Electronic endoscope apparatus and electronic endoscope system

Abstract

Electric power of a required voltage is supplied to an endoscope distal end portion, and a distal end temperature is prevented from being higher. An imaging device having an imaging element, and its peripheral circuit and a first circuit part including a first regulator as a power circuit are built in the endoscope distal end portion. The first circuit part is connected to a second circuit part via a cable. The second circuit part includes a second regulator supplying electric power to the first regulator. By the overcurrent detection function of a temperature detecting unit or a regulator arranged, when at least one abnormality of a temperature abnormality and an overcurrent in the distal end portion is detected, the output of at least one of the first regulator and the second regulator is stopped, and supply of power to the distal end portion is stopped.

1 . An electronic endoscope apparatus comprising:
 an imaging device built in a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion part, and having a solid-state imaging element that images a region to be observed;   a first regulator arranged within the distal end portion along with the imaging device, and supplying electric power of a required voltage to the imaging device;   a cable including signal lines that transmit signals obtained from the imaging device and a power supply line that supplies electric power to the first regulator;   a second circuit part electrically connected to a first circuit part including the imaging device and the first regulator within the distal end portion, via the cable;   a second regulator mounted on the second circuit part and connected to the first regulator via the power supply line;   an abnormality detecting unit that detects at least one abnormality of a temperature abnormality and overcurrent in the distal end portion; and   a power supply stop unit that stops the output from at least one regulator of the first regulator and the second regulator when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a temperature detecting unit is provided within the distal end portion as the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second circuit part comprises a control circuit that controls the operation of the second regulator, and   wherein the control circuit provides a control signal stopping the output of the second regulator to the second regulator on the basis of a signal obtained from the abnormality detecting unit, thereby cutting off the supply of power from the second regulator,   
     
     
         4 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one of the first regulator and the second regulator is provided with an overcurrent detecting circuit, and the overcurrent detecting circuit is used as the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         5 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein at least one of the first regulator and the second regulator is provided with an overcurrent detecting circuit, and the overcurrent detecting circuit is used as the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         6 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein at least one of the first regulator and the second regulator is provided with an overcurrent detecting circuit, and the overcurrent detecting circuit is used as the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         7 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first regulator comprises the overcurrent detecting circuit, and a self-shutdown circuit that stops output automatically when overcurrent is detected, and   wherein a self-shutdown circuit built in the first regulator is used as the power supply stop unit.   
     
     
         8 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second regulator comprises the overcurrent detecting circuit, and a self-shutdown circuit that stops output automatically when overcurrent is detected, and   wherein a self-shutdown circuit built in the second regulator is used as the power supply stop unit.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the second circuit part comprises a control circuit that controls the operation of the second regulator,   wherein the second regulator comprises the overcurrent detecting circuit,   wherein a signal is sent to the control circuit if overcurrent is detected by the overcurrent detecting circuit, and   wherein the control circuit provides a control signal stopping the output of the second regulator to the second regulator on the basis of the signal, thereby cutting off the supply of power from the second regulator.   
     
     
         10 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second circuit part is arranged at a connector portion formed at the end portion of the cable opposite to the first circuit part.   
     
     
         11 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second circuit part is arranged at a connector portion formed at the end portion of the cable opposite to the first circuit part.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the second circuit part is arranged at a connector portion formed at the end portion of the cable opposite to the first circuit part.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a feedback circuit that returns an input voltage, which is supplied to the first regulator via the power supply line from the second regulator, to the second regulator. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a feedback circuit that returns an input voltage, which is supplied to the first regulator via the power supply line from the second regulator, to the second regulator. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a feedback circuit that returns an input voltage, which is supplied to the first regulator via the power supply line from the second regulator, to the second regulator. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the solid-state imaging element is a CMOS type solid-state imaging element.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the solid-state imaging element is a CMOS type solid-state imaging element.   
     
     
         18 . The electronic endoscope apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the solid-state imaging element is a CMOS type solid-state imaging element.   
     
     
         19 . An electronic endoscope system comprising:
 an electronic endoscope apparatus having an imaging device, having a solid-state imaging element that images a region to be observed, built in a distal end portion of an endoscope insertion part;   a processor device that performs signal processing on imaging signals output from the imaging device of the electronic endoscope apparatus; and   a light source for illumination that generates illumination light to be irradiated to a region to be observed from an illumination window provided at a distal end face of the endoscope insertion part,   wherein the electronic endoscope apparatus includes:   a first regulator arranged within the distal end portion along with the imaging device, and supplying electric power of a required voltage to the imaging device;   a cable including signal lines that transmit signals obtained from the imaging device and a power supply line that supplies electric power to the first regulator;   a second circuit part electrically connected to a first circuit part including the imaging device and the first regulator within the distal end portion via the cable;   a second regulator mounted on the second circuit part and connected to the first regulator via the power supply line;   an abnormality detecting unit that detects at least one abnormality of a temperature abnormality and an overcurrent in the distal end portion; and   a power supply stop unit that stops the output from at least one regulator of the first regulator and the second regulator when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting unit.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic endoscope system according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the second circuit part is arranged at a connector portion that detachably couples the electronic endoscope to the light source for illumination together.