Endoscope system

Abstract

An endoscope system comprises: a light source unit which generates first and second narrowband lights simultaneously or alternately; a color filter in which first and second filters having different spectral properties are arranged; an imaging element which receives light that passes through the first filter with a first pixel group, receives light that passes through the second filter with a second pixel group, and is capable of setting an exposure time and an electrical signal read time for each pixel; and a control unit which, when generating first and second narrowband lights alternately from the light source unit, synchronizes in a first period the generating time of the first narrowband light, the exposure time of the first pixel group, and the read time of the second pixel group and synchronizes in a second period the generating time of the second narrowband light, the exposure time of the second pixel group, and the read time of the first pixel group.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an endoscope system, and more particularly to an endoscope system capable of narrow-band light observation. Background technique [0002] In the medical field, for example, surgery has conventionally been performed using devices such as endoscopes that are less invasive to the living body. In addition, as an observation method using an endoscope, for example, it is conventionally known to irradiate a subject in a living body with light of each color of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to obtain an image approximately equivalent to that observed with the naked eye. Ordinary light observation of images of the same hue, and obtaining an image in which blood vessels, etc. existing in the mucous membrane surface of the living body are emphasized by irradiating the subject in the living body with light having a wavelength band narrower than the illumination light used for normal light observation Observation methods such as ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] Therefore, for example, in narrow-band light observation using a configuration corresponding to a simultaneous imaging method, there is a problem in that the spectral characteristics of the illumination light irradiated on the subject and the color filter provided on the imaging surface of the imaging element may cause a problem. The combination of the spectral characteristics of each filter included in the filter causes a decrease in color separation

[0009] On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-6974, there is no particular mention of methods for eliminating the reduction in the color separation property, that is, the problem of the reduction in the color separation property remains.

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