JP3911053B2 - Connector device for electronic endoscope device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connector device for an electronic endoscope apparatus in which a signal connector of an electronic endoscope is detachably connected to a connector receiver of a video processor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a connector device for connecting an electronic endoscope and a video processor, a number of wirings are electrically connected by mechanically connecting a signal connector on the electronic endoscope side to a connector receiver on the video processor side. It is like that.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the connector apparatus of the conventional electronic endoscope apparatus as described above, the order of connection of each wiring electrically connected when the connector is mechanically connected to the connector receiver is the variation of contact-related parts, It is not necessarily constant depending on the inclination of the connector at the time of connection.
[0004]
However, when the endoscope is to be replaced during endoscopy, the connector of the electronic endoscope is used as the connector receiver of the video processor while the video processor is turned on. Often attached and detached.
[0005]
However, when the video processor is turned on, the circuit on the electronic endoscope side may be destroyed depending on the connection order of signal lines and power supply lines. For example, it is not preferable that the power supply line of the solid-state image sensor is connected after the signal transmission line input / output to / from the solid-state image sensor is connected.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention provides a highly reliable connector apparatus for an electronic endoscope apparatus that does not break a circuit of the electronic endoscope even if the connector is connected in a state where the power of the video processor is turned on. For the purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a connector device for an electronic endoscope apparatus according to the present invention includes a signal connector for an electronic endoscope having a solid-state imaging element for capturing an endoscope observation image. In a connector device of an electronic endoscope apparatus detachably connected to a connector receiver of a video processor having a circuit for processing input / output signals, the signal connector of the endoscope and the connector receiver of the video processor A manual locking means for fixing the cable to the connected state is provided, and a plurality of wires are connected in advance between the signal connector and the connector receiver by operating the locking means to the fixed side. It is characterized in that switching means for performing in order is provided.
[0008]
The lock means has a lever that is rotated by a manual operation. As the lever is rotated, the switching means has a plurality of wirings between the signal connector and the connector receiver. Connections may be made in a preset order.
[0009]
Further, the switching means has a plurality of sensors for detecting the rotation of the lever, and when each sensor detects the rotation of the lever, the connection of each wiring between the signal connector and the connector receiver is established. It may be performed.
[0010]
In addition, after the power supply line for supplying power from the video processor side to the solid-state image sensor side is connected by the switching means, a signal to be input / output to the solid-state image sensor is transmitted. The signal transmission line may be connected.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an electronic endoscope 10 in which a solid-state imaging device 11 made of, for example, a CCD (charge coupled device) for capturing an endoscopic observation image is built in the distal end of the insertion portion, and the solid-state imaging device 11. It is a block diagram which shows the video processor 20 incorporating the circuit for processing the signal input / output. Reference numeral 12 denotes a drive circuit (driver) for the solid-state imaging device 11.
[0012]
The video processor 20 also serves as a light source device for supplying illumination light to the electronic endoscope 10 and incorporates a light source lamp, a three-color rotation filter, and the like, but the illustration thereof is omitted.
[0013]
In the video processor 20, a video signal is extracted from the imaging signal sent from the solid-state imaging device 11 in the imaging signal processing circuit 21, and the video signal is converted into a digital signal in the A / D converter 22. The three primary colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are stored in the memories 23R, 23G, and 23B.
[0014]
The video signals for each color are simultaneously read from the memories 23R, 23G, and 23B, converted into analog signals by the D / A converters 24R, 24G, and 24B, and then, for example, NTSC video in the video signal processing circuit 25. It is converted into a signal and output to a television monitor (not shown).
[0015]
From the timing generator 26, synchronization signals for synchronizing the operations of the respective units in the video processor 20 are the imaging signal processing circuit 21, the A / D converter 22, the memories 23R, 23G and 23B, and the D / A converter 24R. , 24G, 24B, the video signal processing circuit 25, and the like, and a synchronization signal for controlling the solid-state image sensor 11 is also output to the solid-state image sensor drive circuit 12 of the electronic endoscope 10.
[0016]
The signal connector 13a provided in the electronic endoscope 10 is detachably connected to the connector receiver 30a provided in the video processor 20, but is arranged in a circuit on the video processor 20 side in the connected state. Only after the switch 29 is turned on, the wiring on the electronic endoscope 10 side and the wiring on the video processor 20 side are electrically connected.
[0017]
In the connection portion between the signal connector 13a and the connector receiver 30a, the signal line of the imaging signal sent from the electronic endoscope 10 side to the video processor 20 and the video signal sent from the video processor 20 side to the electronic endoscope 10 are sent. A signal line for the solid-state image sensor control signal, a power line for supplying power to the solid-state image sensor 11, a ground line, and the like are connected.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows the video processor 20 and the connector 13 portion of the electronic endoscope 10 detachably connected thereto. In the connector 13, a light guide connector 13b in which an incident end portion of an illumination light guide is inserted is disposed in parallel with the signal connector 13a.
[0019]
On the other hand, on the video processor 20 side, a connector receiver 30a to which the signal connector 13a is detachably connected and a light guide connector receiver 30b to which the light guide connector 13b is detachably connected are arranged side by side on the front panel 20a. ing.
[0020]
The connector receiver 30a is also provided with a manual locking mechanism for mechanically fixing the signal connector 13a connected to the connector receiver 30a. However, since a known mechanism may be used as the lock mechanism, the description of the specific configuration is omitted.
[0021]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a lock lever of the lock mechanism. When the lock lever 31 is turned sideways as shown in FIG. 3, the lock is released. 13a is mechanically fixed to the connector receiver 30a.
[0022]
4 is a side sectional view schematically showing the connector receiver 30a portion, FIG. 5 is a front view of the portion viewed from the outside front of the front panel 20a of the video processor 20, and FIG. 1 is a rear view seen from the back side of the front panel 20a. It is.
[0023]
A socket 33 in which a large number of electrical contacts are arranged is arranged in the inner part of the support cylinder 32 protruding and fixed forward from the front panel 20a, and a contact pin on the signal connector 13a side is inserted here.
[0024]
A rotating ring 34 that is rotated around the axis of the support cylinder 32 by the lock lever 31 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the support cylinder 32. A light shielding piece 35 that is integrally connected to the rotary ring 34 and formed in an arc shape is disposed at a position that enters the video processor 20 from a hole 20b that is formed in an arc shape in the front panel 20a.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, four optical sensors 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are arranged on the back side of the hole 20b. In any of these optical sensors 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d, when the light shielding piece 35 enters the detection portion formed in a concave shape, the detection light is blocked and can be detected.
[0026]
FIG. 6 shows the wiring of the optical sensors 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d and the switches 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e. The switches 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, and 29e are turned on when the optical sensors 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are in a light-shielding state by the light-shielding piece 35.
[0027]
A first switch 29a is connected to a ground line for applying a reference potential to the solid-state imaging device 11 among a plurality of wirings provided in this portion, and the first switch 29a is connected to the first switch 29a. It is turned on / off by the optical sensor 28a.
[0028]
The second and third switches 29b and 29c connected to the power supply line for supplying power to the solid-state imaging device 11 side are turned on / off by the second and third optical sensors 28b and 28c.
[0029]
The fourth switch 29d connected to the signal line for solid-state image sensor control signal transmission is turned on / off by the fourth optical sensor 28d, and the fifth switch 29e connected to the signal line for imaging signal transmission is In conjunction with the fourth switch 29d, the switch is turned on later than the fourth switch and turned off earlier than the fourth switch.
[0030]
In the connector device of the electronic endoscope apparatus configured as described above, when the signal connector 13a of the electronic endoscope 10 is inserted into the connector receiver 30a of the video processor 20 with the power of the video processor 20 turned on, Although the connector 13a and the connector receiver 30a are mechanically connected, electrical connection is not performed.
[0031]
Therefore, when the lock lever 31 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the mechanical connection between the signal connector 13a and the connector receiver 30a is fixed, and at the same time, the light sensors 35a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are moved by the light shielding piece 35. The switches 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, and 29e are turned on in order.
[0032]
As a result, the connection order of the wirings connected between the signal connector 13a and the connector receiver 30a is always the ground wire, the power supply line, the signal line for transmitting the solid-state image sensor control signal, and the signal line for transmitting the imaging signal. In order.
[0033]
Therefore, even if the signal connector 13a is connected to the connector receiver 30a while the video processor 20 is powered on, there is no possibility that the circuit on the electronic endoscope 10 side is broken.
[0034]
When removing the signal connector 13a from the connector receptacle 30a, first, when the lock lever 31 is turned in the direction opposite to the arrow A, the switches 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e are picked up in the reverse order of connection. The signal line for signal transmission, the signal line for solid-state image sensor control signal transmission, the power line, and the ground line are cut in this order.
[0035]
The switches 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, and 29e may be any switches that can turn the circuit on and off, such as relays and analog switches, and the sensors 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d. The optical sensor is not limited to an optical sensor, and any micro switch or the like may be used as long as the rotation angle of the light shielding piece 35 can be detected.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the manual locking means for fixing the signal connector of the endoscope and the connector receiver of the video processor to the connected state is operated to the fixed side, whereby the space between the signal connector and the connector receiver is set. Since multiple wires are connected in a preset order, it is possible to prevent the circuit from being damaged even if the connector is connected while the video processor is turned on. Sex can be secured.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a connector receiving portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic endoscope apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a video processor according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connector portion of an electronic endoscope connected thereto.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the connector receiving portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the connector receiving portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a switch portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 11 Solid-state image sensor 13a Signal connector 20 Video processor 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d Sensor 29 (29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e) Switch 30a Connector receptacle 31 Lock lever

Claims (1)

A signal connector of an electronic endoscope having a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an endoscope observation image is detachable from a connector receiver of a video processor having a circuit for processing a signal inputted to and outputted from the solid-state image pickup device. In the connector device of the electronic endoscope apparatus connected to
Lock means having a lever that is rotated by a manual operation for fixing the signal connector of the electronic endoscope and the connector receiver of the video processor in a connected state ;
Have switching means are provided for connecting individual connection of a plurality of lines including the A over scan lines and the power supply line and the signal transmission line between the receiving the signal connector and the connector,
The switching means includes a plurality of optical sensors arranged side by side on an arc centered on the rotation axis of the lever, and the plurality of optical sensors in turn by rotating together with the lever about the rotation axis of the lever. A light shielding piece for shielding light,
When the lever is turned to the fixed side in order to fix the connection state between the signal connector and the connector receiver, the number of the photosensors shielded by the shading pieces increases in order, thereby the ground wire. A connector device for an electronic endoscope apparatus, wherein electrical connection is performed in the order of the power supply line and the signal transmission line.

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