# US 9,521,376 B2 · Endoscope apparatus

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,521,376 B2
- Document ID: US9521376B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/026,715
- Filed: 2011-02-14
- Published: 2011-07-21
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2010-01-20
- Assignees: Olympus Corporation
- Applicants: Saichi Sato
- Inventors: Saichi Sato
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521376B2

## CPC

- A61B 1/05: characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
- H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source}
- A61B 1/0676: {at distal tip of an endoscope}
- A61B 1/0684: {using light emitting diodes [LED]}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An endoscope apparatus is an endoscope apparatus that picks up an image of an object using a camera. The endoscope apparatus includes a semiconductor device mounted on a circuit substrate including a CPU core and a drive circuit for driving the camera and a parameter setting section provided in the semiconductor device that sets parameter data for adjusting output timing of a drive signal of the drive circuit or input timing of an image signal from the camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An endoscope apparatus that picks up an image of an object using an image pickup device, comprising:
a main body to which a plurality of insertion portions are allowed to be connected;
a semiconductor device mounted on a circuit substrate provided to the main body, and having a CPU and a first drive circuit for driving the image pickup device; and
a nonvolatile memory that is provided in the semiconductor device and stores a first program for setting first parameter data for adjusting a first output timing of a drive signal of the first drive circuit, the first output timing being different for each of the insertion portions,
wherein the CPU reads the first program for setting the first parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read first program, to thereby set the first parameter data in the first drive circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second drive circuit provided in the semiconductor device for driving a display section that displays the image of the object;
wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a second program for setting second parameter data for adjusting a second output timing of a drive signal of the second drive circuit; and
wherein the CPU further reads the second program for setting the second parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read second program, to thereby set the second parameter data in the second drive circuit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third drive circuit provided in the semiconductor device for operating an endoscope system;
wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a third program for setting third parameter data for adjusting a third output timing of a drive signal of the third drive circuit; and
wherein the CPU further reads the third program for setting the third parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read third program, to thereby set the third parameter data in the third drive circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores the first parameter data.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the endoscope apparatus is started, the CPU reads the first parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and makes the setting.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first register provided in the semiconductor device for storing the first parameter data.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first output timing is adjusted by the CPU setting the first parameter data in the first register.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor device is a one-chip IC.

### Claim 9

An endoscope apparatus that picks up an image of an object using an image pickup device provided at a distal end portion of an insertion portion of the endoscope, comprising:
a main body to which a plurality of insertion portions are allowed to be connected;
a semiconductor device made up of a one-chip IC mounted on a circuit substrate provided to the main body, and having a CPU and a first drive circuit for driving the image pickup device; and
a nonvolatile memory that is provided in the semiconductor device and stores a first program for setting first parameter data for adjusting a first output timing of a drive signal of the first drive circuit, the first output timing being different for each of the insertion portions,
wherein the CPU reads the first program for setting the first parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read first program, to thereby set the first parameter data in the first drive circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
a second drive circuit provided in the semiconductor device for driving a display section that displays the image of the object
wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a second program for setting second parameter data for adjusting a second output timing of a drive signal of the second drive circuit; and
wherein the CPU further reads the second program for setting the second parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read second program, to thereby set the second parameter data in the second drive circuit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores the second parameter data, and
when the endoscope apparatus is started, the CPU reads the second parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and makes the setting.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a second register provided in the semiconductor device that stores the second parameter data,
wherein the second output timing is adjusted by the CPU setting the second parameter data in the second register.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
a third drive circuit provided in the semiconductor device for operating an endoscope system;
wherein the nonvolatile memory further stores a third program for setting third parameter data for adjusting a third output timing of a drive signal of the third drive circuit; and
wherein the CPU further reads the third program for setting the third parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and executes the read third program, to thereby set the third parameter data in the third drive circuit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores the third parameter data, and
when the endoscope apparatus is started, the CPU reads the third parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and makes the setting.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a third register provided in the semiconductor device that stores the third parameter data,
wherein the third output timing is adjusted by the CPU setting the third parameter data in the third register.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the nonvolatile memory stores the first parameter data, and
wherein when the endoscope apparatus is started, the CPU reads the first parameter data from the nonvolatile memory and makes the setting.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The endoscope apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a first register provided in the semiconductor device that stores the first parameter data,
wherein the first output timing is adjusted by the CPU setting the first parameter data in the first register.