Electronic endoscope system

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system including a scope having a solid-state image sensor provided at a distal end thereof to generate image-pixel signals, an image-signal processing unit that produces a video signal on the basis of the image-pixel signals, and a TV monitor for reproducing and displaying an image in accordance with the video signal.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#The object and other objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following descriptions, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an electronic endoscope system according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an image-signal processing unit of the electronic endoscope system;

#FIG. 1 schematically shows an electronic endoscope system, generally indicated by reference 10, according to the present invention. The electronic endoscope system 10 comprises an elongated scope 12 including a rigid conduit 12a, a flexible conduit 12b integrally formed with the rigid conduit 12a, and a flexible cable 12c extending from the rigid conduit 12a, with the flexible cable 12c terminating with a connector 12d. The electronic endoscope system 10 also comprises an image-signal processing unit 14 to which the scope 12 is detachably connected through the intermediary of the flexible cable 12c and the connector 12d. The scope 12 represents various types of scope, used for bronchial, esophageal, gastro, colon, etc. examinations, and these various types of scope use the image-signal processing unit 14 in common.

#The flexible conduit 12b of the scope 12 has a solid-state image sensor (not shown), such as a CCD (charge-coupled-device) image sensor, at the distal end thereof, and the CCD image sensor is associated with an objective lens system (not shown). When the connection is established between the scope 12 and the image-signal processing unit 14, the CCD image sensor is electrically connected to an image-signal processor in the image-signal processing unit 14.

#Also, the scope 12 includes a flexible optical light guide extended therethrough and formed from a bundle of optical fibers. The optical light guide terminates with a light-radiating end face at the distal end of the flexible conduit 12b of the scope 12, and is associated with a lighting lens system (not shown) provided thereat. When the connection is established between the scope 12 and the image-signal processing unit 14, the proximal end of the optical light guide is optically connected to a light source device provided in the image-signal processing unit 14, whereby the light, emitted from the light source device, radiates as an illuminating-light from the light-radiating end face of the optical light guide.