Patent · US Expired

Electronic endoscope apparatus

US6597390B1 · kind B1 · utility

40Cited by
6References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 7, 2000
Grant dateJul 22, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/555
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present electronic endoscope apparatus makes it possible to select either of a conventional pixel mixing and reading system and a new all-pixel reading system. For example, an electronic endoscope apparatus having a pixel mixing and reading system circuit section is configured so that an all pixel reading system circuit board for reading all pixel signals out of a CCD while using an opaque period can be selectively set to the electronic endoscope apparatus, it is judged by a microcomputer whether the all pixel reading system circuit board is present, and when the circuit board is present, an all-pixel reading system operation is executed. Moreover, it is permitted to use the pixel mixing and reading system and all-pixel reading system circuit sections as standard sections, normally execute all-pixel reading system operations, and when, for example, a freeze switch is pressed at power-on, pixel mixing and reading system operations may be executed. Furthermore, it is displayed on a monitor by a character or icon whether the pixel mixing and reading system or all-pixel reading system is currently operated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.