1. An endoscope system comprising:
a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of an object, to output an image signal;
an illuminator for applying normal light and specific light having a wavelength range different from said normal light to said object;
a motion detector for detecting information of relative motion of said object;
a controller for controlling said illuminator, for causing alternate emission of said normal and specific light periodically at a storage period of said image pickup device if said detected motion information is equal to or smaller than a threshold level, and for causing emission of said normal light without emitting said specific light if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level;
a display control unit for causing display of a normal image produced from said image signal in applying said normal light, and additionally a specific image produced from said image signal in applying said specific light.
2. An endoscope system as defined in claim 1, wherein said illuminator includes:
a normal light source for emitting said normal light; and
a specific light source for emitting said specific light.
3. An endoscope system as defined in claim 1, wherein said display control unit causes display of a selected one of a set of motion pictures of said normal and specific images arranged together, and a motion picture of an overlay image of said normal and specific images.
4. An endoscope system as defined in claim 1, wherein said display control unit causes display of a selected one of a motion picture of said normal image in a discrete manner, a motion picture of said specific image in a discrete manner, a set of motion pictures of said normal and specific images arranged together, and a motion picture of an overlay image of said normal and specific images.
5. An endoscope system as defined in claim 1, wherein if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level, then said display control unit causes display of a motion picture of said normal image.
6. An endoscope system as defined in claim 1, wherein if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level, then said display control unit causes display of a motion picture of said normal image, and a still picture of said specific image under a condition of said controller shortly before turning off said specific light, in a form arranged together.
7. An endoscope system including an endoscope, an illuminator, a processing apparatus and a display panel, comprising:
said endoscope including:
a solid-state image pickup device for picking up an image of an object to output an image signal;
a light guide device for illuminating said object;
said illuminator including:
a normal light source for emitting normal light for entry in said light guide device;
a specific light source for emitting specific light having a wavelength range different from said normal light, for entry in said light guide device;
said processing apparatus including:
a motion detector for detecting information of relative motion of said object;
a controller for controlling said illuminator, for causing alternate emission of said normal and specific light periodically at a storage period of said image pickup device if said detected motion information is equal to or smaller than a threshold level, and for causing emission of said normal light without emitting said specific light if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level;
a display control unit for causing said display panel to display a normal image produced from said image signal in applying said normal light, and additionally a specific image produced from said image signal in applying said specific light.
8. A control method of controlling an endoscope system in which a solid-state image pickup device picks up an image of an object for display on a display panel, comprising steps of:
detecting information of relative motion of said object;
causing alternate emission of normal light and specific light having a wavelength range different from said normal light periodically at a storage period of said image pickup device if said detected motion information is equal to or smaller than a threshold level, emission of said normal light being caused without emitting said specific light if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level;
causing said display panel to display a normal image produced from said image signal in applying said normal light, and additionally a specific image produced from said image signal in applying said specific light.
9. A control method as defined in claim 8, wherein a selected one of a set of motion pictures of said normal and specific images arranged together, and a motion picture of an overlay image of said normal and specific images, is displayed in said display step.
10. A control method as defined in claim 8, wherein a selected one of a motion picture of said normal image in a discrete manner, a motion picture of said specific image in a discrete manner, a set of motion pictures of said normal and specific images arranged together, and a motion picture of an overlay image of said normal and specific images, is displayed in said display step.
11. A control method as defined in claim 8, wherein if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level, then a motion picture of said normal image is displayed in said display step.
12. A control method as defined in claim 8, wherein if said detected motion information is greater than said threshold level, then in said display step, a motion picture of said normal image, and a still picture of said specific image under a condition of said control step shortly before turning off said specific light, are displayed in a form arranged together.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain
amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an input power or an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a control circuit for outputting the control voltage based on an output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value;
a packet detection circuit for detecting a packet signal by means of the output voltage from said power detector and outputting a packet detection signal;
a timing circuit for outputting a timing signal after an elapse of a predetermined time after a start of outputting the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit;
a sample-hold circuit for sampling-and-holding the control voltage from said control circuit in response to the timing signal from said timing circuit; and
a switch circuit for providing the control voltage from said control circuit for said variable gain amplifier until the timing signal is output from said timing circuit, and providing the control voltage held by said sample-hold circuit for said variable gain amplifier in response to outputting of the timing signal.
2. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a control circuit for outputting the control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value;
a packet detection circuit for detecting a packet signal by means of the output voltage of said power detector and outputting a packet detection signal;
a convergence detection circuit for detecting a convergent state in the output voltage of said power detector after the output voltage of said power detector exceeds a predetermined threshold, and outputting a convergence detection signal;
a timing circuit for outputting a timing signal in response to the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit and the convergence detection signal from said convergence detection circuit;
a sample-hold circuit for sampling-and-holding the control voltage from said control circuit in response to the timing signal from said timing circuit; and
a switch circuit for providing the control voltage from said control circuit for said variable gain amplifier until the timing signal is output from said timing circuit, and providing the control voltage held by said sample-hold circuit for said variable gain amplifier in response to outputting of the timing signal.
3. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an input power or an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a first control circuit for outputting a first control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value at high speed;
s second control circuit for outputting a second control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to the target value at low speed;
a packet detection circuit for detecting a packet signal by means of the output voltage of said power detector and outputting a packet detection signal; and
a circuit means for providing the first control voltage from said first control circuit for said variable gain amplifier during a predetermined time after a start of outputting of the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit, and providing the second control voltage from said second control circuit for said variable gain amplifier after an elapse of the predetermined time.
4. Again control device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said circuit means includes:
a timing circuit for outputting a timing signal after an elapse of the predetermined time after the start of outputting of the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit; and
a switch circuit for providing the first control voltage from said first control circuit for said variable gain amplifier until the timing signal is output from said timing circuit, and providing the second control voltage from said second control circuit for said variable gain amplifier in response to outputting of the timing signal.
5. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a first control circuit for outputting a first control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value at high speed;
a second control circuit for outputting a second control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to the target value at low speed;
a packet detection circuit for detecting a packet signal by means of the output voltage of said power detector and outputting a packet detection signal;
a convergence detection circuit for detecting a convergent state in the output voltage of said power detector after the output power of said power detector exceeds a predetermined threshold, and outputting a convergence detection signal;
a timing circuit for outputting a timing signal in response to the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit and the convergence detection signal from said convergence detection circuit; and
a switch circuit for providing the first control voltage from said first control circuit for said variable gain amplifier until the timing signal is output from said timing circuit, and providing the second control voltage from said second control circuit for said variable gain amplifier in response to outputting of the timing signal.
6. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an input power or an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a control circuit for outputting the control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value at a speed corresponding to a control constant;
a packet detection circuit for detecting a packet signal by means of the output voltage of said power detector and outputting a packet detection signal; and
a control constant adjustment circuit for adjusting the control constant to a large value during a predetermined time after a start of outputting of the packet detection signal from said packet detection circuit, and to a small value after an elapse of the predetermined time.
7. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a control circuit for outputting the control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value at a speed corresponding to a control constant; and
a control constant adjustment circuit for adjusting the control constant corresponding to the output voltage of said power detector, wherein the control constant is increased as the output voltage of said power detector rises and decreased as the output voltage of said power detector drops.
8. A gain control device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the packet signal includes a preamble, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble but longer than the time the output power of said variable gain amplifier converges to the target value.
9. A gain control device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the preamble includes a preamble portion for gain control, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble portion for gain control.
10. A gain control device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the packet signal includes a preamble, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble but longer than the time the output power of said variable gain amplifier converges to the target value.
11. A gain control device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the preamble includes a preamble portion for gain control, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble portion for gain control.
12. A gain control device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the packet signal includes a preamble, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble but longer than the time the output power of said variable gain amplifier converges to the target value.
13. A gain control device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the preamble includes a preamble portion for gain control, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble portion for gain control.
14. A gain control device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the packet signal includes a preamble, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble but longer than the time the output power of said variable gain amplifier converges to the target value.
15. A gain control device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the preamble includes a preamble portion for gain control, and the predetermined time is shorter than the receiving time of the preamble portion for gain control.
16. A gain control device comprising:
a variable gain amplifier for amplifying an input signal with a gain corresponding to a control voltage applied thereto;
a power detector for outputting an output voltage corresponding to an input power or an output power of said variable gain amplifier;
a control circuit for outputting the control voltage based on the output voltage of said power detector for controlling the output power of said variable gain amplifier with respect to a target value; and
a circuit means for compensating for the output power of said variable gain amplifier based on the control voltage of said control circuit for stabilizing the output power.
17. A gain control method for a receiver in a packet communication system in which each packet signal includes a preamble at a head and data subsequent to the preamble, the method comprising the steps of:
amplifying a received packet signal with a gain;
detecting an output power of the amplified signal;
generating a control voltage variable with the detected output power; and
controlling the gain based on the control voltage so that the output power approaches a target value.
18. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
detecting a start of the preamble of the packet signal by means of the detected output power;
measuring an elapsed time after a detection of the start of the preamble of the packet signal; and
switching from high-speed gain control to low-speed gain control when the measured elapsed time exceeds a predetermined time.
19. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 18, wherein the switching step comprises the steps of:
sampling-and-holding the control voltage when the measured elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time; and
fixing the gain in the low-speed gain control based on the held control voltage for providing stable output power during a reception of the data of the packet signal.
20. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
detecting the packet signal by means of the detected output power;
detecting a convergent state in the detected output power while the packet signal is detected by the detecting step; and switching from high-speed gain control to low-speed gain control when the convergent state is detected.
21. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 20, wherein the switching step comprises the steps of:
sampling-and-holding the control voltage when the convergent state is detected; and
fixing the gain in the low-speed gain control based on the held control voltage for providing stable output power during a reception of the data of the packet signal.
22. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
effecting high-speed gain control when the detected output power rises from zero; and
switching from high-speed gain control to low-speed gain control when the detected output power falls to the target value.
23. A gain control method for a receiver as set forth in claim 17, further comprising the step of:
compensating for the output power of the amplified signal by the control voltage for stabilizing the output power.