Endoscope apparatus using solid state image pickup device

Claim 2

An improved endoscope comprising: means for emitting alternately colored beams of light onto a subject, a first one of said beams comprising a first color of light, and a second one of said beams comprising either a second color of light or white light; lens means for collecting said alternating beams of light, having been reflected from said subject; a self-scanning one-plate solid state image forming device, comprising a number of individual elements disposed with respect to said lens such that said light collected by said lens falls thereon and is detected thereby; means coupled to said image forming device for developing resolution and color signals; and filter means interposed betwen said lens means and said self-scanning solid state image forming device, said filter comprising filter elements of plural colors, each of which elements are substantially transparent to said first color of light but which selectively filter said second color or white light, such that a resolution signal is developed with respect to said first color and a color signal is developed with respect to said second or white light.

Claim 3

The improved endoscope of claim 1, wherein said first color of light is green.

Claim 4

The improved endoscope of claim 1, wherein said means for developing said resolution color signals comprises an image signal processing circuit connected to said self-scanning solid state image forming device.

Claim 5

The improved endoscope of claim 3 further comprising a display unit connected to said image signal processing circuit.

Claim 6

The improved endoscope of claim 1 wherein said means for emitting alternately colored beams of light onto a subject comprises a light source unit comprising two flash lamps, a color temperature compensation filter positioned in front of one flash lamp, a filter for passing only said first color of light position in front of the other flash lamp, and a semi-transparent mirror for directing light from said color temperature compensation filter and light from said filter for passing only said first color of light towards said illuminating means.

Claim 7

The improved endoscope of claim 5 wherein said light source unit further comprises an infrared cut filter positioned to receive light from said semi-transparent mirror.

Claim 8

The improved endoscope in claim 5 further comprising a synchronizing circuit connected to said flash lamps for alternately turning said flash lamps on and off.

Claim 9

The improved endoscope of claim 1 wherein said second color of light is magenta light.

Claim 10

An improved endoscope comprising: means for emitting alternately colored beams of light onto a subject, a first one of said beams comprising a primary color of light and a second one of said beams comprising either a secondary color of light or white light; lens means for collecting said alternating beams of light, having been reflected from said subject; a self-scanning one-plate solid state image forming device, comprising a number of individual elements disposed with respect to said lens such that said light collected by said lens falls thereon and is detected thereby, said self-scanning solid state image forming device comprising means for outputting signals responsive to the intensity of light falling on the individual elements thereof; filter means interposed between said subject and said self-scanning solid state image forming device, said filter means consisting essentially of filter elements of two types, both of said types of elements being substantially transparent to said primary color of light but selectively filtering said secondary color of light or white light; and means for developing resolution signals from the signals emitted by said self-scanning image forming device with respect to said primary color and for developing color signals from the signals emitted by said solid state image forming device with respect to light of said secondary or white color, as filtered by said filter elements.

Claim 11

An improved endoscope comprising: means for emitting alternately colored beams of light onto a subject, a first one of said beams comprising a primary color of light and a second one of said beams comprising either a secondary color of light or white light; lens means for collecting said alternating beams of light, having been reflected from said subject; a self-scanning one-plate solid state image forming device, comprising a number of individual elements disposed with respect to said lens such that said light collected by said lens falls thereon and is detected thereby, said self-scanning solid state image forming device comprising means for outputting signals responsive to the intensity of light falling on the individual elements thereof; filter means interposed between said subject and said self-scanning solid state image forming device, said filter means consisting essentially of filter elements of two types, both of said types of elements being substantially transparent to said primary color of light but selectively filtering said secondary color of light or white light; and means for developing resolution signals from the signals emitted by said self-scanning image forming device with respect to said primary color and for developing color signals from the signals emitted by said solid state image forming device with respect to light of said secondary or white color, as filtered by said filter elements.

Claim 12

The improved endoscope of claim 9 further comprising an image signal processing circuit connected to said means for developing resolution and color signals, and a display unit connected to said image signal processing circuit.

Claim 13

The improved endoscope of claim 9 wherein said means for emitting alternately colored beams of light comprises a light source comprising two flash lamps, a color temperature compensation filter positioned in front of said flash lamps and a filter for filtering all but said primary color of light positioned in front of the other of said flash lamps, and a semi-transparent mirror for directing light from said filters towards said subject.

Claim 14

The improved endoscope of claim 11 wherein said light source further comprises an infrared cut filter positioned to receive light from said semi-transparent mirror.

Claim 15

The improved endoscope as defined as claim 11 further comprising a synchronizing circuit connected to said flash lamps for alternately turning said flash lamps on and off.