JP6986858B2 - Endoscope system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an endoscope system that communicates between an endoscope and a video processor.

In recent years, endoscope systems have been used in various fields such as medical fields and industrial fields. In the medical field, the endoscopic system is used, for example, for observation of organs in a body cavity, therapeutic treatment using a treatment tool, surgery under endoscopic observation, and the like. As the endoscope system, an electronic endoscope configured to be able to capture an image captured in the patient's body cavity by an imaging element is often adopted. The endoscope system has a video processor that processes the captured image obtained by capturing the image with an electronic endoscope, and the video processor converts the captured image into a video signal and outputs or records it on a monitor. Can be done.

The endoscope is detachably connected to the video processor via a cable. Various electric circuits such as an image pickup device provided in the endoscope receive power from the video processor and are driven by the video processor.

Many types of endoscopes can be connected to the video processor. Further, as the image pickup element built in the endoscope, various types can be adopted. The video processor detects the type of endoscope including the type of the built-in image sensor, and supplies the optimum power supply according to the detection result.

For example, in Patent Document 1, by transmitting and receiving information between the communication circuit of the endoscope and the communication circuit of the video processor, the power to be supplied to the endoscope is obtained and the power supply of the video processor is controlled. The technology is disclosed. By adopting the proposal of Patent Document 1, a highly accurate power supply voltage is supplied to the endoscope even when the voltage generated in the power supply circuit of the video processor is about to change due to aged deterioration or a change in ambient temperature. It is possible.

Japanese Patent No. 5881907

However, endoscopes may be used in environments where communication disturbances occur. For example, when using an electric knife to which a high frequency current is applied, the communication between the endoscope and the video processor may be significantly adversely affected. Due to such disturbance, there is a problem that the communication information from the endoscope may be erroneously detected in the video processor and accurate power supply control may not be performed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an endoscope system capable of reliable power control regardless of the influence of disturbance or the like.

The endoscope system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an endoscope for observing the inside of a subject, a voltage detection unit for detecting a voltage value supplied to a predetermined device provided in the endoscope, and the voltage detection unit. A setting request information generator that generates setting request information based on the voltage value detected in the above, a communication circuit that transmits the setting request information by a communication signal, and a voltage based on the setting request information transmitted from the communication circuit. a voltage generating unit for, have a power supply control unit for controlling the pre-Symbol voltage generator, the power control unit, wherein the setting request information transmitted from the communication circuit, and a memory to store said power supply control unit has by determining whether the voltage generated by the voltage generating unit based on the output range of the suppliable voltage value to the predetermined device has.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that reliable power supply control can be enabled regardless of the influence of disturbance or the like.

The block diagram which shows the endoscope system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The circuit diagram which shows an example of the power setting part 13 and the variable regulator 12 in FIG. A flowchart showing a power control flow. An explanatory diagram for explaining the control result of the power supply voltage by the power supply control flow of FIG. The block diagram which shows the endoscope system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an endoscope system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, by determining the validity of the communication itself between the endoscope 20 and the video processor 10 and the information transmitted by the communication, stable power supply control can be performed regardless of the disturbance mixed in the communication. It makes it possible to do.

In FIG. 1, the endoscope system includes a video processor 10 and an endoscope 20. The endoscope 20 is provided with a control unit 21. The control unit 21 as a setting request information generation unit may be configured by an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be configured by a processor using a CPU or the like (not shown), and each unit is configured according to a program stored in a memory. May be able to control.

In the endoscope 20, for example, an image pickup element (not shown) such as a CCD or a CMOS sensor is arranged at the tip of an insertion portion (not shown) at the tip of the endoscope 20, and the endoscope 20 includes various electric circuits including the image pickup element. It has a circuit 22. The electric power supplied to the electric circuit 22 of the endoscope 20 is supplied from the video processor 10.

The video processor 10 is provided with a control unit 11. The control unit 11 as the power supply control unit may be configured by FPGA, or may be configured by a processor using a CPU or the like (not shown) so that each unit can be controlled according to a program stored in the memory. It may be.

The control unit 11 is provided with a memory 11a, and the memory 11a stores information about a power source used in the electric circuit 22 of the endoscope 20. For example, the memory 11a stores information and the like regarding an allowable range (outputtable range) of a voltage that can be supplied to an electric circuit 22 such as an image pickup device. The control unit 11 sets the power supply voltage to be supplied to the endoscope 20 based on the information stored in the memory 11a. The outputable range is set to a voltage range wider than the voltage range (voltage specification range) to be supplied to the electric circuit 22 and not to cause the electric circuit 22 to fail.

The power setting unit 13 is controlled by the control unit 11 to set the power supply voltage supplied to the endoscope 20 to the variable regulator 12. For example, the power setting unit 13 can be configured by a D / A converter or the like, and converts the control value from the control unit 11 into an analog signal and supplies it to the variable regulator 12.

The variable regulator 12 as a voltage generation unit is controlled by the power setting unit 13 to generate electric power of the voltage and current specified by the control unit 11. The output of the variable regulator 12 is transmitted to the endoscope 20 via a cable. The power supply block is configured by the variable regulator 12 and the power setting unit 13.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the power setting unit 13 and the variable regulator 12 in FIG.

The variable regulator 12 is composed of a power supply IC 12a and resistors R1 to R3. The power supply IC 12a is adapted to change the output voltage of the output end Vout so that the control voltage applied to the control end Vfb becomes constant. The output end of the power supply IC 12a is connected to the reference potential point via the series circuit of the resistors R1 and R2, and the connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is connected to the control end Vfb.

The power setting unit 13 is composed of a D / A converter 13a. The D / A converter 13a is given a set value (set voltage value) of the power supply voltage from the control unit 11, converts the set voltage value into an analog signal, and generates a control voltage Vdac. The output end of the D / A converter 13a is connected to the control end Vfb of the power supply IC 12a via the resistor R3, and the D / A converter 13a can flow an output current I3 corresponding to the control voltage Vdac.

Now, it is assumed that the current I3 from the output end of the D / A converter 13a is 0. In this case, the current I2 flowing through the resistor R2 is equal to the current I1 flowing through the resistor R1, and the voltage applied to the control end Vfb of the power supply IC 12a is a voltage based on the ratio of the resistance values of the resistors R1 and R2. Since the power supply IC 12a acts so that the control voltage applied to the control terminal Vfb becomes constant, the output voltage appearing at the output terminal Vout has a fixed value determined by the resistance ratio of the resistors R1 and R2.

Here, when the current I3 flowing out from the output end of the D / A converter 13a becomes a positive value, the current I2 flowing through the resistor R2 becomes I2 = I1 + I3, the voltage drop of the resistor R2 increases, and the control voltage becomes high. Try to be. Then, the power supply IC 12a lowers the output voltage of the output terminal Vout to maintain the control voltage constant. On the contrary, when the current I3 flowing out from the output end of the D / A converter 13a becomes a negative value, the current I2 flowing through the resistor R2 becomes I2 = I1-I3, the voltage drop of the resistor R2 decreases, and the control voltage increases. Try to get lower. Then, the power supply IC 12a increases the output voltage of the output terminal Vout and keeps the control voltage constant. In this way, the output of the variable regulator 12 can be changed by controlling the power I3 by changing the voltage at the output end of the D / A converter 13a according to the set voltage value from the control unit 11.

In FIG. 1, the output of the variable regulator 12 is also supplied to the output voltage detection unit 14. The output voltage detection unit 14 is composed of, for example, an A / D converter or the like, detects the output power output from the variable regulator 12 to the endoscope 20, and feeds back the detection result to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 is adapted to generate a desired power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 by feedback control using the detection result of the output voltage detection unit 14.

The power supplied from the variable regulator 12 of the video processor 10 is given to the regulator 23 of the endoscope 20. The regulator 23 stabilizes the power supplied to the electric circuit 22 in the endoscope 20, and supplies the power supply voltage to each electric circuit 22. The control unit 21 is supplied with the power supply voltage from the regulator 23 to operate (not shown), and drives and controls the electric circuit 22. For example, the control unit 21 controls operating states such as exposure and readout.

The endoscope 20 is provided with an input voltage detection unit 24, and the power supply voltage supplied from the variable regulator 12 of the video processor 10 is also supplied to the input voltage detection unit 24. The input voltage detection unit 24 detects the power supply voltage (input voltage) supplied to the regulator 23 and outputs the detection result to the control unit 21.

The control unit 21 is provided with a memory 21a. The memory 21a stores information about the power supply used in the electric circuit 22. For example, the memory 21a stores information and the like regarding the voltage specification range of the electric circuit 22 such as an image pickup device. The control unit 21 generates setting request information for instructing the power supply voltage to be generated in the variable regulator 12 of the video processor 10 from the detection result of the input voltage detection unit 24 and the information stored in the memory 21a.

Even if the absolute value of the power supply voltage to be generated in the variable regulator 12 is specified by the setting request information, it is conceivable that the specified power supply voltage cannot be supplied due to aging or the like. Therefore, when the power supply voltage currently being supplied is a voltage lower than the lower limit of the voltage specification range, the control unit 21 outputs setting request information for increasing (increasing request) the voltage, and exceeds the upper limit. When the voltage is high, the setting request information for lowering the voltage (reduction request) may be output. In this case, the input voltage detection unit 24 does not have to detect the voltage value of the input voltage itself, and detects the fluctuation of whether or not the input voltage exceeds the lower limit or the upper limit of the voltage specification range. There may be.

The control unit 21 provides setting request information for instructing an increase request or a decrease request indicating a voltage value having a positive or negative difference from the voltage value desired to be supplied with respect to the power supply voltage currently being supplied. May be generated.

The endoscope 20 is provided with a communication circuit 25, and the video processor 10 is provided with a communication circuit 15. The communication circuits 15 and 25 can communicate with each other via a wired or wireless transmission line. The communication circuits 15 and 25 can transmit digital information to each other, and can transmit data by adding a predetermined error correction code to the transmission data. The communication circuit 15 can determine whether or not an uncorrectable error has occurred in the received data by error correction processing of the received data, and output the determination result to the control unit 11. The control unit 21 of the endoscope 20 transmits setting request information to the control unit 11 of the video processor 10 via the communication circuits 25 and 15.

In the present embodiment, when the control unit 11 receives the setting request information from the control unit 21 of the endoscope 20 via the communication circuits 25 and 15, the control unit 11 first receives the validity of the communication itself (the validity of the communication signal). ) Is determined. For example, the control unit 11 determines whether or not an uncorrectable error has occurred in the setting request information, and if so, determines that the communication itself is defective, and requests retransmission of the setting request information. appear. When the control unit 21 receives the retransmission request, the control unit 21 again transmits the setting request information to the control unit 11 of the video processor 10 via the communication circuit 25.

Further, when the control unit 11 determines that the communication itself is valid, it determines the validity of the setting request information and determines whether or not the variable regulator 12 may be set to change the voltage. For example, the control unit 11 has an output that is an allowable range of the current set voltage value set in the variable regulator 12, the increase request or the decrease request included in the setting request information, and the power supply voltage stored in the memory 11a. The validity is determined based on the possible range, and it is determined whether or not the variable regulator 12 may be set to change the voltage. For example, the control unit 11 can output a voltage value (hereinafter referred to as a required power supply voltage) that is the sum of the current set voltage set in the variable regulator 12 and the voltage value changed by the increase request or the decrease request. If it is within the range), it is judged that the voltage change can be set, and if the required power supply voltage exceeds the outputable range, the setting request information may be affected by the disturbance, so the voltage change setting Judge as impossible. Also in this case, the control unit 11 generates a request for retransmitting the setting request information.

When the control unit 11 determines that the setting is possible, the control unit 11 outputs a set voltage value so that the output voltage set in the variable regulator 12 matches the required power supply voltage. Further, the control unit 11 does not change the set value when it is determined that the setting is not possible. When the control unit 11 determines that the setting cannot be set a predetermined number of times, the control unit 11 determines that some kind of failure has occurred in the endoscope 20 and stops the generation of the power supply voltage by the variable regulator 12. It may be.

Further, when the control unit 11 determines that the desired power supply voltage cannot be generated from the variable regulator 12 based on the detection result of the output voltage detection unit 14, the control unit 11 determines that the power supply block has failed and determines that the variable regulator 12 has failed. The operation may be stopped.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured in this way will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a power supply control flow, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a control result of a power supply voltage by the power supply control flow of FIG.

When the power of the video processor 10 is turned on, the control unit 11 of the video processor 10 reads information about the power supply voltage to be supplied to the electric circuit 22 of the endoscope 20 from the memory 11a, and sets the voltage to the power setting unit 13. Output the value. The power setting unit 13 controls so that the output of the variable regulator 12 becomes a voltage based on the set voltage value of the control unit 11. As a result, the power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 is based on the set voltage value. The output voltage detection unit 14 monitors the output of the variable regulator 12, and the control unit 11 sets the output of the variable regulator 12 to a voltage based on the set voltage value by feedback control using the detection result of the output voltage detection unit 14. To maintain.

The power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 is transmitted to the endoscope 20 via a cable and supplied to the regulator 23. The regulator 23 applies a stable power supply voltage to the electric circuit 22 by using the electric power supplied from the variable regulator 12.

The power supply voltage supplied to the regulator 23 is monitored by the input voltage detection unit 24. The input voltage detection unit 24 outputs the detection result of the power supply voltage supplied to the regulator 23 to the control unit 21.

In step S1 of FIG. 3, the control unit 21 reads out the information of the voltage specification range to be supplied to the electric circuit 22 from the memory 21a, and inspects whether or not the power supply voltage is within the voltage specification range. When the power supply voltage is within the voltage specification range, the control unit 21 repeats the process of step S1, and when it is determined that the power supply voltage exceeds the voltage specification range, the process shifts to step S2 and the video processor. The adjustment voltage value to be adjusted to 10 is calculated, and the setting request information including the information of the increase request or the decrease request is generated.

The control unit 21 transmits the generated setting request information to the video processor 10 via the communication circuit 25. The communication circuit 25 transmits the setting request information with a predetermined error correction code. This setting request information is received in the communication circuit 15 of the video processor 10 via a cable, for example. The communication circuit 15 performs error correction processing using an error correction code for the received signal, and then outputs the setting request information to the control unit 11. Further, when there is an uncorrectable error as a result of the error correction processing, the communication circuit 15 outputs information indicating that the communication is defective to the control unit 11.

In step S3, the control unit 11 determines whether or not the communication based on the setting request information is normal. For example, the control unit 11 determines that the communication is defective when there is an error that cannot be corrected, and in step S5, requests the endoscope 20 to retransmit the setting request information. For example, it is conceivable that communication will be poor due to the occurrence of disturbance due to the use of an electric knife or the like. When this retransmission request occurs, the control unit 21 of the endoscope 20 causes the setting request information to be transmitted again via the communication circuit 25.

If the control unit 11 of the video processor 10 determines in step S3 that the communication has been performed satisfactorily without any uncorrectable error, whether or not the power supply voltage may be changed in the next step S4. Is determined. Even if it is determined that communication is good, there is a possibility that the setting request information has been changed to an abnormal value due to disturbance caused by the use of an electric knife or the like. Therefore, in step S4, the control unit 21 reads out the information of the outputable range from the memory 11a, and whether or not the voltage change can be set based on the current set voltage value and the increase or decrease request included in the setting request information. Is determined.

FIG. 4 shows a change in the power supply voltage generated by taking time on the horizontal axis and taking the power supply voltage value generated by the variable regulator 12 on the vertical axis. The upper part of FIG. 4 shows the change in the power supply voltage when the increase request and the decrease request received by the control unit 21 are applied as they are, and the lower part shows the change in the power supply voltage based on the set voltage value by the control unit 21.

The voltage requirement range of FIG. 4 corresponds to the voltage specification range of the electric circuit 22, and the control unit 21 of the endoscope 20 increases so that the supplied power supply voltage becomes a voltage value within this voltage specification range. Generate demands and reduction demands. For example, until the timing t1 in FIG. 4, the supplied power supply voltage is lower than the lower limit of the voltage specification range, and the control unit 21 causes the control unit 21 to transmit the setting request information including the increase request.

In this case, when the control unit 11 of the video processor 10 determines in step S4 that the voltage change can be set, the control unit 11 transfers the set voltage value according to the increase request to the power setting unit 13 in the next step S6. Set. As a result, the output voltage value of the variable regulator 12 increases. The control unit 11 uses the detection result of the output voltage detection unit 14 to perform feedback control so that the power supply voltage based on the set voltage value is generated from the variable regulator 12. The control unit 21 determines in step S7 whether or not a power supply voltage based on the set voltage value has been generated. If the correct power supply voltage is generated, the process returns to step S1.

As a result of the increase in the power supply voltage supplied to the electric circuit 22, the power supply voltage supplied to the electric circuit 22 exceeds the upper limit of the voltage specification range at the timing t2. In response to this, the control unit 21 causes the communication circuit 25 to transmit the setting request information including the reduction request information in step S2.

Now, it is assumed that the setting request information received by the communication circuit 15 is affected by the disturbance, and the reduction request changes to the increase request. Even if the data is changed due to the influence of disturbance, it may not be possible to determine communication failure by error correction processing. In this case, erroneous data affected by the disturbance is received by the control unit 11. Even in this case, if the set voltage value according to the increase request indicates the power supply voltage within the output possible range, the control unit 11 instructs the power setting unit 13 to change the voltage according to the received increase request. As a result, the power supply voltage of the variable regulator 12 increases, and if the increase request is applied as it is, it is conceivable that a voltage exceeding the output possible range is generated from the variable regulator 12 as shown in the upper part of FIG.

However, in the present embodiment, the control unit 11 determines in step S4 whether or not the power supply voltage based on the set voltage value exceeds the outputable range, and if it exceeds the outputable range, the step. After shifting to S5, the endoscope 20 is requested to retransmit the setting request information. That is, in the present embodiment, the power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 does not exceed the output possible range, and as shown after the timing t3 in the lower part of FIG. 4, the power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 is at most. It becomes less than or equal to the upper limit voltage value of the output possible range.

The control unit 21 of the endoscope 20 retransmits the setting request information in response to the retransmission request from the control unit 11. When the influence of the disturbance disappears, the setting request information including the reduction request is normally received by the communication circuit 15 of the video processor 10. As a result, the control unit 11 sets the set voltage value according to the reduction request in the power setting unit 13, and lowers the power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12.

In this way, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, the power supply voltage from the variable regulator 12 is controlled so as not to exceed the output possible range even if it exceeds the voltage specification range of the electric circuit 22.

When the control unit 11 detects that the power supply voltage differs from the set voltage value by a predetermined threshold value or more based on the detection result of the voltage detection unit 14, the control unit 11 fails to set the power supply voltage in step S7. Is determined. In this case, the control unit 11 shifts the process to step S8 and determines whether or not the number of setting failures indicating the number of times the power supply voltage setting has failed is within a predetermined number of times, for example, three times or less. .. If it is within 3 times, the control unit 11 returns the process to step S6, outputs the set voltage value to the power setting unit 13 again, and instructs the variable regulator 12 to change the power supply voltage.

When the number of setting failures exceeds three, the control unit 11 determines that the power supply block including the variable regulator 12 has failed. In this case, the control unit 11 stops the operation of the variable regulator 12, for example, and stops the power supply of the endoscope 20.

Although the number of retransmission requests in step S5 is not limited in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 shifts from step S4 to step S5 and the number of times the retransmission request is generated exceeds a predetermined number. , It may be determined that some abnormality has occurred in the power supply to the electric circuit 22, and the operation of the variable regulator 12 may be stopped.

As described above, in the present embodiment, for example, the validity of the communication is determined based on the result of the error correction processing, and when it is determined that the communication is not performed normally, the power supply according to the request from the endoscope is used. Do not change the voltage. This makes it possible to prevent the power supply control from becoming unstable due to the influence of disturbance. Further, even when the communication is determined to be normal, the set voltage of the power supply circuit is controlled so as not to exceed the output possible range, and it is possible to prevent the electric circuit in the endoscope from being destroyed.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an endoscope system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, an example applied to the transmission of the control value of the power supply voltage is shown, but this embodiment shows an example applied to the transmission of the resistance value.

In FIG. 5, the endoscope system includes a video processor 30 and an endoscope 40. The endoscope 40 is provided with a control unit 41. The control unit 41 may be configured by FPGA, or may be configured by a processor using a CPU or the like (not shown) so that each unit can be controlled according to a program stored in the memory. ..

For example, the endoscope 40 is provided with a photographing lens that can move forward and backward in the optical axis direction at the tip of an insertion portion (not shown) at the tip of the endoscope 40, and the endoscope 40 has an actuator 43 that drives the photographing lens. Are arranged. The drive signal for driving the actuator 43 of the endoscope 40 is supplied from the video processor 30.

The endoscope 40 is provided with a memory 44 that stores information (drive signal setting information) necessary for generating a drive signal of the actuator 40. In order to drive the actuator 43 mounted on the endoscope 40, it is necessary to supply the optimum current and voltage for each actuator or each endoscope by the optimum drive method. For example, the cable length of the cable connecting the endoscope 40 and the video processor 30 is relatively long, and the actuator 43 may not be reliably driven unless the conductor resistance of the cable is taken into consideration. Therefore, for example, the drive signal setting information such as the conductor resistance of the cable is stored in the memory 44, and this information is provided to the video processor 30, so that the video processor 30 can generate an appropriate drive signal.

That is, the control unit 41 reads out the drive signal setting information such as the resistance value from the memory 44 at a predetermined timing and transmits it to the video processor 30 via the communication circuit 42.

On the other hand, the video processor 30 is provided with a control unit 31. The control unit 31 may be configured by FPGA, or may be configured by a processor using a CPU or the like (not shown) so that each unit can be controlled according to a program stored in the memory. ..

The video processor 30 is provided with a communication circuit 32. The communication circuit 32 can communicate with the communication circuit 42 of the endoscope 40 via a wired or wireless transmission path. The communication circuits 32 and 42 can transmit digital information to each other, and can transmit data by adding a predetermined error correction code to the transmission data. The communication circuit 32 can determine whether or not an uncorrectable error has occurred in the received data by error correction processing of the received data, and output the determination result to the control unit 31.

In the present embodiment, when the control unit 31 receives the drive signal setting information from the control unit 41 of the endoscope 40 via the communication circuits 32 and 42, the control unit 31 first determines the validity of the communication itself. For example, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an uncorrectable error has occurred in the drive signal setting information, and if so, determines that the communication itself is defective and retransmits the drive signal setting information. Generate a request. When the control unit 41 receives the retransmission request, the control unit 41 again transmits the drive signal setting information to the control unit 31 of the video processor 30 via the communication circuit 42.

The control unit 31 generates a drive setting value for setting a voltage and a current to be supplied to the actuator 43 of the endoscope 40 based on the drive signal setting information, and causes the drive signal generation unit 33 to generate the drive setting value. There is. The drive signal generation unit 33 is controlled by the control unit 31 to generate electric power having a voltage and a current defined by a drive set value. The voltage and current from the drive signal generation unit 33 are transmitted to the actuator 43 of the endoscope 40 via a cable.

The output of the drive signal generation unit 33 is also supplied to the drive signal detection unit 34. The drive signal detection unit 34 detects the voltage and current output from the drive signal generation unit 33 to the endoscope 40, calculates the load resistance, and outputs the calculation result to the control unit 31.

As described above, when communicating the drive signal setting information, the control unit 31 may receive the drive signal setting information having an abnormal value due to the disturbance. Therefore, the control unit 31 compares the load resistance value calculated by the drive signal detection unit 34 with the resistance value information included in the drive signal setting information, and the load resistance value is included in the drive signal setting information. When the value is separated from the value by a predetermined threshold value or more, it is determined that the drive signal setting information has been affected by the disturbance, the output of the drive signal generation unit 33 is stopped, and the endoscope 40 is used. The control unit 41 of the above is requested to retransmit the drive signal setting information.

In the embodiment configured as described above, the control unit 41 of the endoscope 40 reads the drive signal setting information for driving the actuator 43 from the memory 44, and reads the drive signal setting information from the memory 44 to the video processor 30 via the communication circuit 42. Send. The communication circuit 42 transmits the drive signal setting information with a predetermined error correction code. This drive signal setting information is received in the communication circuit 32 of the video processor 30 via a cable, for example. The communication circuit 32 performs error correction processing using an error correction code for the received signal, and then outputs drive signal setting information to the control unit 31. Further, when there is an uncorrectable error as a result of the error correction processing, the communication circuit 32 outputs information indicating that the communication is defective to the control unit 31.

The control unit 31 determines whether or not the communication based on the drive signal setting information is normal. For example, if there is an error that cannot be corrected, the control unit 31 determines that the communication is defective and requests the endoscope 40 to retransmit the drive signal setting information. For example, it is conceivable that communication will be poor due to the occurrence of disturbance due to the use of an electric knife or the like. When this retransmission request occurs, the control unit 41 of the endoscope 40 again transmits the drive signal setting information via the communication circuit 42.

The control unit 31 generates a drive setting value based on the drive signal setting information and controls the drive signal generation unit 33. As a result, the drive signal generation unit 33 generates a voltage and a current based on the drive set value and supplies the voltage and current to the actuator 43 of the endoscope 40. The output of the drive signal generation unit 33 is supplied to the drive signal detection unit 34, and the load resistance is calculated.

Even when communication by the communication circuits 32 and 42 is performed well, there is a possibility that the drive signal setting information has been changed to an abnormal value due to disturbance caused by the use of an electric knife or the like. Therefore, the control unit 31 determines whether or not the drive signal setting information is a normal value by comparing the load resistance calculated by the drive signal detection unit 34 with the resistance value included in the drive signal setting information.

When the control unit 31 determines that the drive signal setting information is not a normal value, the control unit 31 stops the operation of the drive signal generation unit 33 and requests the control unit 41 to retransmit the drive signal setting information, as described above. Repeat the process. In this way, the actuator 43 can be reliably driven even when abnormal drive signal setting information is transmitted due to the occurrence of disturbance.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the actuator can be stably driven.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments as it is, and at the implementation stage, the components can be modified and embodied within a range that does not deviate from the gist thereof. In addition, various inventions can be formed by an appropriate combination of the plurality of components disclosed in each of the above embodiments. For example, some components of all the components shown in the embodiment may be deleted. In addition, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

10 ... Video processor, 11 and 21 ... Control unit, 11a, 21a ... Memory, 12 ... Variable regulator, 13 ... Power setting unit, 14 ... Power setting unit, 15, 25 ... Communication circuit, 22 ... Electric circuit, 23 ... Regulator , 24 ... Input voltage detector.

Claims (7)

An endoscope for observing the inside of a subject and
A voltage detection unit that detects the voltage value supplied to a predetermined device provided in the endoscope, and
A setting request information generation unit that generates setting request information based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detection unit, and a setting request information generation unit.
A communication circuit that transmits the setting request information by a communication signal,
A voltage generator that generates a voltage based on the setting request information transmitted from the communication circuit, and
Have a power supply control unit for controlling the pre-Symbol voltage generator,
The power supply control unit generates the voltage based on the setting request information transmitted from the communication circuit and the outputable range of the voltage value that can be supplied to the predetermined device stored in the memory of the power supply control unit. An endoscope system characterized in that it determines whether or not voltage can be generated by a unit. Claim 1 is characterized in that the power supply control unit determines whether or not the voltage generation unit can generate a voltage by determining the validity of the communication signal and determining the validity of the setting request information. The endoscopic system described in. The power supply control unit determines the validity of the communication signal by an error correction process for the communication signal, and determines the validity of the setting request information by a voltage based on the setting request information obtained by the error correction process. The endoscope system according to claim 2, wherein the determination is made based on whether or not the voltage is within the voltage range. The voltage detection unit, the setting request information generation unit, and the communication circuit are provided in the endoscope.
The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the voltage generation unit and the power supply control unit are provided in a video processor connected to the endoscope. The voltage detection unit detects whether or not the voltage value supplied to the predetermined device is within a predetermined range, and detects whether or not the voltage value is within a predetermined range.
The first aspect of claim 1, wherein the setting request information generation unit generates the setting request information including an increase request or a decrease request when the voltage value supplied to the predetermined device is not within the predetermined range. Endoscope system. The power supply control unit is characterized in that the voltage generation unit is instructed to generate a voltage based on the setting request information, and a failure determination is made based on the output voltage value generated by the voltage generation unit. The endoscope system according to claim 1. The endoscope system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply control unit determines whether or not voltage generation by the voltage generation unit is possible, including information on a set voltage set in the voltage generation unit.

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