JPH06311440A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply an appropriate driving signal to a solid-state image pickup element regardless of the capable capacity of a signal cable part connecting an image pickup part and a video signal processing part to each other. CONSTITUTION:An electronic endoscope device 1 is constituted of an electronic endoscope 3 provided with a CCD 2 in a tip part 7 constituting an image pickup part and a video processor part 4 connected to the electronic endoscope 3. The video processor part 4 is provided with a frequency divider 14 frequency dividing driving signals to the output side of a CCD driving signal generator 12, a delay line 15 delaying one of the driving signals which are frequency divided by the frequency divider 14 and a cable capacity correction circuit 16 correcting the waveform degradation part due to cable capacity. The top end 7 is provided with an EX-OR circuit 17 reproducing original driving signals from two systems signals of the frequency divided driving signals and the frequency divided and delayed driving signals.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus using a solid-state image pickup element, and more particularly, to an image pickup section provided with the solid-state image pickup element.
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus in which a video signal processing unit that drives a solid-state image pickup device and performs signal processing of an output signal from the solid-state image pickup device is separately provided and connected to each other via a signal cable unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image pickup apparatus using a solid-state image pickup element,
For example, an electronic endoscope device can be used. In an electronic endoscope (video end scope), a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD is provided as an image pickup unit at the distal end of an elongated and flexible insertion portion, and a solid-state image pickup is performed via a universal cord or the like. Video signal processing unit (video processor unit) that drives the device and processes the electric signal output from the solid-state imaging device
It is designed to be connected with. In this imaging unit,
The formed subject image is photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor, and the video processor unit performs signal processing to obtain an image signal of the subject.

In such an electronic endoscope, the solid-state image sensor at the tip of the insertion portion and the video processor are connected via a signal cable of several tens of centimeters to several tens of meters. A drive signal for driving the solid-state image sensor, an image signal output from the solid-state image sensor, and the like are transmitted by the signal cable.

There are several types of electronic endoscopes depending on their uses, and the length of the insertion portion, that is, the cable length is different. In this case, when the cable length becomes long, the drive signal of the solid-state image sensor output from the video processor is attenuated at the tip (the input stage of the solid-state image sensor) due to the waveform deterioration due to the cable capacity, and a normal waveform is generated. There is a problem that cannot be obtained.

Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-6306, a device for preventing waveform deterioration at the input stage of the solid-state image pickup device by correcting and transmitting the waveform of the drive signal in advance. Is proposed. The configuration of such a conventional device is shown in FIG.

At the tip of the insertion portion 51 of the electronic endoscope, a C
An image pickup section 53 having a CD 52 is provided. This electronic endoscope is provided with a video processor unit 54 provided outside.
Is connected to the CCD 52 and the video processor 54.
A coaxial cable and a single-wire cable are connected between and. The video processor unit 54 includes a CCD drive signal generation circuit 5 that generates a drive signal for driving the CCD 52.
5 and a signal processing circuit 56 for processing the image signal read out from the CCD 52, and further, a cable capacity correction circuit for previously correcting the waveform deterioration due to the cable capacity on the output side by a circuit having a resistor, a capacitor and the like. 5
Equipped with 7.

FIG. 12 shows the waveform of the drive signal. The cable capacity correction circuit 57 causes the CCD drive signal generation circuit 55
The φH signal of the horizontal transfer pulse output from
By correcting the waveform deterioration in advance as shown in (a), an appropriate φH signal waveform can be obtained at the CCD input stage of the image pickup unit 53 as shown in FIG. 12 (b).

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional apparatus, the cable length of the signal cable section connecting the image pickup section and the video processor section becomes long, or the cable diameter becomes small, so that the cable capacity is reduced. If the number increases, the cable capacity correction circuit of the video processor unit may not be able to completely correct when the capacity exceeds a certain capacity. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the cable capacity exceeds a certain capacity and exceeds the correction capacity of the cable capacity correction circuit, horizontal transfer in the output stage of the cable capacity correction circuit as shown in FIG. The waveform of the pulse φH signal deteriorates in the CCD input stage of the image pickup unit as shown in FIG. 13B, which causes a problem that an appropriate drive signal waveform cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances. Even when the cable capacity of the signal cable section connecting the image pickup section and the video signal processing section is increased, a proper drive signal for the solid-state image pickup element is obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup device capable of supplying the image.

[0010]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an image pickup section provided with a solid-state image pickup element and the image pickup section via a signal cable section, and outputs a drive signal for driving the solid-state image pickup element. And a video signal processing unit for processing the image signal output from the solid-state imaging device, wherein the driving signal provided to the video signal processing unit and supplied to the solid-state imaging device is n. One-third
(Where n is a positive integer) and outputs the frequency-divided drive signal, and the drive signal provided in the image pickup unit and frequency-divided by the drive signal frequency divider is converted into a signal having an original frequency. And a drive signal restoring means for restoring.

[0011]

In the video signal processing section, the drive signal dividing means divides the drive signal to be supplied to the solid-state image pickup device into 1 / n and outputs the same, and in the image pickup section, the drive signal restoring means divides the drive signal. The drive signal frequency-divided by the means is restored to a signal of the original frequency and supplied to the solid-state image sensor.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 relate to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus as an image pickup apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing signal waveforms of a drive signal output from a CCD drive signal generator in a video processor section and an image pickup section.

This embodiment shows an electronic endoscope apparatus as an example of an image pickup apparatus.

The electronic endoscope apparatus 1 includes an electronic endoscope (video end scope) 3 having a CCD 2 as a solid-state image pickup device, and a video signal processing section for driving the CCD 2 and processing an output signal from the CCD 2. And a video processor unit 4 as a main component.

The electronic endoscope 3 has an elongated insertion portion 5 which can be inserted into a body cavity, a lumen or the like, and a rear end portion of the insertion portion 5 has an operation portion (not shown). Is provided,
The universal cord section 6 extends from the operation section. A CCD 2 is provided at the tip portion 7 of the insertion portion 5 and constitutes an image pickup portion. A connector 8 is provided at an end of the universal cord section 6, and the electronic endoscope 3 is connected to the video processor section 4 via the connector 8.

A light guide (not shown) for transmitting illumination light is inserted into the insertion section 5, and the connector 8 is connected to the video processor section 4 to provide a light source (not shown) provided in the video processor 4. Illumination light of a light source lamp forming a part is irradiated to the incident end surface of the light guide. An illumination connector (not shown) is provided on the incident end face side of the light guide, and the illumination light from the light source unit is supplied through the illumination connector.

The illumination light transmitted by the light guide is emitted from the tip portion 7 of the electronic endoscope 3, and the object illuminated by this illumination light is focused by an objective lens 9 provided at the tip portion 7. An image is formed on the CCD 2 which is a solid-state image sensor arranged on the surface.

A signal transmission cable 10 is inserted into the insertion portion 5 and the universal cord portion 6, and the connector 8 at the end portion of the universal cord portion 6 is connected to the connector receiver of the video processor portion 4 so that a signal is received. Signals can be transmitted and received between the electronic endoscope 3 and the video processor unit 4 via the transmission cable 10.

The video processor section 4 includes a signal processing circuit 11 for processing an image signal output from the CCD 2 and a CCD 2
CCD drive signal generator 1 for generating drive signal for driving
2 and a power supply unit 13 that supplies power to the CCD 2. On the output side of the CCD drive signal generator 12, a frequency divider 14 that divides the drive signal, a delay line 15 that delays one of the drive signals divided by the frequency divider 14,
A cable capacitance correction circuit 16 for previously correcting waveform deterioration due to the cable capacitance on the output side is provided by a circuit having a buffer, a resistor, and a capacitor connected in parallel, and the output end of the cable capacitance correction circuit 16 is the signal transmission cable 10. It is connected to the. The frequency divider 14 and the delay line 15 constitute drive signal frequency dividing means.

On the other hand, at the tip portion 7 of the electronic endoscope 3, a frequency divider 14, a delay line 15 and a cable capacity correction circuit 1 are provided.
An EX-OR circuit 17 as a drive signal restoring means for taking an exclusive OR of the two-system drive signals passing through 6 is provided between the end of the signal transmission cable 10 and the CCD 2. A head amplifier 18 is provided at the output end of the CCD 2 and is connected to the signal transmission cable 10.

Further, the video processor unit 4 is connected to a monitor 19 which receives a video signal output from the signal processing circuit 11 of the video processor unit 4 and displays an image. The monitor 19 displays a color image of a subject. It is supposed to be displayed.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In order to drive the CCD 2 that captures a subject image, the CCD drive signal generator 12 in the video processor unit 4
A CCD drive pulse is generated as a drive signal. This CC
The D drive pulse includes a reset pulse φR, a horizontal transfer pulse φH, and a vertical transfer pulse φV. These CC
ΦV which is a pulse of several tens of kHz among D drive pulses
Is directly applied to the CCD 2 from the CCD drive signal generator 12 via the signal transmission cable 10.

On the other hand, among CCD drive pulses, φH is a number
Since the frequency is high at MHz, it is attenuated by the capacity of the signal transmission cable 10. Therefore, the cable capacity correction circuit 16 in the video processor unit 4 corrects the waveform in advance on the output side in consideration of the deterioration due to the cable capacity and sends it out, and the CCD is transmitted via the signal transmission cable 10.
2 is applied.

However, up to φR, the frequency is several tens MH
In addition to the high z, the crest value is large, and the attenuation by the signal transmission cable 10 is significant, so that the cable capacity correction circuit 16 cannot completely correct the value.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the φR signal is generated by the drive signal generator 12, then branched into two and input to the frequency divider 14. The frequency divider 14 divides the frequency of each of the two branched φR signals by ½,
One system is input to the cable capacity correction circuit 16 as it is, and the other system is input to the cable capacity correction circuit 16 via the delay line 15. And these divided by 2
The waveform of the system φR signal is corrected by the cable capacitance correction circuit 16 in the same manner as φH, and is sent to the tip portion 7 via the signal transmission cable 10.

At the tip portion 7, signals of two systems of φR and φR delayed by the delay line 15 (hereinafter abbreviated as delayed φR) are input to the EX-OR circuit 17, and the EX-OR circuit 17 produces φR. And delayed φR
The original waveform of φR is restored by taking the difference between and. As a result, a regular φR signal waveform can be obtained at the tip portion 7, and this φR is supplied to the CCD 2.

FIG. 2 shows signal waveforms at the φR video processor section 4 and the tip section 7. In FIG.
(A) is φ at the output end of the CCD drive signal generator 12.
The output waveform of R is shown, (b) is the input waveform in the EX-OR circuit 17 of the front-end | tip part 7, b-1 is (phi) R, b-2.
Indicates the delayed φR. The waveform of (b) is the cable capacity correction circuit 1 of the video processor unit 4.
The waveforms of the divided .phi.R and the divided and delayed delayed .phi.R at the input ends of 6 are substantially the same. (C) shows the waveform of φR at the input stage of the CCD 2. By taking the difference between φR and the delayed φR in the EX-OR circuit 17, the original φR waveform as shown in FIG. 2C is obtained at the input stage of the CCD 2.

ΦR output from the video processor unit 4
Since the frequency is halved by being divided by ½, the influence of signal waveform deterioration due to the cable capacity of the signal transmission cable 10 is reduced. Then, by reproducing the original waveform at the tip portion 7, it is possible to obtain a proper φ for the CCD 2.
R can be supplied.

The CCD 2 is driven by the CCD driving pulses of φR, φH, and φV, and the subject image formed on the CCD 2 is photoelectrically converted. The output of the CCD 2 is input to the signal processing circuit 11 of the video processor unit 4 via the head amplifier 18 and the signal transmission cable 10, where various video signal processing is performed and the video signal is output to the monitor 19, A subject image is displayed on 19.

As described above, the drive signal is frequency-divided by the video processor unit and transmitted to the image pickup unit at the front end, and the original waveform of the drive signal is restored in the image pickup unit and supplied to the CCD, thereby enabling the video processor unit to operate. Since the frequency of the drive signal transmitted in the cable section connecting to the imaging section becomes low, the influence of the waveform deterioration of the signal due to the capacity of the cable section can be reduced. Therefore, for example, even when the insertion portion of the electronic endoscope becomes long and the cable portion connecting the video processor portion and the image pickup portion becomes long to increase the cable capacity, the appropriate drive signal without waveform deterioration in the CCD is generated. Can be supplied. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem in signal transmission when the length of the electronic endoscope is increased.

3 and 4 relate to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus as an image pickup apparatus, and FIG. 4 is output from a CCD drive signal generator. It is a wave form diagram which shows the signal waveform of the video processor part of a drive signal, and an imaging part.

The second embodiment is an example in which, when the drive signal is divided in the video processor section, not only φR but also φH is divided and transmitted as in the first embodiment. .

The video processor section 22 has three frequency dividers 14, 23, on the output side of the CCD drive signal generator 12.
25, and delay lines 15 and 24 are provided, and the respective output terminals are connected to the cable capacitance correction circuit 16. That is, a frequency divider and a delay line are provided for φR and φH1 of the drive signal output from the CCD drive signal generator 12, and a frequency divider is provided for φH2.

On the other hand, at the tip portion 26 of the electronic endoscope 21,
EX-OR circuits 17, 26 and an EX-NOR circuit 28 are provided. The input ends of these circuits are connected to the cable capacitance correction circuit 16 of the video processor unit 22 via the signal transmission cable 10, and the output ends are connected to the CCD 2. In other words, the EX-OR circuit 17 receives the φR signal from the frequency divider 14 and the delay line 15 from the EX-OR circuit 17.
The OR circuit 27 receives the φH1 signal from the frequency divider 23 and the delay line 24, and the EX-NOR circuit 28 receives the φH1 signal from the delay line 24 and the φH2 signal from the frequency divider 25.
Signals and are input respectively.

Others are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, depending on the cable capacity,
This is particularly effective when the influence of not only φR but also the waveform deterioration of φH is large. In the present embodiment, the driving condition of the horizontal transfer pulse φH in the CCD 2 is the driving by the two-phase pulse having the 90 ° phase difference of φH1 and φH2. At this time, the CCD drive signal generator in the video processor unit 22 is driven. 12 produces .phi.H1 and .phi.H2.

Of the generated φH1 or φH2, here, for example, φH1 is branched into two and the signals of the respective systems are input to the frequency divider 23. Also, φH2 is divided by frequency divider 2
Enter in 5. Further, φR is set to 2 as in the first embodiment.
The signal of each system is input to the frequency divider 14 after being branched into two. In the frequency dividers 14 and 23, φ of each of two branched systems
R and .phi.H1 are each divided by 1/2, one system is directly applied to the cable capacity correction circuit 16 and the other system is delayed by the delay lines 15 and 24, and the cable capacity correction circuit 1 is delayed.
Enter in 6. Also, in the frequency divider 25, φH2 is halved.
The frequency is divided and input to the cable capacity correction circuit 16.

Now, the signal paths of φH1 and φH2 will be described. Hereinafter, φH1 delayed by the delay line 24 will be abbreviated as delayed φH1. The signals of the three systems of φH1 and delayed φH1 and φH2 are subjected to waveform correction in consideration of the deterioration due to the cable capacity in the cable capacity correction circuit 16, and are sent to the tip portion 26 via the signal transmission cable 10.

At the tip portion 26, signals of two systems of φH1 and delayed φH1 are input to the EX-OR circuit 27, and the EX-OR circuit 27 takes the difference between φH1 and delayed φH1 to obtain the original φH1. The signal is regenerated. Since .phi.H2 is a signal whose phase is delayed by 90.degree. With respect to .phi.H1, the EX-NOR circuit 28 inverts the difference between .phi.H2 and delayed .phi.H1 to reproduce the original .phi.H2 signal. Thus, based on the divided .phi.H1, delayed .phi.H1, and .phi.H2, the EX-OR circuit 27 and the EX-NOR circuit 28 provide appropriate .phi.H1 and .phi.H2 signals suitable for CCD driving conditions at the tip 26. Can be generated.

Note that φR is the same as that in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 4 shows the signal waveforms of the φH1 and φH2 at the video processor section 22 and the tip section 26. In FIG. 4, (a) is an output waveform of φH at the output end of the CCD drive signal generator 12, and a-1 is φH1, a
-2 indicates .phi.H2. FIG. 4B shows input waveforms in the EX-OR circuit 27 and the EX-NOR circuit 28 of the tip portion 26, where b-1 is φH1 and b-2 is delayed φ.
H1 and b-3 represent .phi.H2. This (b)
Is substantially the same as the divided .PHI.H1, divided and delayed delayed .PHI.H1 and divided .PHI.H2 waveforms at the input end of the cable capacitance correction circuit 16 of the video processor unit 22, respectively. FIG. 4C shows the CCD 2
Is a waveform of φH in the input stage of, and c-1 is φH1,
c-2 indicates .phi.H2.

By taking the difference between .phi.H1 and the delayed .phi.H1 in the EX-OR circuit 27, the original proper .phi.H1 waveform as shown by c-1 is obtained at the input stage of the CCD2. In addition, the EX-NOR circuit 28 uses the delayed φ
By taking the inversion of the difference between H1 and φH2, c-2
The original proper φH2 waveform as shown in FIG.

Φ output from the video processor unit 22
By dividing R and φH by 1/2, the frequency becomes 1 /
Therefore, the influence of the waveform deterioration of the signal due to the cable capacity of the signal transmission cable 10 is reduced. Then, by reproducing the waveform of the frequency-divided drive signal in the tip portion 26, that is, in the vicinity of the CCD 2, an appropriate drive signal is CC-converted.
Can be supplied to D2.

As described above, the first embodiment is performed by dividing the frequency of the drive signal in the video processor unit and transmitting the frequency-divided signal to the image pickup unit at the front end, reproducing the waveform of the original drive signal in the image pickup unit and supplying it to the CCD. As in the example, the frequency of the drive signal transmitted in the cable section connecting the video processor section and the image pickup section is low, so that the influence of signal waveform deterioration due to the capacity of the cable section can be reduced. Therefore, even if the capacity of the signal transmission cable increases as the length of the electronic endoscope increases, the CCD
It is possible to supply an appropriate drive signal without waveform deterioration.

In the above-described embodiment, the drive signal is set to 1
Although the frequency is divided by 2 and transmitted to the image pickup unit, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be divided by 1 / n (n is a positive integer) and transmitted in two phases together with the delayed signal. good. Further, although the original drive signal is reproduced by the logic circuit in the image pickup unit at the tip end portion, it is also possible to perform waveform shaping in the image pickup unit.

The electronic endoscope apparatus as the image pickup apparatus of this embodiment described above has an external appearance as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

The electronic endoscope 31 is composed of an operation portion 32 which also serves as a grip portion and an elongated insertion portion 33 which is continuously provided.
The universal cord 34 extends from the side portion of the operation portion 32. This electronic endoscope 31 has a universal code 3
4 is connected to a light source device 36 via a connector part 35 provided at the end of the connector 4, and is also connected to a camera control unit 38 serving as a video processor part via a cable 37 extending further from the connector part 35. It has become. Further, an extension insertion portion 39 is detachably connected to the tip portion of the insertion portion 33 of the electronic endoscope 31.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a joining portion 40 having a threaded portion is formed at the distal end portion of the insertion portion 33, and the joining portion 40 is formed on the inner surface of the end portion of the extension insertion portion 39. The insertion portion 3 for extension is formed by screwing the formed screw portion.
9 can be attached.

The extension insertion portion 39 has substantially the same structure as the tip portion of a fiberscope or the like, and an image guide 44 for transmitting a subject image to the tip portion of the insertion portion 33 and an illumination light to the tip. The light guide 45 is internally provided. The joint portion 40 is provided with a positioning pin 43, and the extension insertion portion 39 is positioned by engaging the pin 43 with the engaged portion of the extension insertion portion 39. The end portion of the light guide 45 is positioned so as to face the observation window 41 and the illumination window 42 at the tip of the insertion portion.

The image guide 44 can be composed of an optical fiber, a relay lens, a SELFOC lens, etc. Therefore, the extension insertion portion 39 is composed of a hard or soft material. At the rear end of the image guide 44,
An image forming lens 46 for temporarily forming a subject image is provided,
Further, at the rear end of the light guide 45, a condenser lens 47 that temporarily condenses the illumination light is provided.

By mounting the extension insertion portion 39 configured as described above on the tip of the insertion portion 33, the circuits provided inside the camera control unit 38 and the electronic endoscope 31 are changed to drive the CCD. The length of the endoscope insertion portion (insertion length) can be changed without changing the signal. In addition, the length of the endoscope insertion portion can be freely changed by preparing and exchanging extension insertion portions of various lengths.

Further, by making the diameter of the extension insertion portion small, it is possible to insert and observe in a narrow portion which could not be inserted in the past. Further, even in a region such as a high temperature portion or a region with a lot of noise, which cannot be directly observed by an endoscope having a CCD at the distal end portion, the extension insertion portion can be attached to the distal end portion for observation.

By the way, as an electronic endoscope apparatus to which this embodiment is applied, for example, in an industrial endoscope having a long insertion portion, a drum device for winding up and storing the insertion portion as shown in FIG. Is used.

In the endoscope drum device 61, the winding drum 63 is rotatably attached to the base 62, and the winding handle 64 connected to the rotating shaft of the winding drum 63 is rotated to wind the winding drum 63. The take-up drum 63 rotates so that the insertion portion 75 of the endoscope can be taken up as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a cam 65 is coaxially connected to the rotary shaft of the winding handle 64, and a pin 66 provided at one end of an arm 67 is attached to the cam 65. Engaged. The arm 67 is rotatable about a rotation shaft in the center, and the other end of the arm 67 is connected to a rotation plate 68. The rotating plate 68 is rotatable around a rotating shaft in the center, and one end of a mouthpiece actuating wire 69 is connected to the outer peripheral portion.

The base operating wire 69 is composed of rollers 70 and 71.
And the other end is connected to the spring member 72.
The second end is fixed to the base 62. The base 62 has
A base fixing arm 74 is connected, and the rollers 70 and 71 are fixed to the base fixing arm 74,
The base 73 for inserting the insertion portion of the endoscope is the base fixing arm 7.
It is provided so as to be movable along 4. This base 73
Is connected to the mouthpiece actuation wire 69, and is moved horizontally by the reciprocating movement of the mouthpiece actuation wire 69.

When the winding handle 64 is rotated to wind up the insertion portion of the endoscope, the cam 65 rotates together with the winding operation. Then, the pin 6 engaged with the cam 65
6 moves to rotate the arm 67 to rotate the rotating plate 68. As a result, the mouthpiece operating wire 69 fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rotating plate 68 is pushed and pulled. Base wire 6
9 is given a predetermined tension by a spring member 72, and reciprocates by rotating the rotating plate 68 to move the base 73 in the horizontal direction.

As described above, by rotating the winding handle 64, the mouthpiece 73 reciprocates with each rotation of the winding drum 63 in association with the rotation of the winding drum 63. As a result, the position of the insertion portion of the endoscope to be wound up can be regulated, and as shown in FIG. 10, even in a long endoscope, the insertion portion 75 can be wound up on the winding drum 63 in an orderly manner. .

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the cable capacity of the signal cable section connecting the image pickup section and the video signal processing section is increased, a proper drive signal is supplied to the solid-state image pickup element. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus as an image pickup apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram showing signal waveforms of a drive signal output from a CCD drive signal generator in the first embodiment in a video processor section and an imaging section.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus as an image pickup apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing signal waveforms of a drive signal output from a CCD drive signal generator in the second embodiment in a video processor section and an imaging section.

FIG. 5 is a configuration explanatory view showing the overall configuration of an electronic endoscope apparatus equipped with an extension insertion portion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an insertion portion distal end portion and an extension insertion portion of the electronic endoscope.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a mounting state of the insertion portion distal end portion and the extension insertion portion of the electronic endoscope.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of the endoscope drum device.

FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a drive mechanism of a mouthpiece inserted through an insertion portion of an endoscope.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the insertion portion of the endoscope is wound around a winding drum.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional imaging device.

FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram illustrating correction of a waveform deterioration amount due to a cable capacitance with respect to a drive signal of a solid-state image sensor in a conventional image pickup apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram showing waveform deterioration of the drive signal when the cable capacity is increased in the conventional imaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic endoscope device 2 ... CCD 3 ... Electronic endoscope 4 ... Video processor part 5 ... Insertion part 7 ... Tip part 10 ... Signal transmission cable 12 ... CCD drive signal generator 14 ... Divider 15 ... Delay Line 16 ... Cable capacity correction circuit 17 ... EX-OR circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup unit having a solid-state image pickup device, which is connected to the image pickup unit via a signal cable unit, outputs a drive signal for driving the solid-state image pickup device, and outputs the drive signal from the solid-state image pickup device. An image pickup device having a video signal processing unit for processing an image signal, wherein a drive signal provided to the video signal processing unit and supplied to the solid-state image pickup device is 1 / n (where n is a positive integer). ), A drive signal frequency dividing unit that outputs the frequency-divided drive signal to the image pickup unit, and a drive signal restoring unit that restores the drive signal frequency-divided by the drive signal frequency dividing unit to a signal of the original frequency, An image pickup apparatus comprising: