1 filter is inserted in the optical path, the λ2 filter period in which the λ2 filter is inserted in the optical path, or the λ3 filter period in which the λ3 filter is inserted in the optical path changing the light intensity ratio;
during the B1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the violet light source, and the green light source to emit light, and extinguishing the red light source;
during the G1 filter period of the normal mode, causing the blue light source, the green light source, and the red light source to emit light, and extinguishing the violet light source;
during the R1 filter period in the normal mode, causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source and the violet light source;
causing the green light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source and the red light source during the λ1 filter period in the second blood vessel enhancement mode;
causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source during the λ2 filter period in the second blood vessel enhancement mode;
causing the red light source to emit light and extinguishing the blue light source and the green light source during the λ3 filter period in the second blood vessel enhancement mode;
wavelength bands of the violet light and the blue light, the blue light and the green light, and the green light and the red light partially overlap;
The B1 filter transmits light including the entire wavelength range of the blue light, a portion of the wavelength range of the green light on the short wavelength side, and the entire wavelength range of the violet light,
The G1 filter is light containing all of the wavelength band of the green light, part of the wavelength band of the blue light on the long wavelength side, and part of the wavelength band of the red light on the short wavelength side. through the
the R1 filter transmits light including all of the wavelength range of the red light and part of the wavelength range of the green light on the long wavelength side;
The λ1 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength band of the green light,
The λ2 filter divides a part of the wavelength range of the green light on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength range transmitted by the λ1 filter and a part of the wavelength range of the red light on the shorter wavelength side. Transmits light containing
In the endoscope system, the λ3 filter transmits light including part of the wavelength range of the red light that is on the longer wavelength side than the wavelength range that is transmitted by the λ2 filter . The second blood vessel enhancement filter is a rotary filter having the λ1 filter, the λ2 filter, and the λ3 filter sequentially inserted in the optical path of the light emitted from the semiconductor light source unit along the circumferential direction. The endoscope system according to claim 8 . The light source control unit
causing the green light source to emit light during the λ1 filter period;
causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light simultaneously during the λ2 filter period;
causing the red light source to emit light during the λ3 filter period;
The green light transmitted through the λ1 filter during the λ1 filter period is emitted as second green narrowband light,
the green light and the red light transmitted through the λ2 filter during the λ2 filter period are emitted as first red narrowband light,
10. The endoscope system according to claim 8 , wherein the red light transmitted through the [lambda]3 filter during the [lambda]3 filter period is emitted as second red narrow band light. The light source control unit
causing the green light source to emit light during the λ1 filter period;
sequentially causing the green light source and the red light source to emit light during the λ2 filter period;
causing the red light source to emit light during the λ3 filter period;
The green light transmitted through the λ1 filter during the λ1 filter period is emitted as second green narrowband light,
the green light and the red light transmitted through the λ2 filter during the λ2 filter period are emitted as first red narrowband light,
10. The endoscope system according to claim 8 , wherein the red light transmitted through the [lambda]3 filter during the [lambda]3 filter period is emitted as second red narrow band light. The λ1 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 520 nm to 560 nm,
The λ2 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 580 nm to 620 nm,
The endoscope system according to any one of claims 8 to 11 , wherein the λ3 filter transmits light in the wavelength range of 610 nm to 650 nm.

Images