Electronic endoscope apparatus having different image processing characteristics for a moving image and a still image

An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:

• (a) an electronic endoscope including
• an elongated inserting section,
• an objective optical system disposed at a front end of said inserting section for projecting and focusing illuminating light, and
• an imaging device for photoelectrically converting an optical image obtained by said objective optical system;
• (b) drive signal generating means for outputting a drive signal for causing an image signal to be read from said imaging device;
• (c) signal processing means for producing a standard video signal from the image signal read from said imaging device by applying said drive signal;
• (d) display means for providing a display of said standard video signal;
• (e) memory means for temporarily storing said video signal, said memory means constituting a part of said signal processing means;
• (f) a freezing switch for stopping input of said video signal into said memory means and for causing said memory means to repetitively output an identical still image signal;
• (g) outline emphasis means for emphasizing an outline of at least one signal read from said memory means;
• and
• (h) outline emphasis characteristic switching means for outputting a switching signal to change outline emphasis characteristics of said outline emphasis means in synchronization with the operation of said freezing switch.