JP3361129B2 - Image information recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information recording apparatus for recording an image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal in a plurality of recording means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recording an image on a memory card is
It is performed with an electronic camera or the like. Memory cards are faster than mechanical media such as floppy disks.
On the other hand, since it is expensive, it is not suitable for long-term storage.
The main use is for short-term storage such as data transfer for devices, which is frequently rewritten.

Also in the electronic endoscope apparatus, an electronic endoscope apparatus for recording and managing an endoscope image using such a memory card is proposed, for example, as disclosed in JP-A-2-142532. Has been done.

By the way, so-called backup, in which the same data is double-recorded in a recording device different from the main recording device, is widely used in order to enhance the reliability of the recorded data, not limited to the memory card. When a failure occurs in the main recording device, a method of finding the record from the backup recording device and restoring it is used.

[0005]

However, since the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus separately manages information relating the information recorded in the main recording apparatus and the information recorded in the backup recording apparatus, the main recording When a failure occurs in the device, it takes a lot of time to find the record from the backup recording device and restore the information.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. At least one image information recording means is provided with a plurality of portable image information recording means, and at least one image information recording means has a trouble. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image information recording device that can easily and rapidly retrieve the image information from the remaining image information recording means and easily restore the image information when the event occurs.

[0007]

[0008]

An image information recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a portable first image information recording means for recording an image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal, and the image signal or the image. Image information that encodes the signal
With a small number of portable first image information recording means.
Second image information recording means each having a recording capacity of one
And the first image information recording means and the second image
The same image information is output to the information recording means and recorded.
And recording control means for causing said portable first image information storage
In response to the recording means and the second image recording unit and an identification information generating means for generating identification information associated with each other, said recording control means further said first image
Recording in information recording means and the second image information recording means
The identification information is added to the image information to be displayed .

The image information recording apparatus according to the present invention is
Image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal
Is recorded on a portable first information recording medium.
The image information recording means and the image signal or the image signal are encoded.
The encoded image information is stored in the portable information recording medium
A second information recording medium having at least one recording capacity
Second image information recording means for recording on the first image , and the first image
With respect to the information recording means and the second image information recording means
Control means for outputting and recording the same image information
And the portable first information recording medium and the second information recording medium.
Identification information associated with each other corresponding to the information recording medium
And an identification information generating means for generating, said recording control hand
The stage further comprises the first image information recording means and the first image information recording means.
The image information recorded by the image information recording means 2
It is characterized in that the identification information is added.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 8 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscopic image recording apparatus,
2 is a recording format of image data to be recorded in the IC memory card and DAT, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of the IC memory card, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ID section of the IC memory card, and FIG. 5 is an IC. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the input port of the memory card, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a modified example of the ID section of the IC memory card, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation flow of the endoscopic image recording apparatus, and FIG. Is a flow chart showing the flow of data restoration when the image data of the IC memory card is damaged.

As shown in FIG. 1, an endoscopic image recording apparatus 1
Is a video endoscope 2 having an image conversion means for observing the inside of a body cavity and the like and converting an endoscopic image into a video signal, and an image signal from the video endoscope 2 The image control device 3 serves as a signal processing means and a recording control means for performing signal processing to generate an image signal, and an image signal processed by the image control device 3 is recorded as image data, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. An IC memory card 4 as a portable image recording means, a DAT (magnetic tape) 5 as a large-capacity image recording means, and an image signal-processed by the image control device 3 or reproduced by the image control device 3. Monitor 6 for displaying image data recorded on the IC memory card 4 or DAT 5
And an instruction device 7 including a keyboard or the like for issuing a control operation instruction to the image control device 3.

FIG. 2 shows a recording format of image data, and a is a recording format of the IC memory card 4, wherein the image serial number, the INDEX image (reduced image) of the image, the patient data, the image data, and the backup DA.
The ID number of the T tape is recorded. Similarly, b is
In the recording format of the DAT tape 5, the serial number of the image, the INDEX image of the image, the patient data, the image data, and the ID number of the IC memory card are recorded. As shown in FIG. 3, the IC memory card 4 includes a connector section 8 for electrically connecting to the image control device 3, a buffer circuit 9 for buffering signals of the connector section 8 and an internal circuit, and the image control section. A memory 10 for recording image data from the device 3, an ID section 11 for recording an ID code corresponding to the ID number of the IC memory card 4,
It is provided with a CPU 12 for controlling signals of the buffer circuit 9 and the memory 10 and an input port 13 for inputting the ID code of the IC memory card 4 recorded in the ID section 11 to the CPU 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ID section 11 has I
The C memory card 4 is provided with a required number of pairs of signal pins 15a and 15b on the base 14 (for example, 8 pairs in FIG. 4), and the signal pins 15 are provided corresponding to the ID numbers. The short bar 16 is connected to set the ID code.

As shown in FIG. 5, the input port 13 has an input buffer 18 whose output is controlled by a control signal 17 from the CPU 12, and a normal logic "1" connected to the input of the input buffer 18. The signal pin 15a connected to the input of the input buffer 18 and the grounded signal pin 15b are short-circuited by a short bar 16 to set a logic "0". The input ports 13 are provided in correspondence with the required number of sets of signal pins 15a and 15b.

In the actual operation of such an IC memory card 4, at the time of recording, image data is transferred from the image control device 3 to the CPU 12 via the connector section 8 and the buffer circuit 9 and recorded in the memory 10. . Memory 1 when reading
Image data from 0 is read by the CPU 2 and passed to the image control device 3 via the buffer circuit 9 and the connector unit 8. When checking the ID number, set the ID in the ID section 11
The code state passes through the input buffer 18 by the control signal 17 from the CPU 12 in the input port 13, and C
Read by the PU 12, the buffer circuit 9 and the connector unit 8
And is passed to the image control device 3 via.

The ID code of the IC card sets unique data at the time of manufacturing, for example. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the ID section 11 has a short pattern 20 in advance.
It is also possible to realize by providing a cut portion 21 by performing pattern cutting by laser trimming or the like if necessary. Further, the ID code may be realized by being recorded in the non-volatile memory 10 in the IC card by the image control device 3.

The operation of the thus configured endoscope image recording apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the flow.

As shown in FIG. 7, first, the IC memory card 4 for recording an image is set in the image control device 3, and DA is set.
The T tape is set on DAT 5 (S1, S2). An operation is performed by operating the video endoscope 2 (S3). When the image is a required image, a recording instruction is issued by the instruction device 7 (S4). An image is recorded on the IC memory card 4 (S5). D with DAT5
The same image is recorded on the AT tape (S6). If the inspection is completed here, the inspection is ended, and if not completed, the inspection is continued (S7).

FIG. 8 is an operation flow of data restoration when the image data of the IC memory card is damaged while being carried.
First, the IC memory card 4 whose image data is desired to be restored is set (S11). DA backed up next
The T tape is set on DAT 5 (S12). A data restoration instruction is issued by the instruction device 7 (S13). The ID number of the IC memory card 4 is read (S14). I
The data in the DAT tape is searched from the D number.
(S15). The retrieved image data is recorded in the IC memory card 4 (S16). With that, the operation ends.

As described above, the endoscopic image recording apparatus of the first embodiment records the endoscopic image on the IC memory card and the DAT tape, and at the same time, the IC memory card stores the D image.
The identification code of the AT tape is recorded, and the DAT tape has I
Since the identification code of the C memory card is recorded, the IC
When the image data of the memory card is damaged, the damaged image data can be easily recovered by searching the identification code of the IC memory card recorded on the DAT tape. Incidentally, even when the image data of the DAT tape is damaged, the image data can be similarly restored from the IC memory card.

Although the DAT is used as the large-capacity image recording means, the present invention is not limited to this, and the large-capacity image recording means may be composed of, for example, a hard disk device.

Next, the second embodiment will be described.

9 to 21 relate to the second embodiment,
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the endoscopic image recording apparatus, and FIG.
11 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image compression device, FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a quantization characteristic of a quantizer, FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image input device, and FIG. 13 is a first display example of a CRT. 14 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an image expansion device, FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a card interface, FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an IC memory card, and FIG. 17 is an IC memory. A recording format of image data recorded on a card and DAT, FIG. 18 is a recording format of image data recorded on an HDD, FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations for searching and viewing image information, and FIG.
Explanatory drawing explaining the 2nd display example of RT, FIG. 21 is CRT
It is explanatory drawing explaining the 1st display example of.

The second embodiment is an endoscopic image composed of a first image recording apparatus as a satellite system installed in a clinical room and a second image recording apparatus as a conference system installed in a viewing room. The present invention relates to a recording device.

The first image recording device 31 as a satellite system of the endoscope image recording device of the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), a video endoscope 32 having an imaging element at the tip of the insertion portion and observing the inside of a body cavity and the like, and an image input for processing a video signal from the video endoscope 32 to generate an image signal. A device 33 and a keyboard (hereinafter abbreviated as KB) 34 as an input means for inputting observed patient information and designating processing contents to the image input device 33.
A CRT 35 as display means for displaying the image signal generated by the image input device 33; an image compression device 36 for compressing the image signal generated by the image input device 33; A digital audio tape device (hereinafter abbreviated as DAT) 3 as a plurality of image recording means for recording the compressed image signal or the compressed image signal compressed by the image compression device 36.
7, a disk type recording device such as a hard disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as HDD) 38, a floppy disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as FDD) 39, an IC memory card 40, and the image input device 33 for the plurality of image recording means. A first host computer 41 for controlling the recording of the image signal generated by the above or the compressed image signal compressed by the image compression device 36; and a card interface 42 for connecting the IC memory card 40 to the first host computer 41. The image input device 33 comprises a button type switch 43 for taking in an image to be recorded.

As shown in FIG. 10, the image compression device 36 includes a control signal generator 36a for generating a control signal used in the image compression device 36 in response to a control signal from the first host computer 41, and R. , G, B image signals R image compression device 36b, G image compression device 3
6c and B image compression device 36d. Here, the R image compression device 36b will be described.
The same applies to the image compression device 36c and the B image compression device 36d.

The R image compression device 36b has an image input section 36e for receiving the R image signal Ri from the image input apparatus 33, and an R image signal R via the image input section 36e.
and an A / D converter 36f for A / D converting i
The memory 36g for recording the digital R image signal A / D converted by the converter 36f and the DCT transform 36h for DCT transforming (discrete cosine transform) the digital R image signal recorded in the memory 36g are provided.

Further, the R image compression device 36b quantizes the DCT image data DCT-transformed by the DCT transform 36h when the R image signal Ri from the image input device 33 is a normal image signal. Chemicalizer 36
i, a stain image quantizer 36j for quantizing DCT image data when the R image signal Ri from the image input device 33 is a stain image signal, and D from the DCT transform 36h.
The CTR image signal is switched to switch the normal image quantizer 3
6i or the first switch 36k for outputting to the quantizer 36j for dyed image and the second switch 36l for switching and inputting the quantized data from the quantizer 36i for normal image or the quantizer 36j for dyed image. And this second switch 36l
From an encoder 36m that encodes the quantized data via the encoder 36m to generate encoded data, and an encoded data output unit 36n that outputs the encoded data Ro from the encoder 36m to the first host computer 41. It is configured.

In other words, each image signal from the input image device 33 is sent to A / A via each image input unit 36e.
It is converted into a digital image signal by the D converter 36f and recorded in each memory 36g. The recorded R, G, and B digital image signals are read from each memory 36g by the control signal from the control signal generator 36a, and the DCT converter 3
Input to 6h. The DCT image data subjected to the DCT conversion is sent to the normal image quantizer 36i by the first switch 36k.
Alternatively, one of the dyed image quantizers 36j is switched and input. The quantized data output from the switched normal image quantizer 36i or dyed image quantizer 36j is input to the encoder 36m and encoded, and then the encoded data is output to the encoded data output unit 36n. Output more.

Here, the reason why the normal image quantizer 36i or the dyed image quantizer 36j is switched and used will be described.

When the dyed endoscopic image is quantized by using the normal image quantizer 36i, there is a problem that block distortion or the like occurs because the high frequency component of the dyed image is roughly quantized. Occurs. Therefore, when the stained endoscopic image is taken out from the image input device 33, it is necessary to switch the quantization characteristic of the quantizer between the normal endoscopic image and the stained image.

The quantization characteristic of the quantizer will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11A shows a flow until the image data which is a digital image signal is quantized. The image data obtained by the DCT conversion is D as shown in FIG.
It is converted into a C component (DC component) and an AC component (AC component), and the data of the AC component is distributed in the low frequency component and the high frequency component as shown in the figure.

Since a normal endoscopic image does not contain many high-frequency components of AC components, the high-frequency side can be roughly quantized, and a dyed image contains many high-frequency components, so that the high-frequency side is finely quantized to cause block distortion. Etc. can be prevented. Figure 11
(C) shows the quantization characteristics of the normal image quantizer 36i and the dyed image quantizer 36j.

FIG. 12 shows the details of the image input device 32.
The image processing unit 32a converts the electric signal from the video endoscope 32 into an RGB video signal and adjusts the RGB signal balance and signal level. Furthermore, patient information and a message to the operator sent from the control unit 32b described later are combined with the RGB signals. The communication interface unit 32c is an encoded patient information and control unit 32.
Inputs / outputs instructions for b. Reference numeral 32d is a memory for recording patient information. The control unit 32b controls the image processing unit 32a, the communication interface unit 32c, and the memory 32d of the image input device 32.

The image synthesized by the control unit 32b is output to the CRT 35 and the image compression device 36, and the image is immediately displayed on the CRT 35. FIG.
Is an example of display on the CRT 35. Reference numeral 35a is an image captured by the video endoscope 32. Reference numeral 35b is patient information.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the second image recording device 44 serving as the conference system has the IC
A second host computer 45 for reading out an image signal or a compressed image signal recorded in the memory card 40, and the IC memory card 40 in the second host computer 45.
A card interface 46 for connecting the I / O unit, an image decompressing device 47 for decompressing the compressed image signal read by the second host computer 45 and reproducing the compressed image signal into an image signal, and the I interface read by the second host computer 45.
The image signal recorded on the C memory card 40 or the I
C DAT 48, HDD 49, FDD 50 as a plurality of image recording means for expanding the compressed image signal recorded in the memory card 40 and recording the reproduced reproduction image signal, and as a display means for displaying the image signal or the reproduction image signal. C
RT51 and K.K. as input means for designating the processing contents to the second host computer 45. B52 and the second host computer 45 is a K.B. DAT48, HDD49, FDD5 based on input from B52
0, the image expansion device 47, and the card interface 46 for connecting the IC memory card 40.

As shown in FIG. 14, the image expansion device 4
Reference numeral 7 denotes a control signal generator 47a for generating a control signal used in the image decompression device 47 in response to a control signal from the second host computer 45, and the image compression device 36 recorded in the IC memory card 40. R for decompressing R, G, B encoded data compressed by
The image decompression device 47b, the G image decompression device 47c, and the B image decompression device 47d are included. Here, the R image decompression device 47b will be described, but the G image decompression device 4 will be described.
The same applies to the 7c and B image expansion device 47d.

The R image expansion device 47b is connected to the second host computer 45 and is connected to the IC memory card 40.
R compressed by the image compression device 36 recorded in
An encoded data input unit 47e for inputting encoded data,
A decoder 47f for decoding the R coded data via the coded data input unit 47e, and a normal image dequantization for dequantizing the quantized quantized data via the decoder 47f. 47g and dye image inverse quantizer 47h
A third switch 47i for switching between the normal image dequantizer 47g and the dyed image dequantizer 47h by a control signal from the control signal generator 47a, and the normal image dequantizer 47g and a fourth switching device 47j for switching and inputting the DCT image data obtained by the dequantization from the dye image dequantizing device 47h, and the DCT image data via the fourth switching device 47j Inverse DCT converter 47k for DCT conversion, and this inverse DCT converter 4k
It is composed of a memory 47l for recording the image data obtained by the inverse DCT conversion by 7k and an image output section 47m for outputting the image data recorded in the memory 47l to the second host computer 45.

That is, the second host computer 45
Is connected to each encoded data input unit 47e of the image expansion device 47. Each encoded data via the encoded data input unit 47e is decoded by the decoder 47f and input to the third switch 47i. The normal image inverse quantizer 47g or dyed image inverse quantizer 47h is switched and selected by a switching signal from the control signal generator 47a, and the decoded data from the decoder is selected as the normal image inverse quantizer. It is input to the quantizer 47g or the dyed image inverse quantizer 47h. The data output from the normal image inverse quantizer 47g or the dyed image inverse quantizer 47h is used as the inverse DCT converter 4
Enter in 7k. The inverse DCT-converted data is recorded in the memory 47l as image data. The image data recorded in the memory 47l is output to the second host computer 45 via the image output unit 47m.

FIG. 15 shows card interfaces 42 and 4.
6 are details. The IC memory card 40 is connected to each host computer 41 or 45 via a switchable gate 42a. The IC memory card 40 can be easily attached to and detached from the card interface 42. Reference numeral 42b is a selector, which controls the gate 42a by an address signal 42c input from the host computer, and electrically connects one of a plurality of connectable IC memory cards 40 to the host computer.

FIG. 16 shows details of the IC memory card.
FIG. 16A shows an IC memory card 40 having no CPU.
a. Reference numeral 60 denotes a semiconductor memory, which is composed of a flash memory or the like that keeps recorded contents without a power supply. Reference numeral 61 is an interface unit that controls the input / output of data. Reference numeral 62 is a battery, which is a primary or secondary battery. Reference numeral 63 is a card identification number means for giving a value which is different depending on each card. For example, like the IC memory card of the first embodiment, for example, a jumper switch for reading a value binarized by an electric switch or There is a method of recording the identification number in the non-volatile memory.

FIG. 16 (b) shows an IC having a built-in CPU 64.
The memory card 40b is the same as the IC memory card 40a shown in FIG. CPU
Reference numeral 64 performs calculations and management of recorded data. Further, the CPU 64 can operate independently of the host computer. For example, the image compression device 36 described above.
When the compression in step 1 is omitted, it is possible to temporarily hold the data in the IC memory card 40b without compression and then perform compression by the CPU 64 later.

Although the display means is composed of a CRT,
The present invention is not limited to this, and a color liquid crystal display device or a monitor such as a video projector may be used.

The operation of the endoscopic image recording apparatus of the second embodiment having such a configuration will be described.

First, an examination is performed using the first image recording device 31 as a satellite system installed in a clinical room. The operator is K. The patient information such as name is input by B34. The patient information is encoded and sent to the image input device 33. Next, the video endoscope 32 is inserted into the place where it is desired to observe. The video endoscope 32 converts the captured image into an electric signal and sends it to the image input device 33.

The operator gives an instruction to record the image by pressing the switch 43. The image information is recorded on both the IC memory card 40 and the DAT 37.

The format of image information recorded using the card recording format and the tape recording format will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17A shows the format of image information recorded in the IC memory card 40, and FIG. 17B shows the DAT.
37 shows a format of image information recorded in 37. Reference numeral 70 is patient information, which includes a patient number, a patient name, a patient birth date, an age, a sex, an examination date, an examination doctor name, a medical department, and the like. Code 7
Reference numeral 1 is image data. Reference numeral 72 is a tape identification number,
Details will be described later. Reference numeral 73 is a flag, which indicates whether or not the exhibition has been performed, and the default is "unpublished". Reference numeral 74 is a card identification number held by the card identification number means 63 of the IC memory card 40.

Next, the above-mentioned tape identification number will be described. The tape identification number has a value that varies depending on each medium. When the new medium is used for the first time, the identification number is recorded in advance at the position 72 in FIG. 17B.

Next, the process of recording an image will be described.

The switch 43 is connected to the control unit 33b of the image input apparatus 33, and when the switch 43 is pressed, the encoded recording command is transmitted to the communication interface unit 33.
It is output from c to the first host computer 41, and the recording command is retransmitted to the image compression device 36.

The first host computer 41 reads the card identification number from the IC memory card 40 and holds it. Further, the identification number 72 is read from the tape type recording device and held.

The image output from the image input device 33 is
The image compression device 36 performs compression. The compression is based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT) as described above. Since compression takes time, it is not always necessary to perform compression, and there is a method of recording the original image as it is. The compressed image is transferred to the IC memory card 40, DA through the first host computer 41.
Recorded at T37. At this time, the IC memory card 40
The tape identification number held in the first host computer 41 is added to the position 72 in FIG. Further, the card identification number held in the first host computer 41 is added to the DAT 37 at the position 74 in FIG. 17B.

The above recording is repeated to perform a series of inspections.

Although the case where the DAT 37 is used has been described, a recording device which uses an exchangeable 8 mm video tape as the medium may be used. Further, these tape type recording devices are slower than the widely used disk type recording devices such as floppy disks and hard disks, but have a large capacity and are therefore suitable for backup.

Generally, when writing to a low-speed external recording device such as a magnetic tape type recording device, data is once recorded in a cache buffer composed of a semiconductor memory and the external recording device waits until it becomes writable. In this device, the IC memory card 40 can be used also as a cache buffer.

As described above, the card interface 42
A plurality of IC memory cards 40 are inserted in. Here, when the types of the images are different, the images can be recorded in different IC memory cards 40. For example, if the identification number of the IC memory card 40 includes the information of the examining doctor, recording is automatically performed for each IC memory card 40. Then, each inspecting doctor removes the IC memory card 40 without interrupting the inspection of other doctors,
It is possible to take it away.

Furthermore, the data transfer between the IC memory cards 40 can be performed at high speed.

The IC memory card 40 that has undergone the inspection is carried to the second image recording device 44 as a conference system installed in the viewing room shown in FIG. 9B. The operation of the second image recording device 44 as the conference system will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the second image recording device 44, the image information recorded at the time of inspection is managed and viewed. The recorded IC memory card 40 carried from the first image recording device 31 as a satellite system is inserted into the card interface 46. K. With the trigger of B52, the image information recorded in the IC memory card 40 is transferred to the HDD 49 via the second host computer 45 and the image expansion device 47. Here, the image expansion device 47
Then, the image decompression performed by the image compression device 36 is performed.

By repeating the above operation, the image information is successively stored in the HDD 49 via the IC memory card 40. FIG. 18 shows the recording format of the HDD 49. Reference numeral 75 is patient information. Reference numeral 76 is image data.

The case where the image information of the IC memory card 40 disappears in the process of being conveyed to the second image recording device 44 will be described. The lost image information is recorded in the DAT 37 of the first image recording device 31 at the same time as the IC memory card 40. The DAT 37 tape type medium recorded by the DAT 37 is reproduced by the DAT 48 of the second image recording device 44, and the lost image information is reproduced by the second host computer 4
5. Transfer to the HDD 49 via the image expansion device 47.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 19, the operation of searching and displaying the image information in the second image recording device 44 will be described.

At S20, the operator is B5
2, the search condition is input to the second host computer 45.

According to the above input, the display as shown in FIG. 20 is immediately displayed on the CRT 51. Reference numeral 80 is a search condition.
Reference numeral 81 is a cursor.

Further, in S21, the operator is K. B5
2 instructs the second host computer 45 to execute the search.

In S22, the second host computer 45 sets the I
The image data in the C memory card 40 is searched, and the one that matches the input condition is selected and displayed on the CRT 51 as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 82 is an array of items for identifying the matched image information. What identifies the image information is definitely identifiable, and is, for example, an array of examination numbers, examination dates, patient names, sexes, and the like. Reference numeral 83 is a cursor. In S23, the operator is K. An instruction to move the cursor is given to the second host computer 45 from B52.
Furthermore, in S25, K. When an image display instruction is given from B52, the image indicated by the cursor is displayed at the position 84. Here, the flag 73 of the IC memory card 40 in the image information for which the image is displayed is changed to "viewed".

The above-mentioned operation is repeated and inspection data is presented.

When the viewing of all the image information in the IC memory card 40 is completed, the IC memory card 40 finishes the series of functions from the first image recording device 31 to the second image recording device 44, and is ready for the next use. Prepare For example, in a flash memory, it is necessary to erase past data before writing.

When the exhibition is finished, in step 28, the K. An instruction to end the viewing is given from B52. Then, in step 29, it is checked whether or not all the image information in the IC memory card 40 has been displayed, and if so, it is prepared to record new image information next time. Here, whether or not the viewing is completed is determined by the flag 73 of the IC memory card 40 in the image information.

As described above, the endoscopic image recording apparatus of the second embodiment records the endoscopic image on the IC memory card and the DAT tape at the same time as the first embodiment, at the same time.
Since the identification code of the DAT tape is recorded in the C memory card and the identification code of the IC memory card is recorded in the DAT tape, the image data from the first image recording device is recorded in the second code by using the IC memory card. If the image data of the IC memory card is damaged when sending it to the image recording device,
By searching the identification code of the IC memory card recorded on the DAT tape, there is an effect that the damaged image data can be easily restored. further,
Since the image data is also recorded in the HDD or the like, the data can be managed more reliably. Incidentally, even when the image data of the DAT tape is damaged, the image data can be similarly restored from the IC memory card.

Next, the third embodiment will be described.

22 to 26 relate to the third embodiment, and FIG. 22 is a structural diagram showing the structure of an endoscopic image recording apparatus,
FIG. 23 is a recording format of image data to be used as an information recording medium, FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the structure of a database,
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the flow of image information search processing by the database, and FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the display contents of the CRT during the image information search processing.

The third embodiment is an image recording apparatus in which the portable image recording means is a 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk and the ordinary image recording means is a write-once optical disk.

The image recording apparatus 91 of the third embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a video endoscope 32 that has an image sensor at the tip of the insertion portion and observes the inside of a body cavity, etc., and an image input device 33 that processes a video signal from the video endoscope 32 to generate an image signal. , A keyboard (hereinafter abbreviated as KB) 34 as an input means for inputting observed patient information and designating processing contents to the image input device 33, and an image signal generated by the image input device 33. CRT 35 as display means for displaying, and the image input device 33
An image compression / expansion device 92 for compressing / expanding the image signal generated by the above, and a plurality of image recording means for recording the image signal generated by the image input device 33 or the compressed image signal compressed by the image compression / expansion device 92. Is equipped with.

The plurality of image recording means is a disk type recording device such as a hard disk drive (hereinafter, HDD).
38, a floppy disk drive (hereinafter abbreviated as FDD) 39, and a write-once optical disk 9
3, 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94.

Furthermore, the image recording apparatus 91 of the third embodiment.
The image input device 33 in the plurality of image recording means.
Image signal or image compression / expansion device 92 generated by
A host computer 95 for controlling the recording of the compressed image signal compressed by the above and for controlling the reproduction of the recorded image signal or the expansion and reproduction of the compressed image signal.
The image input device 33 is provided with a button type switch 43 for taking in an image to be recorded. The host computer 95 is a K.K. The B96 and the CRT 97 are connected to each other, and an instruction to search the image information recorded in the plurality of image recording means can be issued.

As shown in FIG. 23A, the write-once optical disc 93 is used by dividing a recording area for recording image information into a plurality of partitions 100. Each partition 100 includes a first identification area 101 and an image information area 10.
2, the second identification area 103 is divided, and in the first identification area 101, a partition identification number that is a value different from other partitions on the same disc and all partitions on the other disc is recorded. . Further, in the second identification area 103, a disc identification number having a value different from that of other discs is recorded. The partition identification number and the disc identification number are recorded in the first identification area 101 and the second identification area 103 in advance when each disc is used for the first time, and the partition and the disc are distinguished from each other. Used for.

As shown in FIG. 23B, the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 similarly has the first identification area 101a,
It is divided into an image information area 102a and a second identification area 103a. A disc identification number having a value different from that of other discs is recorded in the first identification area 101a, and a partition identification number of a write-once optical disc is recorded in the second identification area 102a by a method described later.

Image information area 10 of write-once optical disc 93
The image information recorded in the image information area 102a of the 2- and 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 may be image information in which one or both are encoded, as long as it is obtained from the same image, and both are encoded. In the case of the image information, the encoding method may be different.

The operation of the third embodiment thus constructed will be described.

The video endoscope transmits the captured image to the image input device. The operator uses the switch 43 to instruct recording of an image. The images to be recorded are written on the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 one after another. The images to be recorded may be temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) in the host computer 95 and may be collectively written on the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 at the end of the inspection.

Next, the backup of image information will be described.

When the image information area 102a of the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 is full, or when there is a good break such as the end of the day, the image information recorded on the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94 is recorded. Write-once optical disc 9
Copy to 3. At that time, the disc identification number recorded in the first identification area 101a of the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc 94 is written in the second identification area 103 of the write-once optical disc 93, and the first identification area 1 of the write-once optical disc 93 is recorded.
The partition identification number recorded in 01 is written in the second identification area 103a of the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94.

The process from image pickup to backup may be as follows. That is, the video endoscope transmits the captured image to the image input device. The operator uses the switch 43 to instruct recording of an image. The images to be recorded are sequentially written on the write-once optical disc 93. The images to be recorded may be temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) in the host computer 95 and collectively written to the write-once optical disc 93 at the end of the inspection. The image information recorded on the write-once optical disc 93 is copied to the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc 94 at a good time. At that time, the partition identification number recorded in the first identification area 101 of the write-once optical disc 93 is written in the second identification area 103a of the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc 94, and
First identification area 101 of 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk 94
a recordable optical disc 93 with recorded disc identification number
Are written in the second identification area 103.

The management of the image information recorded in this way is as follows.
This is performed using the database 111 as shown in FIG. The database 111 includes an image management area 112,
Partition management area 113, disk management area 11
It is composed of a plurality of management areas 4 and is provided on the FDD 37 or the HDD 38 under the control of the host computer 95. Image information numbers corresponding to the image information recorded on the write-once optical disc 93 and the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc 94 are recorded in the image management area 112, and the images recorded in the image management area 112 are recorded in the partition management area 113. The number corresponding to the partition identification number on the partition of the write-once type optical disc 93 having the image information corresponding to the information number is recorded. Further, in the disc management area 114, a number corresponding to the disc identification number of the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc 94 having image information corresponding to the identification number recorded in the image management area 112 is recorded. The database 111 is updated when the backup is performed.

A search for image information using the database 111 will be described. As shown in FIG.
In S50, the operator is K. Enter the image information number using B96. FIG. 26 shows the display contents of the CRT 97 at this time.
It shows in (a). Next, in S51, the host computer 95
Searches the image management number 112 in which the image information number is recorded by searching the database 111 for the input image information number. By reading the partition management area 113 and the disk management area 114 adjacent to the image management area 112 searched in S52, the partition identification number and the disk identification number where the image information exists are displayed on the CRT 97 (FIG. 26 (b)), The process ends.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the write-once optical disc and the 3.5-inch magneto-optical disc are used as the image recording means, and the mutual identification codes are recorded in the respective optical discs. Similarly, even if one of the images is damaged and the image information disappears, the image information can be obtained from the other, and the database manages each identification code together with the image management information. In addition, the image information can be searched quickly.

In each of the above embodiments, an IC memory card composed of a semiconductor memory or a 3.5-inch magneto-optical disk is used as the portable image recording means, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, 5 0.25 inch, 1
2 inch size magneto-optical disk, 3.5 inch, 5.25 inch, 12 inch size optical disk, 3.5 inch, 5.25 inch, 8 inch size floppy disk, Further, the portable image recording means may be constituted by a cartridge type data tape, a part of a hard disk drive made to be portable and the like.

[0092]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image information recording apparatus of the present invention corresponds to a plurality of image information recording means which are at least one portable information recording means by the identification information generating means. Since the identification information associated with each other is generated and the recording control unit records the image information recorded by the plurality of image information recording units with the identification code, at least one of the plurality of images is the portable information recording unit. When at least one image information recording means of the information recording means has a failure, there is an effect that the image information can be easily and quickly searched for from the remaining image information recording means and the image information can be easily restored. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscopic image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a recording format of image data to be recorded according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an IC memory card according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an ID section of the IC memory card according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an input port of the IC memory card according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a modification of the ID section of the IC memory card according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of actions of the endoscopic image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of data restoration when image data of an IC memory card is damaged.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscopic image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image compression apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a quantization characteristic of the quantizer according to the second example.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image input device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first display example of the CRT according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an image expansion device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a card interface according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an IC memory card according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an IC memory card and DA according to the second embodiment.
This is a recording format of image data to be recorded in T.

FIG. 18 is a recording format of image data recorded in the HDD according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations for searching and viewing image information according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second display example of the CRT according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third display example of the CRT according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of an endoscopic image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a recording format of image data to be used as the information recording medium in the third embodiment.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a database according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a flow of image information search processing by the database according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 C at the time of image information search processing according to the third embodiment
It is explanatory drawing explaining the display content of RT.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Endoscopic image recording device 2 ... Video endoscope 3 ... Image control device 4 IC memory card 5 ... DAT 6 ... Monitor 7 ... Pointing device

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shinichiro Hattori 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Issei Nakamura 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Keiichi Hiyama 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Jun Hasegawa 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo No. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-82167 (JP, A) JP-A-63-262763 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) G06F 17/30 G06F 17/60 G06F 12/00 A61B 1/04 A61B 5/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A portable first image information recording means for recording an image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal, and an image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal.
At least the portable first image information recording means.
Second image information recording means having a recording capacity of one
And the first image information recording means and the second image information
Recording control means for outputting and recording the same image information to the recording means, the portable first image information recording means, and the second image
Image information recording means, and identification information generating means for generating identification information associated with each other, and the recording control means further includes the first image information recording means.
A step and the second image information recording means records the image.
An image information recording apparatus, characterized in that the identification information is added to the image information. 2. An image signal or an encoding of the image signal
The recorded image information on the first portable information recording medium
First image information recording means, and an image signal or image information obtained by encoding the image signal
For at least one of the portable information recording media
A second information recording medium having a recording capacity
Image information recording means , the first image information recording means, and the second image information
Output and record the same image information to the recording means
Recording control means, the portable first information recording medium, and the second information recording medium
Generates identification information associated with each other corresponding to the recording medium.
Identification information generating means for generating the identification information , and the recording control means further includes the first image information recording means.
Recording by the step and the second image information recording means
Characterized in that the identification information is added to the image information
Image information recording device .